The Case of the Distressed Lady: A Parker Pyne Story

By Agatha Christie

Previously published in the print anthology Parker Pine Investigates.

Daphne St. John enlists Parker Pyne’s aid. She must return a valuable diamond she stole to pay off gambling debts. Now, repenting her rash act, Daphne needs help to return the diamond without its owner being any the wiser.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9780062302533

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. Her books have sold more than a billion copies in English and another billion in a hundred foreign languages. She died in 1976, after a prolific career spanning six decades.

Book preview

Contents

The Case of the Distressed Lady

About the Author

The Agatha Christie Collection

Copyright

About the Publisher

THE CASE OF THE DISTRESSED LADY

The buzzer on Mr. Parker Pyne’s desk purred discreetly. Yes? said the great man.

A young lady wishes to see you, announced his secretary. She has no appointment.

You may send her in, Miss Lemon. A moment later he was shaking hands with his visitor. Good morning, he said. Do sit down.

The girl sat down and looked at Mr. Parker Pyne. She was a pretty girl and quite young. Her hair was dark and wavy with a row of curls at the nape of the neck. She was beautifully turned out from the white knitted cap on her head to the cobweb stockings and dainty shoes. Clearly she was nervous.

You are Mr. Parker Pyne? she asked.

I am.

The one who—advertises?

The one who advertises.

You say that if people aren’t—aren’t happy—to—to come to you.

Yes.

She took the plunge. "Well, I’m frightfully unhappy. So I thought I’d come