AGATHA CHRISTIE THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING First published in Great ritain in !

"#$ b% &illia' C(llins S(ns ) C(* +td*, +(nd(n F(re-(rd b% A.atha Christie THIS b((/ (0 Christ'as 0are 'a% be des1ribed as 2The Che03s Sele1ti(n*33 I a' the Che04 There are t-( 'ain 1(urses5 The Ad6enture (0 the Christ'as Puddin. and The M%ster% (0 the Spanish Chest7 a sele1ti(n (0 Entr#es5 Greensha-3s F(ll%, The Drea', and The Under D(., and a S(rbet5 F(ur8and8t-ent% la1/birds* The M%ster% (0 the Spanish Chest 'a% be des1ribed as a Her1ule P(ir(t Spe1ial* It is a 1ase in -hi1h he 1(nsiders he -as at his best4 Miss Marple, in her turn, has al-a%s been pleased -ith her perspi1uit% in Greensha-3s F(ll%* The Ad6enture (0 the Christ'as Puddin. is an indul.en1e (0 '% (-n, sin1e it re1alls t( 'e, 6er% pleasurabl%, the Christ'ases (0 '% %(uth* A0ter '% 0ather3s death, '% '(ther and I al-a%s spent Christ'as -ith '% br(ther8in8la-3s 0a'il% in the n(rth (0 En.land88and -hat superb Christ'ases the% -ere 0(r a 1hild t( re'e'ber4 Abne% Hall had e6er%thin.4 The .arden b(asted a -ater0all, a strea', and a tunnel under Christ'as 0are -as pr(p(rti(ns* I -as appearin. deli1ate, but the dri6e4 The (0 .ar.antuan a s/inn% 1hild, a1tuall% (0 r(bust health and perpetuall% hun.r%4 The b(%s (0 the 0a'il% and I used t( 6ie -ith ea1h (ther as t( -h( 1(uld eat '(st (n Christ'as Da%* O%ster S(up and Turb(t -ent d(-n -ith(ut undue 9est, but then 1a'e R(ast Tur/e%, (iled Tur/e% and an en(r'(us Sirl(in (0 ee0* The b(%s and I had t-( helpin.s (0 all three4 &e then had Plu' Puddin., Min1e8pies, Tri0le and e6er% /ind (0 dessert* Durin. the a0tern((n -e ate 1h(1(lates s(lidl%* &e neither 0elt, n(r -ere, si1/4 H(- l(6el% t( be ele6en %ears (ld and .reed%4 &hat a da% (0 deli.ht 0r(' 2St(1/in.s2 in bed in the '(rnin., Chur1h and all the Christ'as h%'ns, Christ'as dinner,

Presents, and the 0inal +i.htin. (0 the Christ'as Tree4 And h(- deep '% .ratitude t( the /ind and h(spitable h(stess -h( 'ust ha6e -(r/ed s( hard t( 'a/e Christ'as Da% a -(nder0ul 'e'(r% t( 'e still in '% (ld a.e* S( let 'e dedi1ate this b((/ t( the 'e'(r% (0 Abne% Hall its /indness and its h(spitalit%* And a happ% Christ'as t( all -h( read this b((/* AGATHA CHRISTIE

The Ad6enture (0 the Christ'as Puddin.

22I3 REGRET e:1eedin.l% 2said M* Her1ule P(ir(t* He -as interrupted* N(t rudel% interrupted* The interrupti(n -as sua6e, de:ter(us, persuasi6e rather than 1(ntradi1t(r%* 2Please d(n3t re0use (00hand, M* P(ir(t* There are .ra6e issues (0 State* ;(ur 1((perati(n -ill be appre1iated in the hi.hest <uarters*2 2;(u are t(( /ind,2 Her1ule P(ir(t -a6ed a hand, 2but I reall% 1ann(t underta/e t( d( as %(u as/* At this seas(n (0 the %ear 2 A.ain Mr* =es'(nd interrupted* 2Christ'as ti'e,2 he said, persuasi6el%* 2An (ld80ashi(ned Christ'as in the En.lish 1(untr%side*2 Her1ule P(ir(t shi6ered* The th(u.ht (0 the Christ'as 1(untr%side at this seas(n (0 the %ear did n(t attra1t hi'* 2A .((d (ld80ashi(ned Christ'as42 Mr* =es'(nd stressed it*

2Me I a' n(t an En.lish'an,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t* 2In '% 1(untr%, Christ'as, it is 0(r the 1hildren* The Ne;ear, that is -hat -e 1elebrate*2 2Ah,2 said Mr* =es'(nd, 2but Christ'as in En.land is a .reat instituti(n and I assure %(u at >in.s +a1e% %(u -(uld see it at its best* It3s a -(nder0ul (ld h(use, %(u /n(-* &h%, (ne -in. (0 it dates 0r(' the 0(urteenth 1entur%*2 A.ain P(ir(t shi6ered* The th(u.ht (0 a 0(urteenth81entur% En.lish 'an(r h(use 0illed hi' -ith apprehensi(n* He had su00ered t(( (0ten in the hist(ri1 1(untr% h(uses (0 En.land* He l((/ed r(und appre1iati6el% at his 1('0(rtable '(dern 0lat -ith its radiat(rs and the latest patent de6i1es 0(r e:1ludin. an% /ind (0 drau.ht* 2In the -inter,2 he said 0ir'l%, 2I d( n(t lea6e +(nd(n*2 2I d(n3t thin/ %(u <uite appre1iate, Mr* P(ir(t, -hat a 6er% seri(us 'atter this is*2 Mr* =es'(nd .lan1ed at his 1('pani(n and then ba1/ at P(ir(t* P(ir(t3s se1(nd 6isit(r had up t( n(said n(thin. but a p(lite and 0(r'al 2H(d( %(u d(*2 He sat n(-, .a9in. d(-n at his -ell8p(lished sh(es, -ith an air (0 the ?

ut'(st de@e1ti(n (n his 1(00ee81(l(ured 0a1e* He -as a %(un. 'an, n(t '(re than t-ent%8three, and he -as 1learl% in a state (0 1('plete 'iser%* 2;es, %es,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t* 2O0 1(urse the 'atter is seri(us* I d( appre1iate that* His Hi.hness has '% heart0elt s%'path%*2 2The p(siti(n is (ne (0 the ut'(st deli1a1%,33 said Mr* =es'(nd* P(ir(t trans0erred his .a9e 0r(' the %(un. 'an t( his (lder 1('pani(n* I0 (ne -anted t( su' up Mr* =es'(nd in a -(rd, the -(rd -(uld ha6e been dis1reti(n* E6er%thin. ab(ut Mr* =es'(nd -as dis1reet* His -ell81ut but in1(nspi1u(us 1l(thes, his pleasant, -ell8bred 6(i1e -hi1h rarel% s(ared (ut (0 an a.reeable '(n(t(ne, his li.ht8br(-n hair @ust thinnin. a little at the te'ples, his pale seri(us 0a1e* It see'ed t( Her1ule P(ir(t that he had /n(-n n(t (ne Mr* =es'(nd but a d(9en Mr* =es'(nds in his ti'e, all usin. s((ner (r later the sa'e phrase 2a p(siti(n (0 the ut'(st deli1a1%*2 2The p(li1e,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t, 21an be 6er% dis1reet, %(u /n(-*2 Mr* =es'(nd sh((/ his head 0ir'l%* A

2N(t the p(li1e,2 he said* 2T( re1(6er the88er88-hat -e -ant t( re1(6er -ill al'(st ine6itabl% in6(l6e ta/in. pr(1eedin.s in the la- 1(urts and -e /n(- s( little* &e suspe1t, but -e d( n(t /n(-*2 2;(u ha6e '% s%'path%,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t a.ain* I0 he i'a.ined that his s%'path% -as .(in. t( 'ean an%thin. t( his t-( 6isit(rs, he -as -r(n.* The% did n(t -ant s%'path%, the% -anted pra1ti1al help* Mr* =es'(nd be.an (n1e '(re t( tal/ ab(ut the deli.hts (0 an En.lish Christ'as* 2It3s d%in. (ut, %(u /n(-,2 he said, 2the real (ld80ashi(ned t%pe (0 Christ'as* Pe(ple spend it at h(tels n(-ada%s* ut an En.lish Christ'as -ith all the 0a'il% .athered r(und, the 1hildren and their st(1/in.s, the Christ'as tree, the tur/e% and plu' puddin., the 1ra1/ers* The sn(-8'an (utside the -ind(-'2 In the interests (0 e:a1titude, Her1ule P(ir(t inter6ened* 2T( 'a/e a sn(-8'an (ne has t( ha6e the sn(-,2 he re'ar/ed se6erel%* 2And (ne 1ann(t ha6e sn(- t( (rder, e6en 0(r an En.lish Christ'as*2 2I -as tal/in. t( a 0riend (0 'ine in #

the 'ete(r(l(.i1al (00i1e (nl% t(8da%,2 said Mr, =es'(nd, 2and he tells8'e that it is hi.hl% pr(bable there -ill be sn(- this Christ'as*2 It -as the -r(n. thin. t( ha6e said* Her1ule P(ir(t shuddered '(re 0(r1e0ull% than e6er* 2Sn(- in the 1(untr%42 he said* 2That -(uld be still '(re ab('inable* A lar.e, 1(ld, st(ne 'an(r h(use*2 2N(t at all,2 said Mr* =es'(nd* 2Thin.s ha6e 1han.ed 6er% 'u1h in the last ten %ears (r s(* Oil80ired 1entral heatin.*2 2The% ha6e (il80ired 1entral heatin. at >in.s +a1e%B2 as/ed P(ir(t* F(r the 0irst ti'e he see'ed t( -a6er* Mr* =es'(nd sei9ed his (pp(rtunit%* 2;es, indeed,2 he said, 2and a splendid h(t -ater s%ste'* Radiat(rs in e6er% bedr(('* I assure %(u, '% dear M* P(ir(t, >in.s +a1e% is 1('0(rt itsel0 in the -inter ti'e* ;(u 'i.ht e6en 0ind the h(use t(( -ar'* 2That is '(st unli/el%,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t* &ith pra1tised de:terit% Mr* =es'(nd shi0ted his .r(und a little* C

2;(u 1an appre1iate the terrible dile''a -e are in,2 he said, in a 1(n0idential 'anner* Her1ule P(ir(t n(dded* The pr(ble' -as, indeed, n(t a happ% (ne* A %(un. p(tentate8t(8be, the (nl% s(n (0 the ruler (0 a ri1h and i'p(rtant nati6e State had arri6ed in +(nd(n a 0e- -ee/s a.(* His 1(untr% had been passin. thr(u.h a peri(d (0 restlessness and dis1(ntent* Th(u.h l(%al t( the 0ather -h(se -a% (0 li0e had re'ained persistentl% Eastern, p(pular (pini(n -as s('e-hat dubi(us (0 the %(un.er .enerati(n* His 0(llies had been &estern (nes and as su1h l((/ed up(n -ith disappr(6al* Re1entl%, h(-e6er, his betr(thal had been ann(un1ed* He -as t( 'arr% a 1(usin (0 the sa'e bl((d, a %(un. -('an -h(, th(u.h edu1ated at Ca'brid.e, -as 1are0ul t( displa% n( &estern in0luen1es in her (-n 1(untr%* The -eddin. da% -as ann(un1ed and the %(un. prin1e had 'ade a @(urne% t( En.land, brin.in. -ith hi' s('e (0 the 0a'(us @e-els (0 his h(use t( be reset in appr(priate '(dern settin.s b% Cartier* These had in1luded a 6er% 0a'(us rub% -hi1h had been re'(6ed 0r(' its D

1u'bers('e (ld80ashi(ned ne1/la1e and had been .i6en a ne- l((/ b% the 0a'(us @e-ellers* S( 0ar s( .((d, but a0ter this 1a'e the sna.* It -as n(t t( be supp(sed that a %(un. 'an p(ssessed (0 'u1h -ealth and 1(n6i6ial tastes, sh(uld n(t 1(''it a 0e- 0(llies (0 the pleasanter t%pe* As t( that there -(uld ha6e been n( 1ensure* ;(un. prin1es -ere supp(sed t( a'use the'sel6es in this 0ashi(n* F(r the prin1e t( ta/e the .irl 0riend (0 the '('ent 0(r a -al/ d(-n (nd Street and best(- up(n her an e'erald bra1elet (r a dia'(nd 1lip as a re-ard 0(r the pleasure she had a00(rded hi' -(uld ha6e been re.arded as <uite natural and suitable, 1(rresp(ndin. in 0a1t t( the Cadilla1 1ars -hi1h his 0ather in6ariabl% presented t( his 0a6(urite dan1in. .irl (0 the '('ent* ut the prin1e had been 0ar '(re indis1reet than that* Flattered b% the lad%3s interest, he had displa%ed t( her the 0a'(us rub% in its ne- settin., and had 0inall% been s( un-ise as t( a11ede t( her re<uest t( be all(-ed t( -ear it @ust 0(r (ne e6enin.4 The se<uel -as sh(rt and sad* The lad% had retired 0r(' their supper table t( "

p(-der her n(se* Ti'e passed* She did n(t return* She had le0t the establish'ent b% an(ther d((r and sin1e then had disappeared int( spa1e* The i'p(rtant and distressin. thin.3-as that the rub% in its ne- settin. had disappeared -ith her* These -ere the 0a1ts that 1(uld n(t p(ssibl% be 'ade publi1 -ith(ut the '(st dire 1(nse<uen1es* The rub% -as s('ethin. '(re than a rub%, it -as a hist(ri1al p(ssessi(n (0 .reat si.ni0i1an1e, and the 1ir1u'stan1es (0 its disappearan1e -ere su1h that an% undue publi1it% ab(ut the' 'i.ht result in the '(st seri(us p(liti1al 1(nse<uen1es* Mr* =es'(nd -as n(t the 'an t( put these 0a1ts int( si'ple lan.ua.e* He -rapped the' up, as it -ere, in a .reat deal (0 6erbia.e* &h( e:a1tl% Mr* =es'(nd -as, Her1ule P(ir(t did n(t /n(-* He had 'et (ther Mr* =es'(nds in the 1(urse (0 his 1areer* &hether he -as 1(nne1ted -ith the H('e O00i1e, the F(rei.n O00i1e (r s('e '(re dis1reet bran1h (0 publi1 ser6i1e -as n(t spe1i0ied* He -as a1tin. in the interests (0 the C(''(n-ealth* The rub% 'ust be re1(6ered* l$

M* P(ir(t, s( Mr* =es'(nd deli1atel% insisted, -as the 'an t( re1(6er it* 2Perhaps88%es,2 Her1ule P(ir(t ad'itted, 2but %(u 1an tell 'e s( little* Su..esti(n suspi1i(n all that is n(t 6er% 'u1h t( .( up(n*2 2C('e n(-, M(nsieur P(ir(t, surel% it is n(t be%(nd %(ur p(-ers* Ah, 1('e n(-*2 2I d( n(t al-a%s su11eed*2 ut this -as '(1/ '(dest%* It -as 1lear en(u.h 0r(' P(ir(t3s t(ne that 0(r hi' t( underta/e a 'issi(n -as al'(st s%n(n%'(us -ith su11eedin. in it* 2His Hi.hness is 6er% %(un.,2 Mr* =es'(nd said* 2It -ill be sad i0 his -h(le li0e is t( be bli.hted 0(r a 'ere %(uth0ul indis1reti(n*2 P(ir(t l((/ed /indl% at the d(-n1ast %(un. 'an* 2It is the ti'e 0(r 0(llies, -hen (ne is %(un.,2 he said en1(ura.in.l%, 2and 0(r the (rdinar% %(un. 'an it d(es n(t 'atter s( 'u1h* The .((d papa, he pa%s up7 the 0a'il% la-%er, he helps t( disentan.le the in1(n6enien1e7 the %(un. 'an, he learns b% e:perien1e and all ends 0(r the best* In a p(siti(n su1h as %(urs, !!

it is hard 'arria.e882 indeed* ;(ur appr(a1hin. 2That is it* That is it e:a1tl%*2 F(r the 0irst ti'e -(rds p(ured 0r(' the %(un. 'an* 2;(u see she is 6er%, 6er% seri(us* She ta/es li0e 6er% seri(usl%* She has a1<uired at Ca'brid.e 'an% 6er% seri(us ideas* There is t( be edu1ati(n in '% 1(untr%* There are t( be s1h((ls* There are t( be 'an% thin.s* All in the na'e (0 pr(.ress, %(u understand, (0 de'(1ra1%* It -ill n(t be, she sa%s, li/e it -as in '% 0ather3s ti'e* Naturall% she /n(-s that I -ill ha6e di6ersi(ns in +(nd(n, but n(t the s1andal* N(4 It is the s1andal that 'atters* ;(u see it is 6er%, 6er% 0a'(us, this rub%* There is a l(n. trail behind it, a hist(r%* Mu1h bl((dshed88'an% deaths42 2Deaths,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t th(u.ht0ull%* He l((/ed at Mr* =es'(nd* 2One h(pes,2 he said, 2it -ill n(t 1('e t( thatB2 Mr* = es'(nd 'ade a pe1uliar n(ise rather li/e a hen -h( has de1ided t( la% an e.. and then th(u.ht better (0 it* 2N(, n(, indeed,2 he said, s(undin. rather pri'* 2There is n( <uesti(n, I a' sure, (0 an%thin. (0 that /ind*2 2;(u 1ann(t be sure,2 said Her1ule !E i

P(ir(t* 2&h(e6er has the rub% n(-, there 'a% be (thers -h( -ant t( .ain p(ssessi(n (0 it, and -h( -ill n(t sti1/ at a tri0le, '% 0riend*2 2I reall% d(n3t thin/,2 said Mr* =es'(nd, s(undin. '(re pri' than e6er, 2that -e need enter int( spe1ulati(ns (0 that /ind* Fuite unpr(0itable*2 2Me,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t, suddenl% be1('in. 6er% 0(rei.n, 2'e, I e:pl(re all the a6enues, li/e the p(liti1ians*2 Mr* =es'(nd l((/ed at hi' d(ubt0ull%* Pullin. hi'sel0 t(.ether, he said, 2&ell, I 1an ta/e it that is settled, M* P(ir(tB ;(u -ill .( t( >in.s +a1e%B2 2And h(- d( I e:plain '%sel0 thereB2 as/ed Her1ule P(ir(t* Mr* =es'(nd s'iled -ith 1(n0iden1e* 2That, I thin/, 1an be arran.ed 6er% easil%,2 he said* 2I 1an assure %(u that it -ill all see' <uite natural* ;(u -ill 0ind the +a1e%s '(st 1har'in.* Deli.ht0ul pe(ple*2 2And %(u d( n(t de1ei6e 'e ab(ut the (il80ired 1entral heatin.B2 2N(, n(, indeed*2 Mr* =(nes s(unded <uite pained* 2I assure %(u %(u -ill 0ind e6er% 1('0(rt*2 !G

2T(ut 1(n0(rt '(derne,2 'ur'ured P(ir(t t( hi'sel0, re'inis1entl%* 2Eh bien,2 he said, 2I a11ept*2 !?

