Read Online At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie - Free Book Online Page A

nice,” said Elvira. “Then he'll feel more that he's chosen my present himself, won't he?” Her limpid blue gaze was raised to the jeweller's face. That same blue gaze had registered a moment earlier that the time was now exactly twenty-five minutes past the hour.
    Outside there was the squealing of brakes and a girl's loud scream. Inevitably the eyes of everyone in the shop turned towards the windows of the shop giving on Bond Street. The movement of Elvira's hand on the counter in front of her and then to the pocket of her neat tailor-made coat and skirt was so rapid and unobtrusive as to be almost unnoticeable, even if anybody had been looking.
    “Tcha, tcha,” said Mr Bollard, turning back from where he had been peering out into the street. “Very nearly an accident. Silly girl! Rushing across the road like that.”
    Elvira was already moving towards the door. She looked at her wristwatch and uttered an exclamation.
    “Oh dear, I've been far too long in here. I shall miss my train back to the country. Thank you so much, Mr Bollard, and you won't forget which the four things are, will you?”
    In another minute she was out of the door. Turning rapidly to the left and then to the left again, she stopped in the arcade of a shoe shop until Bridget, rather breathless, rejoined her.
    “Oh,” said Bridget, “I was terrified. I thought I was going to be killed. And I've torn a hole in my stocking, too.”
    “Never mind,” said Elvira and walked her friend rapidly along the street and round yet another corner to the right. “Come on.”
    “Is it - was it - all right?”
    Elvira's hand slipped into her pocket and out again showing the diamond and sapphire bracelet in her palm.
    “Oh, Elvira, how you dared!”
    “Now, Bridget, you've got to get along to the pawnshop we marked down. Go in and see how much you can get for this. Ask for a hundred.”
    “Do you think - supposing they say - I mean - I mean, it might be on a list of stolen things -”
    “Don't be silly. How could it be on a list so soon? They haven't even noticed it's gone yet.”
    “But Elvira, when they do notice it's gone, they'll think - perhaps they'll know - that you must have taken it.”
    “They might think so - if they discover it soon.”
    “Well, then they'll go to the police and -” She stopped as Elvira shook her head slowly, her pale yellow hair swinging to and fro and a faint enigmatic smile curving up the corners of her mouth.
    “They won't go to the police, Bridget. Certainly not if they think I took it.”
    “Why - you mean -?”
    “As I told you, I'm going to have a lot of money when I'm twenty-one. I shall be able to buy lots of jewels from them. They won't make a scandal. Go on and get the money quick. Then go to Aer Lingus and book the ticket - I must take a taxi to Prunier's. I'm already ten minutes late. I'll be with you tomorrow morning by half-past ten.”
    “Oh Elvira, I wish you wouldn't take such frightful risks,” moaned Bridget.
    But Elvira had hailed a taxi.

At Bertram's Hotel
    II
    Miss Marple had a very enjoyable time at Robinson and Cleaver's. Besides purchasing expensive but delicious sheets - she loved linen sheets with their texture and their coolness - she also indulged in a purchase of good quality red-bordered dish cloths. Really the difficulty in getting proper dish cloths nowadays! Instead, you were offered things that might as well have been ornamental tablecloths, decorated with radishes or lobsters or the Tour Eiffel or Trafalgar Square, or else littered with lemons and oranges. Having given her address in St Mary Mead, Miss Marple found a convenient bus which took her to the Army and Navy Stores.
    The Army and Navy Stores had been a haunt of Miss Marple's aunt in days long gone. It was not, of course, quite the same nowadays. Miss Marple cast her thoughts back to Aunt Helen seeking out her own special man in the grocery department, settling herself comfortably in a chair, wearing a bonnet and what