HP24-FiveLittlePigs

AgathaChristie

Chapter1

HerculePoirotlookedwithinterestandappreciationattheyoungwomanwhowasbeingusheredinto
theroom.

There had been nothing distinctive in the letter she had written. It had been a mere request for an
appointment,withnohintofwhatlaybehindthatrequest.Ithadbeenbriefandbusinesslike.Onlythe
firmnessofthehandwritinghadindicatedthatCarlaLemarchantwasayoungwoman.

And now here she was in the flesh - a tall, slender young woman in the early twenties. The kind of
youngwomanthatonedefinitelylookedattwice.Herclothesweregood:anexpensive,well-cutcoat
and skirt and luxurious furs. Her head was well poised on her shoulders, she had a square brow, a
sensitivelycutnose,andadeterminedchin.Shelookedverymuchalive.Itwasheralivenessmorethan
herbeautythatstruckthepredominantnote.

Beforeherentrance,HerculePoirothadbeenfeelingold-nowhefeltrejuvenated,alive-keen!

Ashecameforwardtogreether,hewasawareofherdark-grayeyesstudyinghimattentively.Shewas
veryearnestinthatscrutiny.

Shesatdownandacceptedthecigarettethatheofferedher.Afteritwaslitshesatforaminuteortwo
smoking,stilllookingathimwiththatearnest,thoughtfulscrutiny.

Poirotsaidgently,"Yes,ithastobedecided,doesitnot?"

Shestarted."Ibegyourpardon?"Hervoicewasattractive,withafaint,agreeablehuskinessinit.

"Youaremakingupyourmind-areyounot?-whetherIamameremountebankorthemanyouneed."

She smiled. She said, "Well, yes - something of that kind. You see, M. Poirot, you - you don't look

exactlythewayIpicturedyou."

"AndIamold,amInot?Olderthanyouimagined?"

"Yes,that,too."Shehesitated."I'mbeingfrank,yousee.Iwant-I'vegottohave-thebest."

"Restassured,"saidHerculePoirot,"Iamthebest!"

Carlasaid,"You'renotmodest...Allthesame,I'minclinedtotakeyouatyourword."

Poirotsaidplacidly,"Onedoesnot,youknow,employmerelythemuscles.Idonotneedtobendand
measurethefootprintsandpickupthecigaretteendsandexaminethebentbladesofgrass.Itisenough
for me to sit back in my chair and think. It is this -" he tapped his egg-shaped head - "this, that
functions!"

"Iknow,"saidCarlaLemarchant."That'swhyI'vecometoyou.Iwantyou,yousee,todosomething
fantastic!"

"That,"saidHerculePoirot,"promiseswell!"

Helookedatherinencouragement.

CarlaLemarchantdrewadeepbreath."Myname,"shesaid,"isn'tCarla.It'sCaroline.Thesameasmy
mother's.Iwascalledafterher."Shepaused."AndthoughI'vealwaysgonebythenameofLemarchant
-eversinceIcanrememberalmost-thatisn'tmyrealname.MyrealnameisCrale."

HerculePoirot'sforeheadcreasedamomentperplexedly.Hemurmured,"Crale-Iseemtoremember..."

She said, "My father was a painter - rather a well-known painter. Some people say he was a great
painter.Ithinkhewas."

"AmyasCrale?"

"Yes."

Shepaused,thenshewenton."Andmymother,CarolineCrale,wastriedformurderinghim!"

"Aha,"saidPoirot."Iremembernow-butonlyvaguely.Iwasabroadatthetime.Itwasalongtime
ago."

"Sixteenyears,"saidthegirl.Herfacewasverywhitenowandhereyesweretwoburninglights."Do
you understand? She was tried and convicted... She wasn't hanged because they felt that there were
extenuatingcircumstances,sothesentencewascommutedtopenalservitudeforlife.Butshediedonly
ayearafterthetrial.Yousee?It'sallover-done-finishedwith."

Poirotsaidquietly,"Andso?"

ThegirlcalledCarlaLemarchantpressedherhandstogether.Shespokeslowlyandhaltinglybutwith
anodd,pointedemphasis.

"You'vegottounderstand-exactly-whereIcomein.Iwasfiveyearsoldatthetimeit-happened.Too
young to know anything about it. I remember my mother and my father, of course, and I remember
leavinghomesuddenly-beingtakentothecountry.Irememberthepigsandanicefatfarmer'swife-
andeverybodybeingverykind-andIremember,quiteclearly,thefunnywaytheyusedtolookatme-
everybody-asortoffurtivelook.Iknew,ofcourse,childrendo,thattherewassomethingwrong-butI
didn'tknowwhat.

"AndthenIwentonaship-itwasexciting-itwentonfordaysandthenIwasinCanadaandUncle
Simon met me, and I lived in Montreal with him and with Aunt Louise, and when I asked about
MummyandDaddytheysaidthey'dbecomingsoon.Andthen-andthenIthinkIforgot-onlyIsortof
knew that they were dead without remembering anyone actually telling me so. Because by that time,
yousee,Ididn'tthinkaboutthemanymore.Iwasveryhappy,youknow.UncleSimonandAuntLouise
weresweettome,andIwenttoschoolandhadalotoffriends,andI'dquiteforgottenthatI'deverhad
anothername,notLemarchant.AuntLouise,yousee,toldmethatthatwasmynameinCanadaandthat
seemedquitesensibletomeatthetime-itwasjustmyCanadianname-butasIsayIforgotintheend
thatI'deverhadanyother."

Sheflungupherdefiantchin.Shesaid,

"Lookatme.You'dsay-wouldn'tyou?-ifyoumetme:'Theregoesagirlwho'sgotnothingtoworry
about!'I'mwelloff,I'vegotsplendidhealth,I'msufficientlygoodtolookat,Icanenjoylife.Attwenty,
therewasn'tagirlanywhereI'dhavechangedplaceswith.

"Butalready,youknow,I'dbeguntoaskquestions.Aboutmyownmotherandfather.Whotheywere
andwhattheydid.I'dhavebeenboundtofindoutintheend.

"Asitwas,theytoldmethetruth.WhenIwastwenty-one.Theyhadtothen,becauseforonethingI
came into my own money. And then, you see, there was the letter. The letter my mother left for me
whenshedied."

Her expression changed, dimmed. Her eyes were no longer two burning points - they were dark, dim
pools.Shesaid,"That'swhenIlearnedthetruth.Thatmymotherhadbeenconvictedofmurder.Itwas-
ratherhorrible."

Shepaused.

"There'ssomethingelseImusttellyou.Iwasengagedtobemarried.Theysaidwemustwait-thatwe
couldn'tbemarrieduntilIwastwenty-one.WhenIknew,Iunderstoodwhy."

Poirotstirredandspokeforthefirsttime.Hesaid,"Andwhatwasyourfiancé'sreaction?"

"John?Johndidn'tcare.Hesaiditmadenodifferencetohim.HeandIwereJohnandCarla-andthe
pastdidn'tmatter."

Sheleanedforward.

"We'restillengaged.Butallthesame,youknow,itdoesmatter.Itmatterstome.AnditmatterstoJohn,
too...Itisn'tthepastthatmatterstous-it'sthefuture."Sheclenchedherhands."Wewantchildren,you
see.Webothwantchildren.Andwedon'twanttowatchourchildrengrowingupandbeafraid."

"Doyounotrealize,"Poirotsaid,"thatamongeveryone'sancestorstherehasbeenviolenceandevil?"

"You don't understand. That's so, of course. But, then, one doesn't usually know about it. We do. It's
veryneartous.And-sometimes-I'veseenJohnjust-lookatme.Suchaquickglance-justaflash.
Supposingweweremarriedandwe'dquarreled-andIsawhimlookatmeand-andwonder?"

HerculePoirotsaid,"Howwasyourfatherkilled?"

Carla'svoicecameclearandfirm."Hewaspoisoned."

HerculePoirotsaid,"Isee."

Therewasasilence.

Thenthegirlsaidinacalm,matter-of-factvoice,"Thankgoodness,you'resensible.Youseethatitdoes
matter-andwhatitinvolves.Youdon'ttrytopatchitupandtrotoutconsolingphrases."

"Iunderstandverywell,"saidPoirot."WhatIdonotunderstandiswhatyouwantofme?"

"IwanttomarryJohn!"CarlaLemarchantsaidsimply."AndImeantomarryJohn!AndIwanttohave
atleasttwogirlsandtwoboys.Andyou'regoingtomakethatpossible!"

"Youmean-youwantmetotalktoyourfiancé?Ah,no,itisidiocywhatIsaythere!Itissomething
quitedifferentthatyouaresuggesting.Tellmewhatisinyourmind."

"Listen,M.Poirot.Getthis-andgetitclearly.I'mhiringyoutoinvestigateacaseofmurder."

"Doyoumean-"

"Yes,Idomean.Acaseofmurderisacaseofmurderwhetherithappenedyesterdayorsixteenyears
ago."

"But,mydearyounglady-"

"Wait,M.PoirotYouhaven'tgotitallyet.There'saveryimportantpoint."

"Yes?"

"Mymotherwasinnocent,"saidCarlaLemarchant.

HerculePoirotrubbedhisnose.Hemurmured,"Well,naturally-Icomprehendthat-"

"Itisn'tsentiment.There'sherletter.Sheleftitformebeforeshedied.ItwastobegiventomewhenI
wastwenty-one.Sheleftitforthatonereason-thatIshouldbequitesure.That'sallthatwasinit.That
shehadn'tdoneit-thatshewasinnocent-thatIcouldbesureofthatalways."

HerculePoirotlookedthoughtfullyattheyoung,vitalfacestaringsoearnestlyathim.Hesaidslowly,
"Toutdemême-"

Carlasmiled."No,Motherwasn'tlikethat!You'rethinkingthatitmightbealie-asentimentallie."She
leanedforwardearnestly."Listen,M.Poirot,therearesomethingsthatchildrenknowquitewell.Ican
remembermymother-apatchyremembrance,ofcourse,butIrememberquitewellthesortofperson
shewas.Shedidn'ttelllies-kindlies.Ifathingwasgoingtohurtshealwaystoldyouso.Dentists,or
thornsinyourfinger-allthatsortofthing.Truthwasa-anaturalimpulsetoher.Iwasn't,Idon'tthink,
speciallyfondofher-butItrustedher.Istilltrusther!Ifshesaysshedidntkillmyfather,thenshe
didn'tkillhim!Shewasn'tthesortofpersonwhowouldsolemnlywritedownaliewhensheknewshe
wasdying."

Slowly,almostreluctantly,HerculePoirotbowedhishead.

Carlawenton."That'swhyit'sallrightformetomarryJohn.Iknowit'sallright.Buthedoesn't.He
feels that naturally I would think my mother was innocent. It's got to be cleared up, M. Poirot. And
you'regoingtodoit!"

HerculePoirotsaidslowly,"Grantedthatwhatyousayistrue,mademoiselle,sixteenyearshavegone
by!"

CarlaLemarchantsaid,"Oh,ofcourseit'sgoingtobedifficult!Nobodybutyoucoulddoit!"

HerculePoirot'seyestwinkledslightly."Yougivemethebestbutter-hein?"hesaid.

"I've heard about you," Carla said. "The things you've done. The way you have done them. It's
psychologythatinterestsyou,isn'tit?Well,thatdoesn'tchangewithtime.Thetangiblethingsaregone
-thecigaretteendandthefootprintsandthebentbladesofgrass.Youcan'tlookforthoseanymore.But
youcangooverallthefactsofthecase,andperhapstalktothepeoplewhowerethereatthetime-they
reallalivestill-andthen-andthen,asyousaidjustnow,youcanliebackinyourchairandthink.And
you'llknowwhatreallyhappened..."

HerculePoirotrosetohisfeet.Onehandcaressedhismustache.Hesaid,"Mademoiselle,Iamhonored!
Iwilljustifyyourfaithinme.Iwillinvestigateyourcaseofmurder.Iwillsearchbackintotheeventsof
sixteenyearsagoandIwillfindoutthetruth."

Carlagotup.Hereyeswereshining.Butsheonlysaid,"Good."

HerculePoirotshookaneloquentforefinger."Onelittlemoment.IhavesaidIwillfindoutthetruth.I
donot,youunderstand,havethebias.Idonotacceptyourassuranceofyourmother'sinnocence.Ifshe
wasguilty-ehbien,whatthen?"

Carla'sheadwentback."I'mherdaughter,"shesaid."Iwantthetruth!"HerculePoirotsaid,"Enavant,
then.Thoughitisnotthat,thatIshouldsay.Onthecontrary.Enarrière!"

"Do I remember the Crale case?" asked Sir Montague Depleach. "Certainly I do. Remember it very
well. Most attractive woman. But unbalanced, of course. No self-control." He glanced sideways at
Poirot."Whatmakesyouaskmeaboutit?"

"Iaminterested."

"Notreallytactfulofyou,mydearman,"saidDepleach,showinghisteethinhissuddenfamous'wolf's
smile,' which had been reputed to have such a terrifying effect upon witnesses. "Not one of my
successes,youknow.Ididn'tgetheroff."

"Iknowthat."

SirMontagueshruggedhisshoulders.Hesaid:

"Of course, I hadn't quite as much experience then as I have now. All the same, I think I did all that
could humanly be done. One can't do much without co-operation. We did get it commuted to penal
servitude.Provocation,youknow.Lotsofrespectablewivesandmothersgotupapetition.Therewasa
lotofsympathyforher."

Heleanedback,stretchingouthislonglegs.Hisfacetookonajudicial,appraisinglook.

"Ifshe'dshothim,youknow,orevenknifedhim-I'dhavegonealloutformanslaughter.Butpoison-

no,youcan'tplaytrickswiththat.It'stricky-verytricky."

"Whatwasthedefense?"askedHerculePoirot.

He knew because he had already read the newspaper files but he saw no harm in playing completely
ignoranttoSirMontague.

"Oh,suicide.Onlythingyoucouldgofor.Butitdidn'tgodownwell.Cralesimplywasn'tthatkindof
man!Younevermethim,Isuppose?No?Well,hewasagreat,blustering,vividsortofchap.Greatbeer
drinker.Wentinforthelustsofthefleshandenjoyedthem.Youcan'tpersuadeajurythatamanlike
thatisgoingtositdownandquietlydoawaywithhimself.Itjustdoesn'tfit.No,IwasafraidIwasup
againstalosingpropositionfromthefirst.Andshewouldn'tplayup!Iknewwe'dlostassoonasshe
wentintothebox.Nofightinheratall.Butthereitis-ifyoudon'tputyourclientintothebox,thejury
drawtheirownconclusions."

Poirot said, "Is that what you meant when you said just now that one cannot do much without co-
operation?"

"Absolutely, my dear fellow. We're not magicians, you know. Half the battle is the impression the
accusedmakesonthejury.I'veknownjuriestimeandagainbringinverdictsdeadagainstthejudge's
summingup.'Hedidit,allright'-that'sthepointofview.Or'Heneverdidathinglikethat-don'ttell
me.'CarolineCraledidn'teventrytoputupafight."

"Whywasthat?"

SirMontagueshruggedhisshoulders."Don'taskme.Ofcourse,shewasfondofthefellow.Brokeher
awfulupwhenshecametoandrealizedwhatshe'ddone.Don'tbelievesheeverralliedfromtheshock."

"Soinyouropinionshewasguilty?"

Depleachlookedratherstartled.Hesaid,"Er-well,Ithoughtweweretakingthatforgranted."

"Didsheeveradmittoyouthatshewasguilty?"

Depleachlookedshocked."Ofcoursenot-ofcoursenot.Wehaveourcode,youknow.Innocenceis
always - er - assumed. If you're so interested it's a pity you can't get hold of old Mayhew. Mayhews

werethesolicitorswhobriefedme.OldMayhewcouldhavetoldyoumorethanIcan.Butthere-he's
joinedthegreatmajority.There'syoungGeorgeMayhew,ofcourse,buthewasonlyaboyatthetime.
It'salongtimeago,youknow."

"Yes,Iknow.Itisfortunateformethatyouremembersomuch.Youhavearemarkablememory."

Depleach looked pleased. He murmured, "Oh, well, one remembers the main headings, you know.
Especiallywhenit'sacapitalcharge.And,ofcourse,theCralecasegotalotofpublicityfromthepress.
Lot of sex interest and all that. The girl in the case was pretty striking. Hard-boiled piece of goods, I
thought."

"YouwillforgivemeifIseemtooinsistent,"saidPoirot,"butIrepeatoncemore,youhadnodoubtof
CarolineCrale'sguilt?"

Depleachshruggedhisshoulders.

"Frankly, as man to man," he said, "I don't think there's much doubt about it. Oh, yes, she did it, all
right."

"Whatwastheevidenceagainsther?"

"Verydamningindeed.Firstofall,therewasmotive.SheandCralehadledakindofcat-and-doglife
foryearswithinterminablerows.Hewasalwaysgettingmixedupwithsomewomanorother.Couldn't
helpit.Hewasthatkindofman.Shestooditprettywellonthewhole.Madeallowancesforhimonthe
score of temperament - and the man really was a first-class painter, you know. His stuff's gone up
enormouslyinprice-enormously.Don'tcareforthatstyleofpaintingmyself-ugly,forcefulstuff,but
it'sgood-nodoubtofthat.

"Well,asIsay,therehadbeentroubleaboutwomenfromtimetotime.MrsCralewasn'tthemeekkind
who suffers in silence. There were rows, all right. But he always came back to her in the end. These
affairs of his blew over. But this final affair was rather different. It was a girl, you see - and quite a
younggirl.Shewasonlytwenty.

"Elsa Greer, that was her name. She was the only daughter of some Yorkshire manufacturer. She had
moneyanddeterminationandsheknewwhatshewanted.WhatshewantedwasAmyasCrale.Shegot
himtopainther-hedidn'tpaintregularsocietyportraits,'MrsBlinketyBlankinpinksatinandpearls',
buthepaintedfigures.Idon'tknowthatmostwomenwouldhavecaredtobepaintedbyhim-hedidn't
spare them! But he painted the Greer girl, by falling for her good and proper. He was getting on for

forty, you know, and he'd been married a good many years. He was just ripe for making a fool of
himselfoversomechitofagirl.ElsaGreerwasthegirl.Hewascrazyaboutherandhisideawastoget
adivorcefromhiswifeandmarryElsa.

"CarolineCralewasn'tstandingforthat.Shethreatenedhim.Shewasoverheardbytwopeopletosay
thatifhedidn'tgivethegirlupshe'dkillhim.Andshemeantitallright!Thedaybeforeithappened,
they'd been having tea with a neighbor. He was by way of dabbling in herbs and home-brewed
medicines.Amonghispatentbrewswasoneofconiine-spottedhemlock.Therewassometalkaboutit
anditsdeadlyproperties.

"Thenextdayhenoticedthathalfthecontentsofthebottleweregone.Gotthewindupaboutit.They
foundanalmostemptybottleofitinMrsCrale'sroom,hiddenawayatthebottomofadrawer."

HerculePoirotmoveduncomfortably.Hesaid,"Somebodyelsemighthaveputitthere."

"Oh,sheadmittedittothepolice.Veryunwise,ofcourse,butshedidn'thaveasolicitortoadviseherat
thatstage.Whentheyaskedheraboutit,sheadmittedquitefranklythatshehadtakenit."

"Forwhatreason?"

"Shemadeoutthatshe'dtakenitwiththeideaofdoingherselfin.Shecouldn'texplainhowthebottle
cametobeempty-norhowitwasthattherewereonlyherfingerprintsonit.Thatpartofitwaspretty
damning. She contended, you see, that Amyas Crale had committed suicide. But if he'd taken the
coniinefromthebottleshe'dhiddeninherroom,hisfingerprintswouldhavebeenonthebottleaswell
ashers."

"Itwasgivenhiminbeer,wasitnot?"

"Yes.Shegotoutthebottlefromtherefrigeratorandtookitdownherselftowherehewaspaintingin
thegarden.Shepoureditoutandgaveittohimandwatchedhimdrinkit.Everyonewentuptolunch
andlefthim-heoftendidn'tcomeintomeals.Afterwardsheandthegovernessfoundhimtheredead.
Herstorywasthatthebeershegavehimwasallright.Ourtheorywasthathesuddenlyfeltsoworried
andremorsefulthatheslippedthepoisoninhimself.Allpoppycock-hewasn'tthatkindofman!And
thefingerprintevidencewasthemostdamningofall."

"Theyfoundherfingerprintsonthebeerbottle?"

"No,theydidn't-theyfoundonlyhis-andtheywerephonyones.Shewasalonewiththebody,you
see,whilethegovernesswenttocallupadoctor.Andwhatshemusthavedonewastowipethebottle
and glass and then press his fingers on them. She wanted to pretend, you see, that she'd never even
handledthestuff.Well,thatdidn'twork.OldRudolph,whowasprosecuting,hadalotoffunwiththat-
provedquite definitely bydemonstration in courtthat a man couldn'thold a bottlewith his fingers in
that position! Of course, we did our best to prove that he could - that his hands would take up a
contortedattitudewhenhewasdying-butfranklyourstuffwasn'tveryconvincing."

"Theconiineinthebeerbottle,"Poirotsaid,"musthavebeenputtherebeforeshetookitdowntothe
garden."

"Therewasnoconiineinthebottleatall.Onlyintheglass-"Depleachpaused-hislarge,handsome
facesuddenlyaltered-heturnedhisheadsharply.

"Hullo,"hesaid."Now,then,Poirot,whatareyoudrivingat?"

Poirotsaid,"IfCarolineCralewasinnocent,howdidthatconiinegetintothebeer?Thedefensesaidat
the time that Amyas Crale himself put it there. But you say to me that that was in the highest degree
unlikely-andformypartIagreewithyou.Hewasnotthatkindofman.Then,ifCarolineCraledidnot
doit,someoneelsedid."

Depleachsaidwithalmostasplutter,"Oh,damnitall,man,youcan'tflogadeadhorse.It'salloverand
donewithyearsago.Ofcourseshedidit.You'dknowthatwellenoughifyou'dseenheratthetime.It
was written all over her! I even fancy that the verdict was a relief to her. She wasn't frightened. No
nervesatall.Justwantedtogetthroughthetrialandhaveitover.Averybravewoman,really..."

