The Parliament House by Edward Marston Page A

my circle who would be at all interested to hear about it. Until today, I'd forgotten that the subject had ever been raised. When I dine with friends,' he said with a chuckle, 'I like to drink my fill and that means I remember very little of what was said.' His brow furrowed and he pursed his lips in concentration. 'No,' he decided at length, 'I told nobody - not even my wife.'
        'Then I'm sorry to have taken up your time.'
        'Not at all, Mr Bale. I'm glad that you came. I must call on Francis and offer my condolences. He's off to Cambridge, you say?'
        'Yes, sir. Mr Everett's wife and family have yet to be told.'
        'My heart goes out to them.'
        'I do not envy Mr Polegate's task.'
        Howlett sighed. 'It's never good to be the bearer of sad news.'
        'No, sir.' Bale got to his feet. 'I must be off.'
        'Give me your address before you go, constable.'
        'My address?'
        'Yes,' said Howlett, getting up from his chair. 'I'm fairly certain that I spoke to nobody about Mr Everett, but memory sometimes plays tricks on me. If, perchance, I do recall telling someone about his visit to Francis Polegate's house, then I'll send the name to you at once.'
        
        
          The unexpected arrival of Lancelot and Brilliana Serle threw the house into a state of mild turmoil. Susan Cheever was taken by surprise.
        'We had no idea that you would be coming today,' she said.
        'Your letter more or less begged us to set out at once,' argued Brilliana. 'You may not have requested our help in so many words but I could read between the lines.'
        'I merely sought to keep you abreast of developments, Brilliana.'
        'A murder is more than a mere development.'
        'I'll not gainsay that.'
        'We are here now so you may count on our support.'
        'Yes,' added Serle, doffing his hat. 'Delighted to see you again, Susan. This whole business must have been very trying for you.'
        'Indeed, it has, Lancelot.'
        Susan had the feeling that their presence would make it even more trying but she did not say so. Instead, she summoned up a smile and made an effort to be hospitable, inquiring about their journey and asking what their immediate needs were. Her brother-in-law, as ever, was polite, attentive and innocuous. Susan was very fond of him. She also pitied Lancelot Serle for taking on the dazzling burden that was Brilliana. Duty obliged her to love her sister but Susan had never been able to bring herself wholeheartedly to like her. Years of being under the thumb of her elder sibling had left their mark upon her.
        Conducting the visitors into the parlour, she did her best to adjust to the fact that the house would be considerably noisier and more crowded from now on. Peace and quiet were alien to Brilliana. She liked to fill each day with inconsequential chatter. She was still complaining about the condition of the road to London when Sir Julius entered.
        'Father!' she trilled, going to him.
        'Good evening, Sir Julius,' said Serle.
        'What the devil are you two doing here?' demanded Sir Julius.
        'That's a poor welcome, to be sure!' protested Brilliana. 'Can you not even rise to a kiss for your daughter?' Her father reluctantly planted his lips on her cheek. 'That's better,' she said, standing back. 'Now, let me look at you properly. Has Susan been taking care of you?'
        'I can take care of myself, Brilliana.'
        'And you do it tolerably well, Sir Julius,' said Serle, hoping that a compliment might endear his father-in-law to him. 'I've never seen you in such fine feather.'
        'Then you need spectacles,' chided his wife. 'Father is not well.'
        'I was perfectly well until you appeared,' said Sir Julius.
        Brilliana gave a brittle laugh. 'You always did have a weakness for a jest, Father,' she said. 'But the fact is that you look pale and drawn
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