The Seven Dials Mystery Agatha Christie PRINTING HISTORY _Dodd, Mead edition published March 1929_ _Grosset & Dunlap edition published February 1930_ _American Mercury edition published October 1942_ _Bantam edition/January 1964_ _New Bantam edition/March 1976_ _The Agatha Christie Mystery Collection/September 1986_ _All rights reserved._ _Copyright 1929 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc._ _Copyright renewed © 1957 by Agatha Christie Mallowan._ PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONTENTS I ON EARLY RISING II CONCERNING ALARUM CLOCKS III THE JOKE THAT FAILED IV A LETTER V THE MAN IN THE ROAD VI SEVEN DIALS AGAIN VII BUNDLE PAYS A CALL VIII VISITORS FOR JIMMY IX PLANS X BUNDLE VISITS SCOTLAND YARD XI DINNER WITH BILL XII INQUIRIES AT CHIMNEYS XIII THE SEVEN DIALS CLUB XIV THE MEETING OF THE SEVEN DIALS XV THE INQUEST XVI THE HOUSE PARTY AT THE ABBEY XVII AFTER DINNER XVIII JIMMY'S ADVENTURES XIX BUNDLE'S ADVENTURES XX LORAINE'S ADVENTURES XXI THE RECOVERY OF THE FORMULA XXII THE COUNTESS RADZKY'S STORY XXIII SUPERINTENDENT BATTLE IN CHARGE XXIV BUNDLE WONDERS XXV JIMMY LAYS HIS PLANS XXVI MAINLY ABOUT GOLF XXVII NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE XXVIII SUSPICIONS XXIX SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF GEORGE LOMAX XXX AN URGENT SUMMONS XXXI THE SEVEN DIALS XXXII BUNDLE IS DUMFOUNDED XXXIII BATTLE EXPLAINS XXXIV LORD CATERHAM APPROVES THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY CHAPTER I ON EARLY RISING That amiable youth, Jimmy Thesiger, came racing down the big staircase at Chimneys two steps at a time. So precipitate was his descent that he collided with Tredwell, the stately butler, just as the latter was crossing the hall bearing a fresh supply of hot coffee. Owing to the marvellous presence of mind and masterly agility of Tredwell, no casualty occurred. "Sorry," apologized Jimmy. "I say, Tredwell, am I the last down?" "No, sir, Mr. Wade has not come down yet." "Good," said Jimmy, and entered the breakfast-room.