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4Vctint!dyr4aimarv
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PAGE
POUR
DAILY
tu
tu
.11
i..
IsbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbBB
Seven
.'
...Dials
Mystery
By
Agatha
Christie
Copyright
by
Public
Ledger
THE
STOKY
THIS
F.tlt
There's
a
house
party
on
tt
Chlq?-
nen.
aa
cux
outside
London,
oc
eupled
for
the
present
on
lease
by
Sir
Oswald
sad
Lady
Ooete.
ouests
are
late
to
toreekfeat,
especlaUy
Jimmy
Theslger
and
uerry
Wade,
much
to
the
stinoy
see
of
Lady
Coote.
Biisert
Batcman.
aecretary
to
Sir
Oswald,
suggests
an
alarm
dock
ty
way
of
aaeurtof
that
Wade
In
particular
get
up
nest
morning
at
a
more
reasonable
hour.
They
plan
to
place
eight
docks
to
Wade's
room
once
he
is
aaleep.
Dateman.
known
as
,"Pongo,"
8
laces
tne
olccks,
and
yet
next
day
at
oon
Wade
Is
sUH
in
hed.
At
12:30
he
is
found
dead
by
a
servant.
Dr.
Cart-wright
declared
death
due
to
an
overdose
of
sleeping
powder.
Seven
clocks,
not
eight
are
found
lined
up
in
Wade's
room.
Theslger
and
Bonny
Devereux
motor
to
O-erry
home
to
Inform-
a
sister,
Loralne
Wade,
of
her
brother's
death.
Lord
Oaterham,
owner
Is
back
at
Chimneys.
His
daughter.
Lady
ZUeen
Brant.
sailed
"BuadU,"
finds
a
letter
written
by
Wade
indicating
that
his
death
was
not
accidental.
While
motor-ln;
to
town.
Bundle
thinks
she
has
run
dewn
a
man.
He
proves
to
be
Hcony
Devereux.
who,
mysteriously
shot
and
sistng.
whispers:
"Seven
Dials
tell
Jimmy
Theslger."
Bundle
learns
of
s
place
called
Seven
Dials.
CwMaat
Mtmteter
George
Lomax
has
received
a
warning
letter.
mow
coNTixn:
the
htory
INSTALMENT
VIII.
"Wall,
one
never
knows
with
these
daubed
telephones.
The
numr
ber
is
108.
Dot
it?"
"103.
Thank
you.
Bill."
"Yet,
but
I
say
what
do
youl
want
fort
You
said
you
didnT
know
him."
"I
don't,
but
I
.shall
in
half
an
hour."
"Yeu're
going
"round
to
his.
rooms?"
"Quite
right,
Sherlock,"
"Yeg,
but
I
say
fox
one
thing
he
woat
be
up."
"Wont
be
up?"
i
anomam,
ironic
so.
I
mean,
who
would
if
they
hadn't
got
to?
Look
at
it
that
way.
You've
no
idea
'what
an
effort
it
U
for
me
to
get
here
at
11
every
morning,
and
the
fuss
CoddenJ
makes
Main
behind
time
is
simply
appalling.
You
haven't
the
least
idea,
Bun
dle,
what
a
dog's
life
this
is
"You
shall
tell'me
about
it
to
morrow
night,"
said
Bundle
hast
uy.
She
slammed
down
the
receiver
and
took
stock
of
the
situation
First
she
glanced
at
the
clock.
It
was
five
and
twenty
minutes
to
12.
Despite
Bill's
knowledge
of
his
friend's
habits,
she
inclined
to
the
belief
that
Mr.
Theslger
would
by
now
be
in
a
fit
state
to
receive
visitors.
She
took
a
taxi
to
103
Jermyn
Street.
AT
103
JEItMYN
STKEET
The
door
was
opened
at
103
Jer-1
myn
Street
by
a
perfect
example'
of
the
retired
gentleman's
gentle-
man.
His
face,
expressionless
and
po
lite,
was
such
a
face
as
may
bet
found
by
the
score
Irr
that
particular
district
of
London.