E T HE te'perature in the l(n. dra-8in.8r((' at >in.s +a1e% -as a 1('0(rtable si:t%8ei.ht as Her1ule P(ir(t sat tal/in. t( Mrs* +a1e% b% (ne (0 the bi. 'ulli(ned -ind(-s* Mrs* +a1e% -as en.a.ed in needle-(r/* She -as n(t d(in. petit p(int (r e'br(iderin. 0l(-ers up(n sil/* Instead, she appeared t( be en.a.ed in the pr(sai1 tas/ (0 he''in. dish1l(thes* As she se-ed she tal/ed in a s(0t re0le1ti6e 6(i1e that P(ir(t 0(und 6er% 1har'in.* 2I h(pe %(u -ill en@(% (ur Christ'as part% here, M* P(ir(t* It3s (nl% the 0a'il%, %(u /n(-* M% .randdau.hter and a .rands(n and a 0riend (0 his and rid.et -h(3s '% .reat8nie1e, and Diana -h(3s a 1(usin and Da6id &el-%n -h( is a 6er% (ld 0riend* =ust a 0a'il% part%* ut Ed-ina M(re1('be said that that3s -hat %(u reall% -anted t( see* An (ld80ashi(ned Christ'as* N(thin. 1(uld be '(re (ld80ashi(ned than -e are4 M% husband, %(u !A

/n(-, abs(lutel% li6es in the past* He li/es e6er%thin. t( be @ust as it -as -hen he -as a b(% (0 t-el6e %ears (ld, and used t( 1('e here 0(r his h(lida%s*2 She s'iled t( hersel0* 2All the sa'e (ld thin.s, the Christ'as tree and the st(1/in.s hun. up and the (%ster s(up and the tur/e%88t-( tur/e%s, (ne b(iled and (ne r(ast88and the plu' puddin. -ith the rin. and the ba1hel(r3s butt(n and all the rest (0 it in it* OHIe 1an3t ha6e si:pen1es n(-ada%s be1ause the%3re n(t pure sil6er an% '(re* ut all the (ld desserts, the El6as plu's and Carlsbad plu's and al'(nds and raisins, and 1r%stallised 0ruit and .in.er* Dear 'e, I s(und li/e a 1atal(.ue 0r(' F(rtnu' and Mas(n42 2;(u ar(use '% .astr(n('i1 @ui1es, Mada'e*2 2I e:pe1t -e3ll all ha6e 0ri.ht0ul indi.esti(n b% t(8'(rr(- e6enin.,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2One isn3t used t( eatin. s( 'u1h n(-ada%s, is (neB2 She -as interrupted b% s('e l(ud sh(uts and -h((ps (0 lau.hter (utside the -ind(-* She .lan1ed (ut* 2I d(n3t /n(- -hat the%3re d(in. (ut there* Pla%in. s('e .a'e (r (ther, I !#

supp(se* I36e al-a%s been s( a0raid, %(u /n(-, that these %(un. pe(ple -(uld be b(red b% (ur Christ'as here* ut n(t at all, it3s @ust the (pp(site* N(- '% (-n s(n and dau.hter and their 0riends, the% used t( be rather s(phisti1ated ab(ut Christ'as* Sa% it -as all n(nsense and t(( 'u1h 0uss and it -(uld be 0ar better t( .( (ut t( a h(tel s('e-here and dan1e* ut the %(un.er .enerati(n see' t( 0ind all this terribl% attra1ti6e* esides,2 added Mrs* +a1e% pra1ti1all%, 2s1h((lb(%s and s1h((l.irls are al-a%s hun.r%, aren3t the%B I thin/ the% 'ust star6e the' at these s1h((ls* A0ter all, (ne d(es /n(- 1hildren (0 that a.e ea1h eat ab(ut as 'u1h as three str(n. 'en*2 P(ir(t lau.hed and said, 2It is '(st /ind (0 %(u and %(ur husband, Mada'e, t( in1lude 'e in this -a% in %(ur 0a'il% part%*2 2Oh, -e3re b(th deli.hted, I3' sure,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2And i0 %(u 0ind H(ra1e a little .ru00,2 she 1(ntinued, 2pa% n( attenti(n* It3s @ust his 'anner, %(u /n(-*2 &hat her husband, C(l(nel +a1e%, had a1tuall% said -as5 2Can3t thin/ -h% %(u -ant (ne (0 these da'ned 0(rei.ners here !C

1lutterin. up Christ'asB &h% 1an3t -e ha6e hi' s('e (ther ti'eB Can3t sti1/ 0(rei.ners4 All ri.ht, all ri.ht, s( Ed-ina M(re1('be -ished hi' (n us* &hat3s it .(t t( d( -ith her, I sh(uld li/e t( /n(-B &h% d(esn3t she ha6e hi' 0(r Christ'asB2 2 e1ause %(u /n(- 6er% -ell,2 Mrs* +a1e% had said, 2that Ed-ina al-a%s .(es t( Clarid.e3s*2 Her husband had l((/ed at her pier1in.l% and said, 2N(t up t( s('ethin., are %(u, E'B2 2Up t( s('ethin.B2 said E', (penin. 6er% blue e%es* 2O0 1(urse n(t* &h% sh(uld I beB2 Old C(l(nel +a1e% lau.hed, a deep, ru'blin. lau.h* 2I -(uldn3t put it past %(u, E',2 he said* 2&hen %(u l((/ %(ur '(st inn(1ent is -hen %(u are up t( s('ethin.*2 Re6(l6in. these thin.s in her 'ind, Mrs* +a1e% -ent (n5 2Ed-ina said she th(u.ht perhaps %(u 'i.ht help us **** I3' sure I d(n3t /n(- <uite h(-, but she said that 0riends (0 %(urs had (n1e 0(und %(u 6er% help0ul in88in a 1ase s('ethin. li/e (urs* I88-ell, perhaps %(u d(n3t /n(- -hat I3' tal/in. ab(utB2 !D

P(ir(t l((/ed at her en1(ura.in.l%* MrS+a1e% -as 1l(se (n se6ent%, as upri, t s a ra'r(d, -ith sn(-8-hite hair,Jpir/ 1hee/s, blue e%es, a ridi1ul(us n(se arid a deter'ined 1hin* 2I0 there is an%thin. I 1an d( I shall (nl% be t(( happ% t( d( it,2 said P(ir(K3 2It is, I understand, a rather un0(rtunate 'atter (0 a %(un. .irl3s in0atuati(n*2 Mrs* +a1e% n(dd<d* 2;es* It s1erOs e:tra(rdinar% that I sh(uld -ell, -art t( tal/ t( %(u ab(ut it* A0ter all, %(u are a per0e1t stran.er* * * *2 2And a 0(rei.ner,2 said P(ir(t, ir an understandin. 'anner* 2;es,2 said Mrs* K,a1e%, 2but perhalps that 'a/es it easier, in a -a%* An%la(, Ed-ina see'ed t( thin/ that %(u 'i.lt perhaps /n(- s('ethin.88h(- shall I p(t it *** s('ethin. use0ul ab(ut this %(urL. Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle%*2 P(ir(t paused a 'tM'ent t( ad'ire $e in.enuit% (0 Mr* =el'(nd and the eae -ith -hi1h he had 'ade use (0 la1l; M(re1('be t( 0urther his (-n purp(ses3 2He has n(t, I un1Kerstand, a 6er% .(a3 reputati(n, this %(uh. 'anB2 he be.n deli1atel%*

2N(, indeed, he hasn3t4 A 6er% b,3 reputati(n4 ut that3s n( help s( 0ar Sarah is 1(n1erned* It3s ne6er an% .((d, it, tellin. %(un. .irls that 'en ha6e a reputati(nB It88it @ust spurs the' (n42 2;(u are s( 6er% ri.ht,2 said P(ir(t* 2In '% %(un. da%,2 -ent (n +a1e%* H2Oh dear, that3s a 6er% l(n. a.(4M &e used t( be -arned, %(u a.ainst 1ertain %(un. 'en, and (0 it did hei.hten (ne3s interest in the', i0 (ne 1(uld p(ssibl% 'ana.e t( dan1e -il the', (r t( be al(ne -ith the' in a d5 1(nser6at(r%882 she lau.hed* 2That3s I -(uldn3t let H(ra1e d( an% (0 the thin, he -anted t( d(*2 2Tell 'e,2 said P(ir(t, 2e:a1tl% -hat is that tr(ubles %(uB2 2Our s(n -as /illed in the -ar,2 Mrs* +a1e%* 2M% dau.hter8in8la-hen Sarah -as b(rn s( that she al-a%s been -ith us, and -e36e br(u her up* Perhaps -e36e br(u.ht her un-isel%88I d(n3t /n(-* ut -e th(u -e (u.ht al-a%s t( lea6e her as 0ree p(ssible*2 2That is desirable, I thin/,2 said P(irt E$

2One 1ann(t .( a.ainst the spirit (0 the ti'es*2 2N(,2 said Mrs* +a1e%, 2that3s @ust -hat I 0elt ab(ut it* And, (0 1(urse, .irls n(-ada%s d( d( these s(rt (0 thin.s*2 P(ir(t l((/ed at her in<uirin.l%* 2I thin/ the -a% (ne e:presses it,2 said Mrs* +a1e%, 2is that Sarah has .(t in -ith -hat the% 1all the 1(00ee8bar set* She -(n3t .( t( dan1es (r 1('e (ut pr(perl% (r be a deb (r an%thin. (0 that /ind* Instead she has t-( rather unpleasant r(('s in Chelsea d(-n b% the ri6er and -ears these 0unn% 1l(thes that the% li/e t( -ear, and bla1/ st(1/in.s (r bri.ht .reen (nes* Ver% thi1/ st(1/in.s* HS( pri1/l%, I al-a%s thin/4M And she .(es ab(ut -ith(ut -ashin. (r 1('bin. her hair*2 2HEa, 13est t(ut 0ait naturelle,2 said P(ir(t* 2It is the 0ashi(n (0 the '('ent* The% .r(- (ut (0 it*2 2;es, I /n(-,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2I -(uldn3t -(rr% ab(ut that s(rt (0 thin.* ut %(u see she3s ta/en up -ith this Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle% and he reall% has a 6er% unsa6(ur% reputati(n* He li6es '(re (r less (n -ell8t(8d( .irls* The% see' t( .( <uite 'ad ab(ut hi'* He 6er% nearl% E!

'arried the H(pe .irl, but her pe(ple .(t her 'ade a -ard (0 1(urt (r s('ethin.* And (0 1(urse that3s -hat H(ra1e -ants t( d(* He sa%s he 'ust d( it 0(r her pr(te1ti(n* ut I d(n3t thin/ it3s reall% a .((d idea, M* P(ir(t* I 'ean, the%3ll lust run a-a% t(.ether and .( t( S1(tland (r Ireland (r the Ar.entine (r s('e-here and either .et 'arried (r else li6e t(.ether -ith(ut .ettin. 'arried* And alth(u.h it 'a% be 1(nte'pt (0 1(urt and all that -ell, it isn3t reall% an ans-er, is it, in the endB Espe1iall% i0 a bab%3s 1('in.* One has t( .i6e in then, and let the' .et 'arried* And then, nearl% al-a%s, it see's t( 'e, a0ter a %ear (r t-( there3s a di6(r1e* And then the .irl 1('es h('e and usuall% a0ter a %ear (r t-( she 'arries s('e(ne s( ni1e he3s al'(st dull and settles d(-n* ut it3s parti1ularl% sad, it see's t( 'e, i0 there is a 1hild, be1ause it3s n(t the sa'e thin., bein. br(u.ht up b% a step0ather, h(-e6er ni1e* N(, I thin/ it3s 'u1h better i0 -e did as -e did in '% %(un. da%s* I 'ean the 0irst %(un. 'an (ne 0ell in l(6e -ith -as al-a%s s('e(ne undesirable* I re'e'ber I had a h(rrible passi(n 0(r a %(un. 'an 1alled n(- -hat -as his EE

na'e n(-B h(- stran.e it is, I 1an3t re'e'ber his Christian na'e at all4 Tibbitt, that -as his surna'e* ;(un. Tibbitt* O0 1(urse, '% 0ather '(re (r less 0(rbade hi' the h(use, but he used t( .et as/ed t( the sa'e dan1es, and -e used t( dan1e t(.ether* And s('eti'es -e3d es1ape and sit (ut t(.ether and (11asi(nall% 0riends -(uld arran.e pi1ni1s t( -hi1h -e b(th -ent* O0 1(urse, it -as all 6er% e:1itin. and 0(rbidden and (ne en@(%ed it en(r'(usl%* ut (ne didn3t .( t( the -ell, t( the len.ths that .irls .( n(-ada%s* And s(, a0ter a -hile, the Mr* Tibbitts 0aded (ut* And d( %(u /n(-, -hen I sahi' 0(ur %ears later I -as surprised -hat I 1(uld e6er ha6e seen in hi'4 He see'ed t( be su1h a dull %(un. 'an* Flash%, %(u /n(-* N( interestin. 1(n6ersati(n*2 2One al-a%s thin/s the da%s (0 (ne3s (-n %(uth are best,2 said P(ir(t, s('e-hat sententi(usl%* 2I /n(-,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2It3s tires('e, isn3t itB I 'ustn3t be tires('e* ut all the sa'e I d(n3t -ant Sarah, -h(3s a dear .irl reall%, t( 'arr% Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle%* She and Da6id &el-%n, -h( is sta%in. here, -ere al-a%s su1h 0riends and

s( 0(nd (0 ea1h (ther, and -e did h(pe, H(ra1e and I, that the% -(uld .r(- up and 'arr%* ut (0 1(urse she @ust 0inds hi' dull n(-, and she3s abs(lutel% in0atuated -ith Des'(nd*2 2I d( n(t <uite understand, Mada'e,2 said P(ir(t* 2;(u ha6e hi' here n(-, sta%in. in the h(use, this Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle%B2 2That3s '% d(in.,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2H(ra1e -as all 0(r 0(rbiddin. her t( see hi' and all that* O0 1(urse, in H(ra1e3s da%, the 0ather (r .uardian -(uld ha6e 1alled r(und at the %(un. 'an3s l(d.in.s -ith a h(rse -hip4 H(ra1e -as all 0(r 0(rbiddin. the 0ell(- the h(use, and 0(rbiddin. the .irl t( see hi'* I t(ld hi' that -as <uite the -r(n. attitude t( ta/e* 3N(,3 I said* 3As/ hi' d(-n here* &e3ll ha6e hi' d(-n 0(r Christ'as -ith the 0a'il% part%*3 O0 1(urse, '% husband said I -as 'ad4 ut I said, 3At an% rate, dear, let3s tr% it* +et her see hi' in (ur at'(sphere and (ur h(use and -e3ll be 6er% ni1e t( hi' and 6er% p(lite, and perhaps then he3ll see' less interestin. t( her342 2I thin/, as the% sa%, %(u ha6e s('ethin. there, Mada'e,2 said P(ir(t* 2I E?

