Inspector Alleyn 3-Book Collection 2. Ngaio Marsh

painting is far from academic but not always non-figurative. One of its most distinguished characteristics is a very subtle sense of movement brought about by the interrelationships of form and line. Her greatest regret is that she never painted the portrait of Isabella Sommita, which was commissioned in the book I am at present writing. The diva was to have been portrayed with her mouth wide open, letting fly with her celebrated A above high C. It is questionable whether she would have been pleased with the result. It would have been called Top Note.

      Troy and Alleyn suit each other. Neither impinges upon the other’s work without being asked, with the result that in Troy’s case she does ask pretty often, sometimes gets argumentative and uptight over the answer and almost always ends up by following the suggestion. She misses Alleyn very much when they are separated. This is often the case, given the nature of their work, and on such occasions each feels incomplete and they write to each other like lovers.

      Perhaps it is advisable, on grounds of credibility, not to make too much of the number of times coincidence mixes Troy up in her husband’s cases: a situation that he embraces with mixed feelings. She is a reticent character and as sensitive as a sea urchin, but she learns to assume and even feel a certain detachment.

      ‘After all,’ she has said to herself, ‘I married him and I would be a very boring wife if I spent half my time wincing and showing sensitive.’

      I like Troy. When I am writing about her, I can see her with her shortish dark hair, thin face and hands. She’s absentminded, shy and funny, and she can paint like nobody’s business. I’m always glad when other people like her, too.

Death in Ecstasy

DEATH IN ECSTASY

       Dedication

       For the family in Kent

       Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

       Dedication

       The Characters in the Case

Foreword

PART ONE

1 Entrance to a Cul-de-sac

2 The House of the Sacred Flame

3 Death of an Ecstatic Spinster

4 The Yard

5 A Priest and Two Acolytes

6 Mrs Candour and Mr Ogden

7 Janey and Maurice

8 The Temperament of M. de Ravigne

9 Miss Wade

10 A Piece of Paper and a Bottle

11 Contents of a Desk, a Safe, and a Bookcase

12 Alleyn Takes Stock

PART TWO

13 Nannie

14 Nigel Takes Stock

15 Father Garnette Explores the Contents of a Mare’s Nest

16 Mr Ogden Puts his Trust in Policemen

17 Mr Ogden Grows Less Trustful

18 Contribution from Miss Wade

19 Alleyn Looks for a Flat

       20 Fools Step In

       21 Janey Breaks a Promise

       22 Sidelight on Mrs Candour

       23 Mr Ogden at Home

       24 Maurice Speaks

       25 Alleyn Snuffs the Flame

       Foreword

      In case the House of the Sacred Flame might be thought to bear a superficial resemblance to any existing church or institution, I hasten to say that if any similarity exists it is purely fortuitous. The House of the Sacred Flame, its officials, and its congregation are all imaginative and exist only in Knocklatchers Row. None, as far as I am aware, has any prototype in any part of the world.

      My grateful thanks are due to Robin Page for his advice in the matter of sodium cyanide; to Guy Cotterill for the plan of the House of the Sacred Flame, and to Robin Adamson for his fiendish ingenuity in the matter of home-brewed poisons.

       NGAIO MARSH

       Christchurch, New Zealand

Part One