"Will
you
come
this
way,'
ma
-i
dam?"
.
'
-v..
a.
He
ushered
her
upstairs
into
an
extremely
comfortable
sitting
room
containing
leather-covered
armchairs
of
Immense
proportions.
Sunk
in
one
of
those
monstrosities
was
another
girl,
rather
younger
than
Bundle.
A
small,
fair
glri.
dressed
in
black.
"What-name
shall
I
say,
.ma
dam?"
"I
won't
give
any
name,'
said
Bundle.
"I
just
want
to
see
Mr.
Theslger
t
on
important
business:
The
grave
gentleman
bowed
and
lessly
behind
him
There
was
a
pause.
"It's
a
nice
morning,"
said
the
fair
girl
timidly.
"It's
an
awfully
nice
morning,"
agreed
Bundle.
There
was
another
pause.
"I
motored
up
from
the
country
this
morning,"
said
Bundle,
plunge
ing
once
more
into
speech.
"And
I
thought
it
was
going
to
be
one
of
those
foul
fogs.
But
It
wasn't."
"No,"
said
the
other
girl.
"It
wasn't."
And
she
added:
"I've
come
up
from
the
country.
tooJf
Bundle
Meets
Loralne
Bundle
eyed
her
more
attentively.
She
had
been
slightly
annoyed
at
finding
the
other
there.
Bundle
belonged
to
the
energetic
At
the
end
of
ten
minutes
Jimmy
was
unknown
guests.
ly,
an
extraordlnaV
idea
rose
in
her
brain.
Could
it
be?
Yes,
the
girl
was
in
deep
mourning;
her
black
silken
ankles
showed
that.
It
was
a
long
shot,
but
Bundle
was
convinced
that
her
idea
was
right.
She
drew
a
long
breath.
"Look
here,"
she
said.
"Are
you
by
any
chance
Loralne
Wade?"
Loralne's
eyes
opened
wide.
"Yes,
I
am.
How
clever
of
you
to
know.
We've
never
met,
have
we?"
Bundle
shook
her
head.
"I
wrote
to
you
yesterday,
though.
I'm
Bundle
Brent."
pit'
wafc
so
very
kind
of
you
.to
Devereux?"
Loralne
nodded.
"He
came
over
the
-7'
.
w
fl
He
was
one
of
Gerry's'
greatest
friends."
,t
"I
know.
Well
he's
dead."
Moraine's
lips
parted
in
surprise.
.
"Dead!
But
he
always
seemed
so
At,".
.
......
.
;
Bundle
narrated
the
events
of
possible.
A
look
of
fear
and
hor
ror
came
into
Loralne's
face.
"Then
it
is
true.
It
is
true"
"What's
true?"
Not
a
Natural
Death
"What
I've
thought
what
I've
been
thinking
all
these
weeks.
Gerald
didn't
die
a
natural
death.
He
was
killed."
You've
th6ught
that,
have
you?"
'Yes.
Gerry
would
never
have
taken
things
to
make
him
sleep."
She
gave
the
little
ghost
of
a
laugh.
"He
slept
much
too
well
to
need
them.
I
always
thought
It
possible
chance
my
Aunt
Jemima
queer.
And
he
thought
so,
too
I
could
she?
Because
if
so,
I'm
know
he
did."
I
damned
if
I'm
going
to
get
up."
Who?"
"The
lady,
sir,
could
not
pos-
Ronny.
And
now
this
happens.
I
sibly
be
any
one's
aunt,
I
should
Now
he's
killed,
too."
She
paused;
say,
unless
the
youngest
of
a
large
er
ready
to
fare
his
me
what
I
ought
to
do."
"You
mean
"
Bundle
paused.
"About
Seven
Dials."
Loralne
nodded.
"You
see
"
she
began
But
at
that
moment
Jimmy
Theslger
entered
the
room.
1
prepared
was
It
to
go
on
repeating
I
the
statement
indefinitely
that
day
that
Jimmy
resigned
himself
to
the
in-
odd
I
-FV
BIOITOIIC"
Vl
.
again."
said:
HA
young
lady,
sirs
has
called
to
'
see
you."
