Mr. Parker Pyne at Palma in the early hours of
the morning--and straightaway he met with disillusionment.
The hotels were full! The best that
could be done for him was an airless cupboard
overlooking an inner court in a hotel in the center
of the town--and with that Mr. Parker Pyne was
not prepared to put up. The proprietor of the
hotel was indifferent to his disappointment.
"What will you?" he observed with a shrug.
Palma was popular now! The exchange was favorable!
Everyone--the English, the Americans--they
all came to Majorca in the winter. The whole
place was crowded. It was doubtful if the English
gentleman would be able to get in anywhere--except
perhaps at Formentor where the prices were
so ruinous that even foreigners blenched at them.
Mr. Parker Pyne partook of some coffee and a
roll and went out to view the cathedral, but found
79
80
Agatha Christie
himself in no mood for apprecisung
lies
of architecture.
[ke
He next had a conference with a "
Rea
driver in inadequate French inte x.
.ith
native Spanish, and they discussed th "dly,0d