A Surfeit of Lampreys

A Surfeit of Lampreys
Ngaio Marsh

Ngaio Marsh’s most popular novel begins when a young New Zealander’s first contact with the English gentry is the body of Lord Wutherford – with a meat skewer through the eye…The Lampreys had plenty of charm – but no cash. They all knew they were peculiar – and rather gloried in it. The double and triple charades, for instance, with which they would entertain their guests – like rich but awful Uncle Gabriel, who was always such a bore. The Lampreys thought if they jollied him up he would bail them out – yet again.Instead, Uncle Gabriel met a violent end. And Chief Inspector Alleyn had to work our which of them killed him…

NGAIO MARSH

SURFEIT OF LAMPREYS

COPYRIGHT (#ulink_23d04787-3c73-5fd5-87f5-bc388c21c0a4)

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Harper

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

Published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2009

Surfeit of Lampreys first published in Great Britain by Collins 1941

Ngaio Marsh asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of these works

Copyright © Ngaio Marsh Ltd 1941

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HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication

Source ISBN: 9780006168102

Ebook Edition © OCTOBER 2009 ISBN: 9780007344550

Version: 2016-09-08

DEDICATION (#ulink_8894c09f-191b-5d86-90fc-99b0ce38c812)

For SIR HUGH & LADY ACLAND

with my love

For the one since he has helped me so often with my stories and for the other since she likes stories about London

CONTENTS

COVER (#ue2a1f700-3649-52e4-854c-beb4e7e36672)

TITLE PAGE (#uc19c0a8d-a7af-5e08-9b45-28ddf629a9d0)

COPYRIGHT (#ua61cfcaa-afb8-52ad-ab02-cd20fc7dbf5d)

DEDICATION (#u865d2a9e-978e-5b97-84a0-9623ac327e22)

CHARACTERS IN THE STORY (#u088e3f20-7c2b-5764-bad2-2e429716531b)

I. PRELUDE IN NEW ZEALAND (#u08168032-c916-51ae-9a3b-1473d9f6c501)

II. ARRIVAL IN LONDON (#u19929e6d-5c8f-5b8b-ae18-80387ef43b15)

III. PREPARATION FOR A CHARADE (#u53491ff1-aa6e-53dc-8013-b92f85ba7d79)

IV. UNCLE G. (#ue1ffb4ef-86f7-59b7-b77a-e46c86f6ffe0)

V. MIKE PUTS THE POT ON (#u120c6998-f4e8-5b19-873f-7aa52bfe9010)

VI. CATASTROPHE (#ud04b506c-b85a-567c-82cc-a9765cbea2c5)

VII. DEATH OF A PEER (#litres_trial_promo)

VIII. ALLEYN MEETS THE LAMPREYS (#litres_trial_promo)

IX. TWO, TWO, THE LILY-WHITE BOYS (#litres_trial_promo)

X. STATEMENT FROM A SMALL BOY (#litres_trial_promo)

XI. CONVERSATION PIECE (#litres_trial_promo)

XII. ACCORDING TO THE WIDOW (#litres_trial_promo)

XIII. THE SANITY OF LADY WUTHERWOOD (#litres_trial_promo)

XIV. PERJURY BY ROBERTA (#litres_trial_promo)

XV. ENTRANCE OF MR BATHGATE (#litres_trial_promo)

XVI. NIGHT THICKENS (#litres_trial_promo)

XVII. MR FOX FINDS AN EFFIGY (#litres_trial_promo)

XVIII. SCENE BY CANDLELIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

XIX. SEVERED HAND (#litres_trial_promo)

XX. PREPARATION FOR POVERTY (#litres_trial_promo)

KEEP READING (#litres_trial_promo)

ALSO BY THE AUTHOR (#litres_trial_promo)