"Oh!"
Jimmy
strove
to
grasp
the
situation.
"Why?'
"I,couldnt
sayMslr,;
"No,'
I
suppose
not.
No,"
he
withdrew,
shutting-the
door.
noise,J,he
preceding
day
as
briefly
as.-thourM
11
over.,
"I
suppose
you
couicuvt.
"
(
(
'
Stevens
swooped
down
upon
a
;tray
by
the
bedside.
i
''I
will
brine
vou
some
fresh
tea.
sir.
This
is
cold."
;'"You
think
that
I
ought
to
get
up
and
er
see
the
lady?"
Stevens
made
no
reply,
but
he
held
his
back
very
stiff
and
Jimmy
read
the
signs
correctly.
"Ohl
very
well,"
he
said.
"I
suppose
I'd
better.
She
didn't
give
her
name?"
"No,
sir."
iirn.
sne
couianx
be
by
any
family."
"Aha,"
said
Jimmy.
"Young
and
lovely.
Is
she
what
kind
is
she?"
The
young
lady,
sir,
is
most
undoubtedly
strictly
comme
if
fsut,
if
I
may
use
the
expression."
"You
may
use
it,"
said
Jimmy
graciously.
"Your
French
pronunciation,
Stevens,
if
I
may-
say
so,
is
very
good.
Much
better
than
mine."
"I
am
gratified
to
hear
it,
sir,
I
have
lately
been
taking
a
correspondence
course
in
French."
"Have
you
really?
You're
a
wonderful
chap,
Steven."
Another
Young
Lady
Stevens
smiled
in
a
su
parlor
fashion
and
left
the
room.
Jimmy
lay
trvine
to
recall
the
nmn
of
any
young
and
lovely
girls
strictly
'comme
if
faut
who
might
be
like-jly
to
come
and
call
upon
him.
Stevens
re-entered
with
fresh
tea,
and
as
Jimmy
supped
it
he
felt
a
pleasurable
curiosity.
"You've
given
her
the
paper
and
all
that,
I
hope,
Stevens,"
he
said.
"I
supplied
her
with
the
Morning
Post
and
Punch,
sir."
A
ring
at
the
bell
took
htm;
away.
In
a
few
minutes
he
return-:
ea-
-
...
"Another
yong
lady,
sir."
"What?"
Jimmy
clutched
his
head.
"Another
young
lady;
she
de-
order
of
people
who
like
"to
get
and
then
went
on:
"That's
what
I
cllnes
to
'give
her
name,
sir,
but
on
with
it,"
and
she
foresaw
that
came
for
today.
That
letter
of
"er
business
is
Important."
the
second
visitor
would
have
to
be
.Gerry's
you
sent
me
as
soon
as
I
Jimmy
stared
at
him.
disposed
of
and
got
rid
of
before
!
read
it,
I
tried
to
get
hold
of
Ron-
i
"Tk
damned
odd,
Stevens.
sne
could
broach
her
own
business.
It
was
not
a
topic
she
could
introduce
before
a
stranger.
ny,
but
they
said
he
was
away.
So
Damned
odd.
Look
here,
what
time
I
thought
I'd
come
and
see
Jimmy
he
was
Ronny's
oTher
Kreat
Now,
as
she
loAksif
more
close-;
friend.
I
thought
perhaps
he'd
tell
did
I
come
home
last
night?'
"Just
upon
5
o'clock,
sir."
"And
was
I
ar
how
was
I?"
t
T
,
1
la.
At
.1
A-.
.
.
i
a
moment
tqjyope
with
ihe
situ-j
"I
was
wondering
whether
un
Oerry
you
know.
And
he's
been
to
evltable.
He
opened
his
eyes
and
and
Cress
in
future.
Thaf
hats
see
me
two
or
three
times
since,
blinked.
word,
Stevens
eschew-
,
here
.
raL
-
rr
.
Embarassing
Moments
WlSHNIO
tO&A
.
I
ill
irr-
rit-nhU
t3
mi
A-t-vrArt7-Tr
fit
CMS.
