Free The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie Page A

young lady recovered herself first.
    â€œMy only aunt!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œFor the matter of that, what are you?” I retorted.
    â€œWhen last I saw you, the day before yesterday, you were trotting home to England like a good little boy.”
    â€œWhen last I saw you, ” I said, “you were trotting home with your sister, like a good little girl. By the way, how is your sister?”
    A flash of white teeth rewarded me.
    â€œHow kind of you to ask! My sister is well, I thank you.”
    â€œShe is here with you?”
    â€œShe remained in town,” said the minx with dignity.
    â€œI don’t believe you’ve got a sister,” I laughed. “If you have, her name is Harris!”
    â€œDo you remember mine?” she asked with a smile.
    â€œCinderella. But you’re going to tell me the real one now aren’t you?”
    She shook her head with a wicked look.
    â€œNot even why you’re here?”
    â€œOh, that! I suppose you’ve heard of members of my profession ‘resting.’”
    â€œAt expensive French watering places?”
    â€œDirt cheap if you know where to go.”
    I eyed her keenly.
    â€œStill, you’d no intention of coming here when I met you two days ago?”
    â€œWe all have our disappointments,” said Miss Cinderella sententiously. “There now, I’ve told you quite as much as is good foryou. Little boys should not be inquisitive. You’ve not yet told me what you’re doing here?”
    â€œYou remember my telling you that my great friend was a detective?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œAnd perhaps you’ve heard about this crime—at the Villa Geneviève—?”
    She stared at me. Her breast heaved, and her eyes grew wide and round.
    â€œYou don’t mean—that you’re in on that? ”
    I nodded. There was no doubt that I had scored heavily. Her emotion, as she regarded me, was only too evident. For some few seconds she remained silent, staring at me. Then she nodded her head emphatically.
    â€œWell, if that doesn’t beat the band! Tote me round. I want to see all the horrors.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWhat I say. Bless the boy, didn’t I tell you I doted on crimes? I’ve been nosing round for hours. It’s a real piece of luck happening on you this way. Come on, show me all the sights.”
    â€œBut look here—wait a minute—I can’t. Nobody’s allowed in. They’re awfully strict.”
    â€œAren’t you and your friends the big bugs?”
    I was loath to relinquish my position of importance.
    â€œWhy are you so keen?” I asked weakly. “And what is it you want to see?”
    â€œOh, everything! The place where it happened, and the weapon, and the body, and any fingerprints or interesting thingslike that. I’ve never had a chance before of being right in on a murder like this. It’ll last me all my life.”
    I turned away, sickened. What were women coming to nowadays? The girl’s ghoulish excitement nauseated me.
    â€œCome off your high horse,” said the lady suddenly. “And don’t give yourself airs. When you got called to this job, did you put your nose in the air and say it was a nasty business, and you wouldn’t be mixed-up in it?”
    â€œNo, but—”
    â€œIf you’d been here on a holiday, wouldn’t you be nosing round just the same as I am? Of course you would.”
    â€œI’m a man. You’re a woman.”
    â€œYour idea of a woman is someone who gets on a chair and shrieks if she sees a mouse. That’s all prehistoric. But you will show me round, won’t you? You see, it might make a big difference to me.”
    â€œIn what way?”
    â€œThey’re keeping all the reporters out. I might make a big scoop with one of the papers. You don’t know how much they pay for a bit of inside