Parker Pyne Investigates - Agatha Christie [39]
‘My jewellery.’
‘Perhaps you would be so kind as to look and see that everything is there.’
There was immediately a torrent of words from the Slav lady. She broke into French, the better to do justice to her feelings.
In the meantime Elsie had picked up the jewel case. ‘Oh!’ she cried. ‘It’s unlocked.’
‘Et je porterai plainte à la Compagnie des Wagons-Lits,’ finished the Slav lady.
‘They’re gone!’ cried Elsie. ‘Everything! My diamond bracelet. And the necklace Pop gave me. And the emerald and ruby rings. And some lovely diamond brooches. Thank goodness I was wearing my pearls. Oh, Mr Pyne, what shall we do?’
‘If you will fetch the conductor,’ said Mr Parker Pyne, ‘I will see that this woman does not leave this compartment till he comes.’
‘Scélérat! Monstre!’ shrieked the Slav lady. She went on to further insults. The train drew in to Venice.
The events of the next half-hour may be briefly summarized. Mr Parker Pyne dealt with several different officials in several different languages–and suffered defeat. The suspected lady consented to be searched–and emerged without a stain on her character. The jewels were not on her.
Between Venice and Trieste Mr Parker Pyne and Elsie discussed the case.
‘When was the last time you actually saw your jewels?’
‘This morning. I put away some sapphire earrings I was wearing yesterday and took out a pair of plain pearl ones.’
‘And all the jewellery was there intact?’
‘Well, I didn’t go through it all, naturally. But it looked the same as usual. A ring or something like that might have been missing, but no more.’
Mr Parker Pyne nodded. ‘Now, when the conductor made up the compartment this morning?’
‘I had the case with me–in the restaurant car. I always take it with me. I’ve never left it except when I ran out just now.’
‘Therefore,’ said Mr Parker Pyne, ‘that injured innocent, Madame Subayska, or whatever she calls herself, must have been the thief. But what the devil did she do with the things? She was only in here a minute and a half–just time to open the case with a duplicate key and take out the stuff–yes, but what next?’
‘Could she have handed them to anyone else?’
‘Hardly. I had turned back and was forcing my way along the corridor. If anyone had come out of this compartment I should have seen them.’
‘Perhaps she threw them out of the window to someone.’
‘An excellent suggestion; only, as it happens, we were passing over the sea at that moment. We were on the bridge.’
‘Then she must have hidden them actually in the carriage.’
‘Let’s hunt for them.’
With true transatlantic energy Elsie began to look about. Mr Parker Pyne participated in the search in a somewhat absent fashion. Reproached for not trying, he excused himself.
‘I’m thinking that I must send a rather important telegram at Trieste,’ he explained.
Elsie received the explanation coldly. Mr Parker Pyne had fallen heavily in her estimation.
‘I’m afraid you’re annoyed with me, Mrs Jeffries,’ he said meekly.
‘Well, you’ve not been very successful,’ she retorted.
‘But, my dear lady, you must remember I am not a detective. Theft and crime are not in my line at all. The human heart is my province.’
‘Well, I was a bit unhappy when I got on this train,’ said Elsie, ‘but nothing to what I am now! I could just cry buckets. My lovely, lovely bracelet–and the emerald ring Edward gave me when we were engaged.’
‘But surely you are insured against theft?’ Mr Parker Pyne interpolated.
‘Am I? I don’t know. Yes, I suppose I am. But it’s the sentiment of the thing, Mr Pyne.’
The train slackened speed. Mr Parker Pyne peered out of the window. ‘Trieste,’ he said. ‘I must send my telegram.’
III
‘Edward!’ Elsie’s face lighted up as she saw her husband hurrying to meet her on the platform at Stamboul. For the moment even the loss of her jewellery faded from her mind. She forgot the curious words she had found on the blotter. She forgot everything except that it was a fortnight since she had seen her husband last, and that in spite of being sober and straightlaced he