The Mirror Crack's From Side to Side by Agatha Christie Read Free Book Online Page A

stairs Marina Gregg and Jason Rudd were receiving this specially chosen йlite. What had once been a spare bedroom had been thrown into the landing so as to make a wide lounge-like effect. Giuseppe the butler was officiating with drinks.
    A stout man in livery was announcing guests.
    'Councillor and Mrs Allcock,' he boomed.
    Marina Gregg was being, as Mrs Bantry had described her to Miss Marple, completely natural and charming. She could already hear Mrs Allcock saying later: '- and so unspoiled, you know, in spite of being so famous.'
    How very nice of Mrs Allcock to come, and the Councillor, and she did hope they'd enjoy their afternoon. 'Jason please look after Mrs Allcock.'
    Councillor and Mrs Allcock were passed on to Jason and drinks.
    'Oh, Mrs Bantry, it is nice of you to come.'
    'I wouldn't have missed it for the world,' said Mrs Bantry and moved on purposefully towards the Martinis.
    The young man called Hailey Preston ministered to her in a tender manner and then made off, consulting a little list in his hand, to fetch, no doubt, more of the Chosen to the Presence. It was all being managed very well, Mrs Bantry thought, turning, Martini in hand, to watch the next arrivals. The vicar, a lean, ascetic man, was looking vague and slightly bewildered. He said earnestly to Marina Gregg:
    'Very nice of you to ask me. I'm afraid, you know, I haven't got a television set myself, but of course I - er - I - well, of course my young people keep me up to the mark.'
    Nobody knew what he meant. Miss Zielinsky, who was also on duty, administered a lemonade to him with a kindly smile. Mr and Mrs Badcock were next up the stairs. Heather Badcock, flushed and triumphant, came a little ahead of her husband.
    'Mr and Mrs Badcock,' boomed the man in livery.
    'Mrs Badcock,' said the vicar, turning back, lemonade in his hand, 'the indefatigable secretary of the association. She's one of our hardest workers. In fact I don't know what the St John would do without her.'
    'I'm sure you've been wonderful,' said Marina.
    'You don't remember me?' said Heather, in an arch manner. 'How should you, with all the hundreds of people you meet. And anyway, it was years ago. In Bermuda of all places in the world. I was there with one of our ambulance units. Oh, it's a long time ago now.'
    'Of course,' said Marina Gregg, once more all charm and smiles.
    'I remember it all so well,' said Mrs Badcock, 'I was thrilled, you know, absolutely thrilled. I was only a girl at the time. To think there was a chance of seeing Marina Gregg in the flesh oh! I was a mad fan of yours always.'
    'It's too kind of you, really too kind of you,' said Marina sweetly, her eyes beginning to hover faintly over Heather's shoulder towards the next arrivals.
    'I'm not going to detain you,' said Heather - 'but I must -'
    'Poor Marina Gregg,' said Mrs Bantry to herself. 'I suppose this kind of thing is always happening to her! The patience they need!'
    Heather was continuing in a determined manner with her story.
    Mrs Allcock breathed heavily at Mrs Bantry's shoulder.
    'The changes they've made here! You wouldn't believe till you saw for yourself. What it must have cost...'
    'I - didn't feel really ill - and I thought I just must -'
    'This is vodka,' Mrs Allcock regarded her glass suspiciously. 'Mr Rudd asked if I'd like to try it. Sounds very Russian. I don't think I like it very much...'
    '- I said to myself, I won't be beaten! I put a lot of makeup on my face -'
    'I suppose it would be rude if I just put it down somewhere.' Mrs Allcock sounded desperate.
    Mrs Bantry reassured her gently.
    'Not at all. Vodka ought really to be thrown straight down the throat' - Mrs Allcock looked startled - 'but that needs practice. Put it down on the table and get yourself a Martini from that tray the butler's carrying.'
    She turned back to hear Heather Badcock's triumphant peroration.
    'I've never forgotten how wonderful you were that day. It was a hundred times worth it.'
    Marina's response was this