The Seven Dials Mystery. Agatha Christie

said nothing for some minutes. She was busily engaged in trying to remember the exact wording of the letter she had sent on to Loraine Wade, and at the same time she was trying to picture the girl to whom it had been written. What sort of a girl was this to whom, apparently, Gerald Wade was so devoted? The more she thought over it, the more it seemed to her that it was an unusual letter for a brother to write.

      ‘Did you say the Wade girl was Gerry’s half-sister?’ she asked suddenly.

      ‘Well, of course, strictly speaking, I suppose she isn’t–wasn’t, I mean–his sister at all.’

      ‘But her name’s Wade?’

      ‘Not really. She wasn’t old Wade’s child. As I was saying, he ran away with his second wife, who was married to a perfect blackguard. I suppose the Courts gave the rascally husband the custody of the child, but he certainly didn’t avail himself of the privilege. Old Wade got very fond of the child and insisted that she should be called by his name.’

      ‘I see,’ said Bundle. ‘That explains it.’

      ‘Explains what?’

      ‘Something that puzzled me about that letter.’

      ‘She’s rather a pretty girl, I believe,’ said Lord Caterham. ‘Or so I’ve heard.’

      Bundle went upstairs thoughtfully. She had several objects in view. First she must find this Jimmy Thesiger. Bill, perhaps, would be helpful there. Ronny Devereux had been a friend of Bill’s. If Jimmy Thesiger was a friend of Ronny’s, the chances were that Bill would know him too. Then there was the girl, Loraine Wade. It was possible that she could throw some light on the problem of Seven Dials. Evidently Gerry Wade had said something to her about it. His anxiety that she should forget the fact had a sinister suggestion.