The Blood of an Englishman by M. C. Beaton Page B

we’re fully booked until the end of the run. We’ll be able to make up our losses.”
    â€œBut won’t some members of the cast be too frightened?” asked Toni.
    â€œNo. They’re all elated at the thought of big audiences and press coverage,” said Gareth.
    â€œMay I use your bathroom?” asked Agatha.
    â€œUp the stairs on the left.”
    Agatha hurried up to the bathroom, went in and locked the door. She stripped off, removed the body stocking and stuffed it into her capacious handbag and had a luxurious scratch before putting her clothes on again.
    She arrived back downstairs in time to hear Toni saying, “I cannot understand what made your leading man give up his place to George Southern.”
    â€œNeither can I,” said Gareth. “Particularly as everyone believes John is sweet on Gwen.”
    â€œWell, he’ll be able to marry her now,” commented Toni, suddenly aware of a gimlet stare from Agatha and wondering what she had done wrong.
    But she went on, “Was George Southern in the way of playing practical jokes?”
    â€œI’m afraid so. Some of them could be quite cruel.”
    â€œSuch as?” asked Agatha.
    â€œOh, stupid things. In the ladies’ toilet at the town hall, he put cling film over the lavatory pans. He put pepper into the powder bowl so Pixie Turner had a violent fit of sneezing and all her make-up had to be done again. Things like that. Pixie threatened to kill him. But then we all did at one time or another.”
    â€œMy money’s on the blacksmith,” said Agatha. “Anyone been charged with anything?”
    â€œColin Blain has been charged with carrying a dangerous weapon. But at the moment, it’s John who is the prime suspect.”
    â€œWhy?” asked Agatha.
    â€œWell, George would never have got the part otherwise and played that trick which obviously annoyed someone so much that they murdered him.”
    â€œBut I don’t see how that makes John Hale guilty. He’s been married and is no doubt paying alimony on a teacher’s salary,” said Toni. “Maybe George Southern paid him something.”
    Agatha began to wish she had not brought Toni. She did not want her romantic dreams of being married to a gorgeous man dimmed by suspicion.
    Gareth interrupted her thoughts by asking, “As a detective, you do have a license?”
    â€œNever needed one,” said Agatha.
    â€œYou will soon,” said Gareth. “You will need to be licensed by the Security Agency Authority and go on a training course.”
    â€œBut I don’t need a training course,” exclaimed Agatha. “I have a great track record.”
    â€œIt’s soon to be the law,” said Toni.
    â€œAnd how on earth is the work of the agency supposed to be done while we’re all on training courses,” complained Agatha.
    â€œI’m sure we’ll cope somehow,” said Toni. “I read about it. It’s because they claim there are a lot of rogue agencies tapping into phones and paying for access to bank accounts. The press don’t know why they should have been singled out for criminal prosecution when some detective agencies were guilty of phone hacking as well.”
    Agatha turned her mind back to the case. “Gareth,” she urged, “think hard. It’s maybe someone in the theatre. If anyone is mad and vicious enough to plan and execute these murders, you must have some idea.”
    â€œI haven’t,” said Gareth. “Amateur companies are often full of inflated egos and quarrels do start, but I cannot think of someone so full of hate.”
    They could get nothing interesting out of him and eventually took their leave.
    Outside, Winter Parva was living up to its name. It was a bitterly cold day. An icy wind had sprung up.
    â€œWhat now?” asked Toni.
    â€œI’m afraid all we can do at the moment,” said Agatha, “is go back