id="u72bcae75-6a27-54c5-90b0-3cbdaf3ef126">
NGAIO MARSH
Final Curtain
For Joan and Cecilwith my love
Contents
14. Psychiatry and a Churchyard
16. Positively the Last Appearance of Sir Henry Ancred
18. The Last Appearance of Miss O.
AGATHA TROY ALLEYN
KATTI BOSTOCK
NIGEL BATHGATE
SIR HENRY ANCRED, Bart
CLAUDE ANCRED, his elder son (absent)
THOMAS ANCRED, his younger son
PAULINE KENTISH, his elder daughter
| PAUL KENTISHPATRICIA KENTISH (Panty) |
|
his grandchildren |
DESDEMONA ANCRED, his younger daughter
MILLAMANT ANCRED (wife to Henry Irving Ancred, deceased), his daughter-in-law
CEDRIC ANCRED, His heir apparent (Millamant’s son)
THE HON. MRS. CLAUDE ANCRED (Jenetta), his daughter-in-law (wife to Claude Ancred)
FENELLA ANCRED (her daughter)
MISS SONIA ORRINCOURT
MISS CAROLINE ABLE
BARKER, butler at Ancreton Manor
DR. WITHERS, G.P. at Ancreton
MR. JUNIPER, chemist
MR. RATTISBON, solicitor
MR. MORTIMER, of Mortimer & Loame, Undertakers and Embalmers
RODERICK ALLEYN,
Chief Detective-Inspector
| DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR FOXDETECTIVE-SERGEANT BAILEYDR. CURTIS, Police Surgeon | of the Criminal Investigation Department, New Scotland Yard. |
DETECTIVE-SERGEANT THOMPSON
VILLAGE CONSTABLE
I
‘Considered severally,’ said Troy, coming angrily into the studio, ‘a carbuncle, a month’s furlough and a husband returning from the antipodes don’t sound like the ingredients of a hell-brew. Collectively, they amount to precisely that.’
Katti Bostock stepped heavily back from her easel, screwed up her eyes, and squinting dispassionately at her work said: ‘Why?’
They’ve telephoned from C.1. Rory’s on his way. He’ll probably get here in about three weeks. By which time I shall have returned, cured of my carbuncle, to the girls in the back room.’
‘At least,’ said Miss Bostock, scowling hideously at her work, ‘he won’t have to face the carbuncle. There is that.’
‘It’s on my hip.’
‘I know that, you owl.’
‘Well – but, Katti,’ Troy argued, standing beside her friend, ‘you will allow and must admit, it’s a stinker. You are going it,’ she added, squinting at Miss Bostock’s canvas.
‘You’ll have to move into the London flat a bit earlier, that’s all.’
‘But if only the carbuncle, and Rory and my leave had come together – well, the carbuncle a bit earlier, certainly – we’d have had a fortnight