Part 21 (2/2)
”They arrested David Hunter after the inquest. Do you - do you think they were right?” they were right?”
”They had no alternative. Mademoiselle, after the verdict.”
”I mean - do you think he did it?”
”Do you?” said Poirot.
But Rowley was back at her side. Her face hardened to a poker smoothness. She said: smoothness. She said: ”Good-bye, M. Poirot. I - I hope we meet again.”
”Now, I wonder,” said Poirot to himself.
Presently, after arranging with Beatrice Lippincott about a room, he went out again. His steps led him to Dr Lionel Cloade's house. went out again. His steps led him to Dr Lionel Cloade's house.
”Oh!” said Aunt Kathie, who opened the door, taking a step or two backwards. ”M. Poirot!” backwards. ”M. Poirot!”
”At your service, Madame.” Poirot bowed. ”I came to pay my respects.” respects.”
”Well, that's very nice of you, I'm sure. Yes - well - I suppose you'd better come in. Sit down - I'll move Madame Blavatsky - and perhaps a better come in. Sit down - I'll move Madame Blavatsky - and perhaps a cup of tea - only the cake is terribly stale. I meant to go to Peac.o.c.ks for cup of tea - only the cake is terribly stale. I meant to go to Peac.o.c.ks for some, they do have Swiss roll sometimes on a Wednesday - but an some, they do have Swiss roll sometimes on a Wednesday - but an inquest puts one's household routine out, don't you think so?” inquest puts one's household routine out, don't you think so?”
Poirot said that he thought that was entirely understandable.
He had fancied that Rowley Cloade was annoyed by the announcement of his stay in Warmsley Vale. Aunt Kathie's manner, without any doubt, of his stay in Warmsley Vale. Aunt Kathie's manner, without any doubt, was far from welcoming. She was looking at him with something not far was far from welcoming. She was looking at him with something not far from dismay. She said, leaning forward and speaking in a hoa.r.s.e from dismay. She said, leaning forward and speaking in a hoa.r.s.e conspiratorial whisper: conspiratorial whisper: ”You won't tell my husband, will you, that I came and consulted you about - well, about we know what?” about - well, about we know what?”
”My lips are sealed.”
”I mean - of course I'd no idea at the time - that Robert Underhay, poor man, so tragic - was actually in Warmsley Vale. That seems to me still a man, so tragic - was actually in Warmsley Vale. That seems to me still a most extraordinary coincidence!” most extraordinary coincidence!”
”It would have been simpler,” agreed Poirot, ”if the Ouija board had directed you straight to the Stag.” directed you straight to the Stag.”
Aunt Kathie cheered up a little at the mention of the Ouija board.
”The way things come about in the spirit world seem quite incalculable,” she said. ”But I do feel, M. Poirot, that there is a purpose incalculable,” she said. ”But I do feel, M. Poirot, that there is a purpose in it all? Don't you feel that in life? That there is always a purpose?” in it all? Don't you feel that in life? That there is always a purpose?”
”Yes, indeed, Madame. Even that I should sit here, now, in your drawing-room, there is a purpose in that.” drawing-room, there is a purpose in that.”
”Oh, is there?” Mrs Cloade looked rather taken aback. ”Is there, really? Yes, I suppose so... You're on your way back to London, of really? Yes, I suppose so... You're on your way back to London, of course?” course?”
”Not at present. I stay for a few days at the Stag.”
”At the Stag. Oh - at the Stag! But that's where - oh, M. Poirot, do you think you are wise?” think you are wise?”
”I have been guided to the Stag,” said Poirot solemnly.
”Guided? What do you mean?”
”Guided by you.”
”Oh, but I never meant - I mean, I had no idea. It's all so dreadful, don't you think so?” you think so?”
Poirot shook his head sadly, and said: ”I have been talking to Mr Rowley Cloade and Miss Marchmont. They are getting married, I hear, quite soon?” are getting married, I hear, quite soon?”
Aunt Kathie was immediately diverted.
