Part 55 (1/2)
London without the faintest idea there was anything wrong.”
Poirot's face was non-committal. He said:
”Why does your husband accuse himself of the crime ?”
”Because he's ”a word trembled on Susan's tongue and was rejected. Poirot seized on it.
”You were going to say ' because he is batty' speaking in
jest--but the jest was too near the truth, was it not ?”
”Greg's all right. He is. He is.”
”I know something of his history,” said Poirot. ”He was for some months in Forsd.y.k.e House Mental Home before you met him.”
”He was never certified. He was a voluntary patient.”
”That is true. He is not, I agree, to be cla.s.sed as insane.
But he is, very definitely, unbalanced. He has a punishment
complex has had it, I suspect, since infancy.”
Susan spoke quickly and eagerly:
”You don't understand, M. Poirot. Greg has never had a chance. That's why I wanted Uncle Richard's money so badly.
Uncle Richard was so matter-of-fact. He couldn't understand.
I knew Greg had got to set up for himself. He had got to feel he was someone--not just a chemist's a.s.sistant, being pushed around. Everything will be different now. He will have his own laboratory. He can work out his own formulas.”
”Yes, yes--you will give him the earth--because you love him. Love him too much for safety or for happiness. But you cannot give to people what they are incapable of receiving.
At the end of it all, he will still be something that he does not want to be .... ”
”What's that ?”
”Susan's husbal.”
”How cruel you ar I And what nonsense
”Where Gregory Banks is concerned ou az , Y unscrupmous.
You wanted your uncle s money--not for y your husband. How butly did you want it ? , urselr--t)ut xor Angrily, Susan turned and dashed away.
5
'I thought,” said Michael Shane lightly, ,, that I'd just come along and say goodbye.”
He smiled, and his smile had a singularly, intoxicating quality.
Poirot was aware of the man's vital charm He studied Michael Shane for some momh ....
nts m silence He felt as thouh he knew this man least well %f all the hous
party, for Michael Shane only showed the side ........
he wanted to show.m mmsen mat
”Your wife,” said Poirot conversationally,, unusual woman.”
very Michael raised his eyebrows
Do you thnk so.
She s a lovely, I agreh.
so I've found, conspicuous for brains ” But not, or ”She will never try to be too clever,” Poirot .....
she knows what she wants He sghed So ....
Ah. Mchael s smile broke out agam. ,, e. ,. ., the malachite table ?”