for words.
"You say you recognized the gang from my
description. Had they worked this trick before?"
"Not exactly--but it was their kind of business.
Naturally my attention was at once directed to the
girl
Eve."
"Why? I didn't suspect her--nobody did. She
seemed such a--such a child."
"That is the peculiar genius of Maria Amalfi.
She is more like a child than any child could
possibly be! And then the plasticine! This bet was
supposed to have arisen quite spontaneouslymyet
the little lady had some plasticine with her all
handy. That spoke of premeditation. My suspicions
fastened on her at once."
Llewellyn rose to his feet.
"Well, Mr. Parker Pyne, I'm no end obliged to
you."
"Classification," murmured Mr. Parker Pyne.
"The classification of criminal types--it interests
me."
"You'll let me know how much--er--"
,. "My fee will be quite moderate," said Mr.
THE REGATTA MYSTERY
25
Parker Pyne. "It will not make too big a hole in
the--er--horse racing profits. All the same, young
man, I should, I think, leave the horses alone in
future. Very uncertain animal, the horse."