Police at the Funeral (37 page)

‘Another souvenir?' he said, dubiously. ‘You'll have a job to beat that lot in the hall. You jught to have took me with you.'

‘That's where you're wrong,' said his master feelingly. ‘Be quiet a minute.'

‘Touchy, ain't yer?' the big man protested.

Campion ignored him. He had removed the wrappings and there now lay revealed a small wooden box of Tunbridge Wells ware. He picked it up admiringly and lifted the lid. As he caught sight of the contents an exclamation escaped him, and Lugg, who was peering under his arm, was silent with respectful astonishment.

On a nest of quilted pink silk lay a heart-shaped miniature. It was a delicately lovely piece of work, the frame set with small rubies and brilliants.

On the ivory was a portrait of a girl.

Her sleek black hair was parted in the centre and arranged in small curls on either side of her face. Her dark eyes were grave and large, her small nose straight, her lips smiled. She was very beautiful.

It took Mr Campion some time to realize that he held an early portrait of Mrs Caroline Faraday.

This story, the characters in it, and the bridge in the Grantchester Meadows, are figments of the author's imagination, and have no reference to real incident, living people or topographical facts.

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Epub ISBN: 9781448180714
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Copyright © Rights Limited (a Chorion company) 1931

Margery Allingham has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

First published in Great Britain by William Heinemann in 1931

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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library