"Andyet,"saidHerculePoirot,"whenshediedsheleftalettertobegiventoherdaughterinwhichshe
sworesolemnlythatshewasinnocent.Nowherdaughterwantsthetruth."

"H'm-I'mafraidshe'llfindthetruthunpalatable.Honestly,Poirot,Idon'tthinkthere'sanydoubtabout
it.Shekilledhim."

"Youwillforgiveme,myfriend,butImustsatisfymyselfonthatpoint."

"Well, I don't know what more you can do. You can read up the newspaper accounts of the trial.
HumphreyRudolphappearedfortheCrown.He'sdead-letmesee,whowashisjunior?YoungFogg,I
think.Yes,Fogg.Youcanhaveachatwithhim.Andthentherearethepeoplewhowerethereatthe
time.Don'tsupposethey'llenjoyyourbuttinginandrakingthewholethingup,butIdaresayyou'llget

whatyouwantoutofthem.You'reaplausibledevil."

"Ah,yes,thepeopleconcerned.Thatisveryimportant.Youremember,perhaps,whotheywere?"

Depleachconsidered."Letmesee-it'salongtimeago.Therewereonlyfivepeoplewhowerereallyin
it,sotospeak-I'mnotcountingtheservants-acoupleoffaithfuloldthings,scared-lookingcreatures-
theydidn'tknowanythingaboutanything.Noonecouldsuspectthem."

"Therearefivepeople,yousay.Tellmeaboutthem."

"Well, there was Philip Blake. He was Crale's greatest friend - had known him all his life. He was
stayinginthehouseatthetime.He'salive.Iseehimnowandagainonthelinks.LivesatStGeorge's
Hill.Stockbroker.Playsthemarketsandgetsawaywithit.Successfulman,runningtofatabit."

"Yes.Andwhonext?"

"ThentherewasBlake'selderbrother.Countrysquire-stay-at-homesortofchap."

AjingleranthroughPoirot'shead.Herepressedit.Hemustnotalwaysbethinkingofnurseryrhymes.It
seemedanobsessionwithhimlately.Andyetthejinglepersisted:

"Thislittlepigwenttomarket,thislittlepigstayedathome..."

Hemurmured,"Hestayedathome-yes?"

"He'sthefellowIwastellingyouabout-messedaboutwithdrugs-andherbs-bitofachemist.His
hobby.Whatwashisname,now?Literarysortofname-I'vegotit.Meredith.MeredithBlake.Don't
knowwhetherhe'saliveornot."

"Andwhonext?"

"Next?Well,there'sthecauseofallthetrouble.Thegirlinthecase:ElsaGreer."

"Thislittlepigateroastbeef,"murmuredPoirot.

Depleach stared at him. "They've fed her meat, all right," he said. "She's been a go-getter. She's had
three husbands since then. In and out of the divorce court as easy as you please. And every time she
makesachange,it'sforthebetter.LadyDittisham-that'swhosheisnow.OpenanyTatlerandyou're
suretofindher."

"Andtheothertwo?"

"Therewasthegovernesswoman.Idon'trememberhername.Nice,capablewoman.Thompson-Jones
-something like that.And there wasthe child. Caroline Crale'shalf sister. Shemust have been about
fifteen.She'smaderatheranameforherself.Digsupthingsandgoestrekkingtothebackofbeyond.
Warren - that's her name. Angela Warren. Rather an alarming young woman nowadays. I met her the
otherday."

"Sheisnot,then,thelittlepigwhocried,'Wee-wee-wee'...?"

SirMontagueDepleachlookedathimratheroddly.Hesaiddryly,"She'shadsomethingtocrywee-wee
aboutinherlife!She'sdisfigured,youknow.Gotabadscardownonesideofherface.She-oh,well,
you'llhearallaboutit,Idaresay."

Poirotstoodup.Hesaid,"Ithankyou.Youhavebeenverykind.IfMrsCraledidnotkillherhusband-"

Depleachinterruptedhim."Butshedid,oldboy,shedid.Takemywordforit."

Poirot continued without taking any notice of the interruption. "Then it seems logical to suppose that
oneofthesefivepeoplemusthavedoneso."

"One of them could have done it, I suppose," said Depleach doubtfully. "But I don't see why any of
themshould.Noreasonatall!Infact,Imquitesurenoneofthemdiddoit.Dogetthisbeeoutofyour
bonnet,oldboy!"

ButHerculePoirotonlysmiledandshookhishead.

"Guiltyashell,"saidMrFoggsuccinctly.

HerculePoirotlookedmeditativelyatthethin,clear-cutfaceofthebarrister.

Quentin Fogg, K.C., was a very different type from Montague Depleach. Depleach had force,
magnetism,anoverbearingandslightlybullyingpersonality.Hegothiseffectsbyarapidanddramatic
changeofmanner.Handsome,urbane,charming,oneminute-thenanalmostmagicaltransformation,
lipsback,snarlingsmile-outforyourblood.

QuentinFoggwasthin,pale,singularlylackinginwhatiscalledpersonality.Hisquestionswerequiet
andunemotional,buttheyweresteadilypersistent.

HerculePoiroteyedhimmeditatively."Sothat,"hesaid,"washowitstruckyou?"

Fogg nodded. He said, "You should have seen her in the box. Old Humpie Rudolph (he was leading,
youknow)simplymademincemeatofher.Mincemeat!"Hepausedandthensaidunexpectedly,"Onthe
whole,youknow,itwasrathertoomuchofagoodthing."

"Iamnotsure,"saidHerculePoirot,"thatIquiteunderstandyou."

Fogg drew his delicately marked brows together. His sensitive hand stroked his bare upper lip. "How
shallIputit?"hesaid."It'saveryEnglishpointofview.'Shootingthesittingbird'describesitbest.Is
thatintelligibletoyou?"

"Itis,asyousay,averyEnglishpointofview,butIthinkIunderstandyou.IntheAssizeCourt,ason
theplayingfieldsofEton,andinthehuntingcountry,theEnglishmanlikesthevictimtohaveasporting
chance."

"That'sit,exactly.Well,inthiscase,theaccuseddidn'thaveachance.HumpieRudolphdidasheliked
with her. It started with her examination by Depleach. She stood up there, you know - as docile as a
littlegirlataparty,answeringDepleach'squestionswiththeanswersshe'dlearnedoffbyheart.Quite
docile, word-perfect - and absolutely unconvincing! She'd been told what to say, and she said it. It
wasn'tDepleach'sfault.Thatoldmountebankplayedhispartperfectly-butinanyscenethatneedstwo
actors,onealonecan'tcarryit.Shedidn'tplayuptohim.Itmadetheworstpossibleeffectonthejury.
And then old Humpie got up. I expect you've seen him? He's a great loss. Hitching his gown up,
swayingbackonhisfeet,andthen-straightoffthemark!

"AsItellyou,hemademincemeatofher!Leduptothisandthat-andshefellintothepitfallevery
time. He got her to admit the absurdities of her own statements, he got her to contradict herself, she
floundered in deeper and deeper. And then he wound up with his usual stuff. Very compelling - very
convinced: 'I suggest to you, Mrs Crale, that this story of yours about stealing coniine in order to

commit suicide is a tissue of falsehood. I suggest that you took it in order to administer it to your
husband,whowasabouttoleaveyouforanotherwoman,andthatyoudiddeliberatelyadministeritto
him.'Andshelookedathim-suchaprettycreature,graceful,delicate-andshesaid,'Oh,no-no,I
didn't.'Itwastheflattestthingyoueverheard,themostunconvincing.IsawoldDepleachsquirminhis
seat.Heknewitwasallupthen."

Foggpausedaminute,thenhewenton."Thejurywereonlyoutjustoverhalfanhour.Theybrought
herin:Guiltywitharecommendationtomercy.

"Actually,youknow,shemadeagoodcontrasttotheotherwomaninthecase.Thegirl.Thejurywere
unsympathetictoherfromthestart.Sheneverturnedahair.Verygood-looking,hard-boiled,modern.
Tothewomeninthecourtshestoodforatype-typeofthehomebreaker.Homesweren'tsafewhen
girls like that were wandering abroad. Girls full of sex and contemptuous of the rights of wives and
mothers.Shedidn'tspareherself,Iwillsay.Shewashonest.Admirablyhonest.She'dfalleninlovewith
Amyas Crale and he with her and she'd no scruples at all about taking him away from his wife and
child.

"Iadmiredherinaway.Shehadguts.Depleachputinsomenastystuffincross-examinationandshe
stood up well to it. But the court was unsympathetic. And the judge didn't like her. Old Avis, it was.
Beenabitofariphimselfwhenyoung-buthe'sveryhotonmoralitywhenhe'spresidinginhisrobes.
HissummingupagainstCarolineCralewasmildnessitself.Hecouldn'tdenythefactsbuthethrewout
prettystronghintsastoprovocationandallthat."

HerculePoirotasked,"Hedidnotsupportthesuicidetheoryofthedefense?"

Foggshookhishead."Thatneverreallyhadalegtostandupon.Mindyou,Idon'tsayDepleachdidn't
dohisbestwithit.Hewasmagnificent.Hepaintedamostmovingpictureofagreat-hearted,pleasure-
loving, temperamental man, suddenly overtaken by a passion for a lovely young girl, conscience-
stricken,yetunabletoresist.Thenhisrecoil,hisdisgustwithhimself,hisremorseforthewayhewas
treatinghiswifeandchildandhissuddendecisiontoenditall!Thehonorablewayout.

"I can tell you, it was a most moving performance; Depleach's voice brought tears to your eyes. You
sawthepoorwretchtornbyhispassionsandhisessentialdecency.Theeffectwasterrific.Only-when
it was all over - and the spell was broken, you couldn't quite square that mythical figure with Amyas
Crale.

"EverybodyknewtoomuchaboutCrale.Hewasn'tatallthatkindofman.AndDepleachhadn'tbeen
able to get hold of any evidence to show that he was. I should say Crale came as near as possible to
beingamanwithoutevenarudimentaryconscience.Hewasaruthless,selfish,good-tempered,happy
egoist.Anyethicshehadwouldhaveappliedtopainting.Hewouldn't,I'mconvinced,havepainteda

sloppy,badpicture-nomatterwhattheinducement.Butfortherest,hewasafull-bloodedmanandhe
lovedlife-hehadazestforit.Suicide?Nothe!"

"Not,perhaps,averygooddefensetohavechosen?"

Fogg shrugged his thin shoulders. "What else was there?" he said. "Couldn't sit back and plead that
there was no case for the jury - that the prosecution had got to prove their case against the accused.
Therewasagreatdealtoomuchproof.She'dhandledthepoison-admittedpinchingit,infact.There
weremeans,motive,opportunity-everything."

"Onemighthaveattemptedtoshowthatthesethingswereartificiallyarranged?"

Foggsaidbluntly,"Sheadmittedmostofthem.Andinanycase,it'stoofarfetched.You'reimplying,I
presume,thatsomebodyelsemurderedhimandfixedituptolookasthoughshehaddoneit."

"Youthinkthatquiteuntenable?"

"I'mafraidIdo,"Foggsaidslowly."You'resuggestingthemysteriousX.Wheredowelookforhim?"

Poirot said, "Obviously in a close circle. There were five people - were there not? - who could have
beenconcerned."

"Five? Let me see. There was the old duffer who messed about with his herb brewing. A dangerous
hobby - but an amiable creature. Vague sort of person. Don t see him as X. There was the girl - she
might have polished off Caroline, but certainly not Amyas. Then there was the stockbroker - Crale's
bestfriend.That'spopularindetectivestories,butIdon'tbelieveinitinreallife.There'snooneelse-
oh,yes,thekidsister,butonedoesn'tseriouslyconsiderher.That'sfour."

HerculePoirotsaid,"Youforgetthegoverness."

"Yes, that's true. Wretched people, governesses, one never does remember them. I do remember her
dimlythough.Middle-aged,plain,competent.Isupposeapsychologistwouldsaythatshehadaguilty
passionforCraleandthereforekilledhim.Therepressedspinster!It'snogood-Ijustdon'tbelieveit.
Asfarasmydimremembrancegoesshewasn'ttheneurotictype."

"Itisalongtimeago."

"Fifteen or sixteen years, I suppose. Yes, quite that. You can't expect my memories of the case to be
veryacute."

HerculePoirotsaid,"Butonthecontrary,yourememberitamazinglywell.Thatastoundsme.Youcan
seeit,canyounot?Whenyoutalk,thepictureistherebeforeyoureyes."

"Yes,you'reright,"Foggsaidslowly."Idoseeit-quiteplainly."

Poirotsaid,"Itwouldinterestmeverymuchifyouwouldtellmewhy?"

"Why?" Fogg considered the question. His thin, intelectual face was alert and interested. "Yes, now,
why?"

Poirot asked, "What do you see so plainly? The witnesses? The counsel? The judge? The accused
standingintheydock?"

Fogg said quietly, "That's the reason, of course! You've put your finger on it. I shall always see her...
Funnything,romance.Shehadthequalityofit.Idon'tknowifshewasreallybeautiful...Shewasn't
very young - tired-looking - circles under her eyes. But it all centered round her. This interest, the
drama.Andyet,halfthetime,shewasn'tthere.She'dgoneawaysomewhere,quitefaraway-justleft
herbodythere,quiescent,attentive,withthelittlepolitesmileonherlips.Shewasallhalf-tones-you
knowlightsandshades.Andyet,withitall,shewasmoretherethantheother-thatgirlwiththeperfect
bodyandthisbeautifulfaceandthecrudeyoungstrength.

"I admired Elsa Greer because she had guts, because she could fight, because she stood up to her
tormentors and never quailed! But I admired Caroline Crale because she didn't fight, because she
retreated into her world of half-lights and shadows. She was never defeated because she never gave
battle."

Hepaused."I'monlysureofonething.Shelovedthemanshekilled.Lovedhimsomuchthathalfof
herdiedwithhim..."

MrFogg,K.C.,pausedagainandpolishedhisglasses."Dearme,"hesaid."Iseemtobesayingsome
verystrangethings!Iwasquiteayoungmanatthetime,youknow.Justanambitiousyoungster.These
thingsmakeanimpression.ButallthesameI'msurethatCarolineCralewasaveryremarkablewoman.
Ishallneverforgether.No-Ishallneverforgether..."

George Mayhew was cautious and noncommittal. He remembered the case, of course, but not at all
clearly.Hisfatherhadbeeninchargeofthecase-hehimselfhadbeenonlynineteenatthetime.

Yes,thecasehadmadeagreatstir.BecauseofCrale'sbeingsuchawell-knownman.Hispictureswere
veryfine,fineindeed.TwoofthemwereintheTate.Notthatthatmeantanything.

M.Poirotwouldexcusehim,buthedidn'tseequitewhatM.Poirot'sinterestwasinthematter-Oh,the
daughter!Really?Indeed?Canada?HehadalwayshearditwasNewZealand.

GeorgeMayhewbecamelessrigid.Heunbent.

Ashockingthinginagirl'slife.Hehadthedeepestsympathyforher.Reallyitwouldhavebeenbetterif
shehadneverlearnedthetruth.Still,itwasnousesayingthatnow.

Shewantedtoknow?Yes,butwhatwastheretoknow?Therewerethereportsofthetrial,ofcourse.He
himselfdidn'treallyknowanything.

No,hewasafraidtherewasn'tmuchdoubtastoMrsCrale'sbeingguilty.Therewasacertainamountof
excuse for her. These artists - difficult people to live with. With Crale, he understood, it had always
beensomewomanorother.

And she herself had probably been the possessive type of woman. Unable to accept facts. Nowadays
she'dsimplyhavedivorcedhimandgotoverit.Headdedcautiously,"Letmesee-er-LadyDittisham,
Ibelieve,wasthegirlinthecase."

Poirotsaidhebelievedthatthatwasso.

"Thenewspapersbringitupfromtimetotime,"saidMayhew."She'sbeeninthedivorcecourtagood
deal. She's a very rich woman, as I expect you know. She was married to that explorer fellow before
Dittisham.She'salwaysmoreorlessinthepubliceye.Thekindofwomanwholikesnotoriety,Ishould
imagine."

"Orpossiblyaheroworshiper,"suggestedPoirot.

TheideawasupsettingtoGeorgeMayhew.Heaccepteditdubiously."Well,possibly-yes,Isuppose

thatmightbebe."

Poirotsaid,"HadyourfirmactedforMrsCraleforalongperiodofyears?"

GeorgeMayhewshookhishead."Onthecontrary.JohnathanandJohnathanweretheCralesolicitors.
Underthecircumstances,however,MrJohnathanfeltthathecouldnotverywellactforMrsCraleand
hearrangedwithus-withmyfather-totakeoverhercase.Youwoulddowell,Ithink,M.Poirot,to
arrangeameetingwitholdMrJohnathan.Hehasretiredfromactivework-heisoverseventy-buthe
knewtheCralefamilyintimately,andhecouldtellyoufarmorethanIcan.Indeed,Imyselfcantell
younothingatall.Iwasaboyatthetime.Idon'tthinkIwasevenincourt."

Poirotrose,andGeorgeMayhew,rising,too,added,"YoumightliketohaveawordwithEdmunds,our
managingclerk.Hewaswiththefirmthenandtookagreatinterestinthecase."

Chapter2

Edmundswasamanofslowspeech.Hiseyesgleamedwithlegalcaution.Hetookhistimeinsizingup
Poirot,beforehelethimselfbebetrayedintospeech.Hesaid,"Aye,ImindtheCralecase."Headded
severely,"Itwasadisgracefulbusiness."

His shrewd eyes rested appraisingly on Hercule Poirot. He said, "It's a long time since to be raking
thingsupagain."

"Acourtverdictisnotalwaysanending."

Edmunds'ssquareheadnoddedslowly."I'dnotsaythatyouweren'tintherightofitthere."

HerculePoirotwenton."MrsCraleleftadaughter."

"Aye,Imindtherewasachild.Sentabroadtorelatives,wasshenot?"

"Thatdaughterbelievesfirmlyinhermother'sinnocence."

ThebushyeyebrowsofMrEdmundsrose."That'sthewayofit,isit?"

Poirotasked,"Isthereanythingyoucantellmetosupportthatbelief?"

Edmundsreflected.Then,slowly,heshookhishead.

"Icouldnotconscientiouslysaytherewas.IadmiredMrsCrale.Whateverelseshewas,shewasalady!
Notliketheother.Ahussy-nomore,noless.Boldasbrass!Jumped-uptrash-that'swhatshewas-
andshowedit!MrsCralewasquality."

"Butnonethelessamurderess?"

Edmundsfrowned.Hesaid,withmorespontaneitythanhehadyetshown,"That'swhatIusedtoask
myself,dayafterday.Sittingthereinthedocksocalmandgentle.'I'llnotbelieveit,'Iusedtosayto
myself. But, if you take my meaning, Mr Poirot, there wasn't anything else to believe. That hemlock
didn'tgetintoMrCrale'sbeerbyaccident.Itwasputthere.AndifMrsCraledidn'tputitthere,who
did?"

"Thatisthequestion,"saidPoirot."Whodid?"

Againthatshrewdeyesstudiedhisface.

"Sothat'syouridea?"saidMrEdmunds.

"Whatdoyouthinkyourself?"

Therewasapausebeforetheotheranswered.Thenhesaid,"Therewasnothingthatpointedthatway-
nothingatall."

Poirotsaid,"Youwereincourtduringthehearingofthecase?"

"Everyday."

"Youheardthewitnessesgiveevidence?"

"Idid."

"Didanythingstrikeyouaboutthem-anyabnormality,andinsincerity?"

"Wasoneofthemlying,doyoumean?"Edmundssaidbluntly."HadoneofthemareasontowishMr
Craledead?Ifyou'llexcuseme,MrPoirot,that'saverymelodramaticidea."

"Atleastconsiderit,"Poiroturged.

Hewatchedtheshrewdface,thescrewed-up,thoughtfuleyes.Slowly,regretfully,Edmundsshookhis
head.

"ThatMissGreer,"hesaid,"shewasbitterenough,andvindictive!I'dsaysheoversteppedthemarkina
gooddealshesaid,butitwasMrCralealiveshewanted.Hewasnousetoherdead.ShewantedMrs
Cralehanged,allright-butthatwasbecausedeathhadsnatchedhermanawayfromher.Likeabalked
tigressshewas!But,asIsay,itwasMrCralealiveshe'dwanted.MrPhilipBlake,hewasagainstMrs
Crale,too.Prejudiced.Gothisknifeintoherwheneverhecould.ButI'dsayhewashonestaccordingto
his lights. He'd been Mr Crale's great friend. His brother, Mr Meredith Blake, a bad witness he was -
vague,hesitating,neverseemedsureofhisanswers.

"I'veseenmanywitnesseslikethat.Lookasthoughthey'relyingwhenallthetimethey'retellingthe
truth.Didn'twanttosayanythingmorethanhecouldhelp,MrMeredithBlakedidn't.Counselgotall
the more out of him on that account. One of those quiet gentlemen who get easily flustered. The
governess,now,shestoodupwelltothem.Didn'twastewordsandansweredpatandtothepoint.You
couldn'thavetold,listeningtoher,whichsideshewason.Gotallherwitsabouther,shehad.Thebrisk
kind."Hepaused."Knewalotmorethansheeverletonaboutthewholething,Ishouldn'twonder."

"I,too,shouldnotwonder,"saidHerculePoirot.

He looked sharply at the wrinkled, shrewd face of Mr Alfred Edmunds. It was quite bland and
impassive.ButHerculePoirotwonderedifhehadbeenvouchsafedahint.

Mr Caleb Johnathan lived in Essex. After a courteous exchange of letters, Hercule Poirot received an
invitation,almostroyalinitscharacter,todineandsleep.Theoldgentlemanwasdecidedlyacharacter.
AftertheinsipidityofyoungGeorgeMayhew,MrJohnathanwaslikeaglassofhisownvintageport.

Hehadhisownmethodsofapproachtoasubject,anditwasnotuntilwellontowardmidnight,when

sipping a glass of fragrant old brandy, that Mr Johnathan really unbent. In Oriental fashion he had
appreciatedHerculePoirot'scourteousrefusaltorushhiminanyway.Now,inhisowngoodtime,he
waswillingtoelaboratethethemeoftheCralefamily.

