Poirot smiled. "I wished, you see, for the true story of Professor Luxmore's death."
"True story? Do you think that woman's capable of telling the truth about anything?" demanded Despard wrathfully.
"Eh bien, I did wonder now and then," admitted Poirot.
"I should think you did. That woman's crazy."
Poirot demurred.
"Not at all. She is a romantic woman, that is all."
"Romantic be damned. She's an out-and-out liar, I sometimes think she even believes her own lies."
"It is quite possible."
"She's an appalling woman, I had a hell of a time with her out there."
"That also I can well believe."
Despard sat down abruptly. "Look here, Monsieur Poirot, I'm going to tell you the truth."
"You mean you are going to give me your version of the story?"
"My version will be the true version."
Poirot did not reply. Despard went on dryly, "I quite realize that I can't claim any merit in coming out with this. I'll tell the truth because it's the only thing to be done at this stage. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. I've no kind of proof that my story is the correct one."
He paused for a minute and then began.
"I arranged the trip for the Luxmores. He was a nice old boy, quite batty about mosses and plants and things. She was a – well, she was what you've no doubt observed her to be! That trip was a nightmare. I didn't care a damn for the woman – rather disliked her as a matter of fact. She was the intense, soulful kind that always makes me feel prickly with embarrassment. Everything went all right for the first fortnight. Then we all had a go of fever. She and I had it slightly. Old Luxmore was pretty bad. One night – now you've got to listen to this carefully – I was sitting outside my tent. Suddenly I saw Luxmore in the distance staggering off into the bush by the river. He was absolutely delirious and quite unconscious of what he was doing. In another minute he would be in the river, and at that particular spot it would have been the end of him. No chance of a rescue. There wasn't time to rush after him, only one thing to be done. My rifle was beside me as usual. I snatched it up. I'm a pretty accurate shot. I was quite sure I could bring the old boy down – get him in the leg. And then, just as I fired, that idiotic fool of a woman flung herself from somewhere upon me, yelping out, 'Don't shoot. For God's sake don't shoot,' She caught my arm and jerked it ever so slightly just as the rifle went off – with the result that the bullet got him in the back and killed him dead!
"I can tell you that was a pretty ghastly moment. And that damned fool of a woman still didn't understand what she'd done. Instead of realizing that she'd been responsible for her husband's death, she firmly believed that I'd been trying to shoot the old boy in cold blood – for love of her, if yon please! We had the devil of a scene, she insisting that we should say he'd died of fever. I was sorry for her, especially as I saw she didn't realize what she'd done, But she'd have to realize it if the truth came out. And then her complete certainty that I was head over heels in love with her gave me a bit of a jar. It was going to be a pretty kettle of fish if she went about giving that out. In the end I agreed to do what she wanted – partly for the sake of peace, I'll admit. After all, it didn't seem to matter much. Fever or accident. And I didn't want to drag a woman through a lot of unpleasantness, even if she was a damned fool. I gave it out next day that the professor was dead of fever, and we buried him, The bearers knew the truth, of course, but they were all devoted to me and I knew that what I said they'd swear to if need be. We buried poor old Luxmore and got back to civilization. Since then I've spent a good deal of time dodging the woman."
He paused, then said quietly, "That's my story, Monsieur Poirot."
Poirot said slowly, "It was to that incident that Mr. Shaitana referred, or so you thought, at dinner that night?"
Despard nodded. "He must have heard it from Mrs. Luxmore. Easy enough to get the story out of her. That sort of thing would have amused him."
"It might have been a dangerous story – to you – in the hands of a man like Shaitana."
Despard shrugged his shoulders.
"I wasn't afraid of Shaitana."
Poirot didn't answer. Despard said quietly, "That again you have to take my word for. It's true enough, I suppose, that I had a kind of motive for Shaitana's death. Well, the truth's out now; take it or leave it."
Poirot held out a hand. "I will take it, Major Despard. I have no doubt at all that things in South America happened exactly as you have described."
