Agatha Christie The Hollow Chapter I At 6:13 a.m. ... - bzelbublive.info

extraordinarily easy person to explain things to. Taking a leaf out of Lucy's ownbook, Midge went into her room at six o'clock. She made a bald statement of fact:"Edward went down and put his head in the gas oven in the night," she said."Fortunately I heard him and went down after him. I broke the window because Icouldn't get it open quickly." Lucy, Midge had to admit, was wonderful.She smiled sweetly with no sign of surprise."Dear Midge," she said, "you are always so practical. I'm sure you will always be thegreatest comfort to Edward." After Midge had gone Lady Angkatell lay thinking.Then she got up and went into her husband's room, which for once was unlocked."Henry." "My dear Lucy! It's not cock-crow yet." "No, but listen. Henry, this isreally important. We must have electricity installed to cook by and get rid of thatgas stove." "Why, it's quite satisfactory, isn't it?" "Oh, yes, dear. But it's the sort ofthing that gives people ideas, and everybody mightn't be as practical as dear Midge."She flitted elusively away. Sir Henry turned over with a grunt. Presently he awokewith a start just as he was dozing off. "Did I dream it," he murmured, "or didLucy come in and start talking about gas stoves?" Outside in the passage. LadyAngkatell went into the bathroom and put a kettle on the gas ring. Sometimes, sheknew, people liked an early cup of tea ... Fired with selfapproval, she returned tobed and lay back on her pillows, pleased with life and with herself. Edwardand Midge at Ainswick--the inquest over-- She would go and talk to M. Poirotagain. A nice little man . . . Suddenly another idea flashed into her head. She satupright in bed. "I wonder now," she speculated, "if she has thought of that?"She got out of bed and drifted along the passage to Henrietta's room, beginning herremarks as usual long before she was within earshot. "--and it suddenly came tome, dear, that you might have overlooked that." Henrietta murmured sleepily:"For heaven's sake, Lucy, the birds aren't up yet!" "Oh, I know, dear, it is ratherearly, but it seems to have been a very disturbed night--Edward and the gas stove,and Midge and the kitchen window--and thinking of what to say to M. Poirot andeverything--" "I'm sorry 3 Lucy, but everything you say sounds like completegibberish . . . Can't itwait?" "It was only the holster, dear. I thought, you know, that you might not havethought about the holster." "Holster?" Henrietta sat up in bed. She wassuddenly wide awake. "What's this about a holster?" "That revolver of Henry'swas in a holster, you know. And the holster hasn't been found. And, of course, nobodymay think of it--but on the other hand somebody might--" Henrietta swungherself out of bed. She said: "One always forgets something--that's what theysay! And it's true!" Lady Angkatell went back to her room. She got into bed andquickly went fast asleep.The kettle on the gas ring boiled and went on boiling . . .