Ellery looked at her. “My dear young woman, I’d like to play Browning to your Ba, come to think of it... But their bathing-suits—”
Leonie colored. Then she said firmly: “That was a long, six-stranded rope. If you think Dorothy Nixon has it on her person now, in that bathing-suit...” Ellery glanced at Mrs. Nixon.
“I can’t say,” he chuckled, “that any of you in your present costumes could conceal an object larger than a fly’s wing. Ah, there, Lieutenant! How’s the water?”
“No good,” said Fiske, thrusting his chin over the pool’s edge.
“Why, Dick!” exclaimed Leonie. “I thought you liked—”
“Your fiancé,” murmured Ellery, “has just informed me that your pearls are nowhere in the pool, Miss Barrett.”
Mrs. Nixon slapped Harkness’s face, brought up her naked leg, set her rosy heel against the man’s wide chin, and shoved. Harkness laughed and went under.
“Swine,” said Mrs. Nixon pleasantly, climbing out.
“It’s your own fault,” said Leonie. “I told you not to wear that bathing-suit.”
“Look,” said the Lieutenant darkly, “who’s talking.”
“If you will invite Tarzan for a week-end,” began Mrs. Nixon, and she stopped. “What on earth are those men doing out there? They’re crawling!”
Everybody looked. Ellery sighed. “I believe the General is tired of our company and is directing some sort of wargame with his veterans. Does he often get that way, Miss Barrett?”
“Infantry manoeuvres,” said the Lieutenant quickly.
“That’s a silly game,” said Mrs. Nixon with spirit, taking off her cap. “What’s on for this afternoon, Leonie? Let’s do something exciting!”
“I think,” grinned Harkness, clambering out of the pool like a great monkey, “I’d like to play an exciting game, Mrs. Nixon, if you’re going to be in it.” The sun gleamed on his wet torso.
“Animal,” said Mrs. Nixon. “What shall it be, Mr. Queen?”
“Lord,” said Ellery. “I don’t know. Treasure hunt? It’s a little passé, but at least it isn’t too taxing on the brain.”
“That,” said Leonie, “has all the earmarks of a nasty crack. But I think it’s a glorious idea. You arrange things, Mr. Queen.”
“Treasure hunt?” Mrs. Nixon considered it. “Mmm. Sounds nice. Make the treasure something worth while, won’t you? I’m stony.”
Ellery paused in the act of lighting a cigaret. Then he threw his match away. “If I’m elected... When shall it be — after luncheon?” He grinned. “May as well do it up brown. I’ll fix the clues and things. Keep in the house, the lot of you. I don’t want any spying. Agreed?”
“We’re in your hands,” said Mrs. Nixon gaily.
“Lucky dog,” sighed Harkness.
“See you later, then.” Ellery strolled off toward the river. He heard Leonie’s fresh voice exhorting her guests to hurry into the house to dress for luncheon.
Major-General Barrett found him at noon standing by the parapet and gazing absently at the opposite shore, half a mile away. The old gentleman’s cheeks were bursting with blood and perspiration, and he looked angry and tired.
“Damn all thieves for black-hearted scoundrels!” he exploded, mopping his bald spot. Then he said inconsistently: “I’m beginning to think Leonie simply mislaid it.”
“You haven’t found it?”
“No sign of it.”
“Then where did she mislay it?”
“Oh, thunderation, I suppose you’re right. I’m sick of the whole blasted business. To think that a guest under my roof—”
“Who said,” sighed Ellery, “anything about a guest, General?”
The old gentleman glared. “Eh? What’s that? What d’ye mean?”
“Nothing at all. You don’t know. I don’t know. Nobody but the thief knows. Shouldn’t jump to conclusions, sir. Now, tell me. The search has been thorough?” Major-General Barrett groaned. “You’ve gone through Magruder’s cottage, too?”
“Certainly, certainly.”
“The stables?”
“My dear sir—”
“The trees?”
“And the trees,” snapped the General. “Every last place.”
“Good!”
“What’s good about it?”
Ellery looked astonished. “My dear General, it’s superb! I’m prepared for it. In fact, I anticipated it. Because we’re dealing with a very clever person.”
“You know—” gasped the General.
“Very little concretely. But I see a glimmer. Now will you go back to the house, sir, and freshen up? You’re fatigued, and you’ll need your energies for this afternoon. We’re to play a game.”
“Oh, heavens,” said the General; and he trudged off toward the house, shaking his head. Ellery watched him until he disappeared.
Then he squatted on the parapet and gave himself over to thought.
“Now, ladies and gentlemen,” began Ellery after they had assembled on the veranda at two o’clock, “I have spent the last two hours hard at work — a personal sacrifice which I gladly contribute to the gaiety of nations, and in return for which I ask only your lusty cooperation.”
“Hear,” said the General gloomily.
“Come, come, General, don’t be anti-social. Of course, you all understand the game?” Ellery lit a cigaret. “I have hidden the ‘treasure’ somewhere. I’ve left a trail to it — a winding trail, you understand, which you must follow step by step. At each step I’ve dropped a clue which, correctly interpreted, leads to the next step. The race is, naturally, to the mentally swift. This game puts a premium on brains.”
“That,” said Mrs. Nixon ruefully, “lets me out.” She was dressed in tight sweater and tighter slacks, with a blue ribbon in her hair.
“Poor Dick,” groaned Leonie. “I’m sure I shall have to pair up with him. He wouldn’t get to first base by himself.”
Fiske grinned, and Harkness drawled: “As long as we’re splitting up, I choose Mrs. N. Looks as if you’ll have to go it alone, General.”
“Perhaps,” said the General hopefully, “you young people would like to play by yourselves... ”
“By the way,” said Ellery, “all the clues are in the form of quotations, you know.”
“Oh, dear,” said Mrs. Nixon. “You mean such things as ‘first in war, first in peace’?”
“Ah — yes. Yes. Don’t worry about the source; it’s only the words themselves that concern you. Ready?”
“Wait a minute,” said Harkness. “What’s the treasure?”
Ellery threw his cigaret, which had gone out, into an ashtray. “Mustn’t tell. Get set, now! Let me quote you the first clue. It comes from the barbed quill of our old friend, Dean Swift — but disregard that. The quotation is—” he paused, and they leaned forward eagerly — “ ‘first (a fish) should swim in the sea.’ ”
The General said: “Hrrumph! Damned silly,” and settled in his chair. But Mrs. Nixon’s amber eyes shone and she jumped up.
“Is that all?” she cried. “Goodness, that isn’t the least bit difficult, Mr. Queen. Come on, Tarzan,” and she sped away over the lawns, followed by Harkness, who was grinning. They made for the parapet.
“Poor Dorothy,” sighed Leonie. “She means well, but she isn’t exactly blessed with brains. She’s taking the wrong tack, of course.”