Here Lies Gloria Mundy
Gladys Mitchell
Bradley 61
A 3S digital back-up edition 1.0
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Contents
chapter 1: a case in the papers
chapter 2: chance encounter
chapter 3: beeches lawn
chapter 4: unbidden guest
chapter 5: chapter of accidents
chapter 6: arson
chapter 7: ichabod
chapter 8: hounds in cry
chapter 9: chaucer’s prioress
chapter 10: colloquies
chapter 11: a conference with the accused
chapter 12: recapitulation with surprise ending
chapter 13: the revenant
chapter 14: unexpected developments
chapter 15: little progress
chapter 16: attempt at a volte-face
chapter 17: a letter from dame beatrice
chapter 18: exit gloria
chapter 19: a kind of pilgrimage
Also by Gladys Mitchell
SPEEDY DEATH
MYSTERY OF A BUTCHER’S SHOP
THE LONGER BODIES
THE SALTMARSH MURDERS
DEATH AT THE OPERA
THE DEVIL AT SAXON WALL
DEAD MAN’S MORRIS
COME AWAY DEATH
ST. PETER ‘S FINGER
PRINTER’S ERROR
BRAZEN TONGUE
HANGMAN’S CURFEW
WHEN LAST I DIED
LAURELS ARE POISON
THE WORSTED VIPER
SUNSET OVER SOHO
MY FATHER SLEEPS
THE RISING OF THE MOON
HERE COMES A CHOPPER
DEATH AND THE MAIDEN
THE DANCING DRUIDS
TOM BROWN’S BODY
GROANING SPINNEY
THE DEVIL ‘S ELBOW
THE ECHOING STRANGERS
MERLIN’S FURLONG
FAINTLEY SPEAKING
WATSON’S CHOICE
TWELVE HORSES AND THE HANGMAN’S NOOSE
THE TWENTY-THIRD MAN
SPOTTED HEMLOCK
THE MAN WHO GREW TOMATOES
SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
THE NODDING CANARIES
MY BONES WILL KEEP
ADDERS ON THE HEATH
DEATH OF A DELFT BLUE
PAGEANT OF MURDER
THE CROAKING RAVEN
SKELETON ISLAND
THREE QUICK AND FIVE DEAD
DANCE TO YOUR DADDY
GORY DEW
LAMENT FOR LETO
A HEARSE ON MAY DAY
THE MURDER OF BUSY LIZZIE
A JAVELIN FOR JONAH
WINKING AT THE BRIM
CONVENT ON STYX
LATE, LATE IN THE EVENING
NOONDAY AND NIGHT
FAULT IN THE STRUCTURE
WRAITHS AND CHANGELINGS
MINGLED WITH VENOM
NEST OF VIPERS
MUDFLATS OF THE DEAD
UNCOFFIN’D CLAY
THE WHISPERING KNIGHTS
THE DEATH-CAP DANCERS
LOVERS, MAKE MOAN
here lies gloria mundy. Copyright © 1982 by Gladys Mitchell.
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Mitchell, Gladys, 1901-
Here lies Gloria Mundy.
I. Title.
PR6025.I832H4 1983 823'.912 83-2924
ISBN 0-312-36986-7
First published in Great Britain by Michael Joseph Ltd.
First U.S. Edition
To
QUENTIN
who, like St Joan, has accepted
the burdens which are too heavy
for the rest of us
1
A Case in the Papers
^ »
At school I always insisted that my first name was Colin. This is an acceptable name among boys. My baptismal name of Corin is not, although why this should be I don’t know. Can one consonant make such a difference?
The trouble is that I have a twin sister whom my father was determined should be christened Corinna. My mother wanted her called Oenone, so, to settle the matter, they agreed upon Corin and Corinna, much to my youthful discomfiture. Talk about ‘Hello, twins!’
When I got to university, however, I realised that it was no bad thing to have a name which, so far as I know, has nothing but literary connections, so I reverted to Corin and have become, in a modest way, part of the contemporary scribal scene. That is to say, I earn my living as a writer under the name of Corin Stratford. Stratford is not my patronymic, but nowadays most people use it, as I have made it clear that it is in my professional interests that my name should be publicised as much as possible.
I was determined not to tie myself down to a nine-to-five job, but neither was I prepared to do a Mr Micawber and wait for something to turn up. My father was willing to continue my small allowance — as much as he could possibly afford — for a couple of years after I left college, but after that I had to fend for myself. Fair enough, I thought. I had faith in myself and decided to make my name the appendage to a modicum of fame even if I starved while this was happening.
‘Does the road wind uphill all the way?’ asked Christina Rossetti. Well, it certainly did for me, but, after a hard slog, the way up has eased to a gentle gradient and at the beginning of this year I found myself, if not affluent, at least able to afford a small flat in Baker Street instead of being in digs, and to take a holiday when and where I chose.
I had been in the flat for only a fortnight when I read about the murder of a young woman who had been living in one room in the neighbourhood of Earls Court.
I had done some freelance work for Dawn Chorus, the paper which carried the fullest coverage of the murder, so I telephoned and was told (as I had expected) that the story was being covered by the paper’s own reporters. However, I was also told when and where the inquest was to be held, and I decided to attend it, since it seemed to me, judging by the account given in the papers, that, after a lapse of time and some artful manipulation of the facts, a lucrative bit of fiction might evolve. It was a long-term proposition, but I am a patient man and so much inured to delays, frustrations and disappointments that I have become something of a philosopher and content to bide my time.
The coroner’s court was full, for any chance of obtaining free entertainment is not to be missed. I managed to get a seat next to one of the Dawn Chorus reporters just before the coroner got to work. Compared with the luridly written-up account of the murder in the newspaper, however, the proceedings were colourless and dull. Evidence of identity and the medical evidence were dealt with and the police then asked for an adjournment.