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Authors: Agatha Christie
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however, that politics was not Lord Westholme's mŽtier in life and never
would be, she graciously allowed him to resume his sporting activities and herself stood
for Parliament. Being elected with a substantial majority, Lady Westholme threw herself
with vigor into political life, being especially active at Question time. Cartoons of her
soon began to appear (always a sure sign of success). As a public figure she stood for the
old-fashioned values of Family Life, Welfare work amongst Women, and was an ardent
supporter of the League of Nations. She had decided views on questions of Agriculture,
Housing and Slum Clearance. She was much respected and almost universally disliked! It was
highly possible that she would be given an Under Secretaryship when her Party returned to
power. At the moment a Liberal Government (owing to a split in the National Government
between Labor and Conservatives) was somewhat unexpectedly in power. Lady Westholme looked
with grim satisfaction after the departing car. “Men always think they can impose upon
women,” she said.
Sarah thought that it would be a brave man who thought he could impose upon Lady
Westholme! She introduced Dr. Gerard who had just come out of the hotel.
“Your name is, of course, familiar to me,” said Lady Westholme, shaking hands. “I was
talking to Professor Clemenceaux the other day in Paris. I have been taking up the
question of the treatment of pauper lunatics very strongly lately. Very strongly, indeed.
Shall we come inside while we wait for a better car to be obtained?”
A vague little middle-aged lady with wisps of gray hair who was hovering near by turned
out to be Miss Annabel Pierce, the fourth member of the party. She too was swept into the
lounge under Lady Westholme's protecting wing.
“You are a professional woman Miss King?”
“I've just taken my M.B..”
“Good,” said Lady Westholme with condescending approval. “If anything is to be
accomplished, mark my words, it is women who will do it.”
Uneasily conscious for the first time of her sex, Sarah followed Lady Westholme meekly to
a seat. There, as they sat waiting, Lady Westholme informed them that she had refused an
invitation to stay with the High Commissioner during her stay in Jerusalem.
“I did not want to be hampered by officialdom. I wished to look into things for myself.”
“What things?” Sarah wondered.
Lady Westholme went on to explain that she was staying at the Solomon Hotel so as to
remain unhampered. She added that she had made several suggestions to the Manager for the
more competent running of his hotel.
“Efficiency,” said Lady Westholme, “is my Watchword.”
It certainly seemed to be! In a quarter of an hour a large and extremely comfortable car
arrived and in due course - after advice from Lady Westholme as to how the luggage should
be bestowed - the party set off.
Their first halt was the Dead Sea. They had lunch at Jericho. Afterwards when Lady
Westholme armed with a Baedeker had gone off with Miss Pierce, the doctor and the fat
dragoman to do a tour of old Jericho, Sarah remained in the garden of the hotel.
Her head ached slightly and she wanted to be alone. A deep depression weighed her down - a
depression for which she found it hard to account. She felt suddenly listless and
uninterested, disinclined for sightseeing, bored by her companions. She wished at this
moment that she had never committed herself to this Petra tour. It was going to be very
expensive and she felt quite sure she wasn't going to enjoy it! Lady Westholme's booming
voice, Miss Pierce's endless twitterings, and the anti-Zionist lamentation of the dragoman
were already fraying her nerves to a frazzle. She disliked almost as much Dr. Gerard's
amused air of knowing exactly how she was feeling.
She wondered where the Boyntons were now - perhaps they had gone on to Syria - they might
would be, she graciously allowed him to resume his sporting activities and herself stood
for Parliament. Being elected with a substantial majority, Lady Westholme threw herself
with vigor into political life, being especially active at Question time. Cartoons of her
soon began to appear (always a sure sign of success). As a public figure she stood for the
old-fashioned values of Family Life, Welfare work amongst Women, and was an ardent
supporter of the League of Nations. She had decided views on questions of Agriculture,
Housing and Slum Clearance. She was much respected and almost universally disliked! It was
highly possible that she would be given an Under Secretaryship when her Party returned to
power. At the moment a Liberal Government (owing to a split in the National Government
between Labor and Conservatives) was somewhat unexpectedly in power. Lady Westholme looked
with grim satisfaction after the departing car. “Men always think they can impose upon
women,” she said.
Sarah thought that it would be a brave man who thought he could impose upon Lady
Westholme! She introduced Dr. Gerard who had just come out of the hotel.
“Your name is, of course, familiar to me,” said Lady Westholme, shaking hands. “I was
talking to Professor Clemenceaux the other day in Paris. I have been taking up the
question of the treatment of pauper lunatics very strongly lately. Very strongly, indeed.
Shall we come inside while we wait for a better car to be obtained?”
A vague little middle-aged lady with wisps of gray hair who was hovering near by turned
out to be Miss Annabel Pierce, the fourth member of the party. She too was swept into the
lounge under Lady Westholme's protecting wing.
“You are a professional woman Miss King?”
“I've just taken my M.B..”
“Good,” said Lady Westholme with condescending approval. “If anything is to be
accomplished, mark my words, it is women who will do it.”
Uneasily conscious for the first time of her sex, Sarah followed Lady Westholme meekly to
a seat. There, as they sat waiting, Lady Westholme informed them that she had refused an
invitation to stay with the High Commissioner during her stay in Jerusalem.
“I did not want to be hampered by officialdom. I wished to look into things for myself.”
“What things?” Sarah wondered.
Lady Westholme went on to explain that she was staying at the Solomon Hotel so as to
remain unhampered. She added that she had made several suggestions to the Manager for the
more competent running of his hotel.
“Efficiency,” said Lady Westholme, “is my Watchword.”
It certainly seemed to be! In a quarter of an hour a large and extremely comfortable car
arrived and in due course - after advice from Lady Westholme as to how the luggage should
be bestowed - the party set off.
Their first halt was the Dead Sea. They had lunch at Jericho. Afterwards when Lady
Westholme armed with a Baedeker had gone off with Miss Pierce, the doctor and the fat
dragoman to do a tour of old Jericho, Sarah remained in the garden of the hotel.
Her head ached slightly and she wanted to be alone. A deep depression weighed her down - a
depression for which she found it hard to account. She felt suddenly listless and
uninterested, disinclined for sightseeing, bored by her companions. She wished at this
moment that she had never committed herself to this Petra tour. It was going to be very
expensive and she felt quite sure she wasn't going to enjoy it! Lady Westholme's booming
voice, Miss Pierce's endless twitterings, and the anti-Zionist lamentation of the dragoman
were already fraying her nerves to a frazzle. She disliked almost as much Dr. Gerard's
amused air of knowing exactly how she was feeling.
She wondered where the Boyntons were now - perhaps they had gone on to Syria - they might
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