Free Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie Page B

her years ago!”
    She realized, half humorously, that she was overtired and on edge. A wash in hot water and
     a dusting of powder over her face and she felt herself again - cool, poised, and ashamed
     of her recent panic.
    She passed a comb through her thick black hair, squinting sideways at her reflection in
     the wavering light of a small oil lamp in a very inadequate glass.
    Then she pushed aside the tent flap and came out into the night prepared to descend to the
     big marquee below.
    “You - here?”
    It was a low cry - dazed, incredulous. She turned to look straight into Raymond Boynton's
     eyes. So amazed they were! And something in them held her silent and almost afraid. Such
     an unbelievable joy... It was as though he had seen a vision of Paradise - wondering,
     dazed, thankful, humble! Never, in all her life, was Sarah to forget that look. So might
     the damned look up and see Paradise...
    He said again: “You...”
    It did something to her - that low vibrant tone. It made her heart turn over in her
     breast. It made her feel shy, afraid, humble and yet suddenly arrogantly glad.
    She said quite simply: “Yes.”
    He came nearer - still dazed - still only half believing. Then suddenly he took her hand.
     “It is you,” he said. “You're real. I thought at first you were a ghost - because I'd been
     thinking about you so much.” He paused and then said: “I love you, you know... I have from
     the moment I saw you in the train. I know that now. And I want you to know it so that - so
     that you'll know it isn't me - the real me - who - who behaves so caddishly. You see, I
     can't answer for myself even now. I might do - anything! I might pass you by or cut you -
     but I do want you to know that it isn't me - the real me - who is responsible for that.
     It's my nerves. I can't depend on them... When she tells me to do things - I do them! My
     nerves make me! You will understand, won't you? Despise me if you have to - ”
    She interrupted him. Her voice was low and unexpectedly sweet. “I won't despise you.”
    “All the same, I'm pretty despicable! I ought to - to be able to behave like a man.”
    It was partly an echo of Gerard's advice, but more out of her own knowledge and hope that
     Sarah answered - and behind the sweetness of her voice there was a ring of certainty and
     conscious authority. “You will now.”
    “Shall I?” His voice was wistful. “Perhaps...”
    “You'll have courage now. I'm sure of it.”
    He drew himself up - flung back his head. “Courage? Yes - that's all that's needed.
     Courage!”
    Suddenly he bent his head, touched her hand with his lips. A minute later he had left her.

Appointment with Death
    12
    Sarah went down to the big marquee. She found her three fellow travelers there. They were
     sitting at table eating. The guide was explaining that there was another party here.
    “They come two days ago. Go day after tomorrow. Americans. The mother very fat, very
     difficult get here! Carried in chair by bearers - they say very hard work - they get very
     hot - yes.”
    Sarah gave a sudden spurt of laughter. Of course, take it properly, the whole thing was
     funny! The fat dragoman looked at her gratefully. He was not finding his task too easy.
     Lady Westholme had contradicted him out of Baedeker three times that day and had now found
     fault with the type of bed provided. He was grateful to the one member of his party who
     seemed to be unaccountably in a good temper.
    “Ha!” said Lady Westholme. “I think these people were at the Solomon. I recognized the old
     mother as we arrived here. I think I saw you talking to her at the hotel. Miss King.”
    Sarah blushed guiltily, hoping Lady Westholme had not overheard much of that conversation.
    “Really, what possessed me!” she thought to herself in an agony. In the meantime Lady
     Westholme had made a pronouncement.
    “Not interesting people at all. Very provincial,” she said.
    Miss Pierce