The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie Read Free Book Online Page B

carefully. Something about a joke, that the Seven Dials business wasn't a joke.”
    Lord Caterham emerged suddenly from his catalogue.
    “Seven Dials?” he said. “Of course. I've got it now.”
    “Got what?”
    “I know why it sounded so familiar. George Lomax has been over. Tredwell failed for once and let him in. He was on his way up to town. It seems he's having some political party at the Abbey next week and he got a warning letter.”
    “What do you mean by a warning letter?”
    “Well, I don't really know. He didn't go into details. I gather it said 'Beware' and 'Trouble is at hand,' and all those sort of things. But anyway it was written from Seven Dials, I distinctly remember his saying so. He was going up to town to consult Scotland Yard about it. You know George?”
    Bundle nodded. She was well acquainted with that public-spirited Cabinet Minister, George Lomax, His Majesty's permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who was shunned by many because of his inveterate habit of quoting from his public speeches in private. In allusion to his bulging eyeballs, he was known to many - Bill Eversleigh among others - as Codders.
    “Tell me,” she said, “was Codders interested at all in Gerald Wade's death?”
    “Not that I ever heard of. He may have been, of course.”
    Bundle said nothing for some minutes. She was busily engaged in trying to remember the exact wording of the letter she had sent on to Loraine Wade, and at the same time she was trying to picture the girl to whom it had been written. What sort of a girl was this to whom, apparently, Gerald Wade was so devoted?
    The more she thought over it, the more it seemed to her that it was an unusual letter for a brother to write.
    “Did you say the Wade girl was Gerry's half-sister?” she asked suddenly.
    “Well, of course, strictly speaking, I suppose she isn't - wasn't, I mean - his sister at all.”
    “But her name's Wade?”
    “Not really. She wasn't old Wade's child. As I was saying, he ran away with his second wife, who was married to a perfect blackguard. I suppose the Courts gave the rascally husband the custody of the child, but he certainly didn't avail himself of the privilege. Old Wade got very fond of the child and insisted that she should he called by his name.”
    “I see,” said Bundle. “That explains it.”
    “Explains what?”
    “Something that puzzled me about that letter.”
    “She's rather a pretty girl, I believe,” said Lord Caterham. “Or so I've heard.”
    Bundle went upstairs thoughtfully. She had several objects in view. First she must find this Jimmy Thesiger. Bill, perhaps, would be helpful there. Ronny Devereux had been a friend of Bill's. If Jimmy Thesiger was a friend of Ronny's, the chances were that Bill would know him too. Then there was the girl, Loraine Wade. It was possible that she could throw some light on the problem of Seven Dials. Evidently Gerry Wade had said something to her about it. His anxiety that she should forget the fact had a sinister suggestion.

The Seven Dials Mystery

Chapter 7
    BUNDLE PAYS A CALL
    Getting hold of Bill presented few difficulties. Bundle motored up to town on the following morning - this time without adventures on the way - and rang him up. Bill responded with alacrity, and made various suggestions as to lunch, tea, dinner and dancing. All of which suggestions Bundle turned down as made.
    “In a day or two, I'll come and frivol with you, Bill. But for the moment I'm up on business.”
    “Oh,” said Bill. “What a beastly bore.”
    “It's not that kind,” said Bundle. “It's anything but boring. Bill, do you know anyone called Jimmy Thesiger?”
    “Of course. So do you.”
    “No, I don't,” said Bundle.
    “Yes, you do. You must. Everyone knows old Jimmy.”
    “Sorry,” said Bundle. “Just for once I don't seem to be everyone.”
    “Ah, but how can you not know Jimmy? A slightly stupid-looking chap, but really as brainy as me.”
    “You don't