Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Thank you.
Welcome back, everyone, to 1001 Stories for the Road, as we continue The Seven Dials Mystery, by Agatha Christie. Today, Chapters 5 and 6, beginning with Chapter 5, The Man in the Road. "'Father,' said Bondle, opening the door of Lord Catterham's special sanctum and putting her head in, "'I'm going up to town in the Hispano. I can't stand the monotony down here any longer.
We only got home yesterday.' complained Lord Catterham. "'I know. It seems like a hundred years. I'd forgotten how dull the country could be.' "'I don't agree with you,' said Lord Catterham. "'It's peaceful. That's what it is. Peaceful. And extremely comfortable. I appreciate getting back to Treadwell more than I can tell you.' That man studies my comfort in the most marvellous manner.
Somebody came round only this morning to know if they could hold a tally for girl guides here.' "'A rally,' interrupted Bundle. "'Rally, tally, it's all the same. Some silly word meaning nothing whatever.
But it would have put me in a very awkward position having to refuse.
In fact, I probably shouldn't have refused. But Treadwell got me out of it.' I've forgotten what he said, something damned ingenious which couldn't hurt anybody's feelings and which knocked the idea on the head absolutely.' "'Well, being comfortable isn't enough for me,' said Bundle. "'I want excitement.' Lord Catterham shuddered. "'Didn't we have enough excitement four years ago?'
he demanded plaintively.' "'Well, I'm about ready for some more,' said Bundle.
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Chapter 2: What pivotal event occurs on the country road in Chapter 5?
"'Not that I expect I shall find any in town, "'but at any rate I shan't dislocate my jaw with yawning.' "'In my experience,' said Lord Ketterham, "'people who go about looking for trouble usually find it.' "'He yawned. "'All the same,' he added. "'I wouldn't mind running up to town myself.' "'Well, come on,' said Bundle. "'But be quick, because I'm in a hurry.'
Lord Catterham, who had begun to rise from his chair, paused. "'Did you say you were in a hurry?' he asked, suspiciously. "'In a devil of a hurry,' said Bundle. "'That settles it,' said Lord Catterham. "'I'm not coming.' "'to be driven by you in the Espada when you're in a hurry? "'No, it's not fair to any elderly man. "'I shall stay here.' "'Please yourself,' said Bundle, and withdrew.
"'Treadwell took her place. "'The vicar, my lord, is most anxious to see you. "'Some unfortunate controversy having arisen "'about the status of the boys' brigade.' Lord Catterham groaned. "'I rather fancied, my lord, that I'd heard you mention at breakfast that you were strolling down to the village this morning to converse with the vicar on the subject.' "'Did you tell him so?'
asked Lord Catterham eagerly. "'I did, my lord. He departed, if I may say so, a hot foot. I hope I did right, my lord.' "'Ah, of course you did, Treadwell. You're always right. You couldn't go wrong if you tried.'
Treadwell smiled benignly and withdrew. Bundle, meanwhile, was sounding the klaxon impatiently before the lodge gates, while a small child came hastening out with all speed from the lodge, admonishment from her mother following her. "'Make haste, Katie. That be her ladyship in a mortal hurry as always.' It was indeed characteristic of Bundle to be in a hurry, especially when driving a car.
She had skill and nerve, and was a good driver, Had it been otherwise, her reckless pace would have ended in disaster more than once. It was a crisp October day, with a blue sky and a dazzling sun. The sharp tang of the air brought the blood to Bondo's cheeks and filled her with the zest of living.
She had that morning sent Gerald Wade's unfinished letter to Lorraine Wade at Dean Priory, enclosing a few explanatory lines. The curious impression it had made upon her was somewhat dimmed in the daylight, yet it still struck her as needing explanation. She intended to get hold of Bill Eversley sometime and extract from him fuller details of the house party which had ended so tragically.
In the meantime, it was a lovely morning and she felt particularly well as the Hispana was running like a dream. Bundle pressed her foot down on the accelerator, and the Hispano responded at once. Mile after mile vanished, traffic stops were few and far between, and Bundle had a clear stretch of road in front of her.
And then, without any warning whatever, a man reeled out of the hedge and onto the road right in front of the car. To stop in time was out of the question. With all her might, Bundle wrenched at the steering wheel and swerved out to the right. The car was nearly in the ditch, nearly, but not quite. It was a dangerous maneuver, but it succeeded.
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Chapter 3: How does Bundle Brent react to the stranger's warning?
I brought him—I brought him along in the car. He's outside now. I—I was driving too fast, I suppose. I've always driven too fast.' The doctor cast a practiced glance over her. He stepped over to his shelf and poured something into a glass. He brought it over. "'Drink this down,' he said, "'and you'll feel better. You've had a shock.'
Bundle drank obediently, and a tinge of color came into her pallid face. The doctor nodded approvingly. "'That's right.' Now I want you to sit quietly here. I'll go out and attend to things. After I've made sure there's nothing to be done for the poor fellow. I'll come back and we'll talk about it. He was away some time. Bundle watched the clock on the mantelpiece. Five minutes. Ten minutes.
A quarter of an hour. Twenty minutes. Would he never come? Then the door opened and Dr. Cassell reappeared. He looked different. Bundle noticed that at once, grimmer, and at the same time more alert. There was something else in his manner that she did not quite understand, a suggestion of repressed excitement. "'Now then, young lady,' he said, "'let's have this out.
You ran over this man, you say. Tell me just how the accident happened.' Bundle explained to the best of her ability. The doctor followed her narrative with keen attention. Just so. The car didn't pass over his body? No. In fact, I thought I'd missed him altogether. He was reeling, you say? Yes, I thought he was drunk. And he came from the hedge. There was a gate just there, I think.
He must have come through the gate. The doctor nodded. Then he leaned back in his chair and removed his pince-nez. I've no doubt at all, he said, that you're a very reckless driver, and that you'll probably run over some poor fellow and do for him one of these days. But you haven't done it this time. But the car never touched him. The man was shot.
We'll return with Chapter 6 of The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie right after these sponsor messages. And now chapter six, seven dials again. Bundle stared at him, and very slowly the world, which for the last three-quarters of an hour had been upside down, shifted till it stood once more the right way up.
It was quite two minutes before Bundle spoke, but when she did it was no longer the panic-stricken girl, but the real Bundle, cool, efficient, and logical. "'How could he be shot?' she said. "'I don't know how he could,' said the doctor, dryly. "'But he was. He's got a rifle bullet in him, all right. He bled internally. That's why you didn't notice anything.' Bundle nodded.
"'The question is,' the doctor continued, "'who shot him? You saw nobody about.' Bundle shook her head. "'It's odd,' said the doctor. "'If it was an accident, you'd expect the fellow who did it would come running to the rescue, unless just possibly he didn't know what he'd done.' "'There was no one about,' said Bundle. "'On the road, that is.'
"'It seems to me,' said the doctor, "'that the poor lad must have been running. The bullet got him just as he passed through the gate, and he came reeling on to the road in consequence.' You didn't hear a shot?' Bundle shook her head. "'But I probably shouldn't anyway,' she said, with the noise of the car. "'Just so. He didn't say anything before he died. He muttered a few words.'
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