drove me to extremes. Even now I believe he might
give me up--if his mother worked on him good
and hard."
"He might," said Mr. Parker Pyne. "If she
went about it the right way."
"Are you going to tell her the right way? She
won't think of it herself, you know. She'll just go
on disapproving and that won't do the trick. But if
you prompted her--"
92
Agatha Christie
She bit her lip--raised frank blue eyes to his.
"I've heard about you, Mr. Parker Pyne.
You're supposed to know something about human
nature. Do you think Basil and I could make a go
of it--or not?"
"I should like an answer to three questions."
"Suitability test? All right, go ahead."
"Do you sleep with your window open or
shut?"
"Open. I like lots of air."
"Do you and Basil enjoy the same kind of
food?"
"Yes."
"Do you like going to bed early or late?"
"Really, under the rose, early. At half-past ten
I yawn--and I secretly feel rather hearty in the
mornings--but of course I daren't admit it."
"You ought to suit each other very well," said
Mr. Parker Pyne.