thin/ %(ur p(int (0 6ie- is 6er% -ise* &iser than %(ur husband3s*2 2&ell, I h(pe it is,2 said Mrs* +a1e% d(ubt0ull%* 2It d(esn3t see' t( be -(r/in. 'u1h %et* ut (0 1(urse he3s (nl% been here a 1(uple (0 da%s*2 A sudden di'ple sh(-ed in her -rin/led 1hee/* 2I3ll 1(n0ess s('ethin. t( %(u, M* P(ir(t* I '%sel0 1an3t help li/in. hi'* I d(n3t 'ean I reall% li/e hi', -ith '% 'ind, but I 1an 0eel the 1har' all ri.ht* Oh %es, I 1an see -hat Sarah sees in hi'* ut I3' an (ld en(u.h -('an and ha6e en(u.h e:perien1e t( /n(- that he3s abs(lutel% n( .((d* E6en i0 I d( en@(% his 1('pan%* Th(u.h I d( thin/,2 added Mrs* +a1e%, rather -ist0ull%, 2he has s('e .((d p(ints* He as/ed i0 he 'i.ht brin. his sister here, %(u /n(-* She3s had an (perati(n and -as in h(spital* He said it -as s( sad 0(r her bein. in a nursin. h('e (6er Christ'as and he -(ndered i0 it -(uld be t(( 'u1h tr(uble i0 he 1(uld brin. her -ith hi'* He said he3d ta/e all her 'eals up t( her and all that* &ell n(-, I d( thin/ that -as rather ni1e (0 hi', d(n3t %(u, M* P(ir(tB2 2It sh(-s a 1(nsiderati(n,2 said P(ir(t, EA

th(u.ht0ull%, 2-hi1h see's al'(st (ut (0 1hara1ter*2 2Oh, I d(n3t /n(-*3;(u 1an ha6e 0a'il% a00e1ti(ns at the sa'e ti'e as -ishin. t( pre% (n a ri1h %(un. .irl* Sarah -ill be 6er% ri1h, %(u /n(-, n(t (nl% -ith -hat -e lea6e her'and (0 1(urse that -(n3t be 6er% 'u1h be1ause '(st (0 the '(ne% .(es -ith the pla1e t( C(lin, '% .rands(n* ut her '(ther -as a 6er% ri1h -('an and Sarah -ill inherit all her '(ne% -hen she3s t-ent%8(ne* She3s (nl% t-ent% n(-* N(, I d( thin/ it -as ni1e (0 Des'(nd t( 'ind ab(ut his sister* And he didn3t pretend she -as an%thin. 6er% -(nder0ul (r that* She3s a sh(rthand t%pist, I .ather88d(es se1retarial -(r/ in +(nd(n* And he3s been as .((d as his -(rd and d(es 1arr% up tra%s t( her* N(t all the ti'e, (0 1(urse, but <uite (0ten* S( I thin/ he has s('e ni1e p(ints* ut all the sa'e,2 said Mrs* +a1e% -ith .reat de1isi(n, 2I d(n3t -ant Sarah t( 'arr% hi'*2 2Fr(' all I ha6e heard and been t(ld,2 said P(ir(t, 2that -(uld indeed be a disaster*2 2D( %(u thin/ it -(uld be p(ssible 0(r E#

%(u t( help us in an% -a%B2 as/ed Mrs* +a1e%* 2I thin/ it is p(ssible, %es,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t, 2but I d( n(t -ish t( pr('ise t(( 'u1h* F(r the Mr* Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle%s (0 this -(rld are 1le6er, Mada'e* ut d( n(t despair* One 1an, perhaps, d( a little s('ethin.* I shall at an% rate, put 0(rth '% best endea6(urs, i0 (nl% in .ratitude 0(r %(ur /indness in as/in. 'e here 0(r this Christ'as 0esti6it%*2 He l((/ed r(und hi'* 2And it 1ann(t be s( eas% these da%s t( ha6e Christ'as 0esti6ities*2 2N(, indeed,2 Mrs* +a1e% si.hed* She leaned 0(r-ard* 2D( %(u /n(-, M* P(ir(t, -hat I reall% drea' (0 -hat I -(uld l(6e t( ha6eB2 2 ut tell 'e, Mada'e*2 2I si'pl% l(n. t( ha6e a s'all, '(dern bun.al(-* N(, perhaps n(t a bun.al(- e:a1tl%, but a s'all, '(dern, eas% t( run h(use built s('e-here in the par/ here, and li6e in it -ith an abs(lutel% up8t(8date /it1hen and n( l(n. passa.es* E6er%thin. eas% and si'ple*2 2It is a 6er% pra1ti1al idea, Mada'e*2 2It3s n(t pra1ti1al 0(r 'e,2 said Mrs* EC

+a1e%* 2M% husband ad(res this pla1e* He l(6es li6in. here* He d(esn3t 'ind bein. sli.htl% un1('0(rtable, he d(esn3t 'ind the in1(n6enien1es and he -(uld hate, si'pl% hate, t( li6e in a s'all '(dern h(use in the par/42 2S( %(u sa1ri0i1e %(ursel0 t( his -ishesB2 Mrs* +a1e% dre- hersel0 up* 2I d( n(t 1(nsider it a sa1ri0i1e, M* P(ir(t,2 she said* 2I 'arried '% husband -ith the -ish t( 'a/e hi' happ%* He has been a .((d husband t( 'e and 'ade 'e 6er% happ% all these %ears, and I -ish t( .i6e happiness t( hi'*2 2S( %(u -ill 1(ntinue t( li6e here,2 said P(ir(t* 2It3s n(t reall% t(( un1('0(rtable,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2N(, n(,2 said P(ir(t, hastil%* 2On the 1(ntrar%, it is '(st 1('0(rtable* ;(ur 1entral heatin. and %(ur bath -ater are per0e1ti(n*2 2&e spend a l(t (0 '(ne% in 'a/in. the h(use 1('0(rtable t( li6e in,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2&e -ere able t( sell s('e land* Ripe 0(r de6el(p'ent, I thin/ the% 1all it* F(rtunatel% ri.ht (ut (0 si.ht (0 the ED

h(use (n the (ther side (0 the par/* Reall% rather an u.l% bit (0 .r(und -ith n( ni1e 6ie-, but -e .(t a 6er%* .((d pri1e 0(r it* S( that -e ha6e been able t( ha6e as 'an% i'pr(6e'ents as p(ssible*2 2 ut the ser6i1e, Mada'eB2 2Oh, -ell, that presents less di00i1ult% than %(u *'i.ht thin/* O0 1(urse, (ne 1ann(t e:pe1t t( be l((/ed a0ter and -aited up(n as (ne used t( be* Di00erent pe(ple 1('e in 0r(' the 6illa.e* T-( -('en in the '(rnin., an(ther t-, ( t( 1((/ lun1h and -ash it up, and di00erent (nes a.ain in the e6enin.* There are plent% (0 pe(ple &h( -ant t( 1('e and -(r/ 0(r a 0e- h(urs a da%* O0 1(urse 0(r Christ'as -e are 6er% lu1/%* M% dear Mrs* R(ss al-a%s 1('es in e6er% Christ'as* She is a -(nder0ul 1((/, reall% 0irst81lass* She retired ab(ut ten %ears a.(, but she 1('es in t( help us in an% e'er.en1%* Then there is dear Pe6erell*2 2;(ur butlerB3 2;es* He is pensi(ned (00 and li6es in the little h(use near the l(d.e, but he is s( de6(ted, and he insists (n 1('in. t( -ait (n us at Christ'as* Reall%, I3' terri0ied, M* P(ir(t, be1ause he3s s( (ld and s( E"

sha/% that I 0eel 1ertain that i0 he 1arries an%thin. hea6% he -ill dr(p it* It3s reall% an a.(n% t( -at1h hi'* And his heart is n(t .((d and I3' a0raid (0 his d(in. t(( 'u1h* ut it -(uld hurt his 0eelin.s dread0ull% i0 I did n(t let hi' 1('e* He he's and hahs and 'a/es disappr(6in. n(ises -hen he sees the state (ur sil6er is in and -ithin three da%s (0 bein. here, it is all -(nder0ul a.ain* ;es* He is a dear 0aith0ul 0riend*2 She s'iled at P(ir(t* 2S( %(u see, -e are all set 0(r a happ% Christ'as* A -hite Christ'as, t((,2 she added as she l((/ed (ut (0 the -ind(-* 2SeeB It is be.innin. t( sn(-* Ah, the 1hildren are 1('in. in* ;(u 'ust 'eet the', M* P(ir(t*2 P(ir(t -as intr(du1ed -ith due 1ere'(n%* First, t( C(lin and Mi1hael, the s1h((lb(% .rands(n and his 0riend, ni1e p(lite lads (0 0i0teen, (ne dar/, (ne 0air* Then t( their 1(usin, rid.et, a bla1/8haired .irl (0 ab(ut the sa'e a.e -ith en(r'(us 6italit%* 2And this is '% .randdau.hter, Sarah,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* P(ir(t l((/ed -ith s('e interest at Sarah, an attra1ti6e .irl -ith a '(p (0 red G$

hair7 her 'anner see'ed t( hi' ner6% and a tri0le de0iant, but she sh(-ed real a00e1ti(n 0(r her .rand'(ther* 2And this is Mr* +ee8&(rtle%*2 Mr* +ee8&(rtle% -(re a 0isher'an3s @erse% and ti.ht bla1/ @eans7 his hair -as rather l(n. and it see'ed d(ubt0ul -hether he had sha6ed that '(rnin.* In 1(ntrast t( hi' -as a %(un. 'an intr(du1ed as Da6id &el-%n, -h( -as s(lid and <uiet, -ith a pleasant s'ile, and rather (b6i(usl% addi1ted t( s(ap and -ater* There -as (ne (ther 'e'ber (0 the part%, a hands('e, rather intense8l((/in. .irl -h( -as intr(du1ed as Diana Middlet(n* Tea -as br(u.ht in* A heart% 'eal (0 s1(nes, 1ru'pets, sand-i1hes and three /inds (0 1a/e* The %(un.er 'e'bers (0 the part% appre1iated the tea* C(l(nel +a1e% 1a'e in last, re'ar/in. in a n(n1(''ittal 6(i1e5 2He%, teaB Oh %es, tea*2 He re1ei6ed his 1up (0 tea 0r(' his -i0e3s hand, helped hi'sel0 t( t-( s1(nes, 1ast a l((/ (0 a6ersi(n at Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle% and sat d(-n as 0ar a-a% 0r(' hi' as he 1(uld* He -as a bi. 'an -ith G!

bush% e%ebr(-s and a red, -eather8beaten 0a1e* He 'i.ht ha6e been ta/en 0(r a 0ar'er rather than the l(rd (0 the 'an(r* 2Started t( sn(-,2 he said* 2It3s .(in. t( be a -hite Christ'as all ri.ht*2 A0ter tea the part% dispersed* 2I e:pe1t the%3ll .( and pla% -ith their tape re1(rders n(-,2 said Mrs* +a1e% t( P(ir(t* She l((/ed indul.entl% a0ter her .rands(n as he le0t the r(('* Her t(ne -as that (0 (ne -h( sa%s 2The 1hildren are .(in. t( pla% -ith their t(% s(ldiers*2 2The%3re 0ri.ht0ull% te1hni1al, (0 1(urse,2 she said, 2and 6er% .rand ab(ut it all*2 The b(%s and rid.et, h(-e6er, de1ided t( .( al(n. t( the la/e and see i0 the i1e (n it -as li/el% t( 'a/e s/atin. p(ssible* 2I th(u.ht -e 1(uld ha6e s/ated (n it this '(rnin.,2 said C(lin* 2 ut (ld H(d./ins said n(* He3s al-a%s s( terribl% 1are0ul*2 2C('e 0(r a -al/, Da6id,2 said Diana Middlet(n, s(0tl%* Da6id hesitated 0(r hal0 a '('ent, his e%es (n Sarah3s red head* She -as standin. b% Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle%, her hand (n his ar', l((/in. up int( his 0a1e* GE

2All ri.ht,2 said Da6id &el-%n, 2%es, let3s*2 Diana slipped a <ui1/ hand thr(u.h his ar' and the% turned t(-ards the d((r int( the .arden* Sarah said5 2Shall -e .(, t((, Des'(ndB It3s 0ear0ull% stu00% in the h(use*2 2&h( -ants t( -al/B2 said Des'(nd* 2I3ll .et '% 1ar (ut* &e3ll .( al(n. t( the Spe1/led (ar and ha6e a drin/*2 Sarah hesitated 0(r a '('ent be0(re sa%in.5 2+et3s .( t( Mar/et +edbur% t( the &hite Hart* It3s 'u1h '(re 0un*2 Th(u.h 0(r all the -(rld she -(uld n(t ha6e put it int( -(rds, Sarah had an instin1ti6e re6ulsi(n 0r(' .(in. d(-n t( the l(1al pub -ith Des'(nd* It -as, s('eh(-, n(t in the traditi(n (0 >in.s +a1e%* The -('en (0 >in.s +a1e% had ne6er 0re<uented the bar (0 the Spe1/led (ar* She had an (bs1ure 0eelin. that t( .( there -(uld be t( let (ld C(l(nel +a1e% and his -i0e d(-n* And -h% n(tB Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle% -(uld ha6e said* F(r a '('ent (0 e:asperati(n Sarah 0elt that he (u.ht t( /n(- -h% n(t4 One didn3t upset su1h (ld darlin.s as Grand0ather and GG

dear (ld E' unless it -as ne1essar%* The%3d been 6er% s-eet, reall%, lettin. her lead her (-n li0e, n(t understandin. in the least -h% she -anted t( li6e in Chelsea in the -a% she did, but a11eptin. it* That -as due t( E' (0 1(urse* Grand0ather -(uld ha6e /i1/ed up n( end (0 a r(-* Sarah had n( illusi(ns ab(ut her .rand0ather3s attitude* It -as n(t his d(in. that Des'(nd had been as/ed t( sta% at >in.s +a1e%* That -as E', and E' -as a darlin. and al-a%s had been* &hen Des'(nd had .(ne t( 0et1h his 1ar, Sarah p(pped her head int( the dra-8in.8r((' a.ain* 2&e3re .(in. (6er t( Mar/et +edbur%,2 she said* 2&e th(u.ht -e3d ha6e a drin/ there at the &hite Hart*2 There -as a sli.ht a'(unt (0 de0ian1e in her 6(i1e, but Mrs* +a1e% did n(t see' t( n(ti1e it* 2&ell, dear,2 she said, 2I3' sure that -ill be 6er% ni1e* Da6id and Diana ha6e .(ne 0(r a -al/, I see* I3' s( .lad* I reall% thin/ it -as a brain-a6e (n '% part t( as/ Diana here* S( sad bein. le0t a -id(- s( %(un. (nl% t-ent%8t-( I d( h(pe she 'arries a.ain s((n*2 G?