Despard's face lighted up. "Thanks," he said laconically.
And he clasped Poirot's hand warmly.
Chapter 22
EVIDENCE FROM COMBEACRE
Superintendent Battle was in the police station of Combeacre. Inspector Harper, rather red in the face, talked in a slow, pleasing Devonshire voice.
"That's how it was, sir. Seemed all as right as rain. The doctor was satisfied. Everyone was satisfied. Why not?"
"Just give me the facts about the two bottles again. I want to get it quite clear."
"Syrup of Figs, that's what the bottle was. She took it regular, it seems. Then there was this hat paint she'd been using, or rather the young lady, her companion, had been using for her. Brightening up a garden hat. There was a good deal left over, and the bottle broke, and Mrs. Benson herself said, 'Put it in that old bottle – the Syrup of Figs bottle.' That's all right. The servants heard her. The young lady, Miss Meredith, and the housemaid and the parlormaid – they all agree on that. The hat paint was put into the old Syrup of Figs bottle and it was put up on the top shelf in the bathroom with other odds and ends."
"Not relabeled?"
"No. Careless, of course; the coroner commented on that."
"Go on."
"On this particular night the deceased went into the bathroom, took down a Syrup of Figs bottle, poured herself out a good dose and drank it. Realized what she'd done, and they sent off at once for the doctor. He was out on a case and it was sometime before they could get at him. They did all they could, but she died."
"She herself believed it to be an accident?"
"Oh, yes; everyone thought so. It seems clear the bottles must have got mixed up somehow. It was suggested the housemaid did it when she dusted, but she swears she didn't."
Superintendent Battle was silent, thinking. Such an easy business. A bottle taken down from an upper shelf, put in place of the other. So difficult to trace a mistake like that to its source. Handled it with gloves, possibly, and anyway the last prints would be those of Mrs. Benson herself. Yes, so easy – so simple. But, all the same, murder! The perfect crime.
But why? That still puzzled him – why?
"This young lady, this Miss Meredith, she didn't come into money at Mrs. Benson's death?" he asked.
Inspector Harper shook his head. "No. She'd only been there about six weeks. Difficult place, I should imagine. Young ladies didn't stay long as a rule."
Battle was still puzzled. Young ladies didn't stay long. A difficult woman, evidently. But if Anne Meredith had been unhappy, she could have left as her predecessors had done. No need to kill – unless it were sheer unreasoning vindictiveness. He shook his head. That suggestion did not ring true.
"Who did get Mrs. Benson's money?"
"I couldn't say, sir; nephews and nieces, I believe. But it wouldn't be very much – not when it was divided up – and I heard as how most of her income was one of these annuities."
Nothing there then. But Mrs. Benson had died, and Anne Meredith had not told him that she had been at Combeacre. It was all profoundly unsatisfactory.
He made diligent and painstaking inquiries. The doctor was clear and emphatic. No reason to believe it was anything but an accident. Miss – couldn't remember her name, nice girl, but rather helpless – had been very upset and distressed. There was the vicar. He remembered Mrs. Benson's last companion – a nice, modest-looking girl. Always came to church with Mrs. Benson. Mrs. Benson ha
d been – not difficult – but a trifle severe toward young people. She was the rigid type of Christian.
Battle tried one or two other people but learned nothing of value. Anne Meredith was hardly remembered. She had lived among them a few months – that was all – and her personality was not sufficiently vivid to make a lasting impression. "A nice little thing," seemed to be the accepted description.
Mrs. Benson loomed out a little more clearly. A self-righteous grenadier of a woman, working her companions hard and changing her servants often. A disagreeable woman, but that was all.
Nevertheless Superintendent Battle left Devonshire under the firm impression that for some reason unknown Anne Meredith had deliberately murdered her employer.
Chapter 23
THE EVIDENCE OF A PAIR OF SILK HOSE
As Superintendent Battle's train rushed eastward through England, Anne Meredith and Rhoda Dawes were in Hercule Poirot's sitting-room.
