Towards Zero by Agatha Christie Page B

question, it seemed, more from politeness than because he had any desire for the information. It was a manner particularly soothing to Mary Aldin. She wanted badly to talk to someone—but she much preferred to talk to someone who was not too much interested.
    She said:
    â€œWell—we’ve got rather a difficult situation. Audrey is here, as you probably know?”
    She paused questioningly and Thomas Royde nodded.
    â€œAnd Nevile and his wife also.”
    Thomas Royde’s eyebrows went up. He said after a minute or two: “Bit awkward—what?”
    â€œYes it is. It was Nevile’s idea.”
    She paused. Royde did not speak, but as though aware of some current of disbelief issuing from him, she repeated assertively: “It was Nevile’s idea.”
    â€œWhy?”
    She raised her hands for a moment from the steering wheel.
    â€œOh, some modern reaction! All sensible and friends together. That idea. But I don’t think, you know, it’s working very well.”
    â€œPossibly it mightn’t.” He added, “What’s the new wife like?”
    â€œKay? Good-looking, of course. Really very good-looking. And quite young.”
    â€œAnd Nevile’s keen on her?”
    â€œOh yes. Of course they’ve only been married a year.”
    Thomas Royde turned his head slowly to look at her. His mouth smiled a little. Mary said hastily:
    â€œI didn’t mean that exactly.”
    â€œCome now, Mary. I think you did.”
    â€œWell, one can’t help seeing that they’ve really got very little in common. Their friends, for instance—” She came to a stop.
    Royde asked:
    â€œHe met her, didn’t he, on the Riviera? I don’t know much about it. Only just the bare facts that the mater wrote.”
    â€œYes, they met first at Cannes. Nevile was attracted, but I should imagine he’d been attracted before—in a harmless sort of way. I still think myself that if he’d been left to himself nothing would have come of it. He was fond of Audrey, you know.”
    Thomas nodded.
    Mary went on:
    â€œI don’t think he wanted to break up his marriage—I’m sure he didn’t. But the girl was absolutely determined. She wouldn’t rest until she’d got him to leave his wife—and what’s a man to do in those circumstances? It flatters him, of course.”
    â€œHead over heels in love with him, was she?”
    â€œI suppose it may have been that.”
    Mary’s tone sounded doubtful. She met his inquiring glance with a flush.
    â€œWhat a cat I am! There’s a young man always hanging about—good-looking in a gigolo kind of way—an old friend of hers—and I can’t help wondering sometimes whether the fact that Nevile is very well off and distinguished and all that didn’t have something to do with it. The girl hadn’t a penny of her own, I gather.”
    She paused, looking rather ashamed. Thomas Royde merely said: “Uh hum,” in a speculative voice.
    â€œHowever,” said Mary, “that’s probably plain cat! The girl is what one would call glamorous—and that probably rouses the feline instincts of middle-aged spinsters.”
    Royde looked thoughtfully at her, but his poker face showed no recognizable reaction. He said, after a minute or two:
    â€œBut what, exactly, is the present trouble about?”
    â€œReally, you know, I haven’t the least idea! That’s what’s so odd. Naturally we consulted Audrey first—and she seemed to have no feeling against meeting Kay—she was charming about it all. She has been charming. No one could have been nicer. Audrey, of course, in everything she does is always just right. Her manner to them both is perfect. She’s very reserved, as you know, and one never has any idea of what she is really thinking or feeling—but honestly I don’t believe she minds at all. ”
    â€œNo reason why