The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories

Basil Chester was coming up the steps from the sea front. With him was a girl so exotically beauti-ful that it quite took your breath away. She was dark and her figure was marvelous. No one could fail to notice the fact since she wore nothing but a single garment of pale blue crepe. She was heavily made up with ocher powder and an orange scarlet mouth--but the unguents only displayed her re-markable beauty in a more pronounced fashion. As for young Basil, he seemed unable to take his eyes from her face.

"You're very late, Basil," said his mother. "You were to have taken Betty to Mac's."

"My fault," drawled the beautiful unknown. "We just drifted." She turned to Basil. "Angel-

94 Agatha Christie

get me something with a kick in it!"

She tossed off her shoe and stretched out her

manicured toenails which were done emerald green to match her fingernails. She paid no attention to the two women, but she leaned a little towards Mr. Parlcr. Pyne. "Terrible island this," she said. "I wds just dying with boredom before I met Basil. He is rather a pet!" "Mr. Parker PynemMiss Ramona," said Mrs. Chester. The girl acknowledged the introduction with a lazy smile. "I guess I'll call you Parker almost at once," she murmured. "My name's Dolores." Basil returned with the drinks. Miss Ramona divided her conversation (what there was of it--it was mostly glances) between Basil and Mr. Parker Pyne. Of the two women she took no notice whatever. Betty attempted once or twice to join in the conversation but the other girl merely stared at her and yawned. Suddenly Dolores rose. "Guess I'll be going along now. I'm at the other hotel. Anyone coming to see me home?" Basil sprang up. "I'll come with you."

Mrs. Chester said: "Basil, my dear--" "I'll be back presently, Mother." "Isn't he the mother's boy?" Miss Ramona asked of the world at large. "Just toots 'round after her, don't you?" Basil flushed and looked awkward. Miss Ramona gave a nod in Mrs. Chester's direction, a

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dazzling smile to Mr. Parker Pyne and she and Basil moved off together.

After they had gone there was rather an awk-ward silence. Mr. Parker Pyne did not like to speak first. Betty Gregg was twisting her fingers and looking out to sea. Mrs. Chester looked flushed and angry.

Betty said: "Well, what do you think of our new acquisition in Pollensa Bay?" Her voice was not quite steady.

Mr. Parker Pyne said cautiously:

"A little--er--exotic."

"Exotic?" Betty gave a short bitter laugh.

Mrs. Chester said: "She's terrible--terrible. Basil must be quite mad."

Betty said sharply: "Basil's all right."

"Her toenails," said Mrs. Chester with a shiver of nausea.

Betty rose suddenly.

"I think, Mrs. Chester, I'll go home and not stay to dinner after all."

"Oh, my dear--Basil will be so disappointed." "Will he?" asked Betty with a short laugh. "Anyway, I think I will. I've got rather a head-ache."

She smiled at them both and went off. Mrs. Chester turned to Mr. Parker Pyne.

"I wish we had never come to this place--never!"

Mr. Parker Pyne shook his head sadly.

"You shouldn't have gone away," said Mrs. Chester. "If you'd been here this wouldn't have happened."

Mr. Parker Pyne was stung to respond,

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"My dear lady, I can assure you that when it comes to a question of a beautiful young woman, I should have no influence over your son what-ever. He--er--seems to be of a very ?uscePtible nature."

"He never used to be," said Mrs. Chester tear-fully.

"Well," said Mr. Parker Pyne with an attempt

at cheerfulness, "this new attraction seems to have

broken the back of his infatuation for Miss Gregg. That must be some satisfaction to you."

"I don't know what you mean," said Mrs. Chester. "Betty is a dear child and devoted to Basil. She is behaving extremely well over this. I think my boy must be mad."

Mr. Parker Pyne received this startling change of face without wincing. He had met inconsistency in women before. He said mildly:

"Not exactly mad--j ust bewitched."

"The creature's a Dago. She's impossible." "But extremely good-looking." Mrs. Chester snorted.

Basil ran up the steps from the sea front. "Hullo, Mater, here I am. Where's Betty?"

"Betty's gone home with a headache. I don't wonder. ' '

"Sulking, you mean."

"I consider, Basil, that you are being extremely unkind to Betty."

"For God's sake, Mother, don't jaw. If Betty is going to make this fuss every time I speak to

another girl a nice sort of life we'll lead together." "You are engaged."

"Oh, we're engaged all right. That doesn't

PROBLEM AT POLLENSA BAY 97

mean that we're not going to have any friends of our own. Nowadays people have to lead their own

lives and try to cut out jealousy."

He paused.

"Look here, if Betty isn't going to dine with

us--I think I'll go back to the Mariposa. They did

ask me to dine "

"Oh, Basil--"

The boy gave her an exasperated look, then ran off down the steps.

Mrs. Chester looked eloquently at Mr. Parker Pyne.

"You see," she said.

He saw.