Anne had been unwilling to accept the invitation that had reached her by the morning's post, but Rhoda's counsel had prevailed.
"Anne, you're a coward – yes, a coward. It's no good going on being an ostrich, burying your head in the sand. There's been a murder and you're one of the suspects – the least likely one perhaps -"
"That would be the worst," said Anne with a touch of humor. "It's always the least likely person who did it."
"But you are one," continued Rhoda, undisturbed by the interruption. "And so it's no use putting your nose in the air as though murder was a nasty smell and nothing to do with you."
"It is nothing to do with me," Anne persisted. "I mean, I'm quite willing to answer any questions the police want to ask me, but this man, this Hercule Poirot, he's an outsider."
"And what will he think if you hedge and try to get out of it? He'll think you're bursting with guilt."
"I'm certainly not bursting with guilt," said Anne coldly.
"Darling, I know that. You couldn't murder anybody if you tried. But horrible suspicious foreigners don't know that. I think we ought to go nicely to his house. Otherwise he'll come down here and try to worm things out of the servants."
"We haven't got any servants."
"We've got Mother Astwell. She can wag a tongue with anybody! Come on, Anne, let's go. It will be rather fun, really."
"I don't see why he wants to see me." Anne was obstinate.
"To put one over on the official police, of course," said Rhoda impatiently. "They always do – the amateurs, I mean. They make out that Scotland Yard are all boots and brainlessness."
"Do you think this man Poirot is clever?"
"He doesn't look a Sherlock," said Rhoda. "I expect he has been quite good in his day. He's gaga now, of course. He must be at least sixty. Oh, come on, Anne, let's go and see the old boy. He may tell us dreadful things about the others."
"All right," said Anne and added, "You do enjoy all this so, Rhoda."
"I suppose because it isn't my funeral," said Rhoda. "You were a noodle, Anne, not just to have looked up at the right minute. If only you had, you could live like a duchess for the rest of your life on blackmail."
So it came about that, at three o'clock of that same afternoon, Rhoda Dawes and Anne Meredith sat primly on their chairs in Poirot's neat room and sipped blackberry sirop, which they disliked very much but were too polite to refuse, from old-fashioned glasses.
"It was most amiable of you to accede to my request, mademoiselle," Poirot was saying.
"I'm sure I shall be glad to help you in any way I can," murmured Anne vaguely.
"It is a little matter of memory."
"Memory?"
"Yes, I have already put these questions to Mrs. Lorrimer, to Doctor Roberts, and to Major Despard. None of them, alas; have given me the response that I hoped for."
Anne continued to look at him inquiringly.
"I want you, mademoiselle, to cast your mind back to that evening in the drawing-room of Mr. Shaitana."
A weary shadow passed over Anne's face. Was she never to be free of that nightmare?
Poirot noticed the expression.
"I know, mademoiselle, I know," he said kindly. "C'est pénible, n'est ce pas! That is very natural. You, so young as you are, to be brought in contact with horror for the first time. Probably you have never known or seen a violent death."
Rhoda's feet shifted a little uncomfortably on the floor.
"Well," said Anne.
"Cast your mind back. I want you to tell me what you remember of that room?"
Anne stared at him suspiciously. "I don't understand?"
"But, yes. The chairs, the tables, the ornaments, the wallpaper, the curtains, the fire irons. You saw them all. Can you not then describe them?"
"Oh, I see." Anne hesitated, frowning. "It's difficult. I don't really think I remember. I couldn't say what the wallpaper was like. I think the walls were painted – some inconspicuous color. There were rugs on the floor. There was a piano." She shook her head. "I really couldn't tell you any more."
"But you are not trying, mademoiselle. You must remember some object, some ornament, some piece of bric-a-brac?"
"There was a case of Egyptian jewelry, I remember," said Anne slowly. "Over by the window."
"Oh, yes, at the extreme other end of the room from the table on which lay the little dagger."
Anne looked at him. "I never heard which table that was on."