CPfz
Viity
Vmi
hikak
rtitV
cAVkK.,.u
.
.
.
.
.
.
t
a
1
.
j.
.
tni
1
;
f
tAirtf
l
1.
.
.
7.
......
'
-
S)
KM.
Km
Tmmt
Strtkw.
li.fl
atittliIiMgtjj
.0
im
a-tm
mtw
I
.lit.
SSSSSSSSKSSSs
21
That
old
troublesome
word
"IF"
j.
.,
"
upon
a
time
most
people
were
worried
a
lot
ONCE
by
"If."
A
few
still
are.
You
can
tell
them
if
you
listen
to
them
when
they'll
shopping.
"If
you
are
sure
that
rug
won't
fade
.
.
."
"If
you're
positive
this
is
pure
wool
..."
"If
you'll
guarantee
theie
eggs
as
freth
.
,.,"
"If
you
think
this
washing
machine
will
yp$
?,lttar
than
the
other
one
.
..."
,
y
t
j
.
xx
.
ix
.
ix
'
,
The
trouble
with
such
people
i
they
don't
read
the
advertisements.
People
who
do
read
them
do
not
Ibave
to
depend
upon
"if
6"
in
their
buying.
They
know
what
they
are
getting,
because
they
have
the
definite,
printed,
reiterated
assurances
of
the
advertiser.
-
Most
people
nowadays
do
read
the
advertisements.
They
shop
intelligently
and
quickly.
They
'know
beforehand
what
they
want,
why
they
want
It,
;'how
much
they
will
have
to
pay,
and
where
to
go.
a
cross-word
the
other
day
and
took
a
fancy
to
lt
All
For
One
and
end
of
ten
minutes
he
was
ready
to
face
his
unknown
guests.
As
he
-uau
a
uiue.
cneerrui,
sir
noui-1
opened
the
door
of
his
sitting
ing
more.
Inclined
to
sing
'Rule
room
the
first
person
he
saw
was
.
f,n!a",
a
dark-
sllm
BIrl
wh
was
totally
What
an
extraordinary
tiling,"
unknown
to
him.
She
was
stand-said
Jimmy.
"
'Rule
Britannia.'
eh?
ing
by
the
mantelpiece,
leaning
I
cannot
Imagine
myself
In
a,
against
it.
Then
his
glance
went
sober
state
ever
singing
'Rule
on
to
the
big
leather
covered
arm-Britannia.'
Some
latent
natrint.lam
v,ni.
1
hi.
1
.
L
vi,.
p.,
ii
vii,
uuu
mo
uron
uiiascu
a
Deal.
Visitors
For
Jimmy
.
,
must
have
emerged
under
the
Loralne
I
We
must
at
this
point
go
bac:
-stimulus
of-er-Just
a
couple
too'
it
was
she
who
rose
and
spoke
to
some
20
minutes
earlier.
To
a
many.
I
was
celebrating
at
the
first
a
little
nervously
moment
when
Jimmy
Theslger.
Mustard
and
Cress,
I
remember.:
"You
must
be
very
surprised
to
emerging
from
the
mists
of
sleep.
Not
nearly
such
an
innocent
spot
i
see
me
But
I
had
to
come
111
ex-was
conscious
of
a
familiar
voice
as,
It
sounds,
Stevens."
He
paused,
plain
in
a
minute
This
is
Lady
speaking
unfamiliar
words.
;
"I
was
wondering
"
,
Eileen
Brent
"
his
sieep-naaen
brain
tried
for.
"Yes.
sir?"
Intelligent
buyers
substitute
Jinovv"
for
"iP
N
by
reading
the
advertisements
marked
Bundle.
"I
told
him
I
warby
a
promise
and
couldn
:
coming
round
to
see
you,
and'
hsjj
"Bound
by
a
promise,
-jl.
said
you
wouldn't
be
up.'
"Wril
T'm
nr
nnni
as
A
Tl.v,
..
While
he
was
talking
Jimmy
was
'
encouragingly.
"It's
about
Gerry,"
said
Loralne.
