He told me that I surpassed his wildest expectations.
"You must have the constitution of an elephant," he said, "to make a comeback like this.
Oh, well, wonderful what country air and no late hours or excitement will do for a man if he can only stick it."
"I grant you your first two," I said.
"But don't think that the country is free from excitement.
We've had a good deal in my part."
"What sort of excitement?"
"Murder," I said.
Marcus Kent pursed up his mouth and whistled.
"Some bucolic love tragedy?
Farm lad kills his lass?"
"Not at all.
A crafty, determined lunatic killer."
"I haven't read anything about it?
When did they lay him by the heels?"
"They haven't, and it's a she!"
"Whew!
I'm not sure that Lymstock's quite the right place for you, old boy."
I said firmly, "Yes, it is.
And you're not going to get me out of it."
Marcus Kent has a low mind.
He said at once,
"So that's it!
Found a blonde?"
"Not at all," I said, with a guilty thought of Elsie Holland.
"It's merely that the psychology of crime interests me a good deal."
"Oh, all right.
It certainly hasn't done you any harm so far, but just make sure that your lunatic killer doesn't obliterate you!"
"No fear of that," I said.
"What about dining with me this evening?
You can tell me all about your revolting murder."
"Sorry. I'm booked."
"Date with a lady - eh?
Yes, you're definitely on the mend."
"I suppose you could call it that," I said, rather tickled at the idea of Megan in the role.
I was at Mirotin's at six o'clock when the establishment was officially closing.
Mary Grey came to meet me at the top of the stairs outside the showroom. She had a finger to her lips.
"You're going to have a shock!
If I say it myself, I've put in a good bit of work."
I went on into the big showroom.
Megan was standing looking at herself in a long mirror.
I give you my word I hardly recognized her!
For the minute it took my breath away.
Tall and slim as a willow with delicate ankles and feet shown off by sheer silk stockings and well-cut shoes.
Yes, lovely feet and hands, small bones - quality and distinction in every line of her.
Her hair had been trimmed and shaped to her head and it was glowing like a glossy chestnut.
They'd had the sense to leave her face alone.
She was not made up, or if she was it was so slight and delicate that it did not show.
Her mouth needed no lipstick.
Moreover there was about her something that I had never seen before, a new innocent pride in the arch of her neck.