Sarah l((/ed at her sharpl%* 2&hat are %(u up t(, E'B2 2It3s '% little plan,2 said Mrs* +a1e% .lee0ull%* 2I thin/ she3s @ust ri.ht 0(r Da6id* O0 1(urse I /n(- he -as terribl% in l(6e -ith %(u, Sarah dear, but %(u3d n( use 0(r hi' and I realise that he isn3t %(ur t%pe* ut I d(n3t -ant hi' t( .( (n bein. unhapp%, and I thin/ Diana -ill reall% suit hi'*2 2&hat a 'at1h'a/er %(u are, E',2 said Sarah* 2I /n(-,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2Old -('en al-a%s are* Diana3s <uite /een (n hi' alread%, I thin/* D(n3t %(u thin/ she3d be @ust ri.ht 0(r hi'B2 2I sh(uldn3t sa% s(,2 said Sarah* 2I thin/ Diana3s 0ar t(( -ell, t(( intense, t(( seri(us* I sh(uld thin/ Da6id -(uld 0ind it terribl% b(rin. bein. 'arried t( her*2 2&ell, -e3ll see,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2An%-a%, %(u d(n3t -ant hi', d( %(u, dearB2 2N(, indeed,2 said Sarah, 6er% <ui1/l%* She added, in a sudden rush, 2;(u d( li/e Des'(nd, d(n3t %(u, E'B2 GA

2I3' sure he3s 6er% ni1e indeed,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2Grand0ather d(esn3t li/e hi',2 said Sarah* 2&ell, %(u 1(uld hardl% e:pe1t hi' t(, 1(uld %(uB2 said Mrs* +a1e% reas(nabl%, 2but I dare sa% he3ll 1('e r(und -hen he .ets used t( the idea* ;(u 'ustn3t rush hi', Sarah dear* Old pe(ple are 6er% sl(t( 1han.e their 'inds and %(ur .rand0ather is rather (bstinate*2 2I d(n3t 1are -hat Grand0ather thin/s (r sa%s,2 said Sarah* 2I shall .et 'arried t( Des'(nd -hene6er I li/e42 2I /n(-, dear, I /n(-* ut d( tr% and be realisti1 ab(ut it* ;(ur .rand0ather 1(uld 1ause a l(t (0 tr(uble, %(u /n(-* ;(u3re n(t (0 a.e %et* In an(ther %ear %(u 1an d( as %(u please* I e:pe1t H(ra1e -ill ha6e 1('e r(und l(n. be0(re that*2 2;(u3re (n '% side aren3t %(u, darlin.B2 said Sarah* She 0lun. her ar's r(und her .rand'(ther3s ne1/ and .a6e her an a00e1ti(nate /iss* 2I -ant %(u t( be happ%,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2Ah4 there3s %(ur %(un. 'an brin.in. his 1ar r(und* ;(u /n(-, I li/e these 6er% ti.ht tr(users these %(un. 'en G#

-ear n(-ada%s* The% l((/ s( s'art (nl%, (0 1(urse, it d(es a11entuate /n(1/ /nees*2 ;es, Sarah th(u.ht, Des'(nd had .(t /n(1/ /nees, she had ne6er n(ti1ed it be0(re **** 2G( (n, dear, en@(% %(ursel0,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* She -at1hed her .( (ut t( the 1ar, then, re'e'berin. her 0(rei.n .uest, she -ent al(n. t( the librar%* +((/in. in, h(-e6er, she sa- that Her1ule P(ir(t -as ta/in. a pleasant little nap, and s'ilin. t( hersel0, she -ent a1r(ss the hall and (ut int( the /it1hen t( ha6e a 1(n0eren1e -ith Mrs* R(ss* 2C('e (n, beauti0ul,2 said Des'(nd* 2;(ur 0a'il% 1uttin. up r(u.h be1ause %(u3re 1('in. (ut t( a pubB ;ears behind the ti'es here, aren3t the%B2 2O0 1(urse the%3re n(t 'a/in. a 0uss,2 said Sarah, sharpl% as she .(t int( the 1ar* 2&hat3s the idea (0 ha6in. that 0(rei.n 0ell(- d(-nB He3s a dete1ti6e, isn3t heB &hat needs dete1tin. hereB2 2Oh, he3s n(t here pr(0essi(nall%,2 said Sarah* 2Ed-ina M(re1('be, '% .(d'(ther, as/ed us t( ha6e hi'* I thin/ GC

he3s retired 0r(' pr(0essi(nal -(r/ l(n. a.(*2 2S(unds li/e a br(/en8d(-n (ld 1ab h(rse,2 said Des'(nd* 2He -anted t( see an (ld80ashi(ned En.lish Christ'as, I belie6e,2 said Sarah 6a.uel%* Des'(nd lau.hed s1(rn0ull%* 2Su1h a l(t (0 tripe, that s(rt (0 thin.,2 he said* 2H(- %(u 1an stand it I d(n3t /n(-*2 Sarah3s red hair -as t(ssed ba1/ and her a..ressi6e 1hin sh(t up* 2I en@(% it42 she said de0iantl%* 2;(u 1an3t, bab%* +et3s 1ut the -h(le thin. t(8'(rr(-* G( (6er t( S1arb(r(u.h (r s('e-here*2 2I 1(uldn3t p(ssibl% d( that*2 2&h% n(tB2 2Oh, it -(uld hurt their 0eelin.s*2 2Oh, bil.e4 ;(u /n(- %(u d(n3t en@(% this 1hildish senti'ental b(sh*2 2&ell, n(t reall% perhaps, but 2Sarah br(/e (00* She realised -ith a 0eelin. (0 .uilt that she -as l((/in. 0(-ard a .((d deal t( the Christ'as 1elebrati(n* She en@(%ed the -h(le thin., but she -as asha'ed t( ad'it that t( Des'(nd* It -as n(t the thin. t( en@(% Christ'as and GD

0a'il% li0e* =ust 0(r a '('ent she -ished that Des'(nd had n(t 1('e d(-n here at Christ'as ti'e* In 0a1t, she al'(st -ished that Des'(nd had n(t 1('e d(-n here at all* It -as 'u1h '(re 0un seein. Des'(nd in +(nd(n than here at h('e* In the 'eanti'e the b(%s and rid.et -ere -al/in. ba1/ 0r(' the la/e, still dis1ussin. earnestl% the pr(ble's (0 s/atin.* Fle1/s (0 sn(- had been 0allin., and l((/in. up at the s/% it 1(uld be pr(phesied that be0(re l(n. there -as .(in. t( be a hea6% sn(-0all* 2It3s .(in. t( sn(- all ni.ht,2 said C(lin* 2 et %(u b% Christ'as '(rnin. -e ha6e a 1(uple (0 0eet (0 sn(-*2 The pr(spe1t -as a pleasurable (ne* 2+et3s 'a/e a sn(-8'an,2 said Mi1hael* 2G((d l(rd,2 said 'ade a sn(-8'an sin1e ab(ut 0(ur %ears (ld*2 C(lin, 2I ha6en3t -ell, sin1e I -as 2I d(n3t belie6e it3s a bit eas% t( d(,2 said rid.et* 2I 'ean, %(u ha6e t( /n(h(-*2 2&e 'i.ht 'a/e an e00i.% (0 M* P(ir(t,2 said C(lin* 2Gi6e it a bi. bla1/

'(usta1he* There is (ne in the dressin.8up b(:*2 2I d(n3t see, %(u /n(-,2 said Mi1hael th(u.ht0ull%, 2h(- M* P(ir(t 1(uld e6er ha6e been a dete1ti6e* I d(n3t see h(- he3d e6er be able t( dis.uise hi'sel0*2 2I /n(-,2 said rid.et, 2and (ne 1an3t i'a.ine hi' runnin. ab(ut -ith a 'i1r(s1(pe and l((/in. 0(r dues (r 'easurin. 0((tprints*2 2I36e .(t an idea,2 said C(lin* 2+et3s put (n a sh(- 0(r hi'42 2&hat d( %(u 'ean, a sh(-B2 as/ed rid.et* 2&ell, arran.e a 'urder 0(r hi'*2 2&hat a .(r.e(us idea,2 said rid.et* 2D( %(u 'ean a b(d% in the sn(--that s(rt (0 thin.B2 2;es* It -(uld 'a/e hi' 0eel at h('e, -(uldn3t itB2 rid.et .i..led* 2I d(n3t /n(- that I3d .( as 0ar as that*2 2I0 it sn(-s,2 said C(lin, 26Ie3ll ha6e the per0e1t settin.* A b(d% and 0((tprints 88-e3ll ha6e t( thin/ that (ut rather 1are0ull% and pin1h (ne (0 Grand0ather3s da..ers and 'a/e s('e bl((d*2 The% 1a'e t( a halt and (bli6i(us t( ?$

the rapidl% 0allin. sn(-, entered int( an e:1ited dis1ussi(n* 2There3s a paintb(: in the (ld s1h((lr(('* &e 1(uld 'i: up s('e bl((d 1ri's(n8la/e, I sh(uld thin/*2 2Cri's(n8la/e3s a bit t(( pin/, I thin/,2 said rid.et* 2It (u.ht t( be a bit br(-ner*2 2&h(3s .(in. t( be the b(d%B2 as/ed Mi1hael* 2I3ll be the b(d%,2 said rid.et <ui1/l%* 2Oh, l((/ here,2 said C(lin, 2I th(u.ht (0 it*2 2Oh, n(, n(,2 said rid.et, 2it 'ust be 'e* It3s .(t t( be a .irl* It3s '(re e:1itin.* eauti0ul .irl l%in. li0eless in the sn(-*2 2 eauti0ul .irl4 Ah8ha,2 said Mi1hael in derisi(n* 2I36e .(t bla1/ hair, t((,2 said rid.et* 2&hat3s that .(t t( d( -ith it*N2 2&ell, it3ll sh(- up s( -ell (n the sn(- and I shall -ear '% red p%@a'as*2 2I0 %(u -ear red p%@a'as, the% -(n3t sh(- the bl((dstains,2 said Mi1hael in a pra1ti1al 'anner* 2 ut the%3d l((/ s( e00e1ti6e a.ainst the sn(-,2 said rid.et, 2and the%36e .(t -hite 0a1in.s, %(u /n(-, s( the bl((d ?!

1(uld be (n that* Oh, -(n3t it be .(r.e(usB D( %(u thin/ he -ill reall% be ta/en inB2 2He -ill i0 -e d( it -ell en(u.h,2 said Mi1hael* 2&e3ll ha6e @ust %(ur 0((tprints in the sn(- and (ne (ther pers(n3s .(in. t( the b(d% and 1('in. a-a% 0r(' it88a 'an3s, (0 1(urse* He -(n3t -ant t( disturb the', s( he -(n3t /n(- that %(u3re n(t reall% dead* ;(u d(n3t thin/,2 Mi1hael st(pped, stru1/ b% a sudden idea* The (thers l((/ed at hi'* 2;(u d(n3t thin/ he3ll be ann(%ed ab(ut itB2 2Oh, I sh(uldn3t thin/ s(,2 said rid.et, -ith 0a1ile (pti'is'* 2I3' sure he3ll understand that -e36e @ust d(ne it t( entertain hi'* A s(rt (0 Christ'as treat*2 2I d(n3t thin/ -e (u.ht t( d( it (n Christ'as Da%,2 said C(lin re0le1ti6el%* 2I d(n3t thin/ Grand0ather -(uld li/e that 6er% 'u1h*2 2 (:in. Da% then,2 said rid.et* 2 (:in. Da% -(uld be @ust ri.ht,2 said Mi1hael* 2And it3ll .i6e us '(re ti'e, t((,2 pursued rid.et* 2A0ter all, there are a l(t ?E

(0 thin.s t( arran.e* +et3s .( and ha6e a l((/ at all the pr(ps*2 The% hurried int( the h(use* ?G

G T HE e6enin. -as a bus% (ne* H(ll% *and 'istlet(e had been br(u.ht **' in lar.e <uantities and a Christ'as tree had been set up at (ne end (0 the dinin.8r(('* E6er%(ne helped t( de1(rate it, t( put up the bran1hes (0 h(ll% behind pi1tures and t( han. 'istlet(e in a 1(n6enient p(siti(n in the hall* 2I had n( idea an%thin. s( ar1hai1 still -ent (n,2 'ur'ured Des'(nd t( Sarah -ith a sneer* 2&e36e al-a%s d(ne it,2 said Sarah, de0ensi6el%* 2&hat a reas(n42 2Oh, d(n3t be tires('e, Des'(nd* I thin/ it3s 0un*2 2Sarah '% s-eet, %(u 1an3t,t2 2&ell, n(t n(t reall% perhaps but I d( in a -a%*2 2&h(3s .(in. t( bra6e the sn(- and .( t( 'idni.ht 'assB2 as/ed Mrs* +a1e% at t-ent% 'inutes t( t-el6e* ??

2N(t 'e,2 said Des'(nd* 2C('e (n, Sarah*2 &ith a hand (n her ar' he .uided her int( the librar% and -ent (6er t( the re1(rd 1ase* 2There are li'its, darlin.,2 said Des'(nd* 2Midni.ht 'ass42 2;es,2 said Sarah* 2Oh %es*2 &ith a .((d deal (0 lau.hter, d(nnin. (0 1(ats and sta'pin. (0 0eet, '(st (0 the (thers .(t (00* The t-( b(%s, rid.et, Da6id and Diana set (ut 0(r the ten 'inutes3 -al/ t( the 1hur1h thr(u.h the 0allin. sn(-* Their lau.hter died a-a% in the distan1e* 2Midni.ht 'ass42 said C(l(nel +a1e%, sn(rtin.* 2Ne6er -ent t( 'idni.ht 'ass in '% %(un. da%s* Mass, indeed4 P(pish, that is4 Oh, I be. %(ur pard(n, M* P(ir(t*2 P(ir(t -a6ed a hand* 2It is <uite all ri.ht* D( n(t 'ind 'e*2 2Matins is .((d en(u.h 0(r an%b(d%, I sh(uld sa%,2 said the 1(l(nel* 2Pr(per Sunda% '(rnin. ser6i1e* 3Har/ the herald an.els sin.,3 and all the .((d (ld Christ'as h%'ns* And then ba1/ t( ?A

Christ'as dinner* That3s ri.ht, isn3t it, E'B2 2;es, dear,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2That3s -hat -e d(* ut the %(un. (nes en@(% the 'idni.ht ser6i1e* And it3s ni1e, reall%, that the% -ant t( .(*2 2Sarah and that 0ell(- d(n3t -ant t( .(* 2&ell, there dear, I thin/ %(u3re -r(n.,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2Sarah, %(u /n(-, did -ant t( .(, but she didn3t li/e t( sa% s(*2 2 eats 'e -h% she 1ares -hat that 0ell(-3s (pini(n is*2 2She3s 6er% %(un., reall%,2 said Mrs* +a1e% pla1idl%* 2Are %(u .(in. t( bed, M* P(ir(tB G((d ni.ht* I h(pe %(u3ll sleep -ell*2 2And %(u, Mada'eB Are %(u n(t .(in. t( bed %etB2 2N(t @ust %et,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2I36e .(t the st(1/in.s t( 0ill, %(u see* Oh, I /n(- the%3re all pra1ti1all% .r(-n up, but the% d( li/e their st(1/in.s* One puts @(/es in the'4 Sill% little thin.s* ut it all 'a/es 0(r a l(t (0 0un*2 2;(u -(r/ 6er% hard t( 'a/e this a ?#

happ% h(use at Christ'as ti'e,2 said P(ir(t* 2I h(n(ur %(u*2 He raised her hand t( his lips in a 1(urtl% 0ashi(n* 2H',2 .runted C(l(nel +a1e%, as P(ir(t departed* 2Fl(-er% s(rt (0 0ell(-* Still he appre1iates %(u*2 Mrs* +a1e% di'pled up at hi'* 2Ha6e %(u n(ti1ed, H(ra1e, that I3' standin. under the 'istlet(eB2 she as/ed -ith the de'ureness (0 a .irl (0 nineteen* Her1ule P(ir(t entered his bedr(('* It -as a lar.e r((' -ell pr(6ided -ith radiat(rs* As he -ent (6er t(-ard the bi. 0(ur8p(ster bed he n(ti1ed an en6el(pe l%in. (n his pill(-* He (pened it and dre- (ut a pie1e (0 paper* On it -as a sha/il% printed 'essa.e in 1apital letters* 2DON3T EAT NONE OF THE P+UM PUDDING* ONE AS &ISHES ;OU &E++*2 Her1ule P(ir(t stared at it* His e%ebr(-s r(se* 2Cr%pti1,2 he 'ur'ured, 2and '(st une:pe1ted*2 CHRISTMAS dinner t((/ pla1e at E p*'* and -as a 0east indeed* En(r'(us l(.s 1ra1/led 'erril% in the -ide 0irepla1e and ab(6e their 1ra1/lin. r(se the babel (0 'an% t(n.ues tal/in. t(.ether* O%ster s(up had been 1(nsu'ed, t-( en(r'(us tur/e%s had 1('e and .(ne, 'ere 1ar1asses (0 their 0(r'er sel6es* N(-, the supre'e '('ent, the Christ'as puddin. -as br(u.ht in, in state4 Old Pe6erell, his hands and his /nees sha/in. -ith the -ea/ness (0 ei.ht% %ears, per'itted n( (ne but hi'sel0 t( bear it in* Mrs* +a1e% sat, her hands pressed t(.ether in ner6(us apprehensi(n* One Christ'as, she 0elt sure, Pe6erell -(uld 0all d(-n dead* Ha6in. either t( ta/e the ris/ (0 lettin. hi' 0all d(-n dead (r (0 hurtin. his 0eelin.s t( su1h an e:tent that he -(uld pr(babl% pre0er t( be dead than ali6e, she had s( 0ar 1h(sen the 0(r'er alternati6e* On a sil6er dish the Christ'as puddin. rep(sed in its .l(r%* A lar.e 0((t?D

ball (0 a puddin., a pie1e (0 h(ll% stu1/ in it li/e a triu'phant 0la. and .l(ri(us 0la'es (0 blue and red risin. r(und it* There -as a 1heer and 1ries (0 2O(h8ah*2 One thin. Mrs* +a1e% had d(ne5 pre6ailed up(n Pe6erell t( pla1e the puddin. in 0r(nt (0 her s( that she 1(uld help it rather than hand it in turn r(und the table* She breathed a si.h (0 relie0 as it -as dep(sited sa0el% in 0r(nt (0 her* Rapidl% the plates -ere passed r(und, 0la'es still li1/in. the p(rti(ns* 2&ish, M* P(ir(t,2 1ried rid.et* 2&ish be0(re the 0la'e .(es* Fui1/, Gran darlin., <ui1/*2 Mrs* +a1e% leant ba1/ -ith a si.h (0 satis0a1ti(n* Operati(n Puddin. had been a su11ess* In 0r(nt (0 e6er%(ne -as a helpin. -ith 0la'es still li1/in.* There -as a '('entar% silen1e all r(und the table as e6er%(ne -ished hard* There -as n(b(d% t( n(ti1e the rather 1uri(us e:pressi(n (n the 0a1e (0 M* P(ir(t as he sur6e%ed the p(rti(n (0 puddin. (n his plate* 2D(n3t eat n(ne (03 the luddin.*2 &hat (n earth did that sinister -arnin. 'eanB There 1(uld be n(thin. di00erent ab(ut his p(rti(n (0 plu' ?"