"Ourfirm,ofcourse,hasknownmanygenerationsoftheCrales.IknewAmyasCraleandhisfather,
RichardCrale,andIcanrememberEnochCrale-thegrandfather.Countrysquires,allofthem,thought
moreofhorsesthanhumanbeings.Theyrodestraight,likedwomen,andhadnotruckwithideas.They
distrusted ideas. But Richard Crale's wife was cram full of ideas - more ideas than sense. She was
poetical and musical - she played the harp, you know. She enjoyed poor health and looked very
picturesque on her sofa. She was an admirer of Kingsley. That's why she called her son Amyas. His
fatherscoffedatthename-buthegavein.

"AmyasCraleprofitedbythismixedinheritance.Hegothisartistictrendfromhisweaklymother,and
hisdrivingpowerandruthlessegoismfromhisfather.AlltheCraleswereegoists.Theyneverbyany
chancesawanypointofviewbuttheirown."

Tapping with a delicate finger on the arm of his chair, the old man shot a shrewd glance at Poirot.
"CorrectmeifIamwrong,M.Poirot,butIthinkyouareinterestedin-character,shallwesay?"

"That,tome,"Poirotreplied,"istheprincipalinterestofallmycases."

"I can conceive of it. To get under the skin, as it were, of your criminal. How interesting! How
absorbing!Ourfirm,ofcourse,hasneverhadacriminalpractice.Weshouldnothavebeencompetent
to act for Mrs Crale, even if taste had allowed. Mayhews, however, were a very adequate firm. They
briefed Depleach - they didn't, perhaps, show much imagination there - still, he was very expensive,
and,ofcourse,exceedinglydramatic!Whattheyhadn'tthewitstoseewasthatCarolinewouldnever
playupinthewayhewantedherto.Shewasn'taverydramaticwoman."

"Whatwasshe?"askedPoirot."ItisthatthatIamchieflyanxioustoknow."

"Yes,yes-ofcourse.Howdidshecometodowhatshedid?Thatisthereallyvitalquestion.Iknew
her, you know, before she married. Caroline Spalding, she was. A turbulent, unhappy creature. Very
alive. Her mother was left a widow early in life and Caroline was devoted to her mother. Then the
mothermarriedagain-therewasanotherchild.Yes-yes,verysad,verypainful.Theseyoung,ardent,
adolescentjealousies."

"Shewasjealous?"

"Passionatelyso.Therewasaregrettableincident.Poorchild,sheblamedherselfbitterlyafterward.But
youknow,M.Poirot,thesethingshappen.Thereisaninabilitytoputonthebrakes.Itcomes-itcomes
withmaturity."

"Butwhatreallyhappened?"askedPoirot.

"Shestruckthechild-thebaby-flungapaperweightather.Thechildlostthesightofoneeyeandwas
permanentlydisfigured."

MrJohnathansighed.Hesaid,"Youcanimaginetheeffectasimplequestiononthatpointhadatthe
trial." He shook his head. "It gave the impression that Caroline Crale as a woman of ungovernable
temper.Thatwasnottrue.No,thatwasnottrue."

Hepausedandthenresumed.

"Caroline Spalding came often to stay at Alderbury. She rode well, and was keen. Richard Crale was
fondofher.ShewaitedonMrsCraleandwasdeftandgentle-MrsCralealsolikedher.Thegirlwas
nothappyathome.ShewashappyatAlderbury.DianaCrale,Amyas'ssister,andshewerebywayof
beingfriends.PhilipandMeredithBlake,boysfromtheadjoiningestate,werefrequentlyatAlderbury.
Philip was always nasty, money-grubbing little brute. I must confess I have always had a distaste for
him. But I am told that he tells very good a story and that he has the reputation of being a staunch
friend.

"Meredithwaswhatmycontemporariesusedtocallanamby-pamby.Likedbotanyandbutterfliesand
observing birds and beasts. Nature study, they call it nowadays. Ah, disappointment - all the young
peoplewereadisappointmenttotheirparents.Noneofthemrantruetotype-huntin',shootin',fishin'.
Meredith preferred watching birds and animals to shootin' or huntin' them. Philip definitely preferred
town to country and went into the business of money-making. Diana married a fellow who wasn't a
gentleman - one of the temporary officers in the war. And Amyas, strong, handsome, virile Amyas,
blossomedintobeingapainter,ofallthingsintheworld.It'smyopinionthatRichardCralediedofthe
shock.

"AndinduecourseAmyasmarriedCarolineSpalding.They'dalwaysfoughtandsparred,butitwasa
lovematch,allright.Theywerebothcrazyabouteachother.Andtheycontinuedtocare.ButAmyas
was like all the Crales, a ruthless egoist. He loved Caroline but he never once considered her in any
way.Hedidashepleased.It'smyopinionthathewasasfondofherashecouldbeofanybody-butshe
camealongwaybehindhisart.Thatcamefirst.AndIshouldsayatnotimedidhisartgiveplacetoa
woman.

"Hehadaffairswithwomen-theystimulatedhim-butheleftthemhighanddrywhenhe'dfinished
withthem.Hewasn'tasentimentalman,noraromanticone.Andhewasn'tentirelyasensualist,either.
Theonlywomanhecaredabuttonforwashisownwife.Andbecausesheknewthat,sheputupwitha
lot. He was a very fine painter, you know. She realized that, and respected it. He chased off on his
amorouspursuitsandcamebackagain-usuallywithapicturetoshowforit.

"Itmighthavegoneonlikethatifithadn'tcometoElsaGreer.ElsaGreer-"

MrJohnathanshookhishead.

Poirotsaid,"WhatofElsaGreer?"

"She was, I believe, a crude young woman - with a crude outlook on life. Not, I think, an interesting
character.'Rose-whiteyouth,passionate,pale,etc.'Takethatawayandwhatremains?Onlyasomewhat
mediocreyoungwomanseekingforanotherlife-sizedherotoputonanemptypedestal."

Poirotsaid,"IfAmyasCralehadnotbeenafamouspainter-"

MrJohnathanagreedquickly:

"Quite-quite.Youhavetakenthepointadmirably.TheElsasofthisworldareheroworshipers.Aman
musthavedonesomething,mustbesomebody.CarolineCrale,now,couldhaverecognizedqualityina
bankclerkoraninsuranceagent!CarolinelovedAmyasCraletheman,notAmyasCralethepainter.
CarolineCralewasnotcrude-ElsaGreerwas."Headded,"Butshewasyoungandbeautifulandtomy
mindinfinitelypathetic."

Ex-Superintendent Hale pulled thoughtfully at his pipe. He said, "This is a funny fancy of yours, M.
Poirot."

"Itis,perhaps,alittleunusual,"Poirotagreedcautiously.

"Yousee,"saidHale,"it'sallsuchalongtimeago."

HerculePoirotforesawthathewasgoingtogetalittletiredofthatparticularphrase.Hesaidmildly,
"Thataddstothedifficulty,ofcourse."

"Rakingupthepast,"musedtheother."Iftherewereanobjectinit,now..."

"Thereisanobject."

"Whatisit?"

"Onecanenjoythepursuitoftruthforitsownsake.Ido.Andyoumustnotforgettheyounglady."

Halenodded."Yes,Iseehersideofit.But-you'llexcuseme,M.Poirot-you'reaningeniousman.You
couldcookherupatale."

Poirotreplied,"Youdonotknowtheyounglady."

"Oh,come,now-amanofyourexperience!"

Poirotdrewhimselfup."Imaybe,moncher,anartisticandcompetentliar-youseemtothinkso.Butit
isnotmyideaofethicalconduct.Ihavemystandards."

"Sorry,M.Poirot.Ididn'tmeantohurtyourfeelings.Butitwouldbeallinagoodcause,sotospeak."

"Oh,Iwonder,woulditreally?"

Halesaidslowly:

"It'stoughluckonahappy,innocentgirlwho'sjustgoingtogetmarriedtofindthathermotherwasa
murderess.IfIwereyouI'dgotoherandsaythat,afterall,suicidewaswhatitwas.Saythecasewas
mishandledbyDepleach.Saythatthere'snodoubtinyourmindthatCralekilledhimself."

"Butthereiseverydoubtinmymind!IdonotbelieveforoneminutethatCralekilledhimself.Doyou
consideritevenreasonablypossibleyourself?"

SlowlyHaleshookhishead.

"Yousee?No,itisthetruthImusthave-notaplausibleornotveryplausiblelie."

HaleturnedandlookedatPoirot.Hesaid,"Youtalkaboutthetruth.I'dliketomakeitplaintoyouthat
wethinkwegotthetruthintheCralecase."

"Thatpronouncementfromyoumeansagreatdeal,"Poirotsaidquickly."Iknowyouforwhatyouare-
anhonestandcapableman.Nowtellmethis,wastherenodoubtatanytimeinyourmindastotheguilt
ofMrsCrale?"

Thesuperintendent'sanswercamepromptly:"Nodoubtatall,M.Poirot.Thecircumstancespointedto
herstraightaway,andeverysinglefactthatweuncoveredsupportedthatview."

"Youcangivemeanoutlineoftheevidenceagainsther?"

"Ican.WhenIreceivedyourletterIlookedupthecase."Hepickedupasmallnotebook."I'vejotted
downallthesalientfactshere."

"Thankyou,myfriend.Iamalleagernesstohear."

Haleclearedhisthroat.Aslightofficialintonationmadeitselfheardinhisvoice.Hesaid:

"At two forty-five on the afternoon of September eighteenth, Inspector Conway was rung up by Dr
AndrewFaussett.DrFaussettstatedthatMrAmyasCraleofAlderburyhaddiedsuddenlyandthatin
consequenceofthecircumstancesofthatdeathandalsoofastatementmadetohimbyaMrBlake,a
gueststayinginthehouse,heconsideredthatitwasacaseforthepolice.

"InspectorConway,incompanywithasergeantandthepolicesurgeon,cameovertoAlderburystraight
away.DrFaussettwasthereandtookhimtowherethebodyofMrCralehadnotbeendisturbed.

"Mr Crale had been painting in a small enclosed garden, known as the Battery Garden, from the fact
thatitoverlookedthesea,andhadsomeminiaturecannonplacementsinembattlements.Itwassituated
at about four minutes walk from the house. Mr Crale had not come up to the house for lunch, as he
wantedtogetcertaineffectsoflightonthestone-andthesunwouldhavebeenwrongforthislater.He
had therefore remained alone in the Batter Garden painting. This was stated not to be an unusual
occurrence.MrCraletookverylittlenoticeofmealtime.Sometimesasandwichwouldbesentdownto
him,butmoreoftenhepreferredtoremainundisturbed.

"ThelastpeopletoseehimalivewereMissElsaGreer(stayinginthehouse)andMrMeredithBlake(a
nearneighbor).Thesetwowentuptogethertothehouseandwentwiththerestofthehouseholdinto
lunch. After lunch, coffee was served on the terrace. Mrs Crale finished drinking her coffee and then
observed that she would 'go down and see how Amyas was getting on.' Miss Cecilia Williams,
governess,gotupandaccompaniedher.Shewaslookingforapull-overbelongingtoherpupil,Miss
Angela Warren, sister of Mrs Crale, which the latter had mislaid, and she thought it possible it might
havebeenleftdownonthebeach.

"These two started off together. The path led downward, through some woods until it emerged at the
doorleadingintotheBatteryGarden.YoucouldeithergointotheBatteryGardenoryoucouldcontinue
onthesamepathwhichleddowntotheseashore.

"Miss Williams continued on down, and Mrs Crale went into the Battery Garden. Almost at once,
however,MrsCralescreamed,andMissWilliamshurriedback.MrCralewasrecliningonaseatandhe
wasdead.

"At Mrs Crale's urgent request Miss Williams left the Battery Garden and hurried up to the house to
telephoneforadoctor.Onherway,however,shemetMrMeredithBlakeandentrustedhererrandto
him,herselfreturningtoMrsCrale,whoshefeltmightbeinneedofsomeone.DrFaussettarrivedon
the scene a quarter of an hour later. He saw at once that Mr Crale had been dead for some time - he
placedtheprobabletimeofdeathatbetweenoneandtwoo'clock.Therewasnothingtoshowwhathad
caused death. There was no sign of any wound and Mr Crale's attitude was a perfectly natural one.
Nevertheless, Dr Faussett, who was well acquainted with Mr Crale's state of health, and who knew
positivelythattherewasnodiseaseorweaknessofanykind,wasinclinedtotakeagraveviewofthe
situation.ItwasatthispointthatMrBlakemadeacertainstatementtoDrFaussett."

InspectorHalepaused,drewadeepbreath,andpassed,asitwere,toChapterTwo:

"SubsequentlyMrBlakerepeatedthisstatementtoInspectorConway.Itwastothiseffect:Hehadthat
morning received a telephone message from his brother, Mr Meredith Blake (who lived at Handcross
Manor, a mile and a half away). Mr Meredith Blake was an amateur chemist - or perhaps herbalist
woulddescribeitbest.Onenteringhislaboratorythatmorning,MrMeredithBlakehadbeenstartledto
note that a bottle containing a distillation of hemlock, which had been quite full the day before, was
nownearlyempty.

"Worriedandalarmedbythisfacthehadrunguphisbrothertoaskhisadviceastowhatheshoulddo
aboutit.MrPhilipBlakehadurgedhisbrothertocomeovertoAlderburyatonceandtheywouldtalk
the matter over. He himself walked part way to meet his brother and they had come up to the house
together.Theyhadcometonodecisionastowhatcoursetoadoptandhadleftthematterinorderto
consultagainafterlunch.

"As a result of further inquiries, Inspector Conway ascertained the following facts: On the preceding
afternoon,fivepeoplehadwalkedoverfromAlderburytoteaatHandcrossManor.TherewereMrand
MrsCrale,MissAngelaWarren,MissElsaGreer,andMrPhilipBlake.Duringthetimespentthere,Mr
Meredith Blake had given quite a dissertation on his hobby and had taken the party into his little
laboratoryandshownthemaround.Inthecourseofthistour,hehadmentionedcertainspecificdrugs-
oneofwhichwasconiine,theactiveprincipleofthespottedhemlock.Hehadexplaineditsproperties,
had lamented the fact that it had now disappeared from the pharmacopoeia and boasted that he had
knownsmalldosesofittobeveryefficaciousinwhoopingcoughandasthma.Laterhehadmentioned
itslethalpropertiesandhadactuallyreadtohisguestssomepassagefromaGreekauthordescribingits
effects."

SuperintendentHalepaused,refilledhispipeandpassedontoChapterThree:

"ColonelFrère,thechiefconstable,putthecaseintomyhands.Theresultoftheautopsyputthematter
beyondanydoubt.Coniine,Iunderstand,leavesnodefinitepost-mortemappearances,butthedoctors
knewwhattolookforandanampleamountofthedrugwasrecovered.Thedoctorwasoftheopinion
thatithadbeenadministeredtwoorthreehoursbeforedeath.InfrontofMrCrale,onthetable,there
had been an empty glass and an empty beer bottle. The dregs of both were analyzed. There was no
coniine in the bottle, but there was in the glass. I made inquiries and learned that, although a case of
beerandglasseswerekeptinasmallsummerhouseintheBatteryGardenincaseMrCraleshouldfeel
thirstywhenpainting,onthisparticularmorningMrsCralehadbroughtdownfromthehouseabottleof
freshly iced beer. Mr Crale was busy painting when she arrived and Miss Greer was posing for him,
sittingononeofthebattlements.

"MrsCraleopenedthebeer,poureditout,andputtheglassintoherhusband'shandashewasstanding
beforetheeasel.Hetosseditoffinonedraught-ahabitofhis,Ilearned.Thenhemadeagrimace,set
down the glass on the table, and said, 'Everything tastes foul to me today!' Miss Greer, upon that,
laughedandsaid,'Liver!'MrCralesaid,'Well,atanyrateitwascold.'"

Halepaused.

"Atwhattimedidthistakeplace?"Poirotasked.

"At about a quarter past eleven. Mr Crale continued to paint. According to Miss Greer, he later
complainedofstiffnessinthelimbsandgrumbledthathemusthavegotatouchofrheumatism.Buthe
wasthetypeofmanwhohatestoadmittoillnessofanykindandheundoubtedlytriednottoadmitthat
hewasfeelingill.Hisirritabledemandthatheshouldbeleftaloneandtheothersgouptolunchwas
quitecharacteristicoftheman,Ishouldsay."

Poirotnodded.

Halecontinued.

"SoCralewasleftaloneintheBatteryGarden.Nodoubthedroppeddownontheseatandrelaxedas
soon as he was alone. Muscular paralysis would then set in. No help was at hand, and death
supervened."

AgainPoirotnodded.

Halesaid:

"Well,Iproceededaccordingtoroutine.Therewasn'tmuchdifficultyingettingdowntothefacts.On
the preceding day there had been a set-to between Mrs Crale and Miss Greer. The latter had pretty
insolentlydescribedsomechangeinthearrangementofthefurniture'whenIamlivinghere.'MrsCrale
tookherupandsaid,'Whatdoyoumean?Whenyouarelivinghere.'MissGreerreplied,'Don'tpretend
youdon'tknowwhatImean,Caroline.You'rejustlikeanostrichthatburiesitsheadinthesand.You
knowperfectlywellthatAmyasandIcareforeachotherandaregoingtobemarried.'MrsCralesaid,'I
know nothing of the kind.' Miss Greer then said, 'Well, you know it now.' Whereupon, it seems, Mrs
Craleturnedtoherhusband,whohadjustcomeintotheroom,andsaid,'Isittrue,Amyas,thatyouare
goingtomarryElsa?'"

Poirotsaidwithinterest,"AndwhatdidMrCralesaytothat?"

"Apparentlyheturned,onMissGreerandshoutedather,'Whatthedevildoyoumeanbyblurtingthat
out?Haven'tyougotthesensetoholdyourtongue?'

"MissGreersaid,'IthinkCarolineoughttorecognizethetruth.'

"MrsCralesaidtoherhusband,'Isittrue,Amyas?'

"Hewouldn'tlookather,itseems,turnedhisfaceawayandmumbledsomething.

"Shesaid,'Speakout.I'vegottoknow.'Whereuponhesaid,'Oh,it'strueenough-butIdon'twantto
discussitnow.'

"Thenheflouncedoutoftheroomagain,andMissGreersaid:

"'You see!' and went on with something about its being no good for Mrs Crale to adopt a dog-in-the-
mangerattitudeaboutit.Theymustallbehavelikerationalpeople.SheherselfhopedthatCarolineand
Amyaswouldalwaysremaingoodfriends."

"AndwhatdidMrsCralesaytothat?"askedPoirotcuriously.

"Accordingtothewitnessesshelaughed.Shesaid,'Overmy,deadbody,Elsa.'

"Shewenttothedoor,andMissGreercalledafterher,'Whatdoyoumean?'

"MrsCralelookedbackandsaid,'I'llkillAmyasbeforeIgivehimuptoyou.'"

Halepaused.

"Prettydamning-eh?"

"Yes."Poirotseemedthoughtful."Whooverheardthisscene?"

"MissWilliamswasintheroom,andPhilipBlake.Veryawkwardforthem."

"Theiraccountsofthesceneagree?"

"Nearenough-younevergettwowitnessestorememberathingexactlyalike.Youknowthataswellas
Ido,M.Poirot."

Poirotnodded.Hesaidthoughtfully,"Yes,itwillbeinterestingtosee-"Hestoppedwiththesentence
unfinished.

Halewenton:"Iinstitutedasearchofthehouse.InMrs.Crale'sbedroomIfoundinabottomdrawer,
tucked way underneath some winter stockings, a small bottle labeled jasmine scent. It was empty. I
fingerprintedit.TheonlyprintsonitwerethoseofMrsCrale.Onanalysisitwasfoundtocontainfaint

tracesofoilofjasmineandastrongsolutionofconiine.

"IcautionedMrsCraleandshowedherthebottle.Sherepliedreadily.Shehad,shesaid,beeninavery
unhappystateofmind.AfterlisteningtoMrMeredithBlake'sdescriptionofthedrugshehadslipped
backtothelaboratory,hademptiedoutabottleofjasminescentwhichwasinherbag,andhadfilledthe
bottleupwithconiinesolution.Iaskedherwhyshehaddonethisandshesaid,'Idon'twanttospeakof
certainthingsmorethanIcanhelp,butIhadreceivedahadshock.Myhusbandwasproposingtoleave
meforanotherwoman.Ifthatwasso,Ididn'twanttolive.ThatiswhyItookit.'"

Halepaused.

Poirotsaid,"Afterall,itislikelyenough."

"Perhaps, M. Poirot. But it doesn't square with what she was overheard to say. And then there was a
further scene on the following morning. Mr Philip Blake overheard a portion of it. Miss Greer
overheardadifferentportionofit.IttookplaceinthelibrarybetweenMrandMrsCrale.MrBlakewas
inthehallandcaughtafragmentortwo.MissGreerwassittingoutsideneartheopenlibrarywindow
andheardagooddealmore."

"Andwhatdidtheyhear?"

"MrBlakeheardMrsCralesay,'Youandyourwomen.I'dliketokillyou.SomedayIwillkillyou.'"

"Nomentionofsuicide?"

"Exactly. None at all. No words like 'If you do this thing, I'll kill myself.' Miss Greer's evidence was
much the same. According to her, Mr Crale said, 'Do try and be reasonable about this, Caroline. I'm
fond of you and will always wish you well - you and the child. But I'm going to marry Elsa. We've
always agreed to leave each other free.' Mrs Crale answered to that, 'Very well, don't, say I haven't
warnedyou.'Hesaid,'Whatdoyoumean?'Andshesaid,'ImeanthatIloveyouandI'mnotgoingto
loseyou.I'dratherkillyouthanletyougotothatgirl.'"

Poirotmadeaslightgesture."Itoccurstome,"hemurmured,"thatMissGreerwassingularlyunwiseto
raisethisissue.MrsCralecouldeasilyhaverefusedherhusbandadivorce."

"Wehadsomeevidencebearingonthatpoint,"saidHale."MrsCrale,itseems,confidedpartly,inMr
MeredithBlake.Hewasanoldandtrustedfriend.Hewasverydistressedandmanagedtogetaword

with Mr Crale about it. This, I may say, was on the preceding afternoon. Mr Blake remonstrated
delicatelywithhisfriend,saidhowdistressedhewouldbeifthemarriagebetweenMrandMrsCrale
wastobreakupsodisastrously.HealsostressedthepointthatMissGreerwasaveryyounggirland
thatitwasaveryseriousthingtodragayounggirlthroughthedivorcecourt.TothisMrCralereplied,
withachuckle(calloussortofbrutehemusthavebeen),'Thatisn'tElsa'sideaatall.Sheisn'tgoingto
appear.Weshallfixitupintheusualway.'"

