Part 2 (2/2)
”Same thing where the ladies are concerned, I expect, my boy,” said the doctor cheerfully.
Then, dropping the facetiousness, and adopting a professional tone, he began to talk to Colonel Race on his other side about the latest developments in the treatment of sleeping sickness.
Mrs. Lorrimer turned to Poirot and began to talk of the latest plays. Her judgments were sound and her criticisms apt. They drifted on to books and then to world politics. He found her a well-informed and thoroughly intelligent woman.
On the opposite side of the table Mrs. Oliver was asking Major Despard if he knew of any unheard-of out-of-the-way poisons.
”Well, there's curare.'
”My dear man, vieux jeu! That's been done hundreds of times. I mean something new!”
Major Despard said dryly: ”Primitive tribes are rather old-fas.h.i.+oned. They stick to the good old stuff their grandfathers and great-grandfathers used before them.”
”Very tiresome of them,” said Mrs. Oliver. ”I should have thought they were always experimenting with pounding up herbs and things. Such a chance for explorers, I always think. They could come home and kill off all their rich old uncles with some new drug that no one's ever heard of.”
”You should go to civilisation, not to the wilds for that,” said Despard. ”In the
modern laboratory, for instance. Cultures of innocent-looking germs that will produce bona ride diseases.”
”That wouldn't do for mq public,” said Mrs. Oliver. ”Besides one is so apt to get the names wrong--staphylococcus and streptococcus and all those things---so difficult for my secretary and anyway rather dull, don't you think so? What do you think, Superintendent Battle?”
”In real life people don't bother about being too subtle, Mrs. Oliver,” said the superintendent. ”They usually stick to a.r.s.enic because it's nice and handy to get hold of.”
”Nonsense,” said Mrs. Oliver. ”That's simply because there are lots of crimes you people at Scotland Yard never find out. Now if you hada woman there ”As a matter of fact we have ”
”Yes, those dreadful policewomen in funny hats who bother people in parks. I mean a woman at the head of things. Women know about crime.”
”They're usually very successful criminals,” said Superintendent Battle.
”Keep their heads well. It's amazing how they'll brazen things out.”
Mr. Shaitana laughed gently.
”Poison is a woman's weapon,” he said. ”There must be many secret women poisoners--never found out.”
”Of course there are,” said Mrs. Oliver happily, helping herself lavishly to a mousse of foie gras.
”A doctor, too, has opportunities,” went on Mr. Shaitana thoughtfully.
”I protest,” cried Dr. Roberts. ”When we poison our patients it's entirely by accident.” He laughed heartily.
”But if I were to commit a crime,” went on Mr. Shaitana.
He stopped; something in that pause compelled attention.
All faces were turned to him.
”I should make it very simple, I think. There's always accident--a shooting accident, for instance or the domestic kind of accident.”
Then he shrugged his shoulders and picked up his winegla.s.s.
”But who am I to p.r.o.nounce--with so many experts present .... He drank. The candlelight threw a red shade from the wine on to his face with its waxed moustache, its little imperial, its fantastic eyebrows ....
There was a momentary silence.
Mrs. Oliver said: ”Is it twenty-to or twenty-past? An angel pa.s.sing My feet aren't crossed it must be a black angel!”
CHAPTER 3
A Game of Bridge
When the company returned to the drawing-room a bridge table had been set out. Coffee was handed round.
”Who plays bridge?” asked Mr. Shaitana. ”Mrs. Lorrimer, I know. And Dr. Roberts.
Do you play, Miss Meredith?”
”Yes. I'm not frightfully good, though.”
”Excellent. And Major Despart? Good. Supposing you four play here.”
”Thank goodness there's to be bridge,” said Mrs. Lorrimer in an aside to Poirot. ”I'm one of the worst bridge fiends that ever lived. It's growing on me. I simply will not go out to dinner now if there's no bridge afterwards! I just fall asleep. I'm ashamed of myself, but there it is.”
They cut for partners. Mrs. Lorrimer was partnered with Anne Meredith against Major Despard and Dr. Roberts.
”Women against men,” said Mrs. Lorrimer as she took her seat and began shuffling the cards in an expert manner. ”The blue cards, don't you think, partner?
I'm a forcing two.”
”Mind you win,” said Mrs. Oliver, her feminist feelings rising. ”Show the men they can't have it all their own way.”
”They haven't got a hope, the poor dears,” said Dr. Roberts cheerfully as he started shuffling the other pack. ”Your teal, I think, Mrs. Lorrimer.”
Major Despard sat down rather slowly. He was looking at Anne Meredith as though he had just made the discovery that she was remarkably pretty.
”Cut, please,” said Mrs. Lorrimer impatiently. And with a start of apology he cut the pack she was presenting to him.
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