”Dear Lynn, she is such a sweet girl - and so very good at figures. Now, I have no head for figures - no head at all. Having Lynn home is an I have no head for figures - no head at all. Having Lynn home is an absolute blessing. If I get in a terrible muddle she always straightens absolute blessing. If I get in a terrible muddle she always straightens things out for me. Dear girl, I do hope she will be happy. Rowley, of things out for me. Dear girl, I do hope she will be happy. Rowley, of course, is a splendid person, but possibly - well, a little dull. I mean dull course, is a splendid person, but possibly - well, a little dull. I mean dull to a girl who has seen as much of the world as Lynn has. Rowley, you to a girl who has seen as much of the world as Lynn has. Rowley, you see, has been here on his farm all through the war - oh, quite rightly, of see, has been here on his farm all through the war - oh, quite rightly, of course - I mean the Government wanted him to - that side of it is quite course - I mean the Government wanted him to - that side of it is quite all right - not white feathers or things like that as they did in the Boer all right - not white feathers or things like that as they did in the Boer War - but what I mean is, it's made him rather limited in his ideas.” War - but what I mean is, it's made him rather limited in his ideas.”
”Six years' engagement is a good test of affection.”
”Oh, it is! But I think these girls, when they come home, they get rather restless - and if there is someone else about - someone, perhaps, who restless - and if there is someone else about - someone, perhaps, who has led an adventurous life -” has led an adventurous life -”
”Such as David Hunter?”
”There isn't anything between them,” Aunt Kathie said anxiously.
”Nothing at all. I'm quite sure of that! It would have been dreadful if there had been, wouldn't there, with his turning out a murderer? His there had been, wouldn't there, with his turning out a murderer? His own brother-in-law, too! Oh, no, M. Poirot, please don't run away with own brother-in-law, too! Oh, no, M. Poirot, please don't run away with the idea that there's any kind of an understanding between Lynn and the idea that there's any kind of an understanding between Lynn and David. Really, they seemed to quarrel more than anything else every David. Really, they seemed to quarrel more than anything else every time they met. What I feel is that - oh, dear, I think that's my husband time they met. What I feel is that - oh, dear, I think that's my husband coming. You will remember, won't you, M. Poirot, not a word about our coming. You will remember, won't you, M. Poirot, not a word about our first meeting? My poor dear husband gets so annoyed if he thinks that - first meeting? My poor dear husband gets so annoyed if he thinks that - oh, Lionel dear, here is M. Poirot who so cleverly brought that Major oh, Lionel dear, here is M. Poirot who so cleverly brought that Major Porter down to see the body.” Porter down to see the body.”
Dr Cloade looked tired and haggard. His eyes, pale blue, with pin-point pupils, wandered vaguely round the room. pupils, wandered vaguely round the room.
”How do you do, M. Poirot, on your way back to town?”
”Mon Dieu, another who packs me back to London!” thought Poirot.
Aloud he said patiently: ”No, I remain at the Stag for a day or so.”
”The Stag?” Lionel Cloade frowned. ”Oh? Police want to keep you here for a bit?” for a bit?”
”No. It is my own choice.”
”Indeed?” The doctor suddenly flashed a quick intelligent look. ”So you're not satisfied?” you're not satisfied?”
”Why should you think that, Dr Cloade?”
”Come, man, it's true, isn't it?”
Twittering about tea, Mrs Cloade left the room. The doctor went on: ”You've a feeling, haven't you, that something's wrong?”
Poirot was startled.
”It is odd that you should say that. Do you, then, feel that yourself?”
Cloade hesitated.
”N-n-o. Hardly that... perhaps it's just a feeling of unreality. In books the blackmailer gets slugged. Does he in real life? Apparently the the blackmailer gets slugged. Does he in real life? Apparently the answer is yes. But it seems unnatural.” answer is yes. But it seems unnatural.”
”Was there anything unsatisfactory about the medical aspect of the case? I ask unofficially, of course.” case? I ask unofficially, of course.”
Dr Cloade said thoughtfully: ”No, I don't think so.”
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