Problem at Pollensa Bay - Agatha Christie [31]
She looked at him, wrinkling her brows a little. An attractive woman, Mr Satterthwaite thought. Rather a hard face, perhaps, but competent. So this was Simon Gilliatt’s second wife. She hadn’t got the beauty of Lily, but she seemed an attractive woman, pleasant and efficient. Suddenly a smile came to Mrs Gilliatt’s face.
‘I do believe…yes, of course. My father-in-law, Tom, has got a photograph of you and you must be the guest we are expecting this afternoon. You must be Mr Satterthwaite.’
‘Exactly,’ said Mr Satterthwaite. ‘That is who I am. But I shall have to apologize very much for being so much later in arriving than I said. But unfortunately my car has had a breakdown. It’s in the garage now being attended to.’
‘Oh, how miserable for you. But what a shame. But it’s not tea time yet. Don’t worry. We’ve put it off anyway. As you probably heard, I ran down to replace a few cups which unfortunately got swept off a table this morning. Whenever one has anyone to lunch or tea or dinner, something like that always happens.’
‘There you are, Mrs Gilliatt,’ said the woman in the shop. ‘I’ll wrap them up in here. Shall I put them in a box for you?’
‘No, if you’ll just put some paper around them and put them in this shopping bag of mine, they’ll be quite all right that way.’
‘If you are returning to Doverton Kingsbourne,’ said Mr Satterthwaite, ‘I could give you a lift in my car. It will be arriving from the garage any moment now.’
‘That’s very kind of you. I wish really I could accept. But I’ve simply got to take the motorbike back. The boys will be miserable without it. They’re going somewhere this evening.’
‘Let me introduce you,’ said Mr Satterthwaite. He turned towards Mr Quin, who had risen to his feet and was now standing quite near. ‘This is an old friend of mine, Mr Harley Quin, whom I have just happened to run across here. I’ve been trying to persuade him to come along to Doverton Kingsbourne. Would it be possible, do you think, for Tom to put up yet another guest for tonight?’
‘Oh, I’m sure it would be quite all right,’ said Beryl Gilliatt. ‘I’m sure he’d be delighted to see another friend of yours. Perhaps it’s a friend of his as well.’
‘No,’ said Mr Quin, ‘I’ve never met Mr Addison though I’ve often heard my friend, Mr Satterthwaite, speak of him.’
‘Well then, do let Mr Satterthwaite bring you. We should be delighted.’
‘I am very sorry,’ said Mr Quin. ‘Unfortunately, I have another engagement. Indeed–’ he looked at his watch ‘–I must start for it immediately. I am late already, which is what comes of meeting old friends.’
‘Here you are, Mrs Gilliatt,’ said the saleswoman. ‘It’ll be quite all right, I think, in your bag.’
Beryl Gilliatt put the parcel carefully into the bag she was carrying, then said to Mr Satterthwaite:
‘Well, see you presently. Tea isn’t until quarter past five, so don’t worry. I’m so pleased to meet you at last, having heard so much about you always both from Simon and from my father-in-law.’
She said a hurried goodbye to Mr Quin and went out of the shop.
‘Bit of a hurry she’s in, isn’t she?’ said the shop woman, ‘but she’s always like that. Gets through a lot in a day, I’d say.’
The sound of the bicycle outside was heard as it revved up.
‘Quite a character, isn’t she?’ said Mr Satterthwaite.
‘It would seem so,’ said Mr Quin.
‘And I really can’t persuade you?’
‘I’m only passing by,’ said Mr Quin.
‘And when shall I see you again? I wonder now.’
‘Oh, it will not be very long,’ said Mr Quin. ‘I think you will recognize me when you do see me.’
‘Have you nothing more–nothing more to tell me? Nothing more to explain?’
‘To explain what?’
‘To explain why I have met you here.’
‘You are a man of considerable knowledge,’ said Mr Quin. ‘One word might mean something to you. I think it would and it might come in useful.’
‘What word?’
‘Daltonism,’ said Mr Quin. He smiled.
‘I don’t think–’ Mr Satterthwaite frowned for a moment. ‘Yes. Yes, I do know only just for the moment I can’t remember…’
‘Goodbye for the present,’ said Mr Quin. ‘Here is your