"Therefore,"Poirotsaid,"evenmoreimprudentofMissGreertohavebrokenoutthewayshedid."

SuperintendentHalesaid,"Oh,youknowwhatwomenare!Havetogetatoneanother'sthroats.Itmust
havebeenadifficultsituationanyhow.Ican'tunderstandMrCraleallowingittohappen.Accordingto
MrMeredithBlakehewantedtofinishhispicture.Doesthatmakesensetoyou?"

"Yes,myfriend,Ithinkitdoes."

"Itdoesn'ttome.Themanwasaskingfortrouble!"

"Hewasprobablyseriouslyannoyedwithhisyoungwomanforbreakingoutthewayshedid."

"Oh, he was. Meredith Blake said so. If he had to finish the picture I don't see why he couldn't have
takensomephotographsandworkedfromthem.Iknowachap-doeswatercolorsofplaces-hedoes
that."

Poirotshookhishead."No-IcanunderstandCraletheartist.Youmustrealize,myfriend,thatatthat
moment, probably, his picture was all that mattered to Crale. However much he wanted to marry the
girl,thepicturecamefirst.That'swhyhehopedtogetthroughhervisitwithoutitscomingtoanopen
issue.Thegirl,ofcourse,didn'tseeitthatway.Withwomen,lovealwayscomesfirst."

"Don'tIknowit,"saidSuperintendentHalewithfeeling.

"Men,"continuedPoirot,"andespeciallyartists,aredifferent."

"Art!"saidthesuperintendentwithscorn."Allthistalkaboutart!IneverhaveunderstooditandInever
shall! You should have seen that picture Crale was painting. All lopsided. He'd made the girl look as
thoughshehadtoothacheandthebattlementswereallcockeyed.Unpleasant-looking,thewholething.I
couldn'tgetitoutofmymindforalongtimeafterward.Ievendreamedaboutit.And,what'smore,it
affected my eyesight - I began to see battlements and walls and things all out of drawing. Yes, and

women,too!"

Poirot smiled. He said, "Although you do not know it, you are paying a tribute to the greatness of
AmyasCrale'sart."

"Nonsense.Whycan'tapainterpaintsomethingniceandcheerfultolookat?Whygooutofyourway
tolookforugliness?"

"Someofus,moncher,seebeautyincuriousplaces."

"Thegirlwasagood-looker,allright,"saidHale."Lotsofmake-upandnexttonoclotheson.Itisn't
decentthewaythesegirlsgoabout.Andthatwassixteenyearsago,mindyou.Nowadaysonewouldn't
thinkanythingofit.Butthen-well,itshockedme.Trousersandoneofthosesportsshirts,openatthe
neck-andnotanotherthing,Ishouldsay!"

"Youseemtorememberthesepointsverywell,"murmuredPoirotslyly.

SuperintendentHaleblushed."I'mjustpassingontheimpressionIgot,"hesaidausterely.

"Quite - quite," said Poirot soothingly. He went on: "So it would seem that the principal witnesses
againstMrsCralewerePhilipBlakeandElsaGreer?"

"Yes. Vehement, they were, both of them. But the governess was called by the prosecution, too, and
whatshesaidcarriedmoreweightthantheothertwo.ShewasonMrsCrale'ssideentirely,yousee.Up
in arms for her. But she was an honest woman and gave her evidence truthfully, without trying to
minimizeitinanyway."

"AndMeredithBlake?"

"Hewasverydistressedbythewholething,poorgentleman.Aswellhemightbe!Blamedhimselffor
his drug brewing - and the chief constable blamed him for it, too. Coniine, I understand, was in
ScheduleIofthePoisonAct.Hewasafriendofbothparties,andithithimveryhard-besidesbeing
thekindofcountrygentlemanwhoshrinksfromnotorietyandbeinginthepubliceye."

"DidnotMrsCrale'syoungsistergiveevidence?"

"No. It wasn't necessary. She wasn't there when Mrs Crale threatened her husband, and there was
nothingshecouldtellusthatwecouldn'tgetfromsomeoneelseequallywell.ShesawMrsCralegoto
therefrigeratorandgettheicedbeeroutand,ofcourse,thedefensecouldhavesubpoenaedhertosay
thatMrsCraletookitstraightdownwithouttamperingwithitinanyway.Butthatpointwasn'trelevant
becauseweneverclaimedthattheconiinewasinthebeerbottle."

"Howdidshemanagetoputitintheglasswiththosetwolookingon?"

"Well,firstofall,theyweren'tlookingon.Thatistosay,MrCralewaspainting-lookingathiscanvas
and at the sitter. And Miss Greer was posed, sitting with her back almost to where Mrs Crale was
standingandhereyeslookingoverMrCrale'sshoulder."

Poirotnodded.

"AsIsay,neitherofthetwowaslookingatMrsCrale.Shehadthestuffinoneofthosepipettethings-
oneusedtofillfountainpenswiththem.Wefounditcrushedtosplintersonthepathuptothehouse."

"Youhaveananswertoeverything,"Poirotmurmured.

"Well,come,now,M.Poirot!Withoutprejudice.Shethreatenstokillhim.Shetakesthestufffromthe
laboratory.Theemptybottleisfoundinherroomandnobodyhashandleditbuther.Shedeliberately
takesdownicedbeertohim-afunnything,anyway,whenyourealizethattheyweren'tonspeaking
terms-"

"Averycuriousthing.Ihadalreadyremarkedonit."

"Yes.Bitofagiveaway.Whywasshesoamiableallofasudden?Hecomplainsofthetasteofthestuff
- and coniine has a nasty taste. She arranges to find the body and sends the other woman off to
telephone.Why?Sothatshecanwipethatbottleandglassandthenpresshisfingersonit.Afterthat
shecanpipeupandsaythatitwasremorseandthathecommittedsuicide.Alikelystory."

"Itwascertainlynotverywellimagined."

"No.Ifyouaskme,shedidn'ttakethetroubletothink.Shewassoeatenupwithhateandjealousy.All
shethoughtofwasdoinghimin.Andthen,whenitsover,whensheseeshimtheredead-well,then,I
shouldsay,shesuddenlycomestoherselfandrealizesthatwhatshe'sdoneismurder-andthatyouget

hangedformurder.Anddesperatelyshegoesbald-headedfortheonlythingshecanthinkof-whichis
suicide."

Poirotsaid,"Itisverysoundwhatyousaythere-yes.Hermindmightworkthatway."

"Inawayitwasapremeditatedcrimeandinawayitwasn't,"saidSuperintendentHale."Idon'tbelieve
shereallythoughtitout,youknow.Justwentonwithitblindly."

Poirotmurmured,"Iwonder..."

Chapter3

HalelookedatPoirotcuriously.

"HaveIconvincedyouthatitwasastraightforwardcase?"hesaid.

"Almost.Notquite.Thereareoneortwopeculiarpoints."

"Canyousuggestanalternativesolutionthatwillholdwater?"

Poirotsaid,"Whatwerethemovementsoftheotherpeopleonthatmorning?"

"Wewentintothem,Icanassureyou.Wecheckeduponeverybody.Nobodyhadwhatyoucouldcall
an alibi - you can't have with poisoning. Why, there's nothing to prevent a would-be murderer from
handing his victim some poison in a capsule the day before, telling him it's a specific cure for
indigestionandhemusttakeitjustbeforelunch-andthengoingawaytotheotherendofEngland."

"Butyoudon'tthinkthathappenedinthiscase?"

"MrCraledidn'tsufferfromindigestion.AndinanycaseIcan'tseethatkindofthinghappening.It's
truethatMrMeredithBlakewasgiventorecommendingquacknostrumsofhisownconcocting,butI
don'tseeMrCraletryinganyofthem.Andifhedidhe'dprobablytalkandjokeaboutit.Besides,why
shouldMrMeredithBlakewanttokillMrCrale?Everythinggoestoshowthathewasonverygood
termswithhim.Theyallwere.

"MrPhilipBlakewashisbestfriend.MissGreerwasinlovewithhim.MissWilliamsdisapprovedof
him,Iimagine,verystrongly-butmoraldisapprobationdoesn'tleadtopoisoning.LittleMissWarren
scrappedwithhimalot,shewasatatiresomeage-justofftoschool,Ibelieve-buthewasquitefond
ofherandsheofhim.Shewastreated,youknow,withparticulartendernessandconsiderationinthat
house.Youmayhaveheardwhy.Shewasbadlyinjuredwhenshewasachild-injuredbyMrsCralein
akindofmaniacalfitofrage.Thatrathershows-doesn'tit?-thatshewasaprettyuncontrolledsortof
person.Togoforachild-andmaimherforlife!"

"It might show," said Poirot, "that Angela Warren had good reason to bear a grudge against Caroline
Crale."

"Perhaps,butnotagainstAmyasCrale.And,anyway,MrsCralewasdevotedtoheryoungsister-gave
herahomewhenherparentsdiedand,asIsay,treatedherwithspecialaffection-spoiledherbadly,so
theysay.ThegirlwasobviouslyveryfondofMrsCrale.Shewaskeptawayfromthetrialandsheltered
from it all as far as possible - Mrs Crale was very insistent about that, I believe. But the child was
terriblyupsetandlongedtobetakentoseehersisterinprison.CarolineCralewouldn'tagree.Shesaid
thatsortofthingmightinjureagirl'smentalityforlife.Shearrangedforhertogotoschoolabroad."

He added, "Miss Warren turned out to be a very distinguished woman. Traveler to weird places.
LecturesattheRoyalGeographical-allthatsortofthing."

"Andnooneremembersthetrial?"

"Well,it'sadifferentnameforonething.Theyhadn'teventhesamemaidenname.Theyhadthesame
motherbutdifferentfathers.MrsCrale'snamewasSpalding."

"ThisMissWilliams,wasshethechild'sgovernessorAngelaWarren's?"

"Angela's.Therewasanurseforthechild,butsheusedtodoafewlittlelessonswithMissWilliams
everyday,Ibelieve."

"Wherewasthechildatthetime?"

"She'dgonewiththenursetopayavisittohergodmother.ALadyTressillian.Awidowladywho'dlost
herowntwolittlegirlsandwhowasdevotedtothiskid."

Poirotnodded."Isee."

Halecontinued."Astothemovementsoftheotherpeopleonthedayofthemurder,Icangivethemto
you.MissGreersatontheterracenearthelibrarywindowafterbreakfast.There,asIsay,sheoverheard
thequarrelbetweenCraleandhiswife.AfterthatsheaccompaniedCraledowntotheBatteryandsat
forhimuntillunchtime,withacoupleofbreakstoeasehermuscles.

"PhilipBlakewasinthehouseafterbreakfastandoverheardpartofthequarrel.AfterCraleandMiss
Greer went off, he read the paper until his brother telephoned him. Thereupon, he went down to the
shoretomeethisbrother.TheywalkedtogetherupthepathagainpasttheBatteryGarden.MissGreer
hadjustgoneuptothehousetofetchapull-over,asshefeltchilly,andMrsCralewaswithherhusband
discussingarrangementsforAngela'sdeparturetoschool."

"Ah,anamicableinterview,"saidPoirot.

"Well,no,notamicable.Cralewasfairlyshoutingather,Iunderstand.Annoyedatbeingbotheredwith
domesticdetails.Isupposeshewantedtogetthingsstraightenedupiftherewasgoingtobeabreak."

Poirotnodded.

Hale went on. "The two brothers exchanged a few words with Amyas Crale. Then Miss Greer
reappearedandtookupherposition,andCralepickeduphisbrushagain,obviouslywantingtogetrid
ofthem.Theytookthehintandwentuptothehouse.ItwaswhentheywereattheBattery,bytheway,
thatAmyasCralecomplainedthatallthebeerdowntherewashot,andhiswifepromisedtosendhim
downsomeicedbeer."

"Aha!"

"Exactly - aha! Sweet as sugar she was about it. They went up to the house and sat on the terrace
outside.MrsCraleandAngelaWarrenbroughtthembeeroutthere.

"Later,AngelaWarrenwentdowntobatheandPhilipBlakewentwithher.

"MeredithBlakewentdowntoaclearingwithaseatjustabovetheBatteryGarden.Hecouldjustsee
MissGreerassheposedonthebattlements,andcouldhearhervoiceandCrale'sastheytalked.Hesat
there and thought over the coniine business. He was still very worried about it and didn't know quite
what to do. Elsa Greer saw him and waved her hand to him. When the bell went for lunch he came

downtothebattery,andElsaGreerandhewentbacktothehousetogether.HenoticedthenthatCrale
waslooking,asheputit,veryqueer,buthedidn'treallythinkanythingofitatthetime.Cralewasthe
kindofmanwhoisneverill-andsoonedidn'timaginehewouldbe.Ontheotherhand,hedidhave
moodsoffuryanddespondencyaccordingastowhetherhispaintingwasnotgoingashelikedit.On
thoseoccasionsonelefthimaloneandsaidaslittleaspossibletohim.That'swhatthesetwodidonthis
occasion.

"Astotheothers,theservantswerebusywithhouseworkandcookinglunch.MissWilliamswasinthe
schoolroompartofthemorning,correctingsomeexercisebooks.Afterward,shetooksomehousehold
mendingtotheterrace.AngelaWarrenspentmostofthemorningwanderingaboutthegarden,climbing
treesandeatingthings-youknowwhatagirloffifteenis-plums,sourapples,hardpears,etc.After
thatshecamebacktothehouseand,asIsay,wentdownwithPhilipBlaketothebeachandhadaswim
beforelunch."

Superintendent Hale paused. "Now, then," he said belligerently, "do you find anything phony about
that?"

"Nothingatall,"Poirotsaid.

"Well,then!"

Thetwowordsexpressedvolumes.

"Butallthesame,"saidHerculePoirot,"Iamgoingtosatisfymyself.I-"

"Whatareyougoingtodo?"

"Iamgoingtovisitthesefivepeople-andfromeachoneIamgoingtogethisorherownstory."

SuperintendentHalesighedwithadeepmelancholy.Hesaid,"Man,you'renuts!Noneoftheirstories
aregoingtoagree.Don'tyougraspthatelementaryfact?Notwopeoplerememberathinginthesame
orderanyway.Andafterallthistime!Why,you'llhearfiveaccountsoffiveseparatemurders!"

"That,"saidPoirot,"iswhatIamcountingupon.Itwillbeveryinstructive."

Philip Blake was recognizably like the description given of him by Depleach - a prosperous, shrewd,

jovial-lookingman-slightlyrunningtofat.

Hercule Poirot had timed his appointment for half past six on a Saturday afternoon. Philip Blake had
justfinishedhiseighteenholes,andhehadbeenonhisgame-winningafiverfromhisopponent.He
wasinthemoodtobefriendlyandexpansive.

HerculePoirotexplainedhimselfandhiserrand.Onthisoccasionatleast,heshowednounduepassion
forunsulliedtruth.Itwasaquestion,Blakegathered,ofaseriesofbooksdealingwithfamouscrimes.

PhilipBlakefrowned.Hesaid,"Whyrakeupthesethings?"

HerculePoirotshruggedhisshoulders.Hewasathismostforeigntoday.Hewasouttobedespisedbut
patronized."Itisthepublic,"hemurmured."Theyeatitup-yes,eatitup."

"Ghouls,"saidPhilipBlake.Buthesaiditgood-humoredly-notwiththefastidiousnessandthedistaste
thatamoresensitivemanmighthavedisplayed.

HerculePoirotsaidwithashrugoftheshoulders,"Itishumannature.YouandI,MrBlake,whoknow
theworld,havenoillusionsaboutourfellowhumanbeings.Notbadpeople,mostofthem,butcertainly
nottobeidealized."

Blakesaidheartily,"I'vepartedwithmyillusionslongago."

"Instead,youtellaverygoodstory,soIhavebeentold."

PhilipBlake'seyestwinkled."Heardthisone?"

Poirot'slaughcameattherightplace.Itwasnotanedifyingstory,butitwasfunny.

Philip Blake lay back in his chair, his muscles relaxed, his eyes creased with good humor. Hercule
Poirotthoughtsuddenlythathelookedratherlikeacontentedpig.Apig.Thislittlepigwenttomarket...

What was he like, this man, this Philip Blake A man, it would seem, without cares. Prosperous,
contented. No remorseful thoughts, no uneasy twinges of conscience from the past, no haunting
memorieshere.No,awell-fedpigwhohadgonetomarket-andfetchedthefullprice...

Butonce,perhaps,therehadbeenmoretoPhilipBlake.Hemusthavebeen,whenyoung,ahandsome
man.Eyesalwaysashadetoosmall,afractiontooneartogether,perhaps-butotherwiseawell-made,
well-set-upyoungman.Howoldwashenow?Ataguessbetweenfiftyandsixty.Nearingforty,then,at
thetimeofCrale'sdeath.Lessstultified,then,lesssunkinthegratificationsoftheminute.Askingmore
oflife,perhaps,andreceivingless...

Poirotmurmuredasamerecatchphrase,"Youcomprehendmyposition."

"No,really,youknow,I'mhangedifIdo."Thestockbrokersatuprightagain;hisglancewasoncemore
shrewd."Whyyou?You'renotawriter."

"Notprecisely-no.ActuallyIamadetective."

ThemodestyofthisremarkhadprobablynotbeenequaledbeforeinPoirot'sconversation.

"Ofcourseyouare.Weallknowthat.ThefamousHerculePoirot!"

Buthistoneheldasubtlymockingnote.Intrinsically,PhilipBlakewastoomuchofanEnglishmanto
take the pretensions of a foreigner seriously. To his cronies he would have said, "Quaint little
mountebank.Oh,well,Iexpecthisstuffgoesdownwiththewomen,allright."

Andalthoughthatderisive,patronizingattitudewasexactlytheonewhichHerculePoirothadaimedat
inducing,neverthelesshefoundhimselfannoyedbyit.

Thisman,thissuccessfulmanofaffairs,wasunimpressedbyHerculePoirot!Itwasascandal.

"Iamgratified,"saidPoirotuntruly,"thatIamsowellknowntoyou.Mysuccess,letmetellyou,has
beenfoundedonthepsychology-theeternalwhyofhumanbehavior.That,M.Blake,iswhatinterests
theworldincrimetoday.Itusedtoberomance.Famouscrimeswereretoldfromoneangleonly-the
lovestoryconnectedwiththem.Nowadaysitisverydifferent.PeoplereadwithinterestthatDrCrippen
murdered his wife because she was a big, bouncing woman and he was little and insignificant and
thereforeshemadehimfeelinferior.Theyreadofsomefamouswomancriminalthatshekilledbecause
she'd been snubbed by her father when she was three years old. It is, as I say, the why of crime that
interestsnowadays."

PhilipBlakesaid,withaslightyawn,"Thewhyofmostcrimesisobviousenough,Ishouldsay.Usually

money."

"Ah,but,mydearsir,"Poirotcried,"thewhymustneverbeobvious.Thatisthewholepoint!"

"Andthat'swhereyoucomein?"

"Andthat,asyousay,iswhereIcomein!Itisproposedtorewritethestoriesofcertainbygonecrimes-
fromthepsychologicalangle.Psychologyincrime,itismyspecialty.Ihaveacceptedthecommission."

PhilipBlakegrinned."Prettylucrative,Isuppose?"

"Ihopeso;Icertainlyhopeso."

"Congratulations.Now,perhaps,you'lltellmewhereIcomein?"

"Mostcertainly.TheCralecase,monsieur."

PhilipBlakedidnotlookstartled.Buthelookedthoughtful.Hesaid,"Yes,ofcourse,theCralecase..."

HerculePoirotsaidanxiously,"Itisnotdispleasingtoyou,MrBlake?"

"Oh,astothat."PhilipBlakeshruggedhisshoulders."It'snouseresentingathingthatyou'venopower
tostop.ThetrialofCarolineCraleispublicproperty.Anyonecangoaheadandwriteitup.It'snouse
myobjecting.Inaway-Idon'tmindtellingyou-Idodislikeitagooddeal.AmyasCralewasoneof
my best friends. I'm sorry the whole unsavory business has to be raked up again. But these things
happen."

"Youareaphilosopher,MrBlake."

"No,no.Ijustknowenoughnottostartkickingagainstthepricks.Idaresay,you'lldoitlessoffensively
thanmanyothers."

"Ihope,atleast,towritewithdelicacyandgoodtaste,"saidPoirot.

PhilipBlakegavealoudguffawbutwithoutanyrealamusement."Makesmechuckletohearyousay
that."

"I assure you, Mr Blake, I am really interested. It is not just a matter of money with me. I genuinely
wanttorecreatethepast-tofeelandseetheeventsthattookplace,toseebehindtheobviousandto
visualizethethoughtsandfeelingsoftheactorsinthedrama."

"I don't know that there was much subtlety about it," Philip Blake said. "It was a pretty obvious
business.Crudefemalejealousy,thatwasalltherewastoit."

"Itwouldinterestmeenormously,MrBlake,ifIcouldhaveyourownreactionstotheaffair."

PhilipBlakesaidwithsuddenheat,hisfacedeepeningincolor,"Reactions!Reactions!Don'tspeakso
pedantically.Ididn'tjuststandthereandreact!Youdon'tseemtounderstandthatmyfriend-myfriend,
Itellyou-hadbeenkilled-poisoned!AndthatifI'dactedquickerIcouldhavesavedhim."

"Howdoyoumakethatout,MrBlake?"

"Likethis.Itakeitthatyou'vealreadyreadupthefactsofthecase?"Poirotnodded."Verywell.Now
onthatmorningmybrotherMeredithcalledmeup.Hewasinaprettygoodstew.Oneofhishellbrews
wasmissing,anditwasafairlydeadlyhellbrew.WhatdidIdo?Itoldhimtocomealongandwe'dtalk
it over. Decide what was best to be done. 'Decide what was best.' It beats me now how I could have
beensuchahesitatingfool!IoughttohavegonetoAmyasstraightawayandwarnedhim.Ioughtto
havesaid,'Caroline'spinchedoneofMeredith'spatentpoisons,andyouandElsahadbetterlookoutfor
yourselves.'"

Blakegotup.Hestrodeupanddowninhisexcitement.

