Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie

early. Going to have a dip?”
    Linda nodded.
    They passed each other.
    Instead of going on down the rocks, however, Linda skirted round the hotel to the left until she came to the path down to the causeway connecting the hotel with the mainland. The tide was high and the causeway under water, but the boat that took hotel guests across was tied to a little jetty. The man in charge of it was absent at the moment. Linda got in, untied it and rowed herself across.
    She tied up the boat on the other side, walked up the slope, past the hotel garage and along until she reached the general shop.
    The woman had just taken down the shutters and was engaged in sweeping out the floor. She looked amazed at the sight of Linda.
    â€œWell, Miss, you are up early.”
    Linda put her hand in the pocket of her bath wrap and brought out some money. She proceeded to make her purchases.
    II
    Christine Redfern was standing in Linda’s room when the girl returned.
    â€œOh, there you are,” Christine exclaimed. “I thought you couldn’t be really up yet.”
    Linda said:
    â€œNo, I’ve been bathing.”
    Noticing the parcel in her hand, Christine said with surprise:
    â€œThe post has come early today.”
    Linda flushed. With her habitual nervous clumsiness the parcel slipped from her hand. The flimsy string broke and some of the contents rolled over the floor.
    Christine exclaimed:
    â€œWhat have you been buying candles for?”
    But to Linda’s relief she did not wait for an answer, but went on, as she helped to pick the things up from the floor.
    â€œI came in to ask whether you would like to come with me to Gull Cove this morning. I want to sketch there.”
    Linda accepted with alacrity.
    In the last few days she had accompanied Christine Redfern more than once on sketching expeditions. Christine was a most indifferent artist, but it is possible that she found the excuse of painting a help to her pride since her husband now spent most of his time with Arlena Marshall.
    Linda Marshall had been increasingly morose and bad tempered. She liked being with Christine who, intent on her work, spoke very little. It was, Linda felt, nearly as good as being by oneself, and in a curious way she craved for company of some kind. There was a subtle kind of sympathy between her and the elder woman, probably based on the fact of their mutual dislike of the same person.
    Christine said:
    â€œI’m playing tennis at twelve, so we’d better start fairly early. Half past ten?”
    â€œRight. I’ll be ready. Meet you in the hall.”
    III
    Rosamund Darnley, strolling out of the dining room after a very late breakfast, was cannoned into by Linda as the latter came tearing down the stairs.
    â€œOh! sorry, Miss Darnley.”
    Rosamund said: “Lovely morning, isn’t it? One can hardly believe it after yesterday.”
    â€œI know. I’m going with Mrs. Redfern to Gull Cove. I said I’d meet her at half past ten. I thought I was late.”
    â€œNo, it’s only twenty-five past.”
    â€œOh! good.”
    She was panting a little and Rosamund looked at her curiously.
    â€œYou’re not feverish, are you, Linda?”
    The girls’ eyes were very bright and she had a vivid patch of colour in each cheek.
    â€œOh! no. I’m never feverish.”
    Rosamund smiled and said:
    â€œIt’s such a lovely day I got up for breakfast. Usually I have it in bed. But today I came down and faced eggs and bacon like a man.”
    â€œI know—it’s heavenly after yesterday. Gull Cove is nice in the morning. I shall put a lot of oil on and get really brown.”
    Rosamund said:
    â€œYes, Gull Cove is nice in the morning. And it’s more peaceful than the beach here.”
    Linda said, rather shyly:
    â€œCome too.”
    Rosamund shook her head.
    She said:
    â€œNot this morning. I’ve other fish to fry.”
    Christine Redfern came down the stairs.
    She