puddin. 0r(' that (0 e6er%(ne else4 Si.hin. as he t1l'itted hi'sel0 ba00led88and Her1ule ItMir(t ne6er li/ed t( ad'it hi'sel0 ba00ied8he pi1/ed up his sp((n and 0(r/* 2Hard sau1e, M* P(ir(tB2 P(ir(t helpetl hi'sel0 appre1iati6el% t( hard sau1e* 2S-iped '% best brand% a.ain, eh E'B3*3 said the 1(l(nel .((d8hu'(uredl% 0r(' the (ther end (0 the table* Mrs* +a1e% t-in/le1l at hi'* 2Mrs* R(ss insists (n ha6in. the best brand%, dear,2 she said* 2She sa%s it 'a/es all the 1li00eren1e*2 2&ell, -ell,,, said C(l(nel +a1e%, 2Christ'as *COtrtes but (n1e a %ear and Mrs* R(ss is a .reat -('an* A .reat -('an and a* lreat 1((/*2 2She is indeed,,, said C(lin* 2S'ashin. plu' puddin., this* M'''*2 He 0illed an appre1iati6e 'huth* Gentl%, alrntst .in.erl%, Her1ule P(ir(t atta1/ed his Ptrti(n (0 puddin.* He ate a '(uth0ul* It -as deli1i(us4 He ate an(ther* S('ethin. tinl<ed 0aintl% (n his plate* He in6esti.ated -ith a 0(r/* rid.et, (n his le0t, 1a'e t( his* aid* A$

2;(u36e .(t s('ethin., M* P(ir(t,2 she said* 2I -(nder -hat it is*2 P(ir(t deta1hed a little sil6er (b@e1t 0r(' the surr(undin. raisins that 1lun. t( it* 2O((h,2 said rid.et, 2it3s the ba1hel(r3s butt(n4 M* P(ir(t3s .(t the ba1hel(r3s butt(n42 Her1ule P(ir(t dipped the s'all sil6er butt(n int( the 0in.er8.lass (0 -ater that st((d b% his plate, and -ashed it 1lear (0 puddin. 1ru'bs* 2It is 6er% prett%,2 he (bser6ed* 2That 'eans %(u3re .(in. t( be a ba1hel(r, M* P(ir(t,2 e:plained C(lin help0ull%* 2That is t( be e:pe1ted,2 said P(ir(t .ra6el%* 2I ha6e been a ba1hel(r 0(r 'an% l(n. %ears and it is unli/el% that I shall 1han.e that status n(-*2 2Oh, ne6er sa% die,2 said Mi1hael* 2I sa- in the paper that s('e(ne (0 ninet%80i6e 'arried a .irl (0 t-ent%8t-( the (ther da%*2 2;(u en1(ura.e 'e,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t* C(l(nel +a1e% uttered a sudden e:1la'ati(n* His 0a1e be1a'e purple and his hand -ent t( his '(uth* A!

2C(n0(und it, 2-h% (n earth d( %(u let the 1((/ put .lass in the puddin.B2 2Glass42 1ried Mrs* +a1e%, ast(nished* E''eline,2 he r(ared, 2Oh, d(n3t be an ass, rid.et* &h% a rub% (0 that si9e -(uld be -(rth th(u sands and th(usands (0 p(unds* &(uldn3t it, M* P(ir(tB2 C(l(nel +a1e% -ithdre- the (00endin. 2It -(uld indeed,2 said P(ir(t* substan1e 0r(' his '(uth* 2Mi.ht ha6e I 2 ut -hat I 1an3t understand,2 said br(/en a t((th,2 he .ru'bled* 2Or Mrs* +a1e%, 2is h(- it .(t int( the s-all(-ed the da'n3 thin. and had appendi1itis*2 2O((h,2 said C(lin, di6erted b% his last He dr(pped the pie1e (0 .lass int( the '(uth0ul, 2I36e .(t the pi.* It isn3t 0air*2 0in.er8b(-l, rinsed it and held it up* rid.et 1hanted i''ediatel%, 2C(lin3s 2G(d bless '% s(ul,2 he e@a1ulated, .(t the pi.4 C(lin3s .(t the pi.4 C(lin is 2It3s a red st(ne (ut (0 (ne (0 the 1ra1/er the .reed% .u99lin. pi.*t2 br((1hes*2 He held it al(0t* 2I36e .(t the rin.,2 said Diana in a 2;(u per'itB2 1lear, hi.h 6(i1e* 2G((d 0(r %(u, Diana* ;(u3ll be Ver% de0tl% M* P(ir(t stret1hed a1r(ss his nei.hb(ur, t((/ it 0r(' C(l(nel 'arried 0irst, (0 us all*2 2i36e +a1e%3s 0in.ers and e:a'ined it attent the thi'ble,2 -ailed rid.et* i6el%* As the s<uire had said, it -as an 2 rid.et3s .(in. t( be an (ld 'aid,2 en(r'(us red st(ne the 1(l(ur (0 a rub%* .(t puddin.*2

1hanted the t-( b(%s* 2;ah, rid.et3s The li.ht .lea'ed 0r(' its 0a1ets as he .(in. t( be an (ld 'aid*2 turned it ab(ut* S('e-here ar(und the 2&h(3s .(t the '(ne%B2 de'anded table a 1hair -as pushed sharpl% ba1/ and Da6id* 2There3s a real ten shillin. pie1e, then dra-n in a.ain, .(ld, in this puddin.* I /n(-* Mrs* R(ss 2Phe-42 1ried Mi1hael* 2H(- -i9ard t(ld 'e s(*2 2I thin/ I3' the lu1/% (ne,2 said it -(uld be i0 it -as reM*2 2Perhaps it is real,2 said rid.et Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle%* h(pe0ull%* C(l(nel +a1e%3s t-( ne:t d((r AE ,53 AG

nei.hb(urs heard hi' 'utter, 2;es, %(u -(uld be*2 2I36e .(t a rin., t((,2 said Da6id* He l((/ed a1r(ss at Diana* 2Fuite a 1(in1iden1e, isn3t itB2 The lau.hter -ent (n* N(b(d% n(ti1ed that M* P(ir(t 1arelessl%, as th(u.h thin/in. (0 s('ethin. else, had dr(pped the red st(ne int( his p(1/et* Min1e8pies and Christ'as dessert 0(ll(-ed the puddin.* The (lder 'e'bers (0 the part% then retired 0(r a -el1('e siesta be0(re the tea8ti'e 1ere'(n% (0 the li.htin. (0 the Christ'as tree* Her1ule P(ir(t, h(-e6er, did n(t ta/e a siesta* Instead, he 'ade his -a% t( the en(r'(us (ld80ashi(ned /it1hen* 2It is per'itted,2 he as/ed, l((/in. r(und and bea'in., 2that I 1(n.ratulate the 1((/ (n this 'ar6ell(us 'eal that I ha6e @ust eatenB2 There -as a '('ent3s pause and then Mrs* R(ss 1a'e 0(r-ard in a statel% 'anner t( 'eet hi'* She -as a lar.e -('an, n(bl% built -ith all the di.nit% (0 a sta.e du1hess* T-( lean .re%8haired -('en -ere be%(nd in the s1uller% -ashin. up and a t(-8haired .irl -as A?

'(6in. t( and 0r( bet-een the s1uller% and the /it1hen* ut these -ere (b6i(usl% 'ere '%r'id(ns* Mrs* R(ss -as the <ueen (0 the /it1hen <uarters* 2I a' .lad t( hear %(u en@(%ed it, sir,2 she said .ra1i(usl%* 2En@(%ed it42 1ried Her1ule P(ir(t* &ith an e:tra6a.ant 0(rei.n .esture he raised his hand t( his lips, /issed it, and -a0ted the /iss t( the 1eilin.* 2 ut %(u are a .enius, Mrs* R(ss4 A .enius4 Ne6er ha6e I tasted su1h a -(nder0ul 'eal* The (%ster s(up 2he 'ade an e:pressi6e n(ise -ith his lips*2 and the stu00in.* The 1hestnut stu00in. in the tur/e%, that -as <uite uni<ue in '% e:perien1e*2 2&ell, it3s 0unn% that %(u sh(uld sa% that, sir,2 said Mrs* R(ss .ra1i(usl%* 2It3s a 6er% spe1ial re1ipe, that stu00in.* It -as .i6en 'e b% an Austrian 1he0 that I -(r/ed -ith 'an% %ears a.(* ut all the rest,2 she added, 2is @ust .((d, plain En.lish 1((/in.*2 2And is there an%thin. betterB2 de'anded Her1ule P(ir(t* 2&ell, it3s ni1e (0 %(u t( sa% s(, sir* O0 1(urse, %(u bein. a 0(rei.n .entle'an 'i.ht ha6e pre0erred the 1(ntinental st%le*

N(t but -hat I 1an3t 'ana.e 1(ntinental dishes t((*2 2I a' sure, Mrs* R(ss, %(u 1(uld 'ana.e an%thin.4 ut %(u 'ust /n(- that En.lish 1((/in.88.((d En.lish 1((/in., n(t the 1((/in. (ne .ets in the se1(nd81lass h(tels (r the restaurants is 'u1h appre1iated b% .(ur'ets (n the 1(ntinent, and I belie6e I a' 1(rre1t in sa%in. that a spe1ial e:pediti(n -as 'ade t( +(nd(n in the earl% ei.hteen hundreds, and a rep(rt sent ba1/ t( Fran1e (0 the -(nders (0 the En.lish puddin.s* 3&e ha6e n(thin. li/e that in Fran1e,3 the% -r(te* 3It is -(rth 'a/in. a @(urne% t( +(nd(n @ust t( taste the 6arieties and e:1ellen1ies (0 the En.lish puddin.s* And ab(6e all puddin.s,2 1(ntinued P(ir(t, -ell laun1hed n(- (n a /ind (0 rhaps(d%, 2is the Christ'as plu' puddin., su1h as -e ha6e eaten t(8da%* That -as a h('e'ade puddin., -as it n(tB N(t a b(u.ht (neB2 2;es, indeed, sir* O0 '% (-n 'a/in. and '% (-n re1ipe su1h as I36e 'ade 0(r 'an%, 'an% %ears* &hen I 1a'e here Mrs* +a1e% said that she3d (rdered a puddin. 0r(' a +(nd(n st(re t( sa6e 'e the tr(uble* ut n(, Mada', I said, that A#

'a% be /ind (0 %(u but n( b(u.ht puddin. 0r(' a st(re 1an e<ual a h('e'ade Christ'as (ne* Mind %(u,2 said Mrs* R(ss, -ar'in. t( her sub@e1t li/e the artist she -as, 2it -as 'ade t(( s((n be0(re the da%* A .((d Christ'as puddin. sh(uld be 'ade s('e -ee/s be0(re and all(-ed t( -ait* The l(n.er the%3re /ept, -ithin reas(n, the better the% are* I 'ind n(that -hen I -as a 1hild and -e -ent t( 1hur1h e6er% Sunda%, -e3d start listenin. 0(r the 1(lle1t that be.ins 3Stir up O +(rd -e besee1h thee3 be1ause that 1(lle1t -as the si.nal, as it -ere, that the puddin.s sh(uld be 'ade that -ee/* And s( the% al-a%s -ere* &e had the 1(lle1t (n the Sunda%, and that -ee/ sure en(u.h '% '(ther -(uld 'a/e the Christ'as puddin.s* And s( it sh(uld ha6e been here this %ear* As it -as, that puddin. -as (nl% 'ade three da%s a.(, the da% be0(re %(u arri6ed, sir* H(-e6er, I /ept t( the (ld 1ust('* E6er%(ne in the h(use had t( 1('e (ut int( the /it1hen and ha6e a stir and 'a/e a -ish* That3s an (ld 1ust(', sir, and I36e al-a%s held t( it*2 2M(st interestin.,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t* i,* K AC

2M(st interestin.* And s( e6er%(ne 1a'e (ut int( the /it1henB2 2;es, sir* The %(un. .entle'en, Miss rid.et and the +(nd(n .entle'an -h(3s sta%in. here, and his sister and Mr* Da6id and Miss Diana Mrs* Middlet(n, I sh(uld sa% All had a stir, the% did*2 2H(- 'an% puddin.s did %(u 'a/eB Is this the (nl% (neB2 2N(, sir, I 'ade 0(ur* T-( lar.e (nes and t-( s'aller (nes* The (ther lar.e (ne I planned t( ser6e (n Ne- ;ear3s Da% and the s'aller (nes -ere 0(r C(l(nel and Mrs* +a1e% -hen the%3re al(ne li/e and n(t s( 'an% in the 0a'il%*2 O 2I see, I see,2 said P(ir(t* 2As a 'atter (0 0a1t, sir,2 said Mrs* +a1e%, 2it -as the -r(n. puddin. %(u had 0(r lun1h t(da%*2 2The -r(n. puddin.B2 P(ir(t 0r(-ned* 2H(- is thatB2 2&ell, sir, -e ha6e a bi. Christ'as '(uld* A 1hina '(uld -ith a pattern (0 h(ll% and 'istlet(e (n t(p and -e al-a%s ha6e the Christ'as Da% puddin. b(iled in that* ut there -as a '(st un0(rtunate a11ident* This '(rnin., -hen Annie -as .ettin. it d(-n 0r(' the shel0 in the AD

larder, she slipped and dr(pped it and it br(/e* &ell, sir, naturall% I 1(uldn3t ser6e that, 1(uld IB There 'i.ht ha6e been splinters in it* S( -e had t( use the (ther (ne88the Ne- ;ear3s Da% (ne, -hi1h -as in a plain b(-l* It 'a/es a ni1e r(und but it3s n(t s( de1(rati6e as the Christ'as '(uld* Reall%, -here -e3ll .et an(ther '(uld li/e that I d(n3t /n(-* The% d(n3t 'a/e thin.s in that si9e n(-ada%s* All tiddl% bits (0 thin.s* &h%, %(u 1an3t e6en bu% a brea/0ast dish that3ll ta/e a pr(per ei.ht t( ten e..s and ba1(n* Ah, thin.s aren3t -hat the% -ere*2 2N(, indeed,2 said P(ir(t* 2 ut t(da% that is n(t s(* This Christ'as Da% has been li/e the Christ'as Da%s (0 (ld, is that n(t trueB2 Mrs* R(ss si.hed* 2&ell, I3' .lad %(u sa% s(, sir, but (0 1(urse I ha6en3t the help n(- that I used t( ha6e* N(t s/illed help, that is* The .irls n(-ada%s 2 she l(-ered her 6(i1e sli.htl%,2 the% 'ean 6er% -ell and the%3re 6er% -illin. but the%36e n(t been trained, sir, i0 %(u understand -hat I 'ean*2 2Ti'es 1han.e, %es,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t* 2I t(( 0ind it sad s('eti'es*2

2This h(use, sir,2 said Mrs* R(ss, 2it3s t(( lar.e, %(u /n(-, 0(r the 'istress and the 1(l(nel* The 'istress, she /n(-s that* +i6in. in a 1(rner (0 it as the% d(, it3s n(t the sa'e thin. at all* It (nl% 1('es ali6e, as %(u 'i.ht sa%, at Christ'as ti'e -hen all the 0a'il% 1('e*2 2It is the 0irst ti'e, I thin/, that Mr* +ee8&(rtle% and his sister ha6e been hereB2 2;es, sir*2 A n(te (0 sli.ht reser6e 1rept int( Mrs* R(ss3s 6(i1e* 2A 6er% ni1e .entle'an he is but, -ell it see's a 0unn% 0riend 0(r Miss Sarah t( ha6e, a11(rdin. t( (ur ideas* ut there +(nd(n -a%s are di00erent4 It3s sad that his sister3s s( p((rl%* Had an (perati(n, she had* She see'ed all ri.ht the 0irst da% she -as here, but that 6er% da%, a0ter -e3d been stirrin. the puddin.s, she -as t((/ bad a.ain and she3s been in bed e6er sin1e* G(t up t(( s((n a0ter her (perati(n, I e:pe1t* Ah, d(1t(rs n(-ada%s, the% ha6e %(u (ut (0 h(spital be0(re %(u 1an hardl% stand (n %(ur 0eet* &h%, '% 6er% (-n nephe-3s -i0e***2 And Mrs* R(ss -ent int( a l(n. and spirited tale (0 h(spital treat'ent as a11(rded t( her relati(ns, #$

1('parin. it un0a6(urabl% -ith the 1(nsiderati(n that had been la6ished up(n the' in (lder ti'es* P(ir(t dul% 1(''iserated -ith her* 2It re'ains,2 he said, 2t( than/ %(u 0(r this e:<uisite and su'ptu(us 'eal* ;(u per'it a little a1/n(-led.'ent (0 '% appre1iati(nB33 A 1risp 0i6e p(und n(te passed 0r(' his hand int( that (0 Mrs* R(ss -h( said per0un1t(ril%5 2;(u reall% sh(uldn3t d( that, sir*2 2I insist* I insist*2 2&ell, it3s 6er% /ind (0 %(u indeed, sir*2 Mrs* R(ss a11epted the tribute as n( '(re than her due* 2And I -ish %(u, sir, a 6er% happ% Christ'as and a pr(sper(us Ne- ;ear*2 #!