"DoyousupposeIhaven'tgoneoveritinmymindagainagain?Iknew.Ihadthechancetosavehim
andIdalliedabout-waitingforMeredith!Whyhadn'tIthesensetorealizethatCarolinewasn'tgoing
to have any qualms or hesitancies? She'd taken that stuff to use - and she'd use it at the very first
opportunity.Shewouldn'twaittillMeredithdiscoveredhisloss.Iknew-ofcourseIknewthatAmyas
wasindeadlydangerandIdidnothing!"

"Ithinkyoureproachyourselfunduly,monsieur.Youhadnotmuchtime-"

Theotherinterruptedhim.

"Time?Ihadplentyoftime.Anyamountofcourseswereopentome.IcouldhavegonetoAmyas,asI
say; but there was the chance, of course, that he wouldn't believe me. Amyas wasn't the sort of man
who'd believe easily in his own danger. He'd have scoffed at the notion. And he never thoroughly
understoodthesortofdevilCarolinewas.ButIcouldhavegonetoher.Icouldhavesaid,'Iknowwhat
you'reupto.Iknowwhatyou'replanningtodo.ButifAmyasorElsadiesofconiinepoisoning,you'll
behangedbyyourneck!'Thatwouldhavestoppedher.OrImighthaverungupthepolice.Oh,there
were things that could have been done - and, instead, I let myself be influenced by Meredith's slow,
cautiousmethods!'Wemustbesure-talkitover-makequitecertainwhocouldhavetakenit...'Old
fool-nevermadeaquickdecisioninhislife!Agoodthingforhimhewastheeldestsonandhasan
estatetoliveon.Ifhe'devertriedtomakemoneyhe'dhavelosteverypennyhehad."

"Youhadnodoubtyourselfwhohadtakenthepoison?"Poirotasked.

"Ofcoursenot.IknewatonceitmustbeCaroline.Yousee,IknewCarolineverywell."

"Thatisveryinteresting,"Poirotsaid."Iwanttoknow,MrBlake,whatkindofawomanCarolineCrale
was."

PhilipBlakesaidsharply,"Shewasn'ttheinjuredthatinnocentpeoplethoughtshewasatthetimeofthe
trial!"

"Whatwasshe,then?"

Blakesatdownagain.Hesaidseriously,"Wouldyoureallyliketoknow?"

"Iwouldliketoknowverymuchindeed."

"Carolinewasarotter.Shewasarotterthroughandthrough.Mindyou,shehadcharm.Shehadthat
kindofsweetnessofmannerthatdeceivespeopleutterly.Shehadafrail,helplesslookaboutherthat
appealedtopeople'schivalry.Sometimes,whenI'vereadabitofhistory,IthinkMaryQueenofScots
must have been a bit like her. Always sweet and unfortunate and magnetic - and actually a cold,
calculating woman, a scheming woman who planned the murder of Darnley and got away with it.
Carolinewaslikethat-acold,calculatingplanner.Andshe,hadawickedtemper.

"Idon'tknowwhetherthey'vetoldyou-itisn'tavitalpointofthetrial,butitshowsherup-whatshe

didtoherbabysister?Shewasjealous,youknow.Hermotherhadmarriedagain,andallthenoticeand
affectionwenttolittleAngela.Carolinecouldn'tstandthat.Shetriedtokillthebaby-smashitsheadin.
Luckilytheblowwasn'tfatal.Butitwasaprettyghastlythingtodo."

"Yes,indeed!"

"Well,thatwastherealCaroline.Shehadtobefirst.Thatwasthethingshesimplycouldnotstand-not
beingfirst.Andtherewasacold,egotisticaldevilinherthatwascapableofbeingstirredtomurderous
lengths."

Hepaused.

"You'llsaythatI'mbitter-thatI'mundulyprejudicedagainstCaroline.Shehadcharm-I'vefeltit.ButI
knew-Ialwaysknew-therealwomanbehind.Andthatwoman,M.Poirot,wasevil.Shewascrueland
malignantandagrabber!"

"AndyetithasbeentoldmethatMrsCraleputupwithmanyhardthingsinhermarriedlife."

"Yes,anddidn'tsheleteverybodyknowaboutit?Alwaysthemartyr!PooroldAmyas.Hismarriedlife
wasonelonghell-orratheritwouldhavebeenifithadn'tbeenforhisexceptionalquality.Hisart,you
see-healwayshadthat.Itwasanescape.Whenhewaspaintinghedidn'tcare;heshookoffCaroline
and her nagging and all the ceaseless rows and quarrels. They were endless, you know. Not a week
passedwithoutathunderingrowoveronethingoranother.

"She enjoyed it. Having rows stimulated her, I believe. It was an outlet. She could say all the hard,
bitter,stingingthingsshewantedtosay.She'dpositivelypurrafteroneofthoseset-tos-goofflooking
assleekandwell-fedasacat.Butittookitoutofhim.Hewantedpeace,rest,aquietlife.Ofcourse,a
manlikethatoughtnevertomarry;heisn'tcutoutfordomesticity.AmanlikeCraleshouldhaveaffairs
butnobindingties.They'reboundtochafehim."

"Heconfidedinyou?"

"Well-heknewthatIwasaprettydevotedpal.Heletmeseethings.Hedidn'tcomplain.Hewasn'tthat
kindofman.Sometimeshe'dsay,'Damnallwomen.'Orhe'dsay,'Nevergetmarried,oldboy.Waitfor
helltillafterthislife.'"

"YouknewabouthisattachmenttoMissGreer?"

"Oh,yes-atleastIsawitcomingon.Hetoldmehe'dmetamarvelousgirl.Shewasdifferent,hesaid,
fromanythingoranyonehe'devermetbefore.NotthatIpaidmuchattentiontothat.Amyaswasalways
meeting one woman or other who was 'different.' Usually, a month later, he'd stare at you if you
mentioned them, and wonder who you were talking about! But this Elsa Greer really was different. I
realizedthatwhenIcamedowntoAlderburytostay.She'dgothim,youknow-hookedhimgoodand
proper.Thepoormuttfairlyateoutofherhand."

"YoudidnotlikeElsaGreereither?"

"No,Ididn'tlikeher.Shewasdefinitelyapredatorycreature.She,too,wantedtoownCralebodyand
soul.ButIthink,allthesame,thatshe'dhavebeenbetterforhimthanCaroline.Shemightconceivably
have let him alone once she was sure of him. Or she might have got tired of him and moved on to
someoneelse.ThebestthingforAmyaswouldhavebeentobequitefreeoffemaleentanglements."

"Butthat,itwouldseem,wasnottohistaste."

Philip Blake said with a sigh, "The fool was always getting himself involved with some woman or
other.Andyet,inaway,womenreallymeantverylittletohim.Theonlytwowomenwhoreallymade
anyimpressiononhimatallinhislifewereCarolineandElsa."

"Washefondofthechild?"Poirotasked.

"Angela?Oh,wealllikedAngela.Shewassuchasport.Shewasalwaysgameforanything.Whatalife
sheledthatwretchedgovernessofhers!Yes,AmyaslikedAngelaallright;butsometimesshewenttoo
far,andthenheusedtogetreallymadwithher,andthenCarolinewouldstepin-Carowasalwayson
Angela'ssideandthatwouldfinishAmyasaltogether.HehateditwhenCarosidedwithAngelaagainst
him.Therewasabitofjealousyallround,youknow.AmyaswasjealousofthewayCaroalwaysput
Angelafirstandwoulddoanythingforher.AndAngelawasjealousofAmyasandrebelledagainsthis
overbearingways."

Hepaused.

"Intheinterestsoftruth,MrBlake,"Poirotsaid,"Iamgoingtoaskyoutodosomething."

"Whatisit?"

"I am going to beg that you will write me out an exact account of what happened on those days at
Alderbury. That is to say, I am going to ask you to write me out a full account of the murder and its
attendantcircumstances."

"But,mydearfellow,afterallthistime?Ishouldbehopelesslyinaccurate."

"Notnecessarily."

"Surely."

"No,MrBlake;foronething,withthepassageoftime,themindretainsaholdonessentialsandrejects
superficialmatters."

"Oh,youmeanamerebroadoutline?"

"Notatall.Imeanadetailed,conscientiousaccountofeacheventasitoccurredandeveryconversation
youcanremember."

"AndsupposingIrememberthemwrong?"

"Youcangivethewordingatleasttothebestofyourrecollection.Theremaybegaps,butthatcannot
behelped."

Blakelookedathimcuriously."Butwhat'stheidea?Thepolicefileswillgiveyouthewholethingfar
moreaccurately."

"No,MrBlake.Wearespeakingnowfromthepsychologicalpointofview.Idonotwantbarefacts.I
wantyourownselectionoffacts.Timeandyourmemoryareresponsibleforthatselection.Theremay
havebeenthingsdone,wordsspoken,thatIshouldseekforinvaininthepolicefiles.Thingsandwords
thatyounevermentionedbecause,maybe,youjudgedthemirrelevant,orbecauseyoupreferrednotto
repeatthem."

Blakesaidsharply,"Isthisaccountofmineforpublication?"

"Certainlynot.Itisformyeyeonly.Toassistmetodrawmyowndeductions."

"Andyouwon'tquotefromitwithoutmyconsent?"

"Certainlynot."

"H'm,"saidPhilipBlake."I'maverybusyman,M.Poirot."

"Iappreciatethattherewillbetimeandtroubleinvolved.Ishouldbehappytoagreetoa-reasonable
fee."

Therewasamoment'spause.ThenPhilipBlakesaidsuddenly,"No,ifIdoitI'lldoitfornothing."

"Andyouwilldoit?"

PhilipBlakesaidwarningly,"Remember,Ican'tvouchfortheaccuracyofmymemory."

"Thatisperfectlyunderstood."

"ThenIthink,"saidPhilipBlake,"thatIshouldliketodoit.IfeelIoweit-inaway-toAmyasCrale."

HerculePoirotwasnotamantoneglectdetails.

His advance toward Meredith Blake was carefully thought out. Meredith Blake was, he already felt
sure,averydifferentpropositionfromPhilipBlake.Rushtacticswouldnotsucceedhere.Theassault
mustbeleisurely.

Hercule Poirot knew that there was only one way to penetrate the stronghold. He must approach
Meredith Blake with the proper credentials. Those credentials must be social, not professional.
Fortunately,inthecourseofhiscareer,HerculePoirothadmadefriendsinmanycounties.Devonshire
was no exception. He sat down to review what resources he had in Devonshire. As a result he
discoveredtwopeoplewhowereacquaintancesorfriendsofMrMeredithBlake.Hedescendedupon
him, therefore, armed with two letters - one from Lady Mary Lytton-Gore, a gentle widow lady of
restrictedmeans,themostretiringofcreatures;andtheotherfromaretiredadmiral,whosefamilyhad
beensettledinthecountyforfourgenerations.

MeredithBlakereceivedPoirotinastateofsomeperplexity.

Ashehadoftenfeltlately,thingswerenotwhattheyusedtobe.Dashitall,privatedetectivesusedto
be private detectives - fellows you got to guard wedding presents at country receptions, fellows you
wentto,rathershamefacedly,whentherewassomedirtybusinessafootandyouhadtogetthehangof
it.

ButherewasLadyMaryLytton-Gorewriting:"HerculePoirotisaveryoldandvaluedfriendofmine.
Pleasedoallyoucantohelphim,won'tyou?"AndMaryLytton-Gorewasn't-no,decidedlyshewasn't
- the sort of woman you associate with private detectives and all that they stand for. And Admiral
Cronshaw wrote: "Very good chap - absolutely sound. Grateful if you will do what you can for him.
Mostentertainingfellow-cantellyoulotsofgoodstories."

Andnowherewasthemanhimself.Reallyamostimpossibleperson-thewrongclothes,buttonboots,
anincrediblemustache!Nothis,MeredithBlake's,kindoffellowatall.Didn'tlookasthoughhe'dever
huntedorshot-orevenplayedadecentgame.Aforeigner.

Slightlyamused,HerculePoirotreadaccuratelythesethoughtspassingthroughtheother'shead.Hehad
felt his own interest rising considerably as the train brought him into the west country. He would see
now,withhiseyes,theactualplacewheretheselong-pasteventshappened.

It was here, at Handcross Manor, that two young brothers had lived and gone over to Alderbury and
joked and played tennis and fraternized with a young Amyas Crale and a girl called Caroline. It was
fromherethatMeredithhadstartedouttoAlderburyonthatfatalmorning.Thathadbeensixteenyears
ago. Hercule Poirot looked with interest at the man who was confronting him with somewhat uneasy
politeness.

Verymuchwhathehadexpected.MeredithBlakeresembledsuperficiallyeveryotherEnglishcountry
gentlemanofstraitenedmeansandoutdoortastes.

A shabby old coat of tweed, a weather-beaten, pleasant, middle-aged face with somewhat faded blue
eyes, rather a weak mouth, half hidden by a rather straggly mustache. Poirot found Meredith Blake a
greatcontrasttohisbrother.Hehadahesitatingmanner;hismentalprocesseswereobviouslyleisurely.
It was as though his tempo had slowed down with the years just as his brother Philip's had been
accelerated.

As Poirot had already guessed, he was a man whom you could not hurry. The leisurely life of the
Englishcountrysidewasinhisbones.

Helooked,thedetectivethought,agooddealolderthanhisbrother,though,fromwhatMrJohnathan
hadsaid,itwouldseemthatonlyacoupleofyearsseparatedthem.

Hercule Poirot prided himself on knowing how to handle an "old-school tie." It was no moment for
trying to seem English. No, one must be a foreigner - frankly a foreigner - and be magnanimously
forgiven for the fact. "Of course these foreigners don't quite know the ropes. Will shake hands at
breakfast.Still,adecentfellowreally..."

Poirot set about creating this impression of himself. The two men talked, cautiously, of Lady Mary
Lytton-Gore and of Admiral Cronshaw. Other names were mentioned. Fortunately, Poirot knew
someone'scousinandhadmetsomebodyelse'ssister-in-law.Hecouldseeakindofwarmthdawningin
thesquire'seyes.Thefellowseemedtoknowtherightpeople.

Gracefully, insidiously, Poirot slid into the purpose of his visit. He was quick to counteract the
inevitablerecoil.Thisbookwas,alas,goingtobewritten.MissCrale-MissLemarchant,asshewas
now called - was anxious for him to exercise a judicious editorship. The facts, unfortunately, were
publicproperty.Butmuchcouldbedoneintheirpresentationtoavoidwoundingsusceptibilities.Poirot
murmured that before now he had been able to use discreet influence to avoid certain sensational
passagesinabookofmemoirs.

MeredithBlakeflushedangrily.Hishandshookalittleashefilledapipe.Hesaid,aslightstammerin
hisvoice,"It's-it'sg-ghoulishthewaytheydigthesethingsup.S-Sixteenyearsago.Whycan'ttheylet
itbe?"

Poirotshruggedhisshoulders."Iagreewithyou,"hesaid."Butwhatwillyou?Thereisademandfor
suchthings.Andanyoneisatlibertytoreconstructaprovedcrimeandtocommentonit."

"Seemsdisgracefultome."

Poirot murmured, "Alas, we do not live in a delicate age. You would be surprised, Mr Blake, if you
knewtheunpleasantpublicationsIhavesucceededin-shallwesay-softening?IamanxioustodoallI
cantosaveMissCrale'sfeelinginthematter."

Blakemurmured,"LittleCarla!Thatchild!Agrownupwoman.Onecanhardlybelieveit."

"Iknow.Timefliesswiftly,doesitnot?"

MeredithBlakesighed.Hesaid,"Tooquickly."

Poirotsaid,"AsyouwillhaveseenintheletterIhandedyoufromMissCrale,sheisveryanxiousto
knoweverythingpossibleaboutthesadeventsofthepast."

"Why?" Meredith Blake said with a touch of irritation. "Why rake up everything again? How much
bettertoletitallbeforgotten."

"Yousaythat,MrBlake,becauseyouknowallthepasttoowell.MissCrale,remember,knowsnothing.
Thatistosay,sheknowsonlythestoryasshehaslearneditfromofficialaccounts."

Meredith Blake winced. He said, "Yes, I forgot. Poor child! What a detestable position for her. The
shockoflearningthetruth.Andthen-thosesoulless,callousreportsofthetrial."

"Thetruth,"saidHerculePoirot,"canneverbedonejusticetoinamerelegalrecital.Itisthethingsthat
areleftoutthatarethethingsthatmatter.Theemotions,thefeelings,thecharactersoftheactorsinthe
drama,theextenuatingcircumstances-"

Hepaused,andtheothermanspokeeagerly,likeanactorwhohadreceivedhiscue.

"Extenuatingcircumstances!That'sjustit.Ifevertherewereextenuatingcircumstances,therewerein
thiscase.AmyasCralewasanoldfriend-hisfamilyandminehadbeenfriendsforgenerations,butone
hastoadmitthathisconductwas,frankly,outrageous.Hewasanartist,ofcourse,andpresumablythat
explainsit.Butthereitis-heallowedamostextraordinarysetofaffairstoarise.Thepositionwasone
thatnoordinarydecentmancouldhavecontemplatedforamoment."

HerculePoirotsaid,"Iaminterestedthatyoushouldsaythat.Ithadpuzzledme-thatsituation.Notso
doesawell-bredman,amanoftheworld,goabouthisaffairs."

Blake'sthin,hesitatingfacehadlitupwithanimation.Hesaid:

"Yes,butthewholepointisthatAmyasneverwasanordinaryman!Hewasapainter,yousee,andwith
himpaintingcamefirst-really,sometimes,inthemostextraordinaryway!Idon'tunderstandtheseso-
calledartisticpeoplemyself-neverhave.IunderstoodCralealittlebecause,ofcourse,I'dknownhim
allmylife.Hispeoplewerethesamesortasmypeople.AndinmanywaysCralerantruetotype-it
wasonlywhereartcameinthathedidn'tconformtotheusualstandards.Hewasn't,yousee,anamateur
inanyway.Hewasfirstclass-reallyfirstclass.

"Somepeoplesayhewasagenius.Theymayberight.But,asaresult,hewasalwayswhatIshould
describe as unbalanced. When he was painting a picture, nothing else mattered, nothing could be
allowedtogetintheway.Hewaslikeamaninadream-completelyobsessedbywhathewasdoing.
Nottillthecanvaswasfinisheddidhecomeoutofthisabsorptionandstarttopickupthethreadsof
ordinarylifeagain."

HelookedquestioninglyatPoirotandthelatternodded.

"Youunderstand,Isee.Well,thatexplains,Ithink,whythisparticularsituationarose.Hewasinlove
with this girl. He wanted to marry her. He was prepared to leave his wife and child for her. But he'd
startedpaintingherdownhere,andhewantedtofinishthatpicture.Nothingelsematteredtohim.He
didn't see anything else. And the fact that the situation was a perfectly impossible one for the two
womenconcerneddidn'tseemtohaveoccurredtohim."

"Dideitherofthemunderstandhispointofview?"

"Oh,yes-inaway.Elsadid,Isuppose.Shewasterrificallyenthusiasticabouthispainting.Butitwasa
difficultpositionforher-naturally.AndasforCaroline-"

Hestopped.Poirotsaid,"ForCaroline-yes?"

Chapter4

MeredithBlakesaid,speakingwithalittledifficulty,"Caroline-Ihadalways-well,Ihadalwaysbeen
veryfondofCaroline.Therewasatimewhen-whenIhopedtomarryher.Butthatwassoonnippedin
thebud.Still,Iremained,ifImaysayso,devotedto-toherservice."

Poirot nodded thoughtfully. That slightly old-fashioned phrase expressed, he felt, the man before him
verytypically.MeredithBlakewasthekindofmanwhowoulddevotehimselfreadilytoaromanticand
honorabledevotion.Hewouldservehisladyfaithfullyandwithouthopeofreward.Yes,itwasallvery
muchincharacter.

Hesaid,carefullyweighingthewords,"Youmusthaveresentedthis-attitude-onherbehalf?"

"Idid.Oh,Idid.I-IactuallyremonstratedwithCraleonthesubject."

"Whenwasthis?"

"Actually the day before - before it all happened. They came over to tea here, you know. I got Crale
asideandputittohim.Ievensaid,Iremember,thatitwasn'tfairtoeitherofthem."

"Ah,yousaidthat?"

"Yes.Ididn'tthink,yousee,thatherealized."

"Possiblynot."

"IsaidtohimthatitwasputtingCarolineinaperfectlyunendurableposition.Ifhemeanttomarrythis
girl,heoughtnottohaveherstayinginthehouseand-well-moreorlessflauntherinCaroline'sface.
Itwas,Isaid,anunendurableinsult."

"Whatdidheanswer?"Poirotaskedcuriously.

MeredithBlakerepliedwithdistaste,"Hesaid,'Carolinemustlumpit.'"

HerculePoirot'seyebrowsrose."Not,"hesaid,"averysympatheticreply."

"Ithoughtitabominable.Ilostmytemper.Isaidthatnodoubt,notcaringforhiswife,hedidn'tmind
howmuchhemadehersuffer,butwhat,Isaid,aboutthegirl?Hadn'tberealizeditwasaprettyrotten
positionforher?HisreplytothatwasthatElsamustlumpit,too!

"Thenhewenton:'Youdon'tseemtounderstand,Meredith,thatthisthingI'mpaintingisthebestthing
I'vedone.It'sgood,Itellyou.Andacoupleofjealous,quarrelingwomenaren'tgoingtoupsetit-no,
byhell,they'renot.'

"Itwashopelesstalkingtohim.Isaidheseemedtohavetakenleaveofallordinarydecency.Painting,I
said,wasn'teverything.Heinterruptedthere.Hesaid,'Ah,butitistome.'

"Iwasstillveryangry.IsaiditwasperfectlydisgracefulthewayhehadalwaystreatedCaroline.She
hadhadamiserablelifewithhim.Hesaidheknewthatandhewassorryaboutit.Sorry!Hesaid,'I

know, Merry, you don't believe that - but it's the truth. I've given Caroline the hell of a life and she's
been a saint about it. But she did know, I think, what she might be letting herself in for. I told her
candidlythesortofdamnable,egotistical,loose-livingkindofchapIwas.'

