The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories

"When did your husband first

inform you of his

visit to Scotland?"

"Just after lunch. He said it was

a

bore,

but

38 Agatha Christie

he'd have to go. Something to do with land values, he said it was."

"And after that?"

"He went out--to his club, I think. I--I didn't see him again."

"Now as to Major Rich--what was his manner

that evening? Just as usual?" "Yes, I think so." "You are not sure?" Marguerita wrinkled her brows.

"He wasma little constrained. With me--not with the others. But I thought I knew why that was. You understand? I am sure the constraint or--or--absentmindedness perhaps describes it better--had nothing to do with Edward. He was surprised to hear that Edward had gone to Scot-land, but not unduly so."

"And nothing else unusual occurs to you in

connection with that evening?" Marguerita thought. "No, nothing whatever."

"You--noticed the chest?"

She shook her head with a little shiver.

"I don't even remember it--or what it was like.

We played poker most of the evening."

"Who won?"

"Major Rich. I had very bad luck, and so did Major Curtiss. The Spences won a little, but

Major Rich was the chief winner."

"The party broke up--when?"

"About half-past twelve, I think. We all left together."

"Ah!"

THE MYSTERY OF THE BAGDAD CHEST 39

Poirot remained silent, lost in thought.

"I wish I could be more helpful to you," said Mrs. Clayton. "I seem to be able to tell you so little."

"About the present--yes. What about the past, madame?"

"The past?"

"Yes. Have there not been incidents?"

She flushed.

"You mean that dreadful little man who shot himself. It wasn't my fault, M. Poirot. Indeed it wasn't."

"It was not precisely of that incident that I was thinking."

"That ridiculous due!? But Italians do fight duels. I was so thankful the man wasn't killed."

"It must have been a relief to you," agreed

Poirot gravely.

She was looking at him doubtfully. He rose and took her hand in his.

"I shall not fight a duel for you, madame," he said. "But I will do what you have asked me. I will discover the truth. And let us hope that your in-stincts are correct--that the truth will help and not harm you."

Our first interview was with Major Curtiss. He was a man of about forty, of soldierly build, with very dark hair and a bronzed face. He had known the Claytons for some years and Major Rich also. He confirmed the press reports.

Clayton and he had had a drink together at the club just before half-past seven, and Clayton had then announced his intention of looking in on

40 Agath Christie

Major Rich on lais waYlo Euston.

"What was Mr. Claton's'manner? Was he de-pressed or cheerful?"

The major C°nsiderd. He was a slow-spoken

man.

"Seemed in fairly g%d spirits," he said at last.

"He said nothing bout being on bad terms with Major RicI?''

"Good Lord, no. They were pals."

"He didn't oIject t°'-his wife's friendship with Major Rich?"

The major became Very red in the face. "You've been. r.ea. ding those damned news-papers, with tlaelr nm[s and lies. Of course he didn't object. Why, he said to me: 'Marguerita's

going, of course"" "I see. Now during the evening--the manner of

Major Rich--Was that huch as usual?"

"I didn't notice any qifference."

"And madar0e? She, too, was as usual." "Well," he reflected, "now I come to think of it, she was a bit quiet. You know, thoughtful and faraway."

"Who arrived first?"

"The SpenceS' They were there when I got there. As a mStter of tact, I'd called round for Mrs. Clayton, Itt f°unl she'd already started. So I got there a bit late."

"And how did you amuse yourselves? You danced? You pi$yed the cards?"

"A bit of botl. Danced first of all."

' "There were five of Yu?"

"Yes, but that's all right, because I don't dance.

I put on the records and the others danced."

THE MYSTERY OF THE BAGDAD CHEST 41

"Who danced most with whom?"

"Well, as a matter of fact the Spences like danc-ing together. They've got a sort of craze on fancy steps and all that."

"So that Mrs. Clayton danced mostly with Major Rich?"

"That's about it."

"And then you played poker?"

"Yes."

"And when did you leave?" "Oh, quite early. A little after midnight."

"Did you all leave together?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, we shared a taxi, dropped Mrs. Clayton first, then me, and the Spences took it on to Kensington."

Our next visit was to Mr. and Mrs. Spence. Only Mrs. Spence was at home, but her account of the evening tallied with that of Major Curtiss except that she displayed a slight acidity concern-ing Major Rich's luck at cards.

Earlier in the morning Poirot had had a tele-phone conversation with Inspector Japp, of Scot-land Yard. As a result we arrived at Major Rich's rooms and found his manservant, Burgoyne, ex-pecting us.

The valet's evidence was very precise and clear. Mr. Clayton had arrived at twenty minutes to eight. Unluckily Major Rich had just that very minute gone out. Mr. Clayton had said that he couldn't wait, as he had to catch a train, but he would just scrawl a note. He accordingly went into

the sitting room to do so. Burgoyne had not ac-tually heard his master come in, as he was running