Read Online Towards Zero by Agatha Christie - Free Book Online

went out of the room, banging the door.
    Thomas Royde stood stock still. He was not quite sure what to do next, but he was glad that young Mrs. Strange had gone. He stood and looked at the door that she had slammed so vigorously. Something of a tiger cat, the new Mrs. Strange.
    The window was darkened as Nevile Strange paused in the space between the trench windows. He was breathing rather fast.
    He greeted Thomas vaguely.
    “Oh - er - hullo, Royde, didn't know you'd arrived. I say, have you seen my wife?”
    “She passed through about a minute ago.” said the other.
    Nevile in his turn went out through the drawing-room door. He was looking annoyed.
    Thomas Royde went slowly through the open window. He was not a heavy walker. Not until he was a couple of yards away did Audrey turn her head.
    Then he saw those wide-apart eyes open wider, saw her lips part. She slipped down from the wall and came towards him, hands outstretched.
    “Oh, Thomas,” she said. “Dear Thomas! How glad I am you've come!”
    As he took the two small white hands in his and bent down to her Mary Aldin in her turn arrived at the French windows. Seeing the two on the terrace she checked herself, watched them for a moment or two, then slowly turned away and went back into the house.

Towards Zero
    II
    Upstairs Nevile had found Kay in her bedroom. The only large double-bedroom in the house was Lady Tressilian's. A married couple was always given the two rooms with communicating door and a small bathroom beyond on the west side of the house. It was a small isolated suite.
    Nevile passed through his own room and on into his wife's. Kay had flung herself down on her bed. Raising a tear-stained face, she cried out angrily: “So you've come! About time, too!”
    “What is all this fuss about? Have you gone quite crazy, Kay?”
    Nevile spoke quietly, but there was a dent at the corner of his nostril that registered restrained anger.
    “Why did you give that Illustrated Review to her and not to me?”
    “Really, Kay, you are a child. All this fuss about a wretched little picture paper.”
    “You gave it to her and not to me,” repeated Kay obstinately.
    “Well, why not? What does it matter?”
    “It matters to me.”
    “I don't know what's wrong with you. You can't behave in this hysterical fashion when you're staying in other people's houses. Don't you know how to behave in public?”
    “Why did you give it to Audrey?” “Because she wanted it.” “So did I, and I'm your wife.”
    “All the more reason, in that case, for giving it to an older woman and one who, technically, is no relation.”
    “She scored off me! She wanted to and she did. You were on her side!”
    “You're talking like an idiotic, jealous child. For goodness' sake, control yourself, and try and behave properly in public!”
    “Like she does, I suppose?”
    Nevile said coldly: “At any rate, Audrey can behave like a lady. She doesn't make an exhibition of herself.”
    “She's turning you against me! She hates me and she's getting her revenge.”
    “Look here, Kay, will you stop being melodramatic and completely foolish? I'm fed up!”
    “Then let's go away from here! Let's go to-morrow. I hate this place!” “We've only been here four days.” “It's quite enough! Do let's go, Nevile.”
    “Now look here, Kay. I've had enough of this. We came here for a fortnight, and I'm going to stay for a fortnight.”
    “If you do,” said Kay, “you'll be sorry. You and your Audrey! You think she's wonderful!”
    “I don't think Audrey is wonderful. I think she's an extremely nice and kindly person, whom I've treated very badly and who has been most generous and forgiving.”
    “That's where you're wrong,” said Kay. She got up from the bed. Her fury had died down. She spoke seriously - almost soberly.
    “Audrey hasn't forgiven you, Nevile. Once or twice I've seen her looking at you ... I don't know what is going on in her mind, but something is ... She's the kind that