Agatha Christie Read Free Page A

it. It was after that that he complained of feeling ill.’
    â€˜Good,’ said Tommy. ‘I’ll take that glass along to Burton, presently. Anything else?’
    â€˜I’d like you to see Hannah, the maid. She’s – she’s queer.’
    â€˜How do you mean – queer?’
    â€˜She looks to me as though she were going off her head.’
    â€˜Let me see her.’
    Tuppence led the way upstairs. Hannah had a small sitting-room of her own. The maid sat upright on a high chair. On her knees was an open Bible. She did not look towards the two strangers as they entered. Instead she continued to read aloud to herself.
    â€˜Let hot burning coals fall upon them, let them be cast into the fire and into the pit, that they never rise up again.’
    â€˜May I speak to you a minute?’ asked Tommy.
    Hannah made an impatient gesture with her hand.
    â€˜This is no time. The time is running short, I say. I will follow upon mine enemies and overtake them, neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them . So it is written. The word of the Lord has come to me. I am the scourge of the Lord.’
    â€˜Mad as a hatter,’ murmured Tommy.
    â€˜She’s been going on like that all the time,’ whispered Tuppence.
    Tommy picked up a book that was lying open, face downwards on the table. He glanced at the title and slipped it into his pocket.
    Suddenly the old woman rose and turned towards them menacingly.
    â€˜Go out from here. The time is at hand! I am the flail of the Lord. The wind bloweth where it listeth – so do I destroy. The ungodly shall perish. This is a house of evil – of evil, I tell you! Beware of the wrath of the Lord whose handmaiden I am.’
    She advanced upon them fiercely. Tommy thought it best to humour her and withdrew. As he closed the door, he saw her pick up the Bible again.
    â€˜I wonder if she’s always been like that,’ he muttered.
    He drew from his pocket the book he had picked up off the table.
    â€˜Look at that. Funny reading for an ignorant maid.’
    Tuppence took the book.
    â€˜Materia Medica,’ she murmured. She looked at the flyleaf, ‘Edward Logan. It’s an old book. Tommy, I wonder if we could see Miss Logan? Dr Burton said she was better.’
    â€˜Shall we ask Miss Chilcott?’
    â€˜No. Let’s get hold of a housemaid, and send her in to ask.’
    After a brief delay, they were informed that Miss Logan would see them. They were taken into a big bedroom facing over the lawn. In the bed was an old lady with white hair, her delicate face drawn by suffering.
    â€˜I have been very ill,’ she said faintly. ‘And I can’t talk much, but Ellen tells me you are detectives. Lois went to consult you then? She spoke of doing so.’
    â€˜Yes, Miss Logan,’ said Tommy. ‘We don’t want to tire you, but perhaps you can answer a few questions. The maid, Hannah, is she quite right in her head?’
    Miss Logan looked at them with obvious surprise.
    â€˜Oh, yes. She is very religious – but there is nothing wrong with her.’
    Tommy held out the book he had taken from the table.
    â€˜Is this yours, Miss Logan?’
    â€˜Yes. It was one of my father’s books. He was a great doctor, one of the pioneers of serum therapeutics.’
    The old lady’s voice rang with pride.
    â€˜Quite so,’ said Tommy. ‘I thought I knew his name.’ he added mendaciously. ‘This book now, did you lend it to Hannah?’
    â€˜To Hannah?’ Miss Logan raised herself in bed with indignation. ‘No, indeed. She wouldn’t understand the first word of it. It is a highly technical book.’
    â€˜Yes. I see that. Yet I found it in Hannah’s room.’
    â€˜Disgraceful,’ said Miss Logan. ‘I will not have the servants touching my things.’
    â€˜Where ought it to be?’
    â€˜In the bookshelf in my sitting-room – or –