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

Angkatell. And to Lucy Angkatell, the unusual always appeared perfectlyreasonable. But Gerda, unfortunately, was not an Angkatell. Gerda wouldhave to be dealt with, and he'd better go in and deal with Gerda as soon as possible.Supposing it had been Gerda who had followed him tonight-- No good sayingpeople didn't do such things. As a doctor, he knew only too well what people,high-minded, sensitive, fastidious, honourable people constantly did. They listened atdoors, and opened letters and spied and snooped--not because for one moment theyapproved of such conduct, but because, before the sheer necessity of humananguish, they were rendered desperate. Poor devils, he thought, poor sufferinghuman devils . . . John Christow knew a good deal about human suffering. He hadnot very much pity for weakness, but he had for suffering, for it was, he knew, thestrong who suffer . . . If Gerda knew-- "Nonsense," he said to himself, "why |should she? She's gone up to bed and she's fast asleep. She's no imagination, never hashad." He went in through the French windows, switched on a lamp, closed and lockedthe windows. Then, switching off the light, he left the room, found the switch in thehall? went quickly and lightly up the stairs. A second switch turned off the hall light.He stood for a moment by the bedroom door, his hand on thedoorknob, then he turned it, and went in. The room was dark and he could hearGerda's even breathing. She stirred as he came in and closed the door. Her voice cameto him, blurred and indistinct with sleep: "Is that you,John?" "Yes." "Aren'tyou very late? What time is it?" He said easily, "I've no idea. Sorry I woke you up.I had to go in with the woman and have a drink." He made his voice sound boredand sleepy. Gerda murmured, "Oh? Good night, John." There was a rustleas she turned over in bed. It was all right! As usual, he'd been lucky... As usual--just for a moment it sobered him, the thought of how often his luck hadheld! Time and again there had been a moment when he'd held his breath and said,^ifthis goes wrong ..." And it hadn't gone Wrong! But some day, surely, his luck wouldchange. . . . He undressed quickly and got into bed. I Funny, that kid'sfortune telling. And this one is over your head and has power over you . . .Veronica! And she had had power over him all right. But not any more, my girl,he thought with a kind of savage satisfaction. All that's over. I'm quit of you now!