Pas si bête, commented Poirot to himself. But then, no more is Hercule Poirot! If she knew me better she would realize I would never lay a piege as gross as that!
Aloud he said, "A case of Egyptian jewelry, you say?"
Anne answered with some enthusiasm. "Yes – some of it was lovely. Blues and red. Enamel. One or two lovely rings. And scarabs – but I don't like them so much."
"He was a great collector, Mr. Shaitana," murmured Poirot.
"Yes he must have been," Anne agreed. "The room was full of stuff. One couldn't begin to look at it all."
"So that you cannot mention anything else that particularly struck your notice."
Anne smiled a little as she said, "Only a vase of chrysanthemums that badly wanted their water changed."
"Ah, yes, servants are not always too particular about that." Poirot was silent for a moment or two.
Anne said timidly, "I'm afraid I haven't noticed – whatever it is you wanted me to notice."
Poirot smiled kindly. "It does not matter, mon enfant. It was, indeed, an outside chance. Tell me, have you seen the good Major Despard lately?"
He saw the delicate pink color come up in the girl's face.
She replied, "He said he would come and see us again quite soon."
Rhoda said impetuously, "He didn't do it, anyway! Anne and I are quite sure of that."
Poirot twinkled at them.
"How fortunate – to have convinced two such charming young ladies of one's innocence."
"Oh, dear," thought Rhoda. "He's going to be French, and it does embarrass me so."
She got up and began examining some etchings on the wall. "These are awfully good," she said.
"They are not bad," replied Poirot.
He hesitated, looking at Anne. "Mademoiselle," he said at last, "I wonder if I might ask you to do me a great favor – oh, nothing to do with the murder. This is an entirely private and personal matter."
Anne looked a little surprised. Poirot went on speaking in a slightly embarrassed manner. "It is, you understand, that Christmas is coming on. I have to buy presents for many nieces and grandnieces. And it is a little difficult to choose what young ladies like in this present time. My tastes, alas, are rather old-fashioned."
"Yes?" queried Anne kindly.
"Silk hose, now, are silk hose a welcome present to receive?"
"Yes, indeed. It's always nice to be given hose."
"You relieve my mind. I will ask my favor. I have obtained some different colors. There are, I think, about fifteen or sixteen pairs. Could you be so amiable as to look through them and s
et aside half a dozen pairs that seem to you the most desirable?"
"Certainly I will," said Anne, laughing as she rose.
Poirot directed her toward a table in an alcove – a table whose contents were strangely at variance, had she but known it, with the well-known order and neatness of Hercule Poirot. There were hose piled up in untidy heaps, some fur-lined gloves, calendars, and boxes of bonbons.
"I send oft my parcels very much а l'avance," Poirot explained. "See, mademoiselle, here are the hose. Select me, I pray of you, six pairs."
He turned, intercepting Rhoda who was following him.
"As for mademoiselle here, I have a little treat for her. A treat that would be no treat to you, I fancy, Mademoiselle Meredith."
"What is it?" cried Rhoda.
He lowered his voice. "A knife, mademoiselle, with which twelve people once stabbed a man. It was given me as a souvenir by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons Lits."
"Horrible," cried Anne.
"Ooh! let me see," said Rhoda.
Poirot led her through into the other room talking as he went. "It was given me by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons Lits because -"
They passed out of the room.
They returned three minutes later. Anne came toward them. "I think these six are the nicest, Monsieur Poirot. Both these are very good evening shades, and this lighter color would be nice when summer comes and it's daylight in the evening."
"Mille remerciments, mademoiselle."
He offered them more sirop which they refused and finally accompanied them to the door, still talking genially. When they had finally departed he returned to the room and went straight to the littered table. The pile of hose still lay in a confused heap. Poirot counted the six selected pairs and then went on to count the others.
He had bought nineteen pairs. There were now only seventeen. He nodded his head slowly.
Chapter 24
ELIMINATION OF THREE MURDERERS?
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