The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

Mr. Isaac Pointz removed a cigar from his lips and

said approvingly:

"Pretty little place."

Having thus set the seal of his approval upon

Dartmouth harbor, he .replaced the cigar and

looked about him with the air of a man pleased

with himself, his appearance, his surroundings

and life generally.

As regards the first of these, Mr. Isaac Pointz

was a man of fifty-eight, in good health and con-dition

with perhaps a slight tendency to liver. He

was not exactly stout, but comfortable-looking,

and a yachting costume, which he wore at the mo-ment,

is not the most kindly of attires far a

middle-aged man with a tendency to embonpoint.

Mr. Pointz was very well turned outmcorrect to

every crease and button--his dark and slightly

4

Agatha Christie

Oriental face beaming out under the peak of his

yachting cap. As regards his surroundings, these

may have been taken to mean his companions--his

partner Mr. Leo Stein, Sir George and Lady

Maroway, an American business acquaintance

Mr. Samuel Leathern and his schoolgirl daughter

Eve, Mrs. Rustington and Evan Llewellyn.

The party had just come ashore from Mr.

Pointz' yacht--the Merrirnaid. In the morning

they had watched the yacht racing and they had

now come ashore to join for a while in the fun of

the fair--Coconut shies, Fat Ladies, the Human

Spider and the Merry-go-round. It is hardly to be

doubted that these delights were relished most by

Eve Leathern. When Mr. Pointz finally suggested

that it was time to adjourn to the Royal George

for dinner hers was the only dissentient voice.

"Oh, Mr. Pointz--I did so want to have my fortune

told by the Real Gypsy in the Caravan."

Mr. Pointz had doubts of the essential Realness

of the Gypsy in question but he gave indulgent assent.

"Eve's just crazy about the fair," said her

father apologetically. "But don't you pay any attention

if you want to be getting along."

"Plenty of time," said Mr. Pointz benignantly.

"Let the little lady enjoy herself. I'll take you on

at darts, Leo."

"Twenty-five and over wins a prize," chanted

the man in charge of the darts in a high nasal

voice.

"Bet you a river my total score beats yours,"