"Iputittohimthenverystronglythatheoughtnottobreakuphismarriedlife.Therewasthechildto
beconsidered,andeverything.IsaidthatIcouldunderstandthatagirllikeElsacouldbowlamanover,
butthatevenforhersakeheoughttobreakoffthewholething.Shewasveryyoung.Shewasgoing
intothisbald-headed,butshemightregretitbitterlyafterward.Isaidcouldn'thepullhimselftogether,
makeacleanbreak,andgobacktohiswife?"

"Andwhatdidhesay?"

Blakesaid,"Hejustlooked-embarrassed.Hepattedmeontheshoulderandsaid,'You'reagoodchap,
Merry.Butyou'retoosentimental.Youwaittillthepicture'sfinishedandyou'lladmitthatIwasright.'

"Isaid,'Damn.yourpicture.'Andhegrinned,andsaidalltheneuroticwomeninEnglandcouldn'tdo
that.ThenIsaidthatitwouldhavebeenmoredecenttohavekeptthewholethingfromCarolineuntil
afterthepicturewasfinished.Hesaidthatthatwasn'thisfault.ItwasElsawhohadinsistedonspilling
thebeans.Isaid,'Why?'Andhesaidthatshehadhadsomeideathatitwasn'tstraightotherwise.She
wantedeverythingtobeclearandaboveboard.Well,ofcourse,inaway,onecouldunderstandthatand
respectthegirlforit.Howeverbadlyshewasbehaving,shedidatleastwanttobehonest."

"Alotofadditionalpainandgriefiscausedbyhonesty,"remarkedHerculePoirot.

MeredithBlakelookedathimdoubtfully.Hedidnotquitelikethesentiment.Hesighed."Itwasa-a
mostunhappytimeforusall."

"TheonlypersonwhodoesnotseemtohavebeenaffectedbyitwasAmyasCrale,"saidPoirot.

"Andwhy?Becausehewasarankegoist.Irememberhimnow.Grinningatmeashewentoffsaying,
'Don'tworry,Merry.Everything'sgoingtopanoutallright!'"

"Theincurableoptimist,murmuredPoirot.

"Hewasthekindofmanwhodidn'ttakewomenseriously,"MeredithBlakesaid.

"IcouldhavetoldhimthatCarolinewasdesperate."

"Didshetellyouso?"

"Notinsomanywords.ButIshallalwaysseeherfaceasitwasthatafternoon-whiteandstrainedwith
akindofdesperategaiety.Shetalkedandlaughedalot.Buthereyes-therewasakindofanguished
griefinthemthatwasthemostmovingthingIhaveeverknown.Suchagentlecreature,too."

HerculePoirotlookedathimforaminuteortwowithoutspeaking.Clearlythemaninfrontofhimfelt
noincongruityinspeakingthusofawomanwho,onthedayafter,haddeliberatelykilledherhusband.

Meredith Blake went on. He had by now quite overcome his first suspicious hostility. Hercule Poirot
hadthegiftoflistening.TomensuchasMeredithBlaketherelivingofthepasthasadefiniteattraction.
Hespokenowalmostmoretohimselfthantohisfamousguest.

"Ioughttohavesuspectedsomething,Isuppose.ItwasCarolinewhoturnedtheconversationto-tomy
littlehobby.Itwas,Imustconfess,anenthusiasmofmine.TheoldEnglishherbalists,youknow,area
veryinterestingstudy.Therearesomanyplantsthatwereformerlyusedinmedicineandwhichhave
nowdisappearedfromtheofficialpharmacopoeia.Andit'sastonishing,really,howasimpledecoction
of something or other will really work wonders. No need for doctors half the time. The French
understandthesethings-someoftheirtisanesarefirst-rate."

Hewaswellawaynowonhishobby."Dandeliontea,forinstance,marvelousstuff.Andadecoctionof
hips-Isawtheotherdaysomewherethatthat'scomingintofashionwiththemedicalprofessionagain.
Oh,yes,Imustconfess,Igotalotofpleasureoutofmybrews.Gatheringtheplantsattherighttime,
drying them, macerating them - all the rest of it. I've even dropped to superstition sometimes and
gatheredmyrootsatthefullofthemoonorwhateveritwastheancientsadvised.OnthatdayIgavemy
guests,Iremember,aspecialdisquisitiononthespottedhemlock.Itflowersbiennially.Yougatherthe
fruitswhenthey'reripening,justbeforetheyturnyellow.Coniine,youknow,isadrugthat'sdropped
rightout-Idon'tbelievethere'sanyofficialpreparationofitinthelastpharmacopoeia-butI'veproved
theusefulnessofitinwhoopingcough,andinasthma,too,forthatmatter-"

"Youtalkedofallthisinyourlaboratory?"

"Yes,Ishowedthemaround,explainedthevariousdrugstothem-valerianandthewayitattractscats-
onesniffatthatwasenoughforthem!Thentheyaskedaboutdeadlynightshade,andItoldthemabout
belladonnaandatropine.Theywereverymuchinterested."

"They?Whatiscomprisedinthatword?"

Meredith Blake looked faintly surprised as though he had forgotten that his listener had no firsthand
knowledgeofthescene.

"Oh,thewholeparty.Letmesee-Phillipwasthere,andAmyas,andCaroline,ofcourse.Angela.And
ElsaGreer."

"Thatwasall?"

"Yes!Ithinkso.Yes,Iamsureofit."Blakelookedathimcuriously."Whoelseshouldtherebe?"

"Ithoughtperhapsthegoverness-"

"Oh, I see. No, she wasn't there that afternoon. I believe I've forgotten her name now. Nice woman.
Tookherdutiesveryseriously.Angelaworriedheragooddeal,Ithink."

"Whywasthat?"

"Well,shewasanicekid,butshewasinclinedtorunwild.Alwaysuptosomethingorother.Putaslug
orsomethingdownAmyas'sbackonedaywhenhewashardatworkpainting.Hewentupinsmoke.
Cursedherupanddowndale.Itwasafterthatthatheinsistedonthisschoolidea."

"Sendinghertoschool?"

"Yes.Idon'tmeanhewasn'tfondofher,buthefoundherabitofanuisancesometimes.AndIthink-
I'vealwaysthought-"

"Yes?"

"Thathewasabitjealous.Caroline,yousee,wasaslavetoAngela.Inaway,perhaps,Angelacame
firstwithher-andAmyasdidn'tlikethat.Therewasareasonforit,ofcourse.Iwon'tgointothat,but-
"

Poirot interrupted. "The reason being that Caroline Crale reproached herself for an action that had
disfiguredthegirl."

Blakeexclaimed,"Oh,youknowthat?Iwasn'tgoingtomentionit.Alloveranddonewith.But,yes,
thatwasthecauseofherattitude,Ithink.Shealwaysseemedtofeelthattherewasnothingtoomuch
shecoulddo-tomakeup,asitwere."

Poirotnoddedthoughtfully."AndAngela?"heasked."Didshebearagrudgeagainstherhalfsister?"

"Oh, no; don't run away with that idea. Angela was devoted to Caroline. She never gave that old
businessathought,I'msure.ItwasjustCarolinewhocouldn'tforgiveherself."

"DidAngelatakekindlytotheideaofboardingschool?"

"No,shedidn't.ShewasfuriouswithAmyas.Carolinetookherside,butAmyashadabsolutelymade
hismindupaboutit.Inspiteofahottemper,Amyaswasaneasymaninmostrespects,butwhenhe
reallygothisbackupeveryonehadtogivein.BothCarolineandAngelaknuckledunder."

"Shewastogotoschool-when?"

"Theautumnterm-theyweregettingherkittogetherIremember.Isuppose,ifithadn'tbeenforthe
tragedyshewouldhavegoneoffafewdayslater.Therewassometalkofherpackingonthemorningof
thatday."

"Andthegoverness?"

Poirotasked."Whatdoyoumean-thegoverness?"

"Howdidsheliketheidea?Itdeprivedherofajobdiditnot?"

"Yes-well,Isupposeitdidinaway.LittleCarlausedtodoafewlessons,butofcourseshewasonly-
what? Six or thereabouts. She had a nurse. They wouldn't have kept Miss Williams on for her. Yes,
that'sthename-Williams.Funnyhowthingscomebacktoyouwhenyoutalkthemover."

"Yes, indeed. You are back now - are you not? - in this past. You relive the scenes - the words that

peoplesaidtheirgestures,theexpressionsontheirfaces?"

MeredithBlakesaidslowly:

"Inaway-yes,buttherearegaps,youknow-greatchunksmissedout.Irememberforinstance,the
shockitwastomewhenIfirstlearnedthatAmyaswasgoingtoleaveCaroline,butIcan'tremember
whetheritwashewhotoldmeorElsa.IdorememberarguingwithElsaonthesubject-tryingtoshow
her,Imean,thatitwasaprettyrottenthingtodo.Andsheonlylaughedatmeinthatcoolwayofhers
andsaidIwasold-fashioned.Well,IdaresayIamold-fashioned,butIstillthinkIwasright.Amyas
hadawifeandchild-heoughttohavestucktothem."

"ButMissGreerthoughtthatpointofviewoutofdate?"

"Yes.Mindyou,sixteenyearsago,divorcewasn'tlookedonquitesomuchasamatterofcourseasitis
now.ButElsawasthekindofgirlwhowentinforbeingmodern.Herpointofviewwasthatwhentwo
peopleweren'thappytogetheritwasbettertomakeabreak.ShesaidthatAmyasandCarolinenever
stopped having rows and that it was far better for the child that she shouldn't be brought up in an
atmosphereofdisharmony."

"Andherargumentdidnotimpressyou?"askedPoirot.

"I felt, all the time," Meredith Blake said slowly, "that she didn't really know what she was talking
about.Shewasrattlingthesethingsoff-thingsshe'dreadinbooksorheardfromherfriends-itwas
likeaparrot.Shewas-it'saqueerthingtosay-pathetic,somehow.Soyoungandsoself-confident."
Hepaused."Thereissomethingaboutyouth,M.Poirot,thatis-thatcanbe-terriblymoving."

HerculePoirotsaid,lookingathimwithsomeinterest,"Iknowwhatyoumean."

Blakewenton,speakingmoretohimselfthantoPoirot."That'spartly,Ithink,whyItackledCrale.He
wasnearlytwentyyearsolderthanthegirl.Itdidntseemfair."

"Alas, how seldom one makes any effect," Poirot murmured. "When a person has determined on a
certaincourse-especiallywhenthereisawomanconcerned-itisnoteasytoturnthemfromit."

MeredithBlakesaid,"Thatistrueenough."Histonewasashadebitter."Icertainlydidnogoodbymy
interference.But,then,Iamnotaveryconvincingperson.Ineverhavebeen."

Poirot threw him a quick glance. He read into that slight acerbity of tone the dissatisfaction of a
sensitivemanwithhisownlackofpersonality.AndheacknowledgedtohimselfthetruthofwhatBlake
hadjustsaid.MeredithBlakewasnotthemantopersuadeanyoneintooroutofanycourse.Hiswell-
meaning attempts would always be set aside - indulgently usually, without anger, but definitely set
aside.Theywouldnotcarryweight.Hewasessentiallyanineffectiveman.

Poirot said, with an appearance of changing a painful subject, "You still have your laboratory of
medicinesadcordials,yes?"

"No."

Thewordcamesharply-withanalmostanguishedrapidityMeredithBlakesaid,hisfaceflushing:"I
abandoned the whole thing - dismantled it. I couldn't go on with it - how could I after what had
happened?Thewholething,yousee,mighthavebeensaidtobemyfault."

"No,no,MrBlake,youaretoosensitive."

"Butdontyousee?IfIhadn'tcollectedthosedamneddrugs;ifIhadn'tlaidstressonthem-boasted
aboutthem-forcedthemonthosepeople'snoticethatafternoon-ButIneverthought-Ineverdreamed
-howcouldI-"

"Howindeed?"

"ButIwentbumblingonaboutthem.Pleasedwithmylittlebitofknowledge.Blind,conceitedfool.I
pointedoutthatdamnedconiine.Ieven-foolthatIwas-tookthembackintothelibraryandreadthem
outthatpassagefromthePhaedodescribingSocrates'sdeath.Abeautifulpieceofwriting-I'vealways
admiredit-butit'shauntedmeeversince."

Poirotsaid,"Didtheyfindanyfingerprintsontheconiinebottle?"

Blakeansweredwithonepoignantword:

"Hers."

"CarolineCrale's?"

"Yes."

"Notyours?"

"No,Ididn'thandlethebottle,yousee.Onlypointedtoit."

"Butatsometime,surely,youhadhandledit?"

"Oh,ofcourse,butIgavethebottlesaperiodicdustingfromtimetotime-Ineverallowedtheservants
inthere,ofcourse-andIhaddonethataboutfourorfivedayspreviously."

"Youkepttheroomlockedup?"

"Invariably."

"WhendidCarolineCraletaketheconiinefromthebottle?"

"Shewasthelasttoleave,"MeredithBlakerepliedreluctantly."Icalledher,Iremember,andshecame
hurryingout.Hercheekswerejustalittlepink,andhereyeswideandexcited.Icanseehernow-"

Poirot said, "Did you have any conversation with her at all that afternoon? I mean by that, did you
discussthesituationasbetweenherandherhusbandatall?"

"Notdirectly,"Blakesaidslowlyinalowvoice."Shewaslooking,asI'vetoldyou,veryupset.Isaidto
heratamomentwhenweweremoreorlessbyourselves,'Isanythingthematter,mydear?'Shesaid,
'Everything'sthematter.'Iwishyoucouldhaveheardthedesperationinhervoice.Thosewordswere
the absolute literal truth. There's no getting away from it - Amyas Crale was Caroline's whole world.
Shesaid,'Everything'sgone-finished.I'mfinished,Meredith.'Andthenshelaughedandturnedtothe
othersandwassuddenlywildandveryunnaturallygay."

HerculePoirotnoddedhisheadslowly.Helookedverylikeachinamandarin.Hesaid,"Yes-Isee-it
waslikethat."

MeredithBlakepoundedsuddenlywithhisfist.Hisvoicerose.Itwasalmostashout."AndI'lltellyou

this,M.Poirot-whenCarolineCralesaidatthetrialthatshetookthestuffforherself,I'llswearshe
wasspeakingthetruth!Therewasnothoughtinhermindofmurderatthattime.Isweartherewasn't.
Thatcamelater."

"Areyousurethatitdidcomelater?"Poirotasked.

Blakestared."Ibegyourpardon?"hesaid."Idon'tquiteunderstand-"

Poirot said, "I ask you whether you are sure that the thought of murder ever did come? Are you
perfectlyconvincedinyourownmindthatCarolineCralediddeliberatelycommitmurder?"

Meredith Blake's breath came unevenly. He said, "But if not - if not - are you suggesting an - well,
accidentofsomekind?"

"Notnecessarily."

"That'saveryextraordinarythingtosay."

"Isit?YouhavecalledCarolineCraleagentlecreature.Dogentlecreaturescommitmurder?"

"Shewasagentlecreature,butallthesame-well,therewereveryviolentquarrels,youknow."

"Notsuchagentlecreature,then?"

"Butshewas-Oh,howdifficultthesethingsaretoexplain."

"Iamtryingtounderstand."

"Caroline had a quick tongue - a vehement way of speaking. She might say, "I hate you. I wish you
weredead,"butitwouldn'tmean-itwouldn'tentail-action."

"Soinyouropinion,itwashighlyuncharacteristicofMrsCraletocommitmurder?"

"Youhavethemostextraordinarywaysofputtingthings,M.Poirot.Icanonlysaythat-yes,itdoes
seemtomeuncharacteristicofher.Icanonlyexplainitbyrealizingthattheprovocationwasextreme.
Sheadoredherhusband.Underthosecircumstancesawomanmight-well,kill."

Poirotnodded."Yes,Iagree."

"Iwasdumbfoundedatfirst.Ididn'tfeelitcouldbetrue.Anditwasn'ttrue-ifyouknowwhatImean-
itwasn'ttherealCarolinewhodidthat."

"Butyouarequitesurethat,inthelegalsense,CarolineCralediddoit?"

AgainMeredithBlakestaredathim."Mydearman,ifshedidn't-"

"Well,ifshedidn't?"

"Ican'timagineanyalternativesolution.Accident?Surelyimpossible."

"Quiteimpossible,Ishouldsay."

"AndIcan'tbelieveinthesuicidetheory.Ithadtobebroughtforward,butitwasquiteunconvincingto
anyonewhoknewCrale."

"Quite."

"Sowhatremains?"askedMeredithBlake.

Poirot said coolly, "There remains the possibility of Amyas Crale having been killed by somebody
else."

"Butthat'sabsurd!Nobodycouldhavekilledhimbuthiswife.Buthedrovehertoit.Andso,inaway,
itwassuicideafterall,Isuppose."

"Meaningthathediedbytheresultofhisownactions,thoughnotbyhisownhand?"

"Yes,it'safancifulpointofview,perhaps.But-well,causeandeffect,youknow."

HerculePoirotsaid,"Haveyoueverreflected,MrBlake,thatthereasonformurderisnearlyalwaysto
befoundbyastudyofthepersonmurdered?"

"Ihadn'texactly-yes,IsupposeIseewhatyoumean."

Poirotsaid,"Untilyouknowexactlywhatsortofapersonthevictimwas,youcannotbegintoseethe
circumstancesofacrimeclearly."Headded,"ThatiswhatIamseekingfor-andwhatyouandyour
brotherhavehelpedtogiveme-areconstructionofthemanAmyasCrale."

MeredithBlakepassedthemainpointoftheremarkover.Hisattentionhadbeenattractedbyasingle
word.

Hesaidquickly,"Philip?"

"Yes."

"Youhavetalkedwithhim,also?"

"Certainly."

MeredithBlakesaidsharply,"Youshouldhavecometomefirst."

Smilingalittle,Poirotmadeacourteousgesture."AsyourbrotherlivesnearLondon,itwaseasierto
visithimfirst."

MeredithBlakerepeated,"Youshouldhavecometomefirst."

ThistimePoirotdidnotanswer.Hewaited.AndpresentlyMeredithBlakewenton."Philip,"hesaid,
"isprejudiced."

"Yes?"

"As a matter of fact, he's a mass of prejudices - always has been." He shot a quick, uneasy glance at
Poirot."He'llhavetriedtoputyouagainstCaroline."

"Doesthatmatter,solong-after?"

MeredithBlakegaveasharpsigh."Iknow.Iforgetthatit'ssolongago-thatit'sallover.Carolineis
beyondbeingharmed.But,allthesame,Ishouldn'tlikeyoutogetafalseimpression."

"Andyouthinkyourbrothermightgivemeafalseimpression?"

"Frankly,Ido.Yousee,therewasalwaysacertain-howshallIputit?-antagonismbetweenhimand
Caroline."

"Why?"

ThequestionseemedtoirritateBlake.Hesaid,"Why?HowshouldIknowwhy?Thesethingsareso.
Philipalwayscrabbedherwheneverhecould.Hewasannoyed,Ithink,whenAmyasmarriedher.He
neverwentnearthemforoverayear.AndyetAmyaswasalmosthisbestfriend.Thatwasthereason
really,Isuppose.Hedidn'tfeelthatanywomanwasgoodenough.AndheprobablyfeltthatCaroline's
influencewouldspoiltheirfriendship."

"Anddidit?"

"No,ofcourseitdidn't.AmyaswasalwaysjustasfondofPhilip-rightuptotheend.Usedtotwithim
with being a moneygrubber and with growing a corporation and being a Philistine generally. Philip
didn'tcare.HejustusedtogrinandsayitwasagoodthingAmyashadonerespectablefriend."

"HowdidyourbrotherreacttotheElsaGreeraffair?"

"Doyouknow,Ifinditratherdifficulttosay.Hisattitudewasn'treallyeasytodefine.Hewasannoyed,
Ithink,withAmyasformakingafoolofhimselfoverthegirl.Hesaidmorethanoncethatitwouldn't
workandthatAmyaswouldlivetoregretit.AtthesametimeIhaveafeeling-yes,verydefinitelyI
haveafeelingthathewasjustfaintlypleasedatseeingCarolineletdown."

Therewasasilence.ThenBlakesaidwiththeirritableplaintivenessofaweakman,"Itwasallover-

forgotten-andnowyoucome,rakingitallup."

"NotI.CarolineCrale."

Meredithstaredathim."Caroline?Whatdoyoumean?"

Poirotsaid,watchinghim,"CarolineCralethesecond."

Meredith'sfacerelaxed."Ah,yes,thechild.LittleCarla.I-Imisunderstoodyouforamoment."

"You thought I meant the original Caroline Crale? You thought that it was she who would not - how
shallIsayit?-resteasyinhergrave."

Blakeshivered."Don't,man."

"Youknowthatshewrotetoherdaughter-thelastwordssheeverwrote-thatshewasinnocent?"

Meredithstaredathim.Hesaid-andhisvoicesoundedutterlyincredulous,"Carolinewrotethat?"

"Yes."Poirotpausedandsaid,"Itsurprisesyou?"

"It would surprise you if you'd seen her in court. Poor, hunted, defenseless creature. Not even
struggling."

"Adefeatist?"

"No,no.Shewasn'tthat.Itwas,Ithink,theknowledgethatshe'dkilledthemansheloved-orIthought
itwasthat."

"Youarenotsosurenow?"

"Towriteathinglikethat-solemnly-whenshewasdying."

Poirotsaid,"Apiouslie,perhaps?"

"Perhaps."ButMeredithwasdubious."That'snot-that'snotlikeCaroline."

HerculePoirotnodded.CarlaLemarchanthadsaidthat.Carlahadonlyachild'sobstinatememory.But
MeredithBlakehadknownCarolinewell.ItwasthefirstconfirmationPoirothadgotthatCarla'sbelief
wastobedependedupon.

MeredithBlakelookedupathim.Hesaidslowly,"If-ifCarolinewasinnocent-why,thewholething's
madness!Idon'tsee-anyotherpossiblesolution."

HeturnedsharplyonPoirot."Andyou?Whatdoyouthink?"

Therewasasilence.

"Asyet,"saidPoirotatlast,"Ithinknothing.Icollectonlytheimpressions:WhatCarolineCralewas
like. What Amyas Crale was like. What the other people who were there at the time were like. What
happenedexactlyonthosetwodays.ThatiswhatIneed.Togooverthefactslaboriouslyonebyone.
Your brother is going to help me there. He is sending me an account of the events as he remembers
them."

