Third Girl Read Free Page B

after the old boy. Goes up to London with him, I believe, and sees he doesn’t get run over. Rather pretty, she was.”
    Poirot sorted out the information Mrs. Oliver had supplied him with, feeling rather like a human computer.
    â€œThere lives then in the house Mr. and Mrs. Trefusis—”
    â€œIt’s not Trefusis—I remember now—It’s Restarick.”
    â€œThat is not at all the same type of name.”
    â€œYes it is. It’s a Cornish name, isn’t it?”
    â€œThere lives there then, Mr. and Mrs. Restarick, the distinguished elderly uncle. Is his name Restarick too?”
    â€œIt’s Sir Roderick something.”
    â€œAnd there is the au pair girl, or whatever she is, and a daughter—anymore children?”
    â€œI don’t think so—but I don’t really know. The daughter doesn’t live at home, by the way. She was only down for the weekend. Doesn’t get on with the stepmother, I expect. She’s got a job in London, and she’s picked up with a boyfriend they don’t much like, so I understand.”
    â€œYou seem to know quite a lot about the family.”
    â€œOh well, one picks things up. The Lorrimers are great talkers. Always chattering about someone or other. One hears a lot of gossip about the people all around. Sometimes, though, one gets them mixed up. I probably have. I wish I could remember that girl’s Christian name. Something connected with a song…Thora? Speak to me, Thora. Thora, Thora. Something like that, or Myra? Myra, oh Myra my love is all for thee. Something like that. I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls. Norma? Or do I mean Maritana? Norma—Norma Restarick. That’s right, I’m sure.” She added inconsequently, “She’s a third girl.”
    â€œI thought you said you thought she was an only child.”
    â€œSo she is—or I think so.”
    â€œThen what do you mean by saying she is the third girl?”
    â€œGood gracious, don’t you know what a third girl is? Don’t you read The Times? ”
    â€œI read the births, deaths, and marriages. And such articles as I find of interest.”
    â€œNo, I mean the front advertisement page. Only it isn’t in the front now. So I’m thinking of taking some other paper. But I’ll show you.”
    She went to a side table and snatched up The Times, turned the pages over and brought it to him. “Here you are—look. ‘ THIRD GIRL for comfortable second floor flat, own room, central heating, Earl’s Court. ’ ‘ Third girl wanted to share flat. 5gns. week own room. ’ ‘ 4th girl wanted. Regent’s park. Own room. ’ It’s the way girls like living now. Better than PGs or a hostel. The main girl takes a furnished flat, and then shares out the rent. Second girl is usually a friend. Then they find a third girl by advertising if they don’t know one. And, as you see, very often they manage to squeeze in a fourth girl. First girl takes the best room, second girl pays rather less, third girl less still and is stuck in a cat-hole. They fix it among themselves which one has the flat to herself which night a week—or something like that. It works reasonably well.”
    â€œAnd where does this girl whose name might just possibly be Norma live in London?”
    â€œAs I’ve told you I don’t really know anything about her.”
    â€œBut you could find out?”
    â€œOh yes, I expect that would be quite easy.”
    â€œYou are sure there was no talk, no mention of an unexpected death?”
    â€œDo you mean a death in London—or at the Restaricks’ home?”
    â€œEither.”
    â€œI don’t think so. Shall I see what I can rake up?”
    Mrs. Oliver’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She was by now entering into the spirit of the thing.
    â€œThat would be very kind.”
    â€œI’ll ring up the Lorrimers. Actually now would