A T HE end (0 Christ'as Da% -as li/e the end (0 '(st Christ'as Da%s* The tree -as li.hted, a splendid Christ'as 1a/e 1a'e in 0(r tea, -as .reeted -ith appr(6al but -as parta/en (0 (nl% '(deratel%* There -as 1(ld supper* (th P(ir(t and his h(st and h(stess -ent t( bed earl%* 2G((d ni.ht, M* P(ir(t,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2I h(pe %(u36e en@(%ed %(ursel0*2 2It has been a -(nder0ul da%, Mada'e, -(nder0ul*2 2;(u3re l((/in. 6er% th(u.ht0ul,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2It is the En.lish puddin. 3i*at I 1(nsider*2 2;(u 0(und it a little hea6%, perhapsB2 as/ed Mrs* +a1e% deli1atel%* 2N(, n(, I d( n(t spea/ .astr(n('i1all%* I 1(nsider its si.ni0i1an1e*2 2It3s traditi(nal, (0 1(urse,2 said Mrs* +a1e%* 2&ell, .((d ni.ht, M* P(ir(t, and #E

d(n3t drea' t(( 'u1h (0 Christ'as puddin.s and 'in1e8pies*2 2;es,2 'ur'ured P(ir(t t( hi'sel0 as he undressed* 2It is a pr(ble' 1ertainl%, that Christ'as plu' puddin.* There is here s('ethin. that I d( n(t understand at all*2 He sh((/ his head in a 6e:ed 'anner* 2;dell -e shall see*2 A0ter 'a/in. 1ertain preparati(ns, P(ir(t -ent t( bed, but n(t t( sleep* It -as s('e t-( h(urs later that his patien1e -as re-arded* The d((r (0 his bedr((' (pened 6er% .entl%* He s'iled t( hi'sel0* It -as as he had th(u.ht it -(uld be* His 'ind -ent ba1/ 0leetin.l% t( the 1up (0 1(00ee s( p(litel% handed hi' b% Des'(nd +ee8$HI(rtle%* A little later, -hen Des'(nd3s ba1/ -as turned, he had laid the 1up d(-n 0(r a 0e- '('ents (n a table* He had then apparentl% pi1/ed it up a.ain and Des'(nd had had the satis0a1ti(n, i0 satis0a1ti(n it -as, (0 seein. hi' drin/ the 1(00ee t( the last dr(p* ut a little s'ile li0ted P(ir(t3s '(usta1he as he re0le1ted that it -as n(t he but s('e(ne else -h( -as sleepin. a .((d s(und sleep t(8ni.ht* 2That pleasant %(un. Da6id,2 said P(ir(t t( hi'sel0, 2he is -(rried,

unhapp%* It -ill d( hi' n( har' t( ha6e a ni.ht3s reall% s(und sleep* And n(-, let us see -hat -ill happenB2 He la% <uite still, breathin. in an e6en 'anner -ith (11asi(nall% a su..esti(n, but the 6er% 0aintest su..esti(n, (0 a sn(re* S('e(ne 1a'e up t( the bed and bent (6er hi'* Then, satis0ied, that s('e(ne turned a-a% and -ent t( the dressin.8table* % the li.ht (0 a tin% t(r1h the 6isit(r -as e:a'inin. P(ir(t3s bel(n.in.s neatl% arran.ed (n t(p (0 the dressin.8table* Fin.ers e:pl(red the -allet, .entl% pulled (pen the dra-ers (0 the dressin.8table, then e:tended the sear1h t( the p(1/ets (0 P(ir(t3s 1l(thes* Finall% the 6isit(r appr(a1hed the bed and -ith .reat 1auti(n slid his hand under, the pill(-* &ithdra-in. his hand, he st((d 0(r a '('ent (r t-( as th(u.h un1ertain -hat t( d( ne:t* He -al/ed r(und the r((' l((/in. inside (rna'ents, -ent int( the ad@(inin. bathr((' 0r(' -hen1e he presentl% returned* Then, -ith a 0aint e:1la'ati(n (0 dis.ust, he -ent (ut (0 the r(('* 2Ah,2 said P(ir(t, under his breath* 2;(u ha6e disapp(int'ent* ;es, %es, a #?

seri(us disapp(int'ent* ah4 T( i'a.ine, e6en, that Her1ule P(ir(t -(uld hide s('ethin. -here %(u 1(uld 0ind it42 Then, turnin. (6er (n his (ther side, he -ent pea1e0ull% t( sleep* He -as ar(used ne:t '(rnin. b% an ur.ent s(0t tappin. (n his d((r* 2Fui est IB C('e in, 1('e in*2 The d((r (pened* reathless, red80a1ed, C(lin st((d up(n the thresh(ld* ehind hi' st((d Mi1hael* 2M(nsieur P(ir(t, M(nsieur P(ir(t*2 2 ut %esB2 P(ir(t sat up in bed* 2It is the earl% teaB ut n(* It is %(u, C(lin* &hat has (11urredB2 C(lin -as, 0(r a '('ent, spee1hless* He see'ed t( be under the .rip (0 s('e str(n. e'(ti(n* In a1tual 0a1t it -as the si.ht (0 the ni.ht1ap that Her1ule P(ir(t -(re that a00e1ted 0(r the '('ent his (r.ans (0 spee1h* Presentl% he 1(ntr(lled hi'sel0 and sp(/e* 2I thin/ M* P(ir(t, 1(uld %(u help usB S('ethin. rather a-0ul has happened*2 2S('ethin. has happenedB ut -hatB2 2It3s it3s rid.et* She3s (ut there in the sn(-* I thin/ she d(esn3t '(6e (r spea/ and (h, %(u3d better 1('e and #A

l((/ 0(r %(ursel0* I3' terribl% a0raid she 'a% be dead*2 2&hatB2 P(ir(t 1ast aside his bed 1(6ers* 2Made'(iselle rid.et is dead42 2I thin/ I thin/ s('eb(d%3s /illed her* There3s there3s bl((d and (h d( 1('e42 2 ut 1ertainl%* ut 1ertainl%* I 1('e (n the instant*2 &ith .reat pra1ti1alit% P(ir(t inserted his 0eet int( his (utd((r sh(es and pulled a 0ur8lined (6er1(at (6er his p%@a'as* 2I 1('e,2 he said* 2I 1('e (n the '('ent* ;(u ha6e ar(used the h(useB2 2N(* N(, s( 0ar I ha6en3t t(ld an%(ne ! but %(u* I th(u.ht it -(uld be better* I Grand0ather and Gran aren3t up %et* The%3re la%in. brea/0ast d(-nstairs, but I didn3t sa% an%thin. t( Pe6erell* She rid.et she3s r(und the (ther side (0 the h(use, near the terra1e and the librar% -ind(-*2 2I see* +ead the -a%* I -ill 0(ll(-*2 Turnin. a-a% t( hide his deli.hted .rin, C(lin led the -a% d(-nstairs* The% -ent (ut thr(u.h the side d((r* It -as a 1lear '(rnin. -ith the sun n(t %et hi.h (6er the h(ri9(n* It -as n(t sn(-in. n(-, but ##

it had sn(-ed hea6il% durin. the ni.ht and e6er%-here ar(und -as an unbr(/en 1arpet (0 thi1/ sn(-* The -(rld l((/ed 6er% pure and -hite and beauti0ul* 2There42 said C(lin breathlessl%* 2I it3s there42 He p(inted dra'ati1all%* The s1ene -as indeed dra'ati1 en(u.h* A 0e- %ards a-a% rid.et la% in the sn(-* She -as -earin. s1arlet p%@a'as and a -hite -((l -rap thr(-n r(und her sh(ulders* The -hite -((l -rap -as stained -ith 1ri's(n* Her head -as turned aside and hidden b% the 'ass (0 her (utspread bla1/ hair* One ar' -as under her b(d%, the (ther la% 0lun. (ut, the 0in.ers 1len1hed, and standin. up in the 1entre (0 the 1ri's(n stain -as the hilt (0 a lar.e 1ur6ed >urdish /ni0e -hi1h C(l(nel +a1e% had sh(-n t( his .uests (nl% the e6enin. be0(re* 2M(rt Dieu42 e@a1ulated M* P(ir(t* 2It is s('ethin. (n the sta.e42 There -as a 0aint 1h(/in. n(ise 0r(' Mi1hael* C(lin thrust hi'sel0 <ui1/l% int( the brea1h* 2I /n(-,2 he said* 2It it d(esn3t see' real s('eh(-, d(es itB D( %(u see th(se #C

0((tprints I supp(se -e 'ustn3t disturb the'B2 2Ah %es, the 0((tprints* N(, -e 'ust be 1are0ul n(t t( disturb th(se 0((tprints*2 2That3s -hat I th(u.ht,2 said C(lin* 2That3s -h% I -(uldn3t let an%(ne .( near her until -e .(t %(u* I th(u.ht %(u3d /n(- -hat t( d(*2 2All the sa'e,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t bris/l%, 20irst, -e 'ust see i0 she is still ali6eB Is n(t that s(B2 2&ell %es (0 1(urse,2 said Mi1hael, a little d(ubt0ull%, 2but %(u see, -e th(u.ht I 'ean, -e didn3t li/e 2 2Ah, %(u ha6e the pruden1e4 ;(u ha6e read the dete1ti6e st(ries* It is '(st i'p(rtant that n(thin. sh(uld be t(u1hed and that the b(d% sh(uld be le0t as it is* ut -e 1ann(t be sure as %et i0 it is a b(d%, 1an -eB A0ter all, th(u.h pruden1e is ad'irable, 1(''(n hu'anit% 1('es 0irst* &e 'ust thin/ (0 the d(1t(r, 'ust -e n(t, be0(re -e thin/ (0 the p(li1eB2 2Oh %es* O0 1(urse,2 said C(lin, still a little ta/en aba1/* 2&e (nl% th(u.ht I 'ean -e th(u.ht -e3d better .et %(u be0(re -e did an%thin.,2 said Mi1hael hastil%* #D

2Then %(u -ill b(th re'ain here,2 said P(ir(t* 2I -ill appr(a1h 0r(' the (ther side s( as n(t t( disturb these 0((tprints* Su1h e:1ellent 0((tprints, are the% n(t s( 6er% 1learB The 0((tprints (0 a 'an and a .irl .(in. (ut t(.ether t( the pla1e -here she lies* And then the 'an3s 0((tsteps 1('e ba1/ but the .irl3s d( n(t*2 2The% 'ust be the 0((tprints (0 the 'urderer,2 said C(lin, -ith bated breath* 2E:a1tl%,2 said P(ir(t* 2The 0((tprints (0 the 'urderer* A l(n. narr(- 0((t -ith rather a pe1uliar t%pe (0 sh(e* Ver% interestin.* Eas%, I thin/, t( re1(.nise* ;es, th(se 0((tprints -ill be 6er% i'p(rtant*2 At that '('ent Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle% 1a'e (ut (0 the h(use -ith Sarah and @(ined the'* 2&hat (n earth are %(u all d(in. hereB2 he de'anded in a s('e-hat theatri1al 'anner* 2I sa- %(u 0r(' '% bedr((' -ind(-* &hat3s upB G((d l(rd, -hat3s thisB It it l((/s li/e **** 2 2E:a1tl%,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t* 2It l((/s li/e 'urder, d(es it n(tB2 Sarah .a6e a .asp, then sh(t a <ui1/ suspi1i(us .lan1e at the t-( b(%s* 2;(u 'ean s('e(ne3s /illed the .irl88 #"

-hat3s8her8na'e rid.etB2 de'anded Des'(nd* 2&h( (n earth -(uld -ant t( /ill herB It3s unbelie6able42 2There are 'an% thin.s that are unbelie6able,33 said P(ir(t* 2Espe1iall% be0(re brea/0ast, is it n(tB That is -hat (ne (0 %(ur 1lassi1s sa%s* Si: i'p(ssible thin.s be0(re brea/0ast*2 He added5 2Please -ait here, all (0 %(u*2 Care0ull% 'a/in. a 1ir1uit, he appr(a1hed rid.et and bent 0(r a '('ent d(-n (6er the b(d%* C(lin and Mi1hael -ere n(- b(th sha/in. -ith suppressed lau.hter* Sarah @(ined the', 'ur'urin. 2&hat ha6e %(u t-( been up t(B2 2G((d (ld rid.et,2 -hispered C(lin* 2Isn3t she -(nder0ulB N(t a t-it1h42 2I36e ne6er seen an%thin. l((/ s( dead as rid.et d(es,2 -hispered Mi1hael* Her1ule P(ir(t strai.htened up a.ain* 2This is a terrible thin.,2 he said* His 6(i1e held an e'(ti(n it had n(t held be0(re* O6er1('e b% 'irth, Mi1hael and C(lin b(th turned a-a%* In a 1h(/ed 6(i1e Mi1hael said5 2&hat88-hat 'ust -e d(B2 2There is (nl% (ne thin. t( d(,2 said TO

P(ir(t* 2&e 'ust send 0(r the p(li1e* &ill (ne (0 %(u teleph(ne (r -(uld %(u pre0er 'e t( d( itB2 2I thin/,2 said C(lin, 2I thin/ -hat ab(ut it, Mi1haelB2 2;es,2 said Mi1hael, 2I thin/ the @i.3s up n(-*2 He stepped 0(r-ard* F(r the 0irst ti'e he see'ed a little unsure (0 hi'sel0* 2I3' a-0ull% s(rr%,2 he said, 2I h(pe %(u -(n3t 'ind t(( 'u1h* It er it -as a s(rt (0 @(/e 0(r Christ'as and all that, %(u /n(-* &e th(u.ht -e3d -ell, la% (n a 'urder 0(r %(u*2 2;(u th(u.ht %(u -(uld la% (n a 'urder 0(r 'eB Then this then this 2 2It3s @ust a sh(- -e put (n,2 e:plained C(lin, 2t( t( 'a/e %(u 0eel at h('e, %(u /n(-*2 2Aha,3 said Her1ule P(ir(t* 2I understand* ;(u 'a/e (0 'e the April 0((l, is that itB ut t(8da% is n(t April the 0irst, it is De1e'ber the t-ent%8si:th*2 2I supp(se -e (u.htn3t t( ha6e d(ne it reall%,2 said C(lin, 2but but %(u d(n3t 'ind 6er% 'u1h, d( %(u, M* P(ir(tB C('e (n, rid.et,2 he 1alled, 2.et up* ;(u 'ust be hal080r(9en t( death alread%*2

The 0i.ure in the sn(-, h(-e6er, did n(t stir* 2It is (dd,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t, 2she d(es n(t see' t( hear %(u*2 He l((/ed th(u.ht0ull% at the'* 2It is a @(/e, %(u sa%B ;(u are sure this is a @(/eB2 2&h%, %es*2 C(lin sp(/e un1('0(rtabl%* 2&e -e didn3t 'ean an% har'*2 2 ut -h% then d(es Made'(iselle rid.et n(t .et upB2 2I 1an3t i'a.ine,2 said C(lin* 2C('e (n, rid.et,2 said Sarah i'patientl%* 2D(n3t .( (n l%in. there pla%in. the 0((l*2 2&e reall% are 6er% s(rr%, M* P(ir(t,2 said C(lin apprehensi6el%* 2&e d( reall% ap(l(.ise*2 2;(u need n(t ap(l(.ise,2 said P(ir(t, in a pe1uliar t(ne* 2&hat d( %(u 'eanB2 C(lin stared at hi'* He turned a.ain* 2 rid.et4 rid.et4 &hat3s the 'atterB &h% d(esn3t she .et upB &h% d(es she .( (n l%in. thereB2 P(ir(t be1/(ned t( Des'(nd** 2;(u, Mr* +ee8&(rtle%* C('e here 2 Des'(nd @(ined hi'* 2Feel her pulse,2 said P(ir(t* CE

Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle% bend d(-n* He t(u1hed the ar' the -rist* 2There3s n( pulse***2 he stared at P(ir(t* 2Her ar'3s sti00* G((d G(d, she reall% is dead42 P(ir(t n(dded* 2;es, she is dead,2 he said* 2S('e(ne has turned the 1('ed% int( a tra.ed%*2 2S('e(ne -h(B2 2There is a set (0 0((tprints .(in. and returnin.* A set (0 0((tprints that bears a str(n. rese'blan1e t( the 0((tprints %(u ha6e @ust 'ade, Mr* +ee8&(rtle%, 1('in. 0r(' the path t( this sp(t*2 Des'(nd +ee8&(rtle% -heeled r(und* 2&hat (n earth* Are %(u a11usin. 'eB MEB ;(u3re 1ra9%4 &h% (n earth sh(uld I -ant t( /ill the .irlB2 2Ah **** -h%B I -(nder*** +et us see **** 2 He bent d(-n and 6er% .entl% prised (pen the sti00 0in.ers (0 the .irl3s 1len1hed hand* Des'(nd dre- a sharp breath* He .a9ed d(-n unbelie6in.l%* In the pal' (0 the dead .irl3s hand -as -hat appeared t( be a lar.e rub%* CG

2It3s that da'n3 thin. (ut (0 the puddin.42 he 1ried* 2Is itB2 said P(ir(t* 2Are %(u sureB2 2O0 1(urse it is*2 &ith a s-i0t '(6e'ent Des'(nd bent d(-n and plu1/ed the red st(ne (ut (0 rid.et3s hand* 2;(u sh(uld n(t d( that,2 said P(ir(t repr(a1h0ull%* 2N(thin. sh(uld ha6e been disturbed*2 2I ha6en3t disturbed the b(d%, ha6e IB ut this thin. 'i.ht 'i.ht .et l(st and it3s e6iden1e* The .reat thin. is t( .et the p(li1e here as s((n as p(ssible* I3ll .( at (n1e and teleph(ne*2 He -heeled r(und and ran sharpl% t(-ards the h(use* Sarah 1a'e s-i0tl% t( P(ir(t3s side* 2I d(n3t understand,2 she -hispered* Her 0a1e -as dead -hite* 2I d(n3t understand*2 She 1au.ht at P(ir(t3s ar'* 2&hat did %(u 'ean ab(ut ab(ut the 0((tprintsB2 2+((/ 0(r %(ursel0, Made'(iselle*2 The 0((tprints that led t( the b(d% and ba1/ a.ain -ere the sa'e as the (nes @ust 'ade a11('pan%in. P(ir(t t( the .irl3s b(d% and ba1/* C?

