Murder in Mesopotamia – Agatha Christie
The only thing I have done is to take the liberty of writing a first chapteraided by a letter kindly supplied by one of Miss Leatherans friends. It is intended to be in the nature of a frontispiecethat is, it gives a rough sketch of the narrator.
Chapter 1
Frontispiece
In the hall of the Tigris Palace Hotel in Baghdad a hospital nurse was finishing a letter. Her fountain-pen drove briskly over the paper.
Well, dear, I think thats really all my news. I must say its been nice to see a bit of the worldthough England for me every time, thank you. The dirt and the mess in Baghdad you wouldnt believeand not romantic at all like youd think from the Arabian Nights! Of course, its pretty just on the river, but the town itself is just awfuland no proper shops at all. Major Kelsey took me through the bazaars, and of course theres no denying theyre quaintbut just a lot of rubbish and hammering away at copper pans till they make your headacheand not what Id like to use myself unless I was sure about the cleaning. Youve got to be so careful of verdigris with copper pans.Ill write and let you know if anything comes of the job that Dr Reilly spoke about. He said this American gentleman was in Baghdad now and might come and see me this afternoon. Its for his wifeshe has fancies, so Dr Reilly said. He didnt say any more than that, and of course, dear, one knows what that usually means (but I hope not actually D.T.s!). Of course, Dr Reilly didnt say anythingbut he had a lookif you know what I mean. This Dr Leidner is an archaeologist and is digging up a mound out in the desert somewhere for some American museum.Well, dear, I will close now. I thought what you told me about little Stubbins was simply killing! Whatever did Matron say?No more now.Yours ever,Amy Leatheran
Enclosing the letter in an envelope, she addressed it to Sister Curshaw, St Christophers Hospital, London.
As she put the cap on her fountain-pen, one of the native boys approached her.
A gentleman come to see you. Dr Leidner.
Nurse Leatheran turned. She saw a man of middle height with slightly stooping shoulders, a brown beard and gentle, tired eyes.
Dr Leidner saw a woman of thirty-five, of erect, confident bearing. He saw a good-humoured face with slightly prominent blue eyes and glossy brown hair. She looked, he thought, just what a hospital nurse for a nervous case ought to look. Cheerful, robust, shrewd and matter-of-fact.
Nurse Leatheran, he thought, would do.
Chapter 2
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