They came to Baghdad - Agatha Christie [73]
‘I heard you had some anthropologist girl coming out.’
‘There’s nothing in her line so far. Of course we’re only just beginning. Actually I understood she wasn’t coming out for another fortnight or so, but I didn’t read her letter very carefully, and then I mislaid it, so I didn’t really remember what she said. My wife arrives next week – or the week after – now what have I done with her letter? – and I rather thought Venetia was coming out with her – but of course I may have got it all wrong. Well, well, I dare say we can make her useful. There’s a lot of pottery coming up.’
‘There’s nothing odd about her, is there?’
‘Odd?’ Dr Pauncefoot Jones peered at him. ‘In what way?’
‘Well, she hasn’t had a nervous breakdown or anything?’
‘Emerson did say, I remember, that she had been working very hard. Diploma or degree or something, but I don’t think he said anything about a breakdown. Why?’
‘Well, I picked up her up at the side of the road, wandering about all by herself. It was on that little Tell as a matter of fact that you come to about a mile before you turn off the road –’
‘I remember,’ said Dr Pauncefoot Jones. ‘You know I once picked up a bit of Nuzu ware on that Tell. Extraordinary really, to find it so far south.’
Richard refused to be diverted to archaeological topics and went on firmly:
‘She told me the most extraordinary story. Said she’d gone to have her hair shampooed, and they chloroformed her and kidnapped her and carried her off to Mandali and imprisoned her in a house and she’d escaped in the middle of the night – the most preposterous rigmarole you ever heard.’
Dr Pauncefoot Jones shook his head.
‘Doesn’t sound at all probable,’ he said. ‘Country’s perfectly quiet and well policed. It’s never been safer.’
‘Exactly. She’d obviously made the whole thing up. That’s why I asked if she’d had a breakdown. She must be one of those hysterical girls who say curates are in love with them, or that doctors assault them. She may give us a lot of trouble.’
‘Oh, I expect she’ll calm down,’ said Dr Pauncefoot Jones optimistically. ‘Where is she now?’
‘I left her to have a wash and brush up.’ He hesitated. ‘She hasn’t got any luggage of any kind with her.’
‘Hasn’t she? That really is awkward. You don’t think she’ll expect me to lend her pyjamas? I’ve only got two pairs and one of them is badly torn.’
‘She’ll have to do the best she can until the lorry goes in next week. I must say I wonder what she can have been up to – all alone and out in the blue.’
‘Girls are amazing nowadays,’ said Dr Pauncefoot Jones vaguely. ‘Turn up all over the place. Great nuisance when you want to get on with things. This place is far enough out, you’d think, to be free of visitors, but you’d be surprised how cars and people turn up when you can least do with them. Dear me, the men have stopped work. It must be lunch-time. We’d better go back to the house.’
II
Victoria, waiting in some trepidation, found Dr Pauncefoot Jones wildly far from her imaginings. He was a small rotund man with a semi-bald head and a twinkling eye. To her utter amazement he came towards her with outstretched hands.
‘Well, well, Venetia – I mean Victoria,’ he said. ‘This is quite a surprise. Got it into my head you weren’t arriving until next month. But I’m delighted to see you. Delighted. How’s Emerson? Not troubled too much by asthma, I hope?’
Victoria rallied her scattered senses and said cautiously that the asthma hadn’t been too bad.
‘Wraps his throat up too much,’ said Dr Pauncefoot Jones. ‘Great mistake. I told him so. All these academic fellows who stick around universities get far too absorbed in their health. Shouldn’t think about it – that’s the way to keep fit. Well, I hope you’ll settle down – my wife will be out next week – or the week after – she’s been seedy, you know. I really must find her letter. Richard tells me your luggage has gone astray. How are you going to manage? Can’t very well