Part 44 (1/2)

”H'm,” said Battle. ”I mustn't say so officially, but I'm not sorry. She was a--well, she was a lady. I don't know what her reasons were for killing Shaitana, but she may just conceivably have been justified.”

”In any case,” said Poirot, ”it is doubtful if she would have lived to stand her trial. She was a very ill woman.”

The surgeon nodded in agreement.

”I should say you were quite right. Well, perhaps it is all for the best.”

He started down the stairs.

Battle moved after him.

”One minute, doctor.”

Poirot, his hand on the bedroom door, murmured, ”I may enter--yes?”

Battle nodded over his shoulder. ”Quite all right. We're through.” Poirot pa.s.sed into the room, closing the door behind him ....

He went over to the bed and stood looking down at the quiet, dead face.

He was very disturbed.

Had the dead woman gone to the grave in a last determined effort to save a young girl from death and disgrace---or was there a different, a more sinister explanation?

There were certain facts ....

Suddenly he bent down, examining a dark, diseoloured bruise on the dead woman's arm.

He straightened himself up again. There was a strange, cat-like gleam in his eyes that certain close a.s.sociates of his would have recognised.

He left the room quickly and went downstairs. Battle and a subordinate were

at the telephone. The latter laid down the receiver and said: ”He hasn't come back, sir.”

Battle said:

”Despard. I've been trying to get him. There's a letter for him with the Chelsea postmark all right.”

Poirot asked an irrelevant question.

”Had Dr. Roberts had his breakfast when he came here?”

Battle stared. '

”No,” he said, ”I remember he mentioned that he'd come out without it.” ”Then he will be at his house now. We can get him.” ”But why--?”

But Poirot was already busy at the dial. Then he spoke:

”Dr. Roberts? It is Dr. Roberts speaking? Mais oui, it is Poirot here. Just one question. Are you well acquainted with the handwriting of Mrs. Lorrimer?”

”Mrs. Lorrimer's handwriting? I--no, I don't know that I'd ever seen it before.”

'Je vous remercie.”

Poirot laid down the receiver quickly.

Battle was staring at him.

”What's the big idea, M. Poirot?” he asked quietly.

Poirot took him by the arm.