"You won't get much from that," Meredith Blake said sharply. "Philip's a busy man. Things slip his
memoryoncethey'repastanddonewith.Probablyhe'llrememberthingsallwrong."

"Therewillbegaps,ofcourse.Irealizethat."

"Itellyouwhat-"Meredithpausedabruptly,thenwenton,reddeningalittleashespoke."Ifyoulike,I
-Icoulddothesame.Imean,itwouldbeakindofcheck,wouldn'tit?"

HerculePoirotsaidwarmly,"Itwouldbemostvaluable.Anideaofthefirstexcellence!"

"Right.Iwill.I'vegotsomeolddiariessomewhere.Mindyou,"helaughedawkwardly,"I'mnotmuch
ofahandatliterarylanguage.Evenmyspelling'snottoogood.You-youwon'texpecttoomuch?"

"Ah,itisnotthestyleIdemand.Justaplainrecitalofeverythingyoucanremember:Whateveryone
said,howtheylooked-justwhathappened.Nevermindifitdoesn'tseemrelevant.Itallhelpswiththe
atmosphere,sotospeak."

"Yes,Icanseethat.Itmustbedifficultvisualizingpeopleandplacesyouhaveneverseen."

Poirotnodded."ThatisanotherthingIwantedtoaskyou.Alderburyistheadjoiningpropertytothis,is
itnot?Woulditbepossibletogothere-toseewithmyowneyeswherethetragedyoccurred?"

Meredith Blake said slowly, "I can take you over there right away. But, of course, it's a good deal
changed."

"Ithasnotbeenbuiltover?"

"No,thankgoodness-notquitesobadasthat.Butit'sakindofhostelnow-itwasboughtbysome
society.Hordesofyoungpeoplecomedowntoitinthesummer,and,ofcourse,alltheroomshavebeen
cutupandpartitionedintocubicles,andthegroundshavebeenalteredagooddeal."

"Youmustreconstructitformebyyourexplanations."

"I'lldomybest.Iwishyoucouldhaveseenitintheolddays.ItwasoneoftheloveliestpropertiesI
know."

Heledthewayoutandbeganwalkingdownaslopeoflawn.

"Whowasresponsibleforsellingit?"

"The executors on behalf of the child. Everything Crale had came to her. He hadn't made a will, so I
imaginethatitwouldbedividedautomaticallybetweenhiswifeandthechild.Caroline'swillleftwhat
shehadtothechild,also."

"Nothingtoherhalfsister?"

"Angelahadacertainamountofmoneyofherownleftherbyherfather."

Poirotnodded."Isee."Thenheutteredanexclamation."Butwhereisitthatyoutakeme?Thisisthe
seashoreaheadofus!"

"Ah,Imustexplainourgeographytoyou.You'llseeforyourselfinaminute.There'sacreek,yousee,
CamelCreek,theycallit,runsrightinland-looksalmostlikearivermouth,butitisn't-it'sjustsea.To
gettoAlderburybyland,youhavetogorightinlandandaroundthecreek,buttheshortestwayfrom
onehousetotheotheristorowacrossthisnarrowbitofthecreek.Alderburyisjustopposite-there,
youcanseethehousethroughthetrees."

Theyhadcomeoutonalittlebeach.Oppositethemwasawoodedheadland,andawhitehousecould
justbedistinguishedhighupamongthetrees.

Twoboatsweredrawnuponthebeach.MeredithBlake,withPoirot'ssomewhatawkwardassistance,
draggedoneofthemdowntothewaterandpresentlytheywererowingacrosstotheotherside.

"We always went this way in the old days," Meredith explained. "Unless there was a storm or it was
raining,andthenwe'dtakethecar.Butit'snearlythreemilesifyou'goaroundthatway."

He ran the boat neatly alongside a stone quay on the other side. He cast a disparaging eye on a
collectionofwoodenhutsandsomeconcreteterraces.

"All new, this. Used to be a boathouse - tumble-down old place, and nothing else. And one walked
alongtheshoreandbathedoffthoserocksoverthere."

Heassistedhisguesttoalight,madefasttheboat,andledthewayupasteeppath.

"Don'tsupposewe'llmeetanyone,"hesaidoverhisshoulder."NobodyhereinApril-exceptforEaster.
Doesntmatterifwedo.I'mongoodtermswithmyneighbors.Sun'sglorioustoday.Mightbesummer.
Itwasawonderfuldaythen.MorelikeJulythanSeptember.Brilliantsun,butachillylittlewind."

Thepathcameoutofthetreesandskirtedanoutcropofrock.Meredithpointedupwithhishand.

"ThatswhattheycalledtheBattery.We'reunderneathitnow-skirtingroundit."

Theyplungedintotreesagainandthenthepathtookanothersharpturnandtheyemergedbyadoorset

inahighwall.Thepathitselfcontinuedtozigzagupward,butMeredithopenedthedoorandthetwo
menpassedthroughit.

For a moment Poirot was dazzled, coming in from the shade outside. The Battery was an artificially
cleared plateau with battlements set with cannon. It gave one the impression of overhanging the sea.
There were trees above it and behind it, but on the sea side there was nothing but the dazzling blue
waterbelow.

"Attractivespot,"saidMeredith.Henoddedcontemptuouslytowardakindofpavilionsetbackagainst
the back wall. "That wasn't there, of course - only an old tumble-down shed where Amyas kept his
paintingmuckandsomebottledbeerandafewdeckchairs.Itwasn'tconcretedthen,either.Thereused
tobeabenchandatable-paintedironones.Thatwasall.Still-ithasn'tchangedmuch."

Hisvoiceheldanunsteadynote.

Poirotsaid,"Anditwasherethatithappened?"

Meredith nodded. "The bench was there - up against the shed. He was sprawled on that. He used to
sprawl there sometimes when he was painting - just fling himself down and stare and stare, and then
suddenlyuphe'djumpandstartlayingthepaintonthecanvaslikemad."

Hepaused.

"That'swhy,youknow,helooked-almostnatural.Asthoughhemightbeasleep-justhavedropped
off.Buthiseyeswereopen-andhe'd-juststiffenedup.Stuffsortofparalyzesyou,youknow.There
isn'tanypain...I've-I'vealwaysbeengladofthat..."

Poirotaskedathinghealreadyknew:"Whofoundhimhere?"

"Shedid.Caroline.Afterlunch.ElsaandI,Isuppose,werethelastonestoseehimalive.Itmusthave
beencomingonthen.He-lookedqueer.I'drathernottalkaboutit.I'llwriteittoyou.Easierthatway."

HeturnedabruptlyandwentoutoftheBattery.Poirotflowedhimwithoutspeaking.

The two men went on up the zigzag path. At a higher left-brace than the Battery, there was another
smallplateau.Itwasovershadowedwithtreesandtherewasabenchthereandatable.Meredithsaid,

"They haven't changed this much. But the bench used not to be Ye Olde Rustic. It was just a painted
ironbusiness.Abithardforsitting,alovelyview."

Poirotagreed.ThroughaframeworkoftreesonelookedovertheBatterytothecreekmouth.

"Isatupherepartofthemorning,"Meredithexplained."Treesweren'tquitesoovergrownthen.One
couldseethebattlementsoftheBatteryquiteplainly.That'swhereElsawasposing,youknow.Sitting
onone,withherheadtwistedaround."

Hegaveaslighttwitchofhisshoulders."Treesgrowfasterthanonethinks,"hemuttered."Oh,well,
supposeI'mgettingold.Comeonuptothehouse."

Theycontinuedtofollowthepathtillitemergednearthehouse.Ithadbeenafineoldhouse,Georgian
in style. It had been added to, and on a green lawn near it were set some fifty little wooden bathing
hutches.

"Youngmensleepthere,girlsinthehouse,"Meredithexplained.

"Idon'tsupposethere'sanythingyouwanttoseehere.Alltheroomshavebeencutabout.Usedtobea
little conservatory tacked on here. These people have built a loggia. Oh, well - I suppose they enjoy
theirholidays.Can'tkeepeverythingasitusedtobe-more'sthepity."

Heturnedawayabruptly."We'llgodownanotherway.It-itallcomesbacktome,youknow.Ghosts.
Ghostseverywhere!"

Chapter5

Theyreturnedtothequaybyasomewhatlongerandmoreramblingroute.Poirotdidnotspeak,nordid
Blake.WhentheyreachedHandcrossManoroncemore,Blakesaidabruptly:

"Iboughtthatpicture,youknow.TheonethatAmyaswaspainting.Ijustcouldn'tstandtheideaofits
beingsoldfor-well,publicityvalue-alotofdirty-mindedbrutesgapingatit.Itwasafinepieceof
work.Amyassaiditwasthebestthinghe'deverdone.Ishouldn'tbesurprisedifhewasright.Itwas
practicallyfinished.Heonlywantedtoworkonitanotherdayorso.Would-wouldyoucaretoseeit?"

HerculePoirotsaidquickly,"Yes,indeed."

Blakeledthewayacrossthehallandtookakeyfromhispocket.Heunlockedadoorandtheywent
intoafair-sized,dusty-smellingroom.Itwascloselyshuttered.Blakewentacrosstothewindowsand
openedthewoodenshutters.Then,withalittledifficulty,heflungupawindowandabreathoffragrant
springaircamewaftingintotheroom.

Meredithsaid,"That'sbetter."

He stood by the window inhaling the air, and Poirot joined him. There was no need to ask what the
roomhadbeen.Theshelveswereempty,butthereweremarksuponthemwherebottleshadoncestood.
Againstonewallwassomederelictchemicalapparatusandasink.Theroomwasthickindust.

MeredithBlakewaslookingoutofthewindow.Hesaid:"Howeasilyitallcomesback.Standinghere,
smellingthejasmine,andtalking-talking,likethedamnedfoolIwas,aboutmypreciouspotionsand
distillations!"

Absently, Poirot stretched a hand through the window. He pulled off a spray of jasmine leaves just
breakingfromtheirwoodystem.

MeredithBlakemovedresolutelyacrossthefloor.Onthewallwasapicturecoveredwithadustsheet.
Hejerkedthedustsheetaway.

Poirotcaughthisbreath.Hehadseen,sofar,fourpicturesofAmyasCrale's-twoattheTate;oneata
Londondealer's;one,thestilllifeofroses.Butnowhewaslookingatwhattheartisthimselfhadcalled
hisbestpicture,andPoirotrealizedatoncewhatasuperbartistthemanhadbeen.

Thepaintinghadanodd,superficialsmoothness.Atfirstsightitmighthavebeenaposter,soseemingly
crude were its contrasts. A girl, a girl in a canary-yellow shirt and dark-blue slacks, sitting on a gray
wallinfullsunlightagainstabackgroundofviolentbluesea.Justthekindofsubjectforaposter.

Butthefirstappearancewasdeceptive;therewasasubtledistortion-anamazingbrillianceandclarity
inthelight.Andthegirl-

Yes,herewaslife.Alltherewas,alltherecouldbe,oflife,ofyouth,ofsheer,blazingvitality.Theface
wasaliveandtheeyes-

Somuchlife!Suchpassionateyouth!That,then,waswhatAmyasCralehadseeninElsaGreer,which

hadmadehimblindanddeaftothegentlecreature,hiswife.Elsawaslife.Elsawasyouth.

Asuperb,slim,straightcreature,arrogant,herheadturned,hereyesinsolentwithtriumph.Lookingat
you,watchingyou-waiting...

HerculePoirotspreadouthishands.Hesaid,"Itisagreat-Yes,itisgreat."

MeredithBlakesaid,acatchinhisvoice,"Shewassoyoung-"

Poirot nodded. He thought to himself, "What do most people mean when they say that? So young.
Something innocent, something appealing, something helpless. But youth is not that! Youth is crude,
youthisstrong,youthispowerful-yes,andcruel!Andonethingmore-youthisvulnerable."

Poirotfollowedhishosttothedoor.HisinterestwasquickenednowinElsaGreer,whomhewastovisit
next.Whatwouldtheyearshavedonetothatpassionate,triumphant,crudechild?

Helookedbackatthepicture.

Thoseeyes.Watchinghim-watchinghim-tellinghimsomething...

Supposing he couldn't understand what they were telling him? Would the real woman be able to tell
him?Orwerethoseeyessayingsomethingthattherealwomandidnotknow?

Sucharrogance,suchtriumphantanticipation-

Andthendeathhadsteppedinandtakenthepreyoutofthoseeager,clutchingyounghands.

Andthelighthadgoneoutofthosepassionatelyanticipatingeyes.WhatweretheeyesofElsaGreer
likenow?

Hewentoutoftheroomwithonelastlook.

Hethought,"Shewastoomuchalive."

Hefelt-alittle-frightened...

ThehouseinBrookStreethadDarwintulipsinthewindowboxes.Insidethehallagreatvaseofwhite
lilacssenteddiesofperfumetowardtheopenfrontdoor.

A middle-aged butler relieved Poirot of his hat and stick. A footman appeared to take them, and the
butlermurmureddeferentially,"Willyoucomethisway,sir?"

Poirotfollowedhimalongthehallanddownthreesteps.Adoorwasopened,thebutlerpronouncedhis
namewitheverysyllablecorrect.

Thenthedoorclosedbehindhimandatall,thinmangotupfromachairbythefireandcametoward
him.

LordDittishamwasamanjustunderforty.Hewasnotonlyapeeroftherealm;hewasapoet.Twoof
his fantastical poetic dramas had been staged at vast expense and had had a succès d'estime. His
foreheadwasratherprominent,hischinwaseager,andhiseyesandhismouthunexpectedlybeautiful.

Hesaid,"Sitdown,M.Poirot."

Poirotsatdownandacceptedacigarettefromhishost.LordDittishamshutthebox,struckamatch,and
helditforPoirottolighthiscigarette,thenhehimselfsatdownandlookedthoughtfullyathisvisitor.

"Itismywifeyouhavecometosee,Iknow,"hesaid.

Poirotanswered,"LadyDittishamwassokindastogivemeanappointment."

"Yes."

Therewasapause.

"Youdonot,Ihope,object,LordDittisham?"Poirothazarded.

The thin, dreamy face was transformed by a sudden, quick smile. "The objections of husbands, M.
Poirot,arenevertakenseriouslyinthesedays."

"Thenyoudoobject?"

"No.Icannotsaythat.ButIam,Imustconfessit,alittlefearfuloftheeffectuponmywife.Letmebe
quitefrank.Agreatmanyyearsago,whenmywifewasonlyayounggirl,shepassedthroughaterrible
ordeal.Shehas,Ihope,recoveredfromtheshock.Ihavecometobelievethatshehasforgottenit.Now
youappearandnecessarilyyourquestionswillreawakentheseoldmemories."

"Itisregrettable,"saidHerculePoirotpolitely.

"Idonotknowquitewhattheresultwillbe."

"I can only assure you, Lord Dittisham, that I shall be as discreet as possible, and do all I can not to
distressLadyDittisham.Sheis,nodoubt,ofadelicateandnervoustemperament."

Then,suddenlyandsurprisingly,theotherlaughed.Hesaid,"Elsa?Elsa'sasstrongasahorse!"

"Then-"Poirotpauseddiplomatically.Thesituationintriguedhim.

LordDittishamsaid,"Mywifeisequaltoanyamountofshocks.Iwonderifyouknowherreasonfor
seeingyou?"

Poirotrepliedplacidly,"Curiosity?"

Akindofrespectshowedintheotherman'seyes."Ah,yourealizethat?"

"Itisinevitable,"HerculePoirotsaid."Womenwillalwaysseeaprivatedetective.Menwilltellhimto
gotothedevil."

"Somewomenmighttellhimtogotothedevil,too."

"Aftertheyhaveseenhim-notbefore."

"Perhaps."LordDittishampaused."Whatistheideabehindthisbook?"

Hercule Poirot shrugged his shoulders. "One resurrects the old tunes, the old stage turns, the old
costumes.Oneresurrects,too,theoldmurders."

"Faugh!"saidLordDittisham.

"Faugh!ifyoulike.Butyouwillnotalterhumannaturebysayingfaugh.Murderisadrama.Thedesire
fordramaisverystronginthehumanrace."

LordDittishammurmured,"Iknow-Iknow..."

Heroseandrangthebell."Mywifewillbewaitingforyou,"hesaidbrusquely.

Thedooropened.

"Yourang,mylord?"

"TakeM.Poirotuptoherladyship."

Up two flights of stairs, feet sinking into soft-pile carpets. Subdued flood lighting. Money, money
everywhere. Of taste, not so much. There had been a somber austerity in Lord Dittisham's room. But
here,inthehouse,therewasonlyasolidlavishness.Thebest.Notnecessarilytheshowiestnorthemost
startling.Merely"expensenoobject,"alliedtoalackofimagination.

ItwasnotalargeroomintowhichPoirotwasshown.Thebigdrawing-roomwasonthefirstfloor.This
wasthepersonalsitting-roomofthemistressofthehouse,andthemistressofthehousewasstanding
againstthemantelpieceasPoirotwasannouncedandshownin.

Aphraseleapedintohisstartledmindandrefusedtobedrivenout:Shediedyoung...

ThatwashisthoughtashelookedatElsaDittishamwhohadbeenElsaGreer.

HewouldneverhaverecognizedherfromthepictureMeredithBlakehadshownhim.Thathadbeen,
aboveall,apictureofyouth,apictureofvitality.Heretherewasnoyouth-theremightneverhavebeen
youth.Andyetherealized,ashehadnotrealizedfromCrale'spicture,thatElsawasbeautiful.Yes,it
wasaverybeautifulwomanwhocameforwardtomeethim.Andcertainlynotold.Afterall,whatwas
she?Notmorethanthirty-sixnow,ifshehadbeentwentyatthetimeofthetragedy.

Hefeltastrangepang.Itwas,perhaps,thefaultofoldMrJohnathan,speakingofJuliet...NoJuliethere
- unless perhaps one could imagine Juliet a survivor - living on, deprived of Romeo... Was it not an
essentialpartofJuliet'smake-upthatsheshoulddieyoung?

ElsaGreerhadbeenleftalive...

Shewasgreetinghiminalevel,rathermonotonousvoice."Iamsointerested,M.Poirot!Sitdownand
tellmewhatyouwantmetodo."

Hethought:"Butsheisn'tinterested.Nothinginterestsher."

Biggrayeyes-likedeadlakes.

Poirot became, as was his way, a little obviously foreign. He exclaimed, "I am confused, madame,
veritablyIamconfused."

"Oh,no;why?"

"BecauseIrealizethatthis-thisreconstructionofapastdramamustbeexcessivelypainfultoyou."

She looked amused. Yes, it was amusement. Quite genuine amusement. She said: "I suppose my
husbandputthatideaintoyourhead.Hesawyouwhenyouarrived.Ofcourse,hedoesn'tunderstandin
theleast.Heneverhas.I'mnotatallthesensitivesortofpersonheimaginesIam."

Poirot thought to himself: "Yes, that is true. A thin-skinned person would not have come to stay in
CarolineCrale'shouse."

LadyDittishamsaid,"Whatisityouwantmetodo?"

"Youaresure,madame,thattogooverthepastwouldnotbepainfultoyou?"

Sheconsideredaminute,anditstruckPoirotsuddenlythatLadyDittishamwasaveryfrankwoman.
Shemightliefromnecessitybutneverfromchoice.

ElsaDittishamsaidslowly:"No,notpainful.Inaway,Iwishitwere."

"Why?"

Shesaidimpatiently,"It'ssostupid-nevertofeelanything."

AndHerculePoirotthought,"Yes,ElsaGreerisdead."Aloudhesaid,"Atallevents,LadyDittisham,it
makesmytaskverymucheasier.Haveyouagoodmemory?"

"Reasonablygood,Ithink."

"Andyouaresureitwillnotpainyoutogooverthosedaysindetail?"

"Itwon'tpainmeatall.Thingscanonlypainyouwhentheyarehappening."

"Itissowithsomepeople,Iknow."

LadyDittishamsaid,"That'swhatEdward,myhusband,can'tunderstand.Hethinksthetrialandallthat
wasaterribleordealforme."

"Wasitnot?"

ElsaDittishamsaid,"No,Ienjoyedit."Therewasareflective,satisfiedqualityinhervoice.Shewent
on."God,howthatoldbruteDepleachwentforme!He'sadevil,ifyoulike.Ienjoyedfightinghim.He
didn'tgetmedown."

ShelookedatPoirotwithasmile."IhopeI'mnotupsettingyourillusions.Agirloftwenty,Ioughtto
havebeenprostrated,Isuppose-agonizedwithshameorsomething.Iwasn't.Ididn'tcarewhatthey
saidtome.Ionlywantedonething."

"What?"

"Togetherhanged,ofcourse,"saidElsaDittisham.

Henoticedherhands-beautifulhandsbutwithlong,curvingnails.Predatoryhands.

She said, "You're thinking me vindictive? So I am vindictive - to anyone who has injured me. That
womanwastomymindthelowestkindofwomanthereis.SheknewthatAmyascaredforme-thathe
wasgoingtoleaveher-andshekilledhimsothatIshouldn'thavehim."

ShelookedacrossatPoirot.

"Don'tyouthinkthat'sprettymean?"

"Youdonotunderstandorsympathizewithjealousy?"

"No,Idon'tthinkIdo.Ifyou'velost,you'velost.Ifyoucan'tkeepyourhusband,lethimgowithagood
grace.It'spossessivenessIdon'tunderstand."

"Youmighthaveunderstooditifyouhadevermarriedhim."

"Idon'tthinkso.Weweren't-"ShesmiledsuddenlyatPoirot.Hersmilewas,hefelt,alittlefrightening.
Itwassofarremovedfromanyrealfeeling."I'dlikeyoutogetthisright,"shesaid."Don'tthinkthat
Amyas Crale seduced an innocent young girl. It wasn't like that at all! Of the two of us, I was
responsible.ImethimatapartyandIfellforhim.IknewIhadtohavehim-"

"Althoughhewasmarried?"

"Trespasserswillbeprosecuted?Ittakesmorethanaprintednoticetokeepyoufromreality.Ifhewas
unhappywithhiswifeandcouldbehappywithme,thenwhynot?We'veonlyonelifetolive."

"Butithasbeensaidhewashappywithhiswife."

Elseshookherhead."No.Theyquarreledlikecatanddog.Shenaggedathim.Shewas-oh,shewasa
horriblewoman!"

