"Oh, I see. I hoped you meant something more
definite than that. Well, I can only say that I
didn't throw it out. I can't expect you to believe
/> me--or anyone else."
"Oh, yes, I believe you," said Mr. Parker Pyne.
"You do? Why?"
"Not a criminal type," said Mr. Parker Pyne.
"Not, that is, the particular criminal type that
steals jewelry. There are crimes, of course, that
you might commit--but we won't enter into that
subject. At any rate I do not see you as the pur-!oiner
of the Morning Star."
"Everyone else does though," said Llewellyn
bitterly.
"I see," said Mr. Parker Pyne.
"They looked at me in a queer sort of way at the
time. Marroway picked up the paper and just
glanced over at the window. He didn't say any-thing.
But Pointz cottoned on to it quick enough!
I could see what they thought. There hasn't been
any open accusation, that's the devil of it."
Mr. Parker Pyne nodded sympathetically.
"It is worse than that," he said.
"Yes. It's just suspicion. I've had a fellow
20
Agatha Christie
round asking questions--routine inquiries, he
called it. One of the new dress-shirted lot of
police, I suppose. Very tactful2nothing at all
hinted. Just interested in the fact that I'd been