The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

mischievous eye. She was, he noticed, not nearly

so made up as she had been the previous day at the

Pino d'Oro.

She gave him a cocktail and said with a twinkle:

PROBLEM AT POLLENSA BAY 91

"You're in on the big bust-up?"

Mr. Parker Pyne nodded.

"And whose side are you on, big boy? The

young lovers--or the disapproving dame?"

"May I ask you a question?"

"Certainly."

"Have you been very tactful over all this?"

"Not at all," said Miss Gregg frankly. "But the

old cat put mY back up" (she glanced round to

make sure that Basil was out of earshot). "That

woman just ma

kes me feel mad. She's kept Basil

tied to her apron strings all these years--that sort

of thing makes a man look a fool. Basil isn't a fool

really. Then she's so terribly pukka sahib."

"That's not really such a bad thing. It's merely

'unfashionable' just at present."

Betty Gregg gave a sudden twinkle.

"You mean it's like putting Chippendale chairs

in the attic in Victorian days? Later you get them

down again and say, 'Aren't they marvelous?'" "Something o if the kind."

Betty Gregg considered.

"Perhaps you're right. I'll be honest. It was

Basil who put my back up--being so anxious

about what impression I'd make on his mother. It