Part 56 (1/2)
”But she cares for you ?”
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”Well, she's been rather tiresome... Women do cling so.
However, as you say, the police at any rate will be satisfied.” ”You think so ? '
”Well, I could hardly be taking a hatchet to Cora if I was dallying,,with Sorrel miles and miles away. She's got a cottage in Kent.
”I see--I seeand this Miss Dainton, she will testify for you ?”
”She won't like it--but as it's murder, I suppose she'll have to do it.”
”She will do it, perhaps, even if you were not dally/ng with her.”
”What do you mean ?” Michael looked suddenly black as thunder.
”The lady is fond of you. When they are fond, women will swear to what is true--and also to what is untrue.”
”Do you mean to say that you don't believe me ?”
”It does not matter if I believe you or not. It is not 1 you have to satisfy.” ”Who then ?”
Poirot smiled.
”Inspector Morton--who has just come out on the terrace through the side door.”
Michael Shane wheeled round sharply.
CHAPTER XXIII ”I tg^RD OV were here, M. Poirot,” said Inspector Morton.
The two men were pacing the terrace together.
”I came over with Superintendent Parwell from Matchfield.
Dr. Larraby rang him up about Mrs. Leo Abernethie and he's come over here to make a few inquiries. The doctor wasn't satisfied.”
”And you, my friend,” inquired Poirot, ”where do you come in ? You are a long way from your native Berks.h.i.+re.”
”I wanted to ask a few questions---and the people I wanted to ask them of seemed very conveniently a.s.sembled here.”
He paused before adding, ”Your doing ?”
”Yes, my doing.”
”And as a result Mrs. Leo Abernethie gets knocked out.” ”You must not blame me for that. If she had come to me... But she did not. Instead she rang up her lawyer in London.”
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mil I
”And was in process of spilling the beans to him when--Wonk I”
”When--as you say--Wonk I '
”And what had she managed to tell him ?”
”Very little. She had only got as far as telling him that she was looking at herself in the gla.s.s.”
”Ah! well,” said Inspector Morton philosophically.
”Women will do it.” He looked sharply at Poirot. ”That suggests something to y, ou ?”
”Yes, I think I kndw what it was she was going to tell him.”
”Wonderful guesser, aren't you ? You always were.