Читать книгу Ten Little Niggers / Десять негритят - Агата Кристи, Agatha Christie, Detection Club The - Страница 5

Miss Emily Brent was travelling in a non-smoking carriage. As usual, she sat very erect. She was sixty-five and she did not approve of lolling. Her father, a Colonel of the old school, had been particular about manners.

The present generation was so slack – in their manners, and in every other way.

Full of righteousness and firm principles, Miss Brent sat in her crowded third-class carriage and triumphed over its discomfort and its heat. Every one fussed over things nowadays! They wanted injections before they had teeth pulled – they took drugs if they couldn’t sleep – they wanted easy chairs and cushions and the girls neglected their figures and lay about half naked on the beaches in summer.

Miss Brent pursed her lips. She would like to make an example of certain people.

She thought about last year’s summer holiday. This year, however, it would be quite different. Nigger Island.

In her mind, she re-read the letter she had recently received.

“Dear Miss Brent,

I hope you remember me. We were together at Bellhaven Guest House in August some years ago, and it seemed we had a good time together.

I am starting a guest house of my own on an island off the coast of Devon. It will be a place where there is good plain food and a nice old-fashioned type of person. None of this nudity and gramophones half the night. I will be very glad if you could spend your summer holiday on Nigger Island – quite free – as my guest. Would early in August suit you? Perhaps the 8th.

Yours sincerely.

U. N. —”

The signature was rather illegible.

Emily Brent tried to remember the people at Bellhaven. There had been a Miss Olton – Ormen – No, surely it was Oliver! Yes – Oliver.

There was something about Nigger Island in the paper – something about a film star – or was it an American millionaire?

Of course, often islands went very cheap – they didn’t suit everybody. They thought the idea was romantic but when they came to live there, they saw the disadvantages and were glad to sell.

Emily Brent thought to herself: “Anyway, I will be getting a free holiday.”

As her income had lessened so much and so many dividends were not paid, that was indeed quite helpful. If only she could remember a little more about Mrs. – or was it Miss – Oliver?