Evan entered Mr. Parker Pyne's office on the
Friday morning in a considerable turmoil. Hope
and skepticism fought for mastery.
Mr. Parker Pyne rose to meet him with a beaming
smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Llewellyn. Sit down.
Have a cigarette?"
Llewellyn waved aside the proffered box.
"Well?" he said.
"Very well indeed," said Mr. Parker Pyne.
"The police arrested the gang last night."
THE REGATTA MYSTERY
23
"The gang? What gang?"
"The Amalfi gang. I thought of them at once
when you told me your story. I recognized their
methods and once you had described the guests,
well, there was no doubt at all in my mind."
"Who are the Amalfi gang?"
"Father, son and daughter-in-law--that is if
Pietro and Maria are really married--which some
doubt."
"I don't understand."
"It's quite simple. The name is Italian and no
doubt the origin is Italian, but old Amalfi was
born in America. His methods are usually the
same. He impersonates a real business man, intro-duces
himself to some prominent figure in the
jewel business in some European country and then
plays his little trick. In this case he was deliber-ately