Agatha Christie

“ She had everything except money; beauty, position, breeding, brains. Nobody expected her to marry for love. She wasn't that kind of girl. In her second season she had three strings to her bow, the heir to a dukedom, a rising politician, and a South African millionaire. And then, to everyone's surprise, she married Alan Everard a struggling young painter whom no one had ever heard of.
It is a tribute to her personality, I think, that everyone went on calling her Isobel Loring. Nobody ever alluded to her as Isobel Everard. It would be: "I saw Isobel Loring this morning. ”

“ It is always an accident.
In this case we had been having tea in Alan Everard's studio. He gave these teas occasionally, and used to stand about in corners, wearing very old clothes, rattling the coppers in his trouser pockets and looking profoundly miserable.
I do not suppose anyone will dispute Everard's claim to genius at this date. His two most famous pictures, Color and The Connoisseur, which belong to his early period, before he became a fashionable portrait painter, were purchased by the nation last year, and for once the choice went unchallenged. ”

“ Yes-with her husband, young Everard, the painter fellow."
People said Isobel had "done for herself." It would, I think, have "done" for most men to be known as "Isobel Loring's husband." But Everard was different. Isobel's talent for success hadn't failed her after all. Alan Everard painted Color:
I suppose everyone knows the picture: a stretch of road with a trench dug down it, and turned earth, reddish in color, a shining length of brown glazed drain-pipe and the huge navvy, resting for a minute on his spade-a Herculean figure in stained corduroys with a scarlet neckerchief. ”

“ One isn't angry with the people who don't count."
It was not Jane's fault that Alan found other matters. Jane was loyal-but she was also untidy; she filled her drawers too full. She had, shortly before her death, burned carefully all Isobel's letters. The one Alan found was wedged behind a drawer. When he had read it, the meaning of certain cabalistic signs on the counterfoils of Jane's cheque book became clear to him. In this particular letter Isobel had hardly troubled to keep up the pretence of the money being required for Winnie. ”

“ He's been too kind. You've got to-to destroy the flesh before you can get at the soul sometimes."
I nodded reflectively. Sir Rufus Herschman had not been flattered physically, but Everard had succeeded. in putting on the canvas a personality that was unforgettable.
"And Isobel's got such a very forceful personality," continued Mrs. Lemprière.
"Perhaps Everard can't paint women," I said.
"Perhaps not," said Mrs. Lemprière thoughtfully. "Yes, that may be the explanation.”
And it was then, with her usual genius for accuracy, that she pulled out a canvas that was leaning with its face to the wall. ”

“ Dear Jane,
Many thanks for your cheque received today. You are good to your godchild. A bundred pounds will do all sorts of things. Children are a terrible expense. You are so fond of Winnie that I felt I was not doing wrong in coming to you. for help. Alan, like all geniuses, can only work at what he wants to work at and unfortunately that doesn't always keep the pot boiling. Hope to see you soon.
Yours,
Isobel
When The Connoisseur was finished, some months later, Alan invited Jane to come and see it. ”

“ I'll show Jane."
When he arrived home, he passed straight into the studio. Isobel found him there, sorting out canvases.
"Alan, don't forget we're dining with the Marches-"
Everard shook his head impatiently.
"Damn the Marches. I'm going to work. I've got hold of something, but I must get it fixed-fixed at once on the canvas before it goes. Ring them up. Tell them I'm dead."
Isobel looked at him thoughtfully for a moment or two, and then went out. She understood the art of living with a genius very thoroughly. She went to the telephone and made some plausible excuse. ”

“ The damned thing's dead dead. There's no life in it-nothing behind, nothing but surface, damned smooth surface. I've cheated myself all along-yes, even this afternoon. I came along to you to find out. Isobel doesn't know. But you know, you always do know. I knew you'd tell me it was good-you've not moral sense about that sort of thing. But I can tell by the tone of your voice. When I showed you Romance you didn't say anything at all-you held your breath. and gave a sort of gasp."
"Alan-
Everard gave her no chance to speak. Jane was producing the effect upon him he knew so well. ”

“ Nine or ten would be nearer the mark. How does she cook? Rottenly. Is she the least assistance or comfort to you in this flat? None whatever. For God's sake, get rid of her tomorrow morning and engage a girl who is of some use. ”