2;(u 'ean that it -as Des'(ndB N(nsense42 Suddenl% the n(ise (0 a 1ar 1a'e thr(u.h the 1lear air* The% -heeled r(und* The% sa- the 1ar 1learl% en(u.h dri6in. at a 0uri(us pa1e d(-n the dri6e and Sarah re1(.nised -hat 1ar it -as* 2It3s Des'(nd,2 she said* 2It3s Des'(nd3s 1ar* He ***** he 'ust ha6e .(ne t( 0et1h the p(li1e instead (0 teleph(nin.*2 Diana Middlet(n 1a'e runnin. (ut (0 the h(use t( @(in the'* 2&hat3s happenedB2 she 1ried in a breathless 6(i1e* 2Des'(nd @ust 1a'e rushin. int( the h(use* He said s('ethin. ab(ut rid.et bein. /illed and then he rattled the teleph(ne but it -as dead* He 1(uldn3t .et an% ans-er* He said the -ires 'ust ha6e been 1ut* He said the (nl% thin. -as t( ta/e a 1ar and .( 0(r the p(li1e* &h% the p(li1e*** B2 P(ir(t 'ade a .esture* 2 rid.etB2 Diana stared at hi'* 2 ut surel%*, isn3t it a @(/e (0 s('e /indB I heard s('ethin. s('ethin. last ni.ht* I th(u.ht that the% -ere .(in. t( pla% a @(/e (n %(u, M* P(ir(tB2 2;es,2 said P(ir(t, 2that -as the idea CA

88t( pla% a @(/e (n 'e* ut n(- 1('e int( the h(use, all (0 %(u* &e shall 1at1h (ur deaths (0 1(ld here and there is n(thin. t( be d(ne until Mr* +ee8&(rtle% returns -ith the p(li1e*2 2 ut l((/ here,2 said C(lin, 2-e 1an3t 88-e 1an3t lea6e rid.et here al(ne*2 2;(u 1an d( her n( .((d b% re'ainin.,2 said P(ir(t .entl%* 2C('e, it is a sad, a 6er% sad tra.ed%, but there is n(thin. -e 1an d( an% '(re t( help Made'(iselle rid.et* S( let us 1('e in and .et -ar' and ha6e perhaps a 1up (0 tea (r (0 1(00ee*2 The% 0(ll(-ed hi' (bedientl% int( the h(use* Pe6erell -as @ust ab(ut t( stri/e the .(n.* I0 he th(u.ht it e:tra(rdinar% 0(r '(st (0 the h(useh(ld t( be (utside and 0(r P(ir(t t( 'a/e an appearan1e in p%@a'as and an (6er1(at, he displa%ed n( si.n (0 it* Pe6erell in his (ld a.e -as still the per0e1t butler* He n(ti1ed n(thin. that he -as n(t as/ed t( n(ti1e* The% -ent int( the dinin.8r((' and sat d(-n* &hen the% all had a 1up (0 1(00ee in 0r(nt (0 the' and -ere sippin. it, P(ir(t sp(/e* 2I ha6e t( re1(unt t( %(u,2 he said, 2a little hist(r%* I 1ann(t tell %(u all the C#

details, n(* ut I 1an .i6e %(u the 'ain (utline* It 1(n1erns a %(un. prin1elin. -h( 1a'e t( this 1(untr%* He br(u.ht -ith hi' a 0a'(us @e-el -hi1h he -as t( ha6e reset 0(r the lad% he -as .(in. t( 'arr%, but un0(rtunatel% be0(re that he 'ade 0riends -ith a 6er% prett% %(un. lad%* This prett% %(un. lad% did n(t 1are 6er% 'u1h 0(r the 'an, but she did 1are 0(r his @e-el**, s( 'u1h s( that (ne da% she disappeared -ith this hist(ri1 p(ssessi(n -hi1h had bel(n.ed t( his h(use 0(r .enerati(ns* S( the p((r %(un. 'an, he is in a <uandar%, %(u see* Ab(6e all he 1ann(t ha6e a s1andal* I'p(ssible t( .( t( the p(li1e* There0(re he 1('es t( 'e, t( Her1ule P(ir(t* 3Re1(6er 0(r 'e,3 he sa%s, 3'% hist(ri1 rub%*3 Eh bien, this %(un. lad%, she has a 0riend and the 0riend, he has put thr(u.h se6eral 6er% <uesti(nable transa1ti(ns* He has been 1(n1erned -ith bla1/'ail and he has been 1(n1erned -ith the sale (0 @e-eller% abr(ad* Al-a%s he has been 6er% 1le6er* He is suspe1ted, %es, but n(thin. 1an be pr(6ed* It 1('es t( '% /n(-led.e that this 6er% 1le6er .entle'an, he is spendin. Christ'as here in this h(use* It is i'p(rtant that the prett% CC

%(un. lad%, (n1e she has a1<uired the @e-el, sh(uld disappear 0(r a -hile 0r(' 1ir1ulati(n, s( that n( pressure 1an be put up(n her, n( <uesti(ns 1an be as/ed her* It is arran.ed, there0(re, that she 1('es here t( >in.s +a1e%, (stensibl% as the sister (0 the 1le6er .entle'an 2 Sarah dre- a sharp breath* 2Oh, n(* Oh, n(, n(t hereI N(t -ith 'e here I2 2 ut s( it is,2 said P(ir(t* 2And b% a little 'anipulati(n I, t((, be1('e a .uest here 0(r Christ'as* This %(un. lad%, she is supp(sed t( ha6e @ust 1('e (ut (0 h(spital* She is 'u1h better -hen she arri6es here* ut then 1('es the ne-s that I, t((, arri6e, a dete1ti6e a -ell8/n(-n dete1ti6e* At (n1e she has -hat %(u 1all the -ind up* She hides the rub% in the 0irst pla1e she 1an thin/ (0, and then 6er% <ui1/l% she has a relapse and ta/es t( her bed a.ain* She d(es n(t -ant that I sh(uld see her, 0(r d(ubtless I ha6e a ph(t(.raph and I shall re1(.nise her* It is 6er% b(rin. 0(r her, %es, but she has t( sta% in her r((' and her br(ther, he brin.s her up the tra%s*2 2And the rub%B2 de'anded Mi1hael* CD

2I thin/,2 said P(ir(t, 2that at the '('ent it is 'enti(ned I arri6e, the %(un. lad% -as in the /it1hen -ith the rest (0 %(u, all lau.hin. and tal/in. and stirrin. the Christ'as puddin.s* The Christ'as puddin.s are put int( b(-ls and the %(un. lad% she hides the rub%, pressin. it d(-n int( (ne (0 the puddin. b(-ls* N(t the (ne that -e are .(in. t( ha6e (n Christ'as Da%* Oh n(, that (ne she /n(-s is in a spe1ial '(uld* She puts it in the (ther (ne, the (ne that is destined t( be eaten (n Ne;ear3s Da%* e0(re then she -ill be read% t( lea6e, and -hen she lea6es n( d(ubt that Christ'as puddin. -ill .( -ith her* ut see h(- 0ate ta/es a hand* On the 6er% '(rnin. (0 Christ'as Da% there is an a11ident* The Christ'as puddin. in its 0an1% *'(uld is dr(pped (n the st(ne 0l((r and the '(uld is shattered t( pie1es* S( -hat 1an be d(neB The .((d Mrs* R(ss, she ta/es the (ther puddin. and sends it in*2 2G((d l(rd,2 said C(lin, 2d( %(u 'ean that (n Christ'as Da% -hen Grand0ather -as eatin. his puddin. that that -as a 6eal rub% he3d .(t in his '(uthB2 2Pre1isel%,2 said P(ir(t, 2and %(u 1an i'a.ine the e'(ti(ns (0 Mr* Des'(nd C"

+ee8&(rtle% -hen he sa- that* Eh bien, -hat happens ne:tB The rub% is passed r(und* I e:a'ine it and I 'ana.e un(btrusi6el% t( slip it in '% p(1/et* In a 1areless -a% as th(u.h I -ere n(t interested* ut (ne pers(n at least (bser6es -hat I ha6e d(ne* &hen I lie in bed that pers(n sear1hes '% r(('* He sear1hes 'e* He d(es n(t 0ind the rub%* &h%B2 2 e1ause,2 said Mi1hael breathlessl%, 2%(u had .i6en it t( rid.et* That3s -hat %(u 'ean* And s( that3s -h% but I d(n3t understand <uite** I 'ean +((/ here, -hat did happenB2 P(ir(t s'iled at hi'* 2C('e n(- int( the librar%,2 he said, 2and l((/ (ut (0 the -ind(- and I -ill sh(%(u s('ethin. that 'a% e:plain the '%ster%*2 He led the -a% and the% 0(ll(-ed hi'* 2C(nsider (n1e a.ain,2 said P(ir(t, 2the s1ene (0 the 1ri'e*2 He p(inted (ut (0 the -ind(-* A si'ultane(us .asp br(/e 0r(' the lips (0 all (0 the'* There -as n( b(d% l%in. (n the sn(-, n( tra1e (0 the tra.ed% see'ed t( re'ain e:1ept a 'ass (0 s1u00led sn(-* 2It -asn3t all a drea', -as itB2 said D$

C(lin 0aintl%* 2I has s('e(ne ta/en the b(d% a-a%B2 2Ah,2 said P(ir(t* 2;(u seeB The M%ster% (0 the Disappearin. (d%*2 He n(dded his head and his e%es t-in/led .entl%* 2G((d l(rd,2 1ried Mi1hael* 2M* P(ir(t, %(u are %(u ha6en3t (h, l((/, he3s been ha6in. us (n all this ti'e42 P(ir(t t-in/led '(re than e6er* 2It is true, '% 1hildren, I als( ha6e had '% little @(/e* I /ne- ab(ut %(ur little pl(t, %(u see, and s( I arran.ed a 1(unterpl(t (0 '% (-n* Ah, 6(ilMade'(iselle rid.et* N(ne the -(rse, I h(pe, 0(r %(ur e:p(sure in the sn(-B Ne6er sh(uld I 0(r.i6e '%sel0 i0 %(u attrapped une ttu:i(n de p(itrine* 2 rid.et had @ust 1('e int( the r(('* She -as -earin. a thi1/ s/irt and a -((llen s-eater* She -as lau.hin.* 2I sent a tisane t( %(ur r((',2 said P(ir(t se6erel%* 2;(u ha6e drun/ itB2 2One sip -as en(u.h42 said rid.et* 2F' all ri.ht* Did I d( it -ell, M* P(ir(tB G((dness, '% ar' hurts still a0ter that t(urni<uet %(u 'ade 'e put (n it*2 2;(u -ere splendid, '% 1hild,2 said D!

P(ir(t* 2Splendid* ut see, all the (thers are still in the 0(.* +ast ni.ht I -ent t( Made'(iselle rid.et* I t(ld her that I /ne- ab(ut %(ur little 1('pl(t and I as/ed her i0 she -(uld a1t a part 0(r 'e* She did it 6er% 1le6erl%* She 'ade the 0((tprints -ith a pair (0 Mr* +ee8&(rtle%3s sh(es*2 Sarah said in a harsh 6(i1e5 2 ut -hat3s the p(int (0 it all, M* P(ir(tB &hat3s the p(int (0 sendin. Des'(nd (00 t( 0et1h the p(li1eB The%3ll be 6er% an.r% -hen the% 0ind (ut it3s n(thin. but a h(a:*2 P(ir(t sh((/ his head .entl%* 2 ut I d( n(t thin/ 0(r (ne '('ent, Made'(iselle, that Mr* +ee8&(rtle% -ent t( 0et1h the p(li1e,2 he said* 2Murder is a thin. in -hi1h Mr* +ee8&(rtle% d(es n(t -ant t( be 'i:ed up* He l(st his ner6e badl%* All he 1(uld see -as his 1han1e t( .et the rub%* He snat1hed that, he pretended the teleph(ne -as (ut (0 (rder and he rushed (00 in a 1ar (n the preten1e (0 0et1hin. the p(li1e* I thin/ '%sel0 it is the last %(u -ill see (0 hi' 0(r s('e ti'e* He has, I understand, his (-n -a%s (0 .ettin. (ut (0 En.land* He has his (-n plane, has he n(t, Made'(iselleB2 DE

Sarah n(dded* 2;es,2 she said* 2&e -ere thin/in. (0 2she st(pped* 2He -anted %(u t( el(pe -ith hi' that -a%, did he n(tB Eh bien, that is a 6er% .((d -a% (0 s'u..lin. a @e-el (ut (0 the 1(untr%* &hen %(u are el(pin. -ith a .irl, and that 0a1t is publi1ised, then %(u -ill n(t be suspe1ted (0 als( s'u..lin. a hist(ri1 @e-el (ut (0 the 1(untr%* Oh %es, that -(uld ha6e 'ade a 6er% .((d 1a'(u0la.e*2 2I d(n3t belie6e it,2 said Sarah* 2I d(n3t belie6e a -(rd (0 it42 2Then as/ his sister,2 said P(ir(t, .entl% n(ddin. his head (6er her sh(ulder* Sarah turned her head sharpl%* A platinu' bl(nde st((d in the d((r-a%* She -(re a 0ur 1(at and -as s1(-lin.* She -as 1learl% in a 0uri(us te'per* 2Sister '% 0((t42 she said, -ith a sh(rt unpleasant lau.h* 2That s-ine3s n( br(ther (0 'ine4 S( he3s beaten it, has he, and le0t 'e t( 1arr% the 1anB The -h(le thin. -as his idea4 He put 'e up t( it4 Said it -as '(ne% 0(r @a'* The%3d ne6er pr(se1ute be1ause (0 the s1andal* I 1(uld al-a%s threaten t( sa% that All had .i6en i DG

'e his hist(ri1 @e-el* Des and I -ere t( ha6e shared the s-a. in Paris and n(the s-ine runs (ut (n 'e4 I3d li/e t( 'urder hi'42 She s-it1hed abruptl%* 2The s((ner I .et (ut (0 here Can s('e(ne teleph(ne 0(r a ta:iB2 2A 1ar is -aitin. at the 0r(nt d((r t( ta/e %(u t( the stati(n, Made'(iselle,2 said P(ir(t* 2Thin/ (0 e6er%thin., d(n3t %(uB2 2M(st thin.s,2 said P(ir(t 1('pla1entl%* ut P(ir(t -as n(t t( .et (00 s( easil%* &hen he returned t( the dinin.8r((' a0ter assistin. the spuri(us Miss +ee8&(rtle% int( the -aitin. 1ar, C(lin -as -aitin. 0(r hi'* There -as a 0r(-n (n his b(%ish 0a1e* 2 ut l((/ here, M* P(ir(t* &hat ab(ut the rub%B D( %(u 'ean t( sa% %(u36e let hi' .et a-a% -ith itB2 P(ir(t3s 0a1e 0ell* He t-irled his '(usta1hes* He see'ed ill at ease* 2I shall re1(6er it %et,2 he said -ea/l%* 2There are (ther -a%s* I shall still 2 2&ell, I d( thin/42 said Mi1hael* 2T( let that s-ine .et a-a% -ith the rub%42 rid.et -as sharper* D?

