Parker Pyne Investigates - Agatha Christie [84]
‘Haven’t I already done so?’
‘Their personal appearance–colour of hair and so on.’
‘But, Mr Parker Pyne, what can that have to do with it?’
‘A good deal, young man, a good deal. Classification and so on.’
Somewhat unbelievingly, Evan described the personal appearance of the members of the yachting party.
Mr Parker Pyne made a note or two, pushed away the pad and said:
‘Excellent. By the way, did you say a wine glass was broken?’
Evan stared again.
‘Yes, it was knocked off the table and then it got stepped on.’
‘Nasty thing, splinters of glass,’ said Mr Parker Pyne. ‘Whose wine glass was it?’
‘I think it was the child’s–Eve.’
‘Ah!–and who sat next to her on that side?’
‘Sir George Marroway.’
‘You didn’t see which of them knocked it off the table?’
‘Afraid I didn’t. Does it matter?’
‘Not really. No. That was a superfluous question. Well’–he stood up–‘good morning, Mr Llewellyn. Will you call again in three days’ time? I think the whole thing will be quite satisfactorily cleared up by then.’
‘Are you joking, Mr Parker Pyne?’
‘I never joke on professional matters, my dear sir. It would occasion distrust in my clients. Shall we say Friday at eleven-thirty? Thank you.’
III
Evan entered Mr Parker Pyne’s office on the Friday morning in a considerable turmoil. Hope and scepticism fought for mastery.
Mr Parker Pyne rose to meet him with a beaming smile.
‘Good morning, Mr Llewellyn. Sit down. Have a cigarette?’
Llewellyn waved aside the proffered box.
‘Well?’ he said.
‘Very well indeed,’ said Mr Parker Pyne. ‘The police arrested the gang last night.’
‘The gang? What gang?’
‘The Amalfi gang. I thought of them at once when you told me your story. I recognized their methods and once you had described the guests, well, there was no doubt at all in my mind.’
‘Who are the Amalfi gang?’
‘Father, son and daughter-in-law–that is if Pietro and Maria are really married–which some doubt.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘It’s quite simple. The name is Italian and no doubt the origin is Italian, but old Amalfi was born in America. His methods are usually the same. He impersonates a real business man, introduces himself to some prominent figure in the jewel business in some European country and then plays his little trick. In this case he was deliberately on the track of the Morning Star. Pointz’ idiosyncrasy was well known in the trade. Maria Amalfi played the part of his daughter (amazing creature, twenty-seven at least, and nearly always plays a part of sixteen).’
‘Not Eve!’ gasped Llewellyn.
‘Exactly. The third member of the gang got himself taken on as an extra waiter at the Royal George–it was holiday time, remember, and they would need extra staff. He may even have bribed a regular man to stay away. The scene is set. Eve challenges old Pointz and he takes on the bet. He passes round the diamond as he had done the night before. The waiters enter the room and Leathern retains the stone until they have left the room. When they do leave, the diamond leaves also, neatly attached with a morsel of chewing gum to the underside of the plate that Pietro bears away. So simple!’
‘But I saw it after that.’
‘No, no, you saw a paste replica, good enough to deceive a casual glance. Stein, you told me, hardly looked at it. Eve drops it, sweeps off a glass too and steps firmly on stone and glass together. Miraculous disappearance of diamond. Both Eve and Leathern can submit to as much searching as anyone pleases.’
‘Well–I’m–’ Evan shook his head, at a loss for words.
‘You say you recognized the gang from my description. Had they worked this trick before?’
‘Not exactly–but it was their kind of business. Naturally my attention was at once directed to the girl Eve.’
‘Why? I didn’t suspect her–nobody did. She seemed such a–such a child.’
‘That is the peculiar genius of Maria Amalfi. She is more like a child than any child could possibly be! And then the plasticine! This bet was supposed to have arisen quite spontaneously–yet the little lady had some plasticine with her all handy.