"The Sefiorita DOlores Ramona will leave Poi-lensa
tomorrow morning and the island tomorrow
night.."
"Oh, Mr. Parker Pyne! How did you manage
it?"
"It won't cost a Cnt," said Mr. Parker Pyne.
Again his cycs twinkled. "I rather fancied I might
have a hold over her---and I was right."
"You arc wonderful. Nina Wycherley was quite
right. Youmust let me know--er--your fees-'
Mr. Parker Pyue held up a well-manicured
hand.
"Not a penny. It has been a pleasure. I hope all
will go well. Of course the boy will be very upset at
first when he finds she's disappeared and left no
address. Just go easy with him for a week or two."
"If only Betty will forgive him--"
"She'll forgive him all right. They're a nice
couple. By the way, I'm leaving tomorrow, too."
"Oh, Mr. Parker lyne, we shall miss you."
"Perhaps it's just as well I should go before that
boy of yours gets infatuated with yet a third girl."
Mr. Parker Pyne leaned over the rail of the
100
Agatha Christie
steamer and looked at the lights of Palma. Beside
him stood Dolores Ramona. He was saying appre-ciatively:
"A very nice piece of work, Madeleine. I'm
glad I wired you to come out. It's odd when you're
such a quiet stay-at-home girl really."