2He3s ha6in. us (n a.ain,2 she 1ried* 2;(u are, aren3t %(u, M* P(ir(tB2 2Shall -e d( a 0inal 1(n@urin. tri1/, Made'(iselleB Feel in '% le0t8hand p(1/et*2 rid.et thrust her hand in* She dre- it (ut a.ain -ith a s1rea' (0 triu'ph and held al(0t a lar.e rub% blin/in. in 1ri's(n splend(ur* 2;(u 1('prehend,2 e:plained P(ir(t, 2the (ne that -as 1lasped in %(ur hand -as a paste repli1a* I br(u.ht it 0r(' +(nd(n in 1ase it -as p(ssible t( 'a/e a substituti(n* ;(u understandB &e d( n(t -ant the s1andal* M(nsieur Des'(nd -ill tr% and disp(se (0 that rub% in Paris (r in el.iu' (r -here6er it is that he has his 1(nta1ts, and then it -ill be dis1(6ered that the st(ne is n(t real4 &hat 1(uld be '(re e:1ellentB All 0inishes happil%* The s1andal is a6(ided, '% prin1elin. re1ei6es his rub% ba1/ a.ain, he returns t( his 1(untr% and 'a/es a s(ber and -e h(pe a happ% 'arria.e* All ends -ell*2 2E:1ept 0(r 'e,2 'ur'ured Sarah under her breath* She sp(/e s( l(- that n( (ne heard her but P(ir(t* He sh((/ his head .entl%* DA

2;(u are in err(r, Made'(iselle Sarah, in -hat %(u sa% there* ;(u ha6e .ained e:perien1e* All e:perien1e is 6aluable* Ahead (0 %(u I pr(phes% there lies happiness*2 2That3s -hat %(u sa%,2 said Sarah* 2 ut l((/ here, M* P(ir(t,2 C(lin -as 0r(-nin.* 2H(- did %(u /n(- ab(ut the sh(- -e -ere .(in. t( put (n 0(r %(uB2 2It is '% business t( /n(- thin.s,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t* He t-irled his '(uta1he* 2;es, but I d(n3t see h(- %(u 1(uld ha6e 'ana.ed it* Did s('e(ne split did s('e(ne 1('e and tell %(uB2 2N(, n(, n(t that*2 2Then h(-B Tell us h(-B2 The% all 1h(rused, 2;es, tell us h(-*2 2 ut n(,2 P(ir(t pr(tested* 2 ut n(* I0 I tell %(u h(- I dedu1ed that, %(u -ill thin/ n(thin. (0 it* It is li/e the 1(n@ur(r -h( sh(-s h(- his tri1/s are d(ne42 2Tell us, M* P(ir(t4 G( (n* Tell us, tell US42 2;(u reall% -ish that I sh(uld s(l6e 0(r %(u this last '%ster%B2 2;es, .( (n* Tell us*2 2Ah, I d( n(t thin/ I 1an* ;(u -ill be s( disapp(inted*2 D#

2N(-, 1('e (n, M* P(ir(t, tell us* H(- )3d %(u /n(-B2 2&ell, %(u see, I -as sittin. in the librar% b% the -ind(- in a 1hair a0ter tea the (ther da% and I -as rep(sin. '%sel0* I had been asleep and -hen I a-(/e %(u -ere dis1ussin. %(ur plans @ust (utside the -ind(- 1l(se t( 'e, and the -ind(- -as (pen at the t(p*2 2Is that allB2 1ried C(lin, dis.usted* 2H(- si'ple42 2Is it n(tB2 said Her1ule P(ir(t, s'ilin.* 2;(u seeB ;(u are disapp(inted*2 2Oh -ell,2 said Mi1hael, 2at an% rate -e /n(- e6er%thin. n(-*2 2D( -eB2 'ur'ured Her1ule B(ir(t t( hi'sel0* 2I d( n(t* I, -h(se business it is t( /n(- thin.s*2 He -al/ed (ut int( the hall, sha/in. his head a little* F(r perhaps the t-entieth ti'e he dre- 0r(' his p(1/et a rather dirt% pie1e (0 paper* 2DON3T EAT NONE OF THE P+UM PUDDING* ONE AS &ISHES ;OU &E++*2 Her1ule P(ir(t sh((/ his head re0le1ti6el%* He -h( 1(uld e:plain e6er%thin. 1(uld n(t e:plain this4 Hu'iliatin.* &h( had -ritten itB &h% had it been -rittenB

Until he 0(und that (ut he -(uld ne6er /n(- a '('ent3s pea1e* Suddenl% he 1a'e (ut (0 his re6erie t( be a-are (0 a pe1uliar .aspin. n(ise* He l((/ed sharpl% d(-n* On the 0l((r, bus% -ith a dustpan and brush -as a t(-8headed 1reature in a 0l(-ered (6erall* She -as starin. at the paper in his hand -ith lar.e r(und e%es* 2Oh sir,2 said this appariti(n* 2Oh, sir* PIe0lsP, sir*2 2And -h( 'a% %(u be, enQantB2 in<uired M* P(ir(t .eniall%* 2Annie ates, sir, please sir* I '(rt 1('e here t( help Mrs* R(ss* I didn3t 'ean, sir, I didn3t 'ean t( t( d( an%thin. -hat I sh(uldn3t d(* I did 'ean it -ell, sir* F(r %(ur .((d, I 'ean*2 Enli.hten'ent 1a'e t( P(ir(t* He held (ut the dirt% pie1e *(0 paper* 2Did %(u -rite that, AnnieB2 2I didn3t 'ean an% har', sir* Reall% I didn3t*2 2O0 1(urse %(u didn3t, Annie*2 He s'iled at her* 2 ut tell 'e ab(ut it* &h% did %(u -rite thisB2 2&ell, it -as the' t-(, sir* Mr* +ee8&(rtle% and his sister* N(t that she -as his sister, I3' sure* N(ne (0 us th(u.ht

s(4 And she -asn3t ill a bit* &e 1(uld all tell that* &e th(u.ht -e all th(u.ht8 s('ethin. <ueer -as .(in. (n* I3ll tell %(u strai.ht, sir* I -as in her bathr((' ta/in. in the 1lean t(-els, and I listened at the d((r* He -as in her r((' and the% -ere tal/in. t(.ether* I heard -hat the% said plain as plain* 3This dete1i6e,3 he -as sa%in.* 3This 0ell(- P(ir(t -h(3s 1('in. here* &e36e .(t t( d( s('ethin. ab(ut it* &e36e .(t t( .et hi' (ut (0 the -a% as s((n as p(ssible*3 And then he sa%s t( her in a nast%, sinister s(rt (0 -a%, l(-erin. his 6(i1e, 3&here did %(u put itB3 And she ans-ered hi' 3In the puddIn.*3 Oh, sir, '% heart .a6e su1h a leap I th(u.ht it -(uld st(p beatin.* I th(u.ht the% 'eant t( p(is(n %(u in the Christ'as puddin.* I didn3t /n(- hat t( d(43 Mrs* R(ss, she -(uldn3t listen t( the li/es (0 'e* Then the idea 1a'e t( 'e as I3d -rite %(u a -arnin.* And I did and I put it (n %(ur pill(- -here %(u3d 0ind it -hen %(u 3-ent t( bed*2 Annie paused breathlessl%* P(ir(t sur6e%ed her .ra6el% 0(r s('e 'inutes* 2;(u see t(( 'an% sensati(nal 0il's, I thin/, Annie,2 he said at last, 2(r perhaps D"

it is the tele6isi(n that a00e1ts %(uB ut the i'p(rtant thin. is that %(u ha6e the .((d heart and a 1ertain a'(unt (0 in.enuit%* &hen I return t( +(nd(n I -ill send %(u a present*2 2Oh than/ %(u, sir* Than/ %(u 6er% 'u1h, sir*2 2&hat -(uld %(u li/e, Annie, as a presentB2 2An%thin. I li/e, sirB C(uld I ha6e an%thin. I li/eB2 2&ithin reas(n,2 said Her1ule P(ir(t prudentl%, 2%es*2 2Oh sir, 1(uld I ha6e a 6anit% b(:B A real p(sh slap up 6anit% b(: li/e the (ne Mr* +ee8&(rtle%3s sister, -(t -asn3t his sister, hadB2 2;es,2 said P(ir(t, 2%es, I thin/ that 1(uld be 'ana.ed*2 2It is interestin.,2 he 'used* 2I -as in a 'useu' the (ther da% (bser6in. s('e anti<uities 0r(' ab%l(n (r (ne (0 th(se pla1es, th(usands (0 %ears (ld and a'(n. the' -ere 1(s'eti1s b(:es* The heart (0 -('en d(es n(t 1han.e*2 2 e. %(ur pard(n, sirB2 said Annie* 2It is n(thin.,2 said P(ir(t, 2I re0le1t* ;(u shall ha6e %(ur 6anit% b(:, 1hild*2 "$

2Oh than/ %(u, sir* Oh than/ %(u 6er% 'u1h indeed, sir*2 Annie departed e1stati1all%* P(ir(t l((/ed a0ter her, n(ddin. his head in satis0a1ti(n* 2Ah,2 he said t( hi'sel0* 2And n(- ***** I .(* There is n(thin. '(re t( be d(ne here*2 A pair (0 ar's slipped r(und his sh(ulders une:pe1tedl%* 2I0 %(u -ill stand @ust under the 'istlet(e, 2said rid.et* Her1ule P(ir(t en@(%ed it* He en@(%ed it 6er% 'u1h* He said t( hi'sel0 that he had had a 6er% .((d Christ'as* "!

The M%ster% (0 the Spanish Chest

p UNCTUA+ t( the '('ent, as al-a%s, Her1ule P(ir(t entered the s'all r((' -here Miss +e'(n, his e00i1ient se1retar%, a-aited her instru1ti(ns 0(r the da%* At 0irst si.ht Miss +e'(n see'ed t( be 1('p(sed entirel% (0 an.les thus satis0%in. P(ir(t3s de'and 0(r s%''etr%* N(t that -here -('en -ere 1(n1erned Her1ule P(ir(t 1arried his passi(n 0(r .e('etri1al pre1isi(n s( 0ar* He -as, (n the 1(ntrar%, (ld80ashi(ned* He had a 1(ntinental pre@udi1e 0(r 1ur6es it 'i.ht be said 0(r 6(luptu(us 1ur6es* He li/ed -('en t( be -('en* He li/ed the' lush, hi.hl% 1(l(ured, e:(ti1* There had been a 1ertain Russian 1(untess but that -as l(n. a.( n(-* A 0(ll% (0 earlier da%s* ut Miss +e'(n he had ne6er 1(nsidered as a -('an* She -as a hu'an 'a1hine an instru'ent (0 pre1isi(n* Her e00i1ien1% -as terri0i1* She -as 0(rt%8ei.ht

%ears (0 a.e, and -as 0(rtunate en(u.h t( ha6e n( i'a.inati(n -hate6er* 2G((d '(rnin., Miss +e'(n*2 2G((d '(rnin., M* P(ir(t*2 P(ir(t sat d(-n and Miss +e'(n pla1ed be0(re hi' the '(rnin.3s 'ail, neatl% arran.ed in 1ate.(ries* She resu'ed her seat and sat -ith pad and pen1il at the read%* ut there -as t( be this '(rnin. a sli.ht 1han.e in r(utine* P(ir(t had br(u.ht in -ith hi' the '(rnin. ne-spaper, and his e%es -ere s1annin. it -ith interest* The headlines -ere bi. and b(ld* SPANISH CHEST M;STER;* +ATEST DEVE+OPMENTS* 2;(u ha6e read the '(rnin. papers, I presu'e, Miss +e'(nB2 2;es, M* P(ir(t* The ne-s 0r(' Gene6a is n(t 6er% .((d*2 P(ir(t -a6ed a-a% the ne-s 0r(' Gene6a in a 1('prehensi6e s-eep (0 the ar'* 2A Spanish 1hest,2 he 'used* 2Can %(u tell 'e, Miss +e'(n, -hat e:a1tl% is a Spanish 1hestB2 2I supp(se, M* P(ir(t, that it is a 1hest that 1a'e (ri.inall% 0r(' Spain*2 "#

2One 'i.ht reas(nabl% supp(se s(* ;(u ha6e then, n( e:pert /n(-led.eB2 2The% are usuall% (0 the Eli9abethan peri(d, I belie6e* +ar.e, and -ith a .((d deal (0 brass de1(rati(n (n the'* The% l((/ 6er% ni1e -hen -ell /ept and *p(lished* M% sister b(u.ht (ne at a sale* She /eeps h(useh(ld linen in it* It l((/s 6er% ni1e*2, O3 2I *a' sure that in theh(use (0 an% sister *7* (0 %(urs, alt the 0urniture -(uld be -ell 3*3/ept,2 said P(ir(t, b(-in.3 .ra1e0ull%, Miss +e'(n replied sadl% that ser6ants 3did n(t see' t( /n(- -hat elb(- .rease -as n(-ada%s, P(ir(t l((/ed a little Pu99led, but de1ided n(t t( in<uire3 int( O the in-ard 'eanin. (0 the '%steri(us phrase 2elb(- 3.rease*2 He l((/ed d(-n a.ain at the ne-spaper, 1(nnin. (6er3the na'es5 Ma@(r Ri1h, Mr* O and3 Mrs** CIa%t(n, C(''ander M1+aren, Mr* and Mrs* Spen1e* Na'es, n(thin. but na'es t( hi'*7 %etall p(ssessed (0 hu'an pers(nalities, hatin., l(6in., 0earin.* A dra'a, this, in -hi1h he, Her1ule P(ir(t, had n( part* And he -(uld ha6e li/ed t( ha6e a part in it4 Si: pe(ple at an e6enin. part%, in a r((' -ith a bi. Spanish 1hest "C

a.ainst the -all, si: pe(ple, 0i6e (0 the' tal/in., eatin. a bu00et supper, puttin. re1(rds (n the .ra'(ph(ne, dan1in., and the si:th dead, in the Spanish 1hest*** Ah, th(u.ht P(ir(t* H(- '% dear 0riend, Hastin.s, -(uld ha6e en@(%ed this4 &hat r('anti1 0li.hts (0 i'a.inati(n he -(uld ha6e had* &hat ineptitudes he -(uld ha6e uttered4 Ah, 1e 1he0 Hastin.s, at this '('ent, t(8da%, I 'iss hi'*** Instead He si.hed and l((/ed at Miss +e'(n* Miss +e'(n intelli.entl% per1ei6in. that P(ir(t -as in n( '((d t( di1tate letters, had un1(6ered her t%pe-riter and -as a-aitin. her '('ent t( .et (n -ith 1ertain arrears (0 -(r/* N(thin. 1(uld ha6e interested her less than sinister Spanish 1hests 1(ntainin. dead b(dies* P(ir(t si.hed and l((/ed d(-n at a ph(t(.raphed 0a1e* Repr(du1ti(ns in ne-sprint -ere ne6er 6er% .((d, and this -as de1idedl% s'ud.% but -hat a 0a1e4 Mrs* Cla%t(n, the -i0e (0 the 'urdered On an i'pulse, he thrust the paper at Miss +e'(n* "D

2+((/,2 he de'anded* 2+((/ at that 0a1e*2 Miss +e'(n l((/ed at it (bedientl%, -ith(ut e'(ti(n* 2&hat d( %(u thin/ (0 her, Miss +e'(nB That is Mrs* Cla%t(n*2 Miss +e'(n t((/ the paper, .lan1ed 1asuall% at the pi1ture and re'ar/ed5 2She3s a little li/e the -i0e (0 (ur ban/ 'ana.er -hen -e li6ed at Cr(%d(n Heath*2 2Interestin.,2 said P(ir(t* 2Re1(unt t( 'e, i0 %(u -ill be s( /ind, the hist(r% (0 %(ur ban/ 'ana.er3s -i0e*2 2&ell, it3s n(t reall% a 6er% pleasant st(r%, M* P(ir(t*2 2It -as in '% 'ind that it 'i.ht n(t be* C(ntinue*2 2There -as a .((d deal (0 tal/ ab(ut Mrs* Ada's and a %(un. artist* Then Mr* Ada's sh(t hi'sel0* ut Mrs* Ada's -(uldn3t 'arr% the (ther 'an and he t((/ s('e /ind (0 p(is(n88but the% pulled hi' thr(u.h all ri.ht7 and 0inall% Mrs* Ada's 'arried a %(un. s(li1it(r* I belie6e there -as '(re tr(uble a0ter that, (nl% (0 1(urse -e3d le0t Cr(%d(n Heath b% then s( I didn3t hear 6er% 'u1h '(re ab(ut it*2 Her1ule P(ir(t n(dded .ra6el%* ""

2She -as beauti0ulB2 2&ell88n(t reall% -hat %(u3d 1all beauti0ul * ut there see'ed t( be s('ethin. ab(ut her 2 2E:a1tl%* &hat is that s(