The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

all very peaceful and pleasant. Girls strolled about

in trouse with brightly colored handkerchiefs

tied round the upper halves of their bodies. Young

men in b¢ets with rather long hair held forth in

"Mac's !r" on such subjects as plastic values

and abstraction in art.

On the day after Mr. Parker Pyne's arrival,

Mrs. Chester made a few conventional remarks to

him on the subject of the view and the likelihood

of the weather keeping fine. She then chatted a

little with the German lady about knitting, and

had a few bleasant words about the sadness of the

political situation with two Danish gentlemen who

spent their time rising at dawn and walking for

eleven ho¥s.

Mr. Parker Pyne found Basil Chester a most

likeable Yung man. He called Mr. Parker Pyne

"sir" and listened most politely to anything the

older mar said. Sometimes the three English

people hq coffee together after dinner in the

evening. After the third day, Basil left the party

after ten' inutes or so and Mr. Parker Pyne was

left tte-/-tte with Mrs. Chester.

They tlked about flowers and the growing of

them, of the lamentable state of the English pound

and of how expensive France had become, and of

the diffic!ty of getting good afternoon tea.

Every ¢¥ening when her son departed, Mr.

Parker PYe saw the quickly concealed tremor of

her lips, It immediately she recovered and dis-