The Man in the Brown Suit - Agatha Christie [0]
The Man in the Brown Suit
To E.A.B
In memory of a journey, some lion stories
and a request that I should some day write
the ‘Mystery of the Mill House’
Contents
Prologue
Nadina, the Russian dancer who had taken Paris by storm,…
Chapter 1
Everybody has been at me, right and left, to write…
Chapter 2
Everyone was very kind to me. Dazed as I was,…
Chapter 3
In the succeeding weeks I was a good deal bored.
Chapter 4
Nobody came forward to identify the dead woman. The inquest…
Chapter 5
In the first heat of indignation, I found my next…
Chapter 6
I went home with a feeling of exultation. My scheme…
Chapter 7
Shaking off the feelings that oppressed me, I went quickly…
Chapter 8
It is an extraordinary thing that I never seem to…
Chapter 9
It is most undignified for a heroine to be sea-sick.
Chapter 10
I was violently excited. I was sure that I had…
Chapter 11
There were no further excitements that night. I had breakfast…
Chapter 12
There is something to be said for life on board…
Chapter 13
It has been a curious evening.
Chapter 14
It was on the night of the Fancy Dress dance…
Chapter 15
Diamonds!
Chapter 16
I got an opportunity of tackling Colonel Race on the…
Chapter 17
It is really the greatest relief to get off the…
Chapter 18
I don’t suppose that as long as I live I…
Chapter 19
It reminded me forcibly of Episode III in ‘The Perils…
Chapter 20
I drove to the hotel. There was no one in…
Chapter 21
I had no further difficulty in carrying out my plans.
Chapter 22
I am inclined to abandon my Reminiscences. Instead, I shall…
Chapter 23
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey up to Rhodesia. There was…
Chapter 24
We arrived at Bulawayo early on Saturday morning. I was…
Chapter 25
I came to myself slowly and painfully. I was conscious…
Chapter 26
‘You are right. My real name is Harry Lucas. My father…
Chapter 27
Harry listened attentively whilst I recounted all the events that…
Chapter 28
As I remarked once before, I am essentially a man…
Chapter 29
There is something about the state of things here that…
Chapter 30
As soon as I got to Kimberlely I wired to…
Chapter 31
Pagett has arrived. He is in a blue funk, of…
Chapter 32
I had great trouble with Suzanne. She argued, she pleaded,…
Chapter 33
I was not summoned to Sir Eustace’s presence until late…
Chapter 34
We were not able to return to Johannesburg that night.
Chapter 35
With his last words, Colonel Race had swung away and…
Chapter 36
That was two years ago. We still live on the…
About the Author
Other Books by Agatha Christie
Credits
Copyright
About the Publisher
Prologue
Nadina, the Russian dancer who had taken Paris by storm, swayed to the sound of the applause, bowed and bowed again. Her narrow black eyes narrowed themselves still more, the long line of her scarlet mouth curved faintly upwards. Enthusiastic Frenchmen continued to beat the ground appreciatively as the curtain fell with a swish, hiding the reds and blues and magentas of the bizarre décor. In a swirl of blue and orange draperies the dancer left the stage. A bearded gentleman received her enthusiastically in his arms. It was the Manager.
‘Magnificent, petite, magnificent,’ he cried. ‘Tonight you have surpassed yourself.’ He kissed her gallantly on both cheeks in a somewhat matter-of-fact manner.
Madame Nadina accepted the tribute with the ease of long habit and passed on to her dressing-room, where bouquets were heaped carelessly everywhere, marvellous garments of futuristic design hung on pegs, and the air was hot and sweet with the scent of the massed blossoms and with the more sophisticated perfumes and essences. Jeanne, the dresser, ministered to her mistress, talking incessantly and pouring out a stream of fulsome compliments.
A knock at the door interrupted the flow, Jeanne went to answer it, and returned with a card in her hand.
‘Madame will receive?’
‘Let me see.’
The dancer stretched out a languid hand, but at the sight of the name on the card, ‘Count Sergius Paulovitch’, a sudden flicker