"And
now
about
Ronny
"
"What
do
you
mean
by
'and
now
about
Ronny'?"
"He
was
shot
yesterday."
"What?"
cried
Jimmy.
level
voice
ihlm
since.
I
believe
he
w
i
V
'tv,...
'
.
.......
I
i"
a
lone
hand
trying
;
"Bundle
that's
what
I'm
usually
j
ought
to
tell
you."
Knpwn
as.
You
ve
probably
heard
send
me
Gerry's
letter,
'said
Lo-jation.
but
failed.
!He
yawned
apd
der
the
aforementioned
stimulus
.
I
of
me
Jro'm-BUI
Eyerslelgh."
raine.
"rve
wnuen
m
inanK
ypu,
wuea
otct
agauv
;
naa
pui
an
advertisement
in
..a
-ohi
mihr.nf
r,r
t
I
never,
expected
to
see'
you
here.
"A
young
lady,
sir.
has
called
tnews
paper
asking
for
a
nursery
said
iJimmy
endeavoring
to
cope
MlaiW
iW-"4!"
-
:
'
''
'-
!J
tverness
orsomething
of
that
with
the
situation.
"I
say.
do
sit
'
Bundle.
Dia
you
you
know
Ronny
Ronny'
1
The
The
voice
voice
was
was
implacable
implacable.
So
sort."
iriomn
Idown
..h
and
let's
it'.
h0.
have
a
.
cocktail
ai,-ii
.!
Ha
sat
down
on
the
edge
of
a
w..
vi
ujr
uvcr
vo
oreaic
ratae
thoughtfully.
That's
what
he
said
Na
I
didn't
press
him
after
he
was
odd
darned
ode
through.
I
got
the
Impresi-uor
&
that
he
suspected
well,
t
I
thought
he'd
tell
the
d
::
But
no,
net
even
a
hint
thought
rd
been
mistake
afterward,
with
the
evlden
Bundle
told
her
story
for
thelfti1w.11
it
med
uh
seeond
Ume.
Jimmy
listened
likeiefcer
cage.
1
thought
my
3
552
in
a
dream'
tons
had
bpen
all
bosh
rK
"But
yoa
think
Ronny
st,
"-ipectedr
asked
Bundle
Jlmmv
nodded.
"That's
what
I
think
now
ft
I
XTT
ZL
-
nave
seen
any-
1
wwt
Mtv
.a
wms
a
1
w
t.
a
a
t
-'
as
-
.
K
I
M.I1U
WUttLss
IiiUI
C
X
UP11CVC
'
"
x,
saia
uunaie
encouraging-:flnd
wt
why
7
ll'fll
'IKa'
.4A..
aUXVb
IUJI1
iISU
ICITH
I1C
'
...
.
ih.Ma?
e.rr?.
Wad.e
end
word
to
me.
but
eon
a
a.
at
a,
,
th
m
ir.
....
K
o"
wise
o
woros
jv
11c
Iiuuuru
Bit
on
with."
(To
Be
Continued
Tomorro
detil
or
Tminin
r
"Seven
Dials."
said
Bund''"
tl
Stevens
ooughed.
something."
!
hWed
lltUe.
something
to
me.
Tha
u
7
a
xwo
gim
turning
up.
it
looks
But
both
girls
declined.
!he
started
to
trfi
m.
ZJZJ
"Seven
Dials."
said
Jlmmv
-snH
I
shall
eschew
the
lie
Mustard
Mustard
"As
a
matter
of
fact
"
continued
There
was
something
.
he
wanted
.
ly
a
good
Jimmy,
"I'm
only
Just
out
of
bed."
to
tell
me.
and
he
began
about
It
80
'-I
met
in
-That's
what
Bill
said,"
and
then
re-
he
said
he
was
bound'!
a
iw.
sins
ri
T7OMw!irsft4
,ttM.
tt4
'
f'
'
-
.
r
-l
.
'
1
nriJ
uim
niJ
t-Jr.
""V
r-
1
w5-.
.
.-.IT.
r-l
na
u
jn
T.
ini
fill
r
i