Parker Pyne Investigates – Agatha Christie
Death on the Nile
The Oracle at Delphi
THE CASE OF THE MIDDLE-AGED WIFE
Four grunts, an indignant voice asking why nobody could leave a hat alone, a slammed door, and Mr Packington had departed to catch the eight-forty-five to the City. Mrs Packington sat on at the breakfast table. Her face was flushed, her lips were pursed, and the only reason she was not crying was that at the last minute anger had taken the place of grief.
“I won’t stand it,” said Mrs Packington. “I won’t stand it!” She remained for some moments brooding, and then murmured: “The minx. Nasty sly little cat! How George can be such a fool!”
Anger faded; grief came back. Tears came into Mrs Packington’s eyes and rolled slowly down her middle-aged cheeks.
“It’s all very well to say I won’t stand it, but what can I do?”
Suddenly she felt alone, helpless, utterly forlorn. Slowly she took up the morning paper and read, not for the first time, an advertisement on the front page.
“Absurd!” said Mrs Packington. “Utterly absurd.” Then: “After all, I might just see…”
Which explains why at eleven o’clock Mrs Packington, a little nervous, was being shown into Mr Parker Pyne’s private office.
As has been said, Mrs Packington was nervous, but somehow or other, the mere sight of Mr Parker Pyne brought a feeling of reassurance. He was large, not to say fat; he had a bald head of noble proportions, strong glasses and little twinkling eyes.
“Pray sit down,” said Mr Parker Pyne. “You have come in answer to my advertisement?” he added helpfully.
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