Shegotupandlitacigarette.Shesaidwithalittlesmile,"ProbablyI'munfairtoher.ButIreallydo
thinkshewasratherhateful."

Poirotsaidslowly,"Itwasagreattragedy."

"Yes,itwasagreattragedy."Sheturnedonhimsuddenly;intothedead,monotonouswearinessofher
face something came quiveringly alive. "It killed me, do you understand? It killed me. Ever since,
there's been nothing - nothing at all." Her voice dropped: "Emptiness!" She waved her hands
impatiently."Likeastuffedfishinaglasscase!"

"DidAmyasCralemeansomuchtoyou?"

She nodded. It was a queer, confiding little nod - oddly pathetic. She said, "I think I've always had a
single-trackmind."Shemusedsomberly."Isuppose-really-oneoughttoputaknifeintooneself-like
Juliet.But-buttodothatistoacknowledgethatyou'redonefor-thatlife'sbeatenyou."

"Andinstead?"

"Thereoughttobeeverything-justthesame-onceonehasgotoverit.Ididgetoverit.Itdidn'tmean
anythingtomeanymore.IthoughtI'dgoontothenextthing."

Yes, the next thing, Poirot saw her plainly trying so hard to fulfill that crude determination. Saw her
beautiful and rich, seductive to men, seeking with greedy, predatory hands to fill up a life that was
empty.Heroworship-amarriagetoafamousaviator;thenanexplorer,thatbiggiantofamanArnold
Stevensen,possiblynotunlikeAmyasCralephysically-areversiontothecreativearts;Dittisham!

Elsa Dittisham said, "I've never been a hypocrite! There's a Spanish proverb I've always liked. 'Take
whatyouwantandpayforit,saysGod.Well,I'vedonethat.I'vetakenwhatIwanted-butI'vealways
beenwillingtopaytheprice."

"Whatyoudonotunderstand,"Poirotsaid,"isthattherearethingsthatcannotbebought."

Shestaredathim.

"Idon'tmeanjustmoney."

Poirotsaid,"No,no;Iunderstandwhatyoumeant.Butitisnoteverythinginlifethathasitsticket,so
much.Therearethingsthatarenotforsale."

"Nonsense!"

He smiled very faintly. In her voice was the arrogance of the successful mill hand who had risen to
riches.

HerculePoirotfeltasuddenwaveofpity.Helookedattheagelesssmoothface,thewearyeyes,andhe
rememberedthegirlwhomAmyasCralehadpainted.

ElsaDittishamsaid,"Tellmeallaboutthisbook.Whatisthepurposeofit?Whoseideaisit?"

"Oh,mydearlady,whatotherpurposeistherebuttoserveupyesterday'ssensationwithtoday'ssauce?"

"Butyou'renotawriter?"

"No,Iamanexpertoncrime."

"Youmean,theyconsultyouoncrimebooks?"

"Notalways.Inthiscase,Ihaveacommission."

"Fromwhom?"

"Iam-whatdoyousay?-workingonthispublicationonbehalfofaninterestedparty."

"Whatparty?"

"MissCarlaLemarchant."

"Whoisshe?"

"SheisthedaughterofAmyasandCarolineCrale."

Elsastaredforaminute.Thenshesaid:"Oh,ofcourse,therewasachild.Iremember.Isupposeshe's
grownupnow?"

"Yes,sheistwenty-one."

"Whatisshelike?"

"Sheistallanddarkand,Ithink,beautiful.Andshehascourageandpersonality."

Elsasaidthoughtfully,"Ishouldliketoseeher."

"Shemightnotcaretoseeyou."

Elsa looked surprised. "Why? Oh, I see. But what nonsense! She can't possibly remember anything
aboutit.Shecan'thavebeenmorethansix."

"Sheknowsthathermotherwastriedforherfather'smurder."

"Andshethinksit'smyfault?"

"Itisapossibleinterpretation."

Elsashruggedhershoulders."Howstupid!"shesaid."IfCarolinehadbehavedlikeareasonablehuman
being-"

"Soyoutakenoresponsibility?"

"WhyshouldI?I'venothingtobeashamedof.Ilovedhim.Iwouldhavemadehimhappy."Shelooked
acrossatPoirot.Herfacebrokeup-suddenly,incredibly,hesawthegirlofthepicture.Shesaid:"IfI
couldmakeyousee.Ifyoucouldseeitfrommyside.Ifyouknew-"

Poirotleanedforward."ButthatiswhatIwant.See,MrPhilipBlake,whowasthereatthetime,heis
writingmeameticulousaccountofeverythingthathappened.MrMeredithBlakethesame.Nowifyou
-"

Elsa Dittisham took a deep breath. She said contemptuously, "Those two! Philip was always stupid.
MeredithusedtotrotaroundafterCaroline-buthewasquiteadear.Butyouwon'thaveanyrealidea
fromtheiraccounts."

Hewatchedher,sawtheanimationrisinginhereyes,sawalivingwomantakeshapefromadeadone.
She said quickly and almost fiercely, "Would you like the truth? Oh, not for publication. But just for
yourself-"

"Iwillundertakenottopublishwithoutyourconsent."

"I'dliketowritedownthetruth."Shewassilentaminuteortwo,thinking.Hesawthesmoothhardness
ofhercheeksfalterandtakeonayoungercurve;hesawlifeflowingintoherasthepastclaimedher
again.

"Togoback-towriteitalldown-Toshowyouwhatshewas-"

Her eyes flashed. Her breast heaved passionately. "She killed him. She killed Amyas. Amyas, who
wantedtolive-whoenjoyedliving.Hateoughtn'ttobestrongerthanlove-butherhatewas.Andmy
hateforheris-Ihateher-Ihateher-Ihateher..."

She came across to him. She stopped, her hand clutched at his sleeve. She said urgently, "You must
understand - you must - how we felt about each other. Amyas and I, I mean. There's something - I'll
showyou."

Shewhirledacrosstheroom.Shewasunlockingalittledesk,pullingoutadrawerconcealedinsidea
pigeonhole.

Thenshewasback.Inherhandwasacreasedletter,theinkfaded.Shethrustitonhim,andPoirothada
suddenpoignantmemoryofachildhehadknownwhohadthrustonhimoneofhertreasures-aspecial

shellpickedupontheseashoreandzealouslyguarded.Justsohadthatchildstoodbackandwatched
him.Proud,afraid,keenlycriticalofhisreceptionofhertreasure.

Heunfoldedthefadedsheets,andread:

"Elsa-youwonderfulchild!Thereneverwasanythingasbeautiful.AndyetI'mafraid-I'mtooold-a
middle-aged,ugly-tempereddevilwithnostabilityinme.Don'ttrustme,don'tbelieveinme-I'mno
good,apartfrommywork.Thebestofmeisinthat.There,don'tsayyouhaven'tbeenwarned.

"But,mylovely,I'mgoingtohaveyouallthesame.I'dgotothedevilforyou,andyouknowit.AndI'll
paintapictureofyouthatwillmakethefat-headedworldholditssidesandgasp!I'mcrazyaboutyou-
Ican'tsleep,Ican'teat.Elsa-Elsa-Elsa-I'myoursforever;yourstilldeath.

"Amyas."

Sixteenyearsago.Fadedink,crumblingpaper.Butthewordsstillalive,stillvibrating...

Helookedacrossatthewomantowhomtheyhadbeenwritten.

Butitwasnolongerawomanatwhomhelooked.

Itwasayounggirlinlove.

HethoughtagainofJuliet...

"MayIaskwhy,M.Poirot?"

HerculePoirotconsideredhisanswertothequestion.Hewasawareofapairofveryshrewdgrayeyes
watchinghimoutofthesmall,wizenedface.

He had climbed to the top floor of the bare building and knocked on the door of No. 584 Gillespie
Buildings,whichhadcomeintoexistencetoprovideso-called"flat-lets"forworkingwomen.

Here,inasmallcubicspace,existedMissCeciliaWilliams,inaroomthatwasbedroom,sitting-room,

dining-roomand,byjudicioususeofthegasring,kitchen-akindofcubbyholeattachedtoitcontained
aquarter-lengthbathandtheusualoffices.

Meager though these surroundings might be, Miss Williams had contrived to impress upon them her
stampofpersonality.

The walls were distempered an ascetic pale gray, and various reproductions hung upon them. Danté
meeting Beatrice on a bridge, and that picture once described by a child as a "blind girl sitting on an
orange and called, I don't know why, Hope." There were also two water colors of Venice and a sepia
copy of Botticelli's Primavera. On the top of the low chest of drawers were a large quantity of faded
photographs,mostly,bytheirstyleofhairdress,datingfromtwentytothirtyyearsago.

Thesquareofcarpetwasthreadbare,thefurniturebatteredandofpoorquality.ItwascleartoHercule
PoirotthatCeciliaWilliamslivedverynearthebone.Therewasnoroastbeefhere.Thiswasthelittle
pigthathadnone.

Clear, incisive and insistent, the voice of Miss Williams repeated its demand: "You want my
recollectionsoftheCralecase?MayIaskwhy?"

It has been said of Hercule Poirot by some of his friends and associates, at moments when he has
maddenedthemmost,thatheprefersliestotruthandwillgooutofhiswaytogainhisendsbymeans
ofelaboratefalsestatements,wereratherthantrusttothesimpletruth.

Butinthiscaseheprofferednospeciousexplanationofabooktobewrittenonbygonecrimes.Instead
henarratedsimplythecircumstancesinwhichCarlaLemarchanthadsoughthimout.

The small, elderly lady in the neat, shabby dress listened attentively. She said, "It interests me very
muchtohavenewsofthatchild-toknowhowshehasturnedout."

"Sheisaverycharmingandattractiveyoungwoman,ofcourageandamindofherown."

"Good,"saidMissWilliamsbriefly.

"Andsheis, Imaysay, averypersistent person.Sheis nota personwhomit iseasyto refuseorput
off."

Theex-governessnoddedthoughtfully.Sheasked,"Issheartistic?"

"Ithinknot."

MissWilliamssaiddryly,"That'sonethingtobethankfulfor!"

ThetoneoftheremarkleftMissWilliams'sviewsastoartistsinnodoubtwhatever.Sheadded,"From
youraccountofherIshouldimaginethatshetakesafterhermotherratherthanafterherfather."

"Verypossibly.Thatyoucantellmewhenyouhaveseenher.Youwouldliketoseeher?"

"Ishouldliketoseeherverymuchindeed.Itisalwaysinterestingtoseehowachildyouhaveknown
hasdeveloped."

"Shewas,Isuppose,veryyoungwhenyoulastsawher?"

"She was five and a half. A very charming child - a little overquiet, perhaps. Thoughtful. Given to
playingherownlittlegamesandnotinvitingoutsideco-operation.Naturalandunspoiled."

Poirotsaid,"Itwasfortunateshewassoyoung."

"Yes,indeed.Hadshebeenoldertheshockofthetragedymighthavehadaverybadeffect."

"Nevertheless,"saidPoirot,"onefeelsthattherewasahandicap-howeverlittlethechildunderstoodor
was allowed to know, there would have been an atmosphere of mystery and evasion and an abrupt
uprooting.Thesethingsarenotgoodforachild."

MissWilliamsrepliedthoughtfully,"Theymayhavebeenlessharmfulthanyouthink."

Poirot said, "Before we leave the subject of Carla Lemarchant - little Carla Crale that was - there is
somethingIwouldliketoaskyou.Ifanyonecanexplainit,Ithinkyoucan."

"Yes?"Hervoicewasinquiring,noncommittal.

Poirotwavedhishandsinanefforttoexpresshismeaning.

"There is a something - a nuance I cannot define - but it seems to me always that the child, when I
mentionher,isnotgivenherfullvalue.WhenImentionher,theresponsecomesalwayswithavague
surprise, as though the person to whom I speak had forgotten altogether that there was a child. Now
surely,mademoiselle,thatisnotnatural.Achild,underthesecircumstances,isapersonofimportance,
notinherself,butasapivotalpoint.AmyasCralemayhavehadreasonsforabandoninghiswife-or
fornotabandoningher.Butintheusualbreakupofamarriagethechildformsaveryimportantpoint.
Butherethechildseemstocountforverylittle.Thatseemstome-strange."

MissWilliamssaidquickly,"Youhaveputyourfingeronavitalpoint,M.Poirot.Youarequiteright.
AndthatispartlywhyIsaidwhatIdidjustnow-thatCarla'stransportationtodifferentsurroundings
mighthavebeeninsomerespectsagoodthingforher.Whenshebecameolder,yousee,shemighthave
sufferedfromacertainlackinherhomelife."

Sheleanedforwardandspokeslowlyandcarefully:

"Naturally,inthecourseofmywork,Ihaveseenagoodmanyaspectsoftheparent-and-childproblem.
Manychildren,mostchildren,Ishouldsay,sufferfromoverattentiononthepartoftheirparents.There
istoomuchlove,toomuchwatchingoverthechild.Itisuneasilyconsciousofthisbrooding,andseeks
to free itself, to get away and be unobserved. With an only child this is particularly the case, and, of
course,mothersaretheworstoffenders.

"Theresultonthemarriageisoftenunfortunate.Thehusbandresentscomingsecond,seeksconsolation
-orratherflatteryandattention-elsewhere,andadivorceresultssoonerorlater.Thebestthingfora
child,Iamconvinced,istohavewhatIshouldtermhealthyneglectonofbothitsparents.Thishappens
naturallyinthecaseofalargefamilyofchildrenandverylittlemoney.Theyareoverlookedbecause
themotherhasliterallynotimetooccupyherselfwiththem.Theyrealizequitewellthatsheisfondof
them,buttheyarenotworriedbytoomanymanifestationsofthefact.

"Butthereisanotheraspect.Onedoesoccasionallyfindahusbandandwifewhoaresoall-sufficientto
each other, up in each other, that the child of the marriage seems very real to either of them. And in
thosecircumstances,Ithink,achildcomestoresentthatfact,tofeeldefraudedandleftoutinthecold.
You understand that I am not speaking of neglect in any way. Mrs Crale, for instance, was what is
termedanexcellentmother,alwayscarefulofCarla'swelfare,ofherhealth,playingwithherattheright
times, and always kind and gay. But, for all that, Mrs Crale was really completely wrapped up in her
husband.Sheexisted,onemightsay,onlyinhimandforhim."MissWilliamspausedaminuteandthen
saidquietly,"That,Ithink,isthejustificationforwhatsheeventuallydid."

"Youmean,"HerculePoirotsaid,"thattheyweremorelikeloversthanlikehusbandandwife?"

MissWilliams,withaslightfrownofdistasteforforeignphraseologysaid,"Youcouldcertainlyputit
thatway."

"Hewasasdevotedtoherasshewastohim?"

"Theywereadevotedcouple.Buthe,ofcourse,wasaman."

MissWilliamscontrivedtoputintothatlastwordawhollyVictoriansignificance.

"Men-"saidMissWilliams,andstopped.

As a rich property owner says, "Bolsheviks," as an earnest Communist says, "Capitalists," as a good
housewifesays,"Blackbeetles,"sodidMissWilliamssay,"Men."

Fromherspinster's,governess'slife,thereroseupablastoffiercefeminism.Nobodyhearingherspeak
coulddoubtthat,toMissWilliams,MenweretheEnemy!

Poirotsaid,"Youholdnobriefformen?"

Sheanswereddryly,"Menhavethebestofthisworld.Ihopethatitwillnotalwaysbeso."

HerculePoiroteyedherspeculatively.HecouldquiteeasilyvisualizeMissWilliamsmethodicallyand
efficientlypadlockingherselftoarailing,andlaterhunger-strikingwithresoluteendurance.

Leavingthegeneralfortheparticular,hesaid,"YoudidnotlikeAmyasCrale?"

"IcertainlydidnotlikeMrCrale.NordidIapproveofhim.IfIhadbeenhiswifeIshouldhaveleft
him.Therearethingsthatnowomanshouldputupwith."

"ButMrsCraledidputupwiththem?"

"Yes."

"Youthinkshewaswrong?"

"Yes,Ido.Awomanshouldhaveacertainrespectforherselfandnotsubmittohumiliation."

"DidyoueversayanythingofthatkindtoMrsCrale?"

"Certainly not. It was not my place to do so. I was engaged to educate Angela, not to offer unasked
advicetoMrsCrale.Todosowouldhavebeenmostimpertinent."

"YoulikedMrsCrale?"

"IwasveryfondofMrsCrale."Theefficientvoicesoftened,heldwarmthandfeeling."Veryfondof
herandverysorryforher."

"Andyourpupil-AngelaWarren?"Poirotleanedforward,hiseyesfixedhardonMissWilliams's.

Chapter6

"Shewasamostinterestinggirl-oneofthemostinterestingpupilsIhavehad,"MissWilliamssaid."A
reallygoodbrain.Undisciplined,quick-tempered,mostdifficulttomanageinmanyways,butreallya
veryfinecharacter."

Shepausedandthenwenton."Ialwayshopedthatshewouldaccomplishsomethingworthwhile.And
shehas!Youhavereadherbook-ontheSahara?Andsheexcavatedthoseveryinterestingtombsinthe
Fayum! Yes, I am proud of Angela. I was not at Alderbury very long - two years and a half - but I
alwayscherishthebeliefthatIhelpedtostimulatehermindandencouragehertasteforarchaeology."

"I understand," Poirot murmured, "that it was decided to continue her education by sending her to
school.Youmusthaveresentedthatdecision."

"Notatall,M.Poirot.Ithoroughlyconcurredinit."Shepausedandwenton."Letmemakethematter
cleartoyou.Angelawasadeargirl,reallyaverydeargirl-warm-heartedandimpulsive-butshewas
alsowhatIcalladifficultgirl.Thatis,shewasatadifficultage.Thereisalwaysamomentwhereagirl
feelsunsureofherself-neitherchildnorwoman.AtoneminuteAngelawouldbesensibleandmature-
quite grown-up, in fact - but a minute later she would relapse into being a hoydenish child - playing
mischievoustricksandbeingrudeandlosinghertemper.

"Girls,youknow,feeldifficultatthatage-theyareterriblysensitive.Everythingthatissaidtothem
they resent. They are annoyed at being treated like children and then they suddenly feel shy at being
treatedlikeadults.Angelawasinthatstate.Shehadfitsoftemper,wouldsuddenlyresentteasingand
flare out, and then she would be sulky for days at a time, sitting about and frowning; then again she
wouldbeinwildspirits,climbingtrees,rushingaboutwiththegardenboys,refusingtosubmittoany
kindofauthority.

"Whenagirlgetstothatstage,schoolisveryhelpfulSheneedsthestimulationofotherminds-thatand
thewholesomedisciplineofacommunityhelphertobecomeareasonablememberofsociety.Angela's
homeconditionswerenotwhatIwouldhavecalledideal.MrsCralespoiledher,foronething.Angela
hadonlytoappealtoherandMrsCralealwaysbackedherup.TheresultwasthatAngelaconsidered
shehadfirstclaimuponhersister'stimeandattention,anditwasinthesemoodsofhersthatsheusedto
clashwithMrCrale.

"MrCralenaturallythoughtthatheshouldcomefirstandheintendedto.Hewasreallyveryfondofthe
girl-theyweregoodcompanionsandusedtospartogetherquiteamiably,butthereweretimeswhen
MrCraleusedsuddenlytoresentMrsCrale'spreoccupationwithAngela.Likeallmen,hewasaspoiled
child-heexpectedeverybodytomakeafussoverhim.ThenheandAngelausedtohavearealset-to-
andveryoftenMrsCralewouldtakeAngela'sside.Thenhewouldbefurious.Ontheotherhand,ifshe
supportedhim,Angelawouldbefurious.ItwasontheseoccasionsthatAngelausedtoreverttochildish
waysandplaysomespitefultrickonhim.

"Hehadahabitoftossingoffhisdrinks,andsheonceputalotofsaltintohisdrink.Thewholething,
ofcourse,actedasanemetic,andhewasinarticulatewithfury.Butwhatreallybroughtthingstoahead
was when she put a lot of slugs into his bed. He had a queer aversion for slugs. He lost his temper
completelyandsaidthatthegirlhadtobesentawaytoschool.Hewasn'tgoingtoputupwithallthis
pettynonsenseanymore.

"Angelawasterriblyupset-thoughactuallyshehadonceortwiceexpressedawishherselftogotoa
largeschool,butshechosetomakeahugegrievanceofit.MrsCraledidn'twanthertogo,butallowed
herselftobepersuaded-largelyowing,Ithink,towhatIsaidtoheronthesubject.Ipointedouttoher
thatitwouldbegreatlytoAngela'sadvantage,andthatIthoughtitwouldreallybeagreatbenefittothe
girl. So it was settled that she should go to Helston - a very fine school on the south coast - in the
autumnterm.

"ButMrsCralewasstillunhappyaboutitallthoseholidays.AndAngelakeptupagrudgeagainstMr
Cralewheneversheremembered.Itwasn'treallyserious,youunderstand,M.Poirot,butitmadeakind
ofundercurrentthatsummerto-well-toeverythingelsethatwasgoingon."

"Meaning-ElsaGreer?"Poirotsaid.

MissWilliamssaidsharply,"Exactly."

"WhatwasyouropinionofElsaGreer?"

"Ihadnoopinionofheratall.Athoroughlyunprincipledyoungwoman."

"Shewasveryyoung."

"Oldenoughtoknowbetter.Icanseenoexcuseforher-noneatall."

"Shefellinlovewithhim,Isuppose-"

Miss Williams interrupted with a snort: "Fell in love with him, indeed. I should hope, M. Poirot, that
whateverourfeelings,wecankeepthemindecentcontrol.Andwecancertainlycontrolouractions.
That girl had absolutely no morals of any kind. It meant nothing to her that Mr Crale was a married
man. She was absolutely shameless about it all - cool and determined. Possibly she may have been
badlybroughtup,butthat'stheonlyexcuseIcanfindforher."

"MrCrale'sdeathmusthavebeenaterribleshocktoher,"saidPoirot.

"Oh,itwas.Andsheherselfwasentirelytoblameforit.Idon'tgoasfarascondoningmurder,butall
thesame,M.Poirot,ifeverawomanwasdriventothebreakingpointthatwomanwasCarolineCrale.I
tellyoufrankly,thereweremomentswhenIwouldhavelikedtomurderthembothmyself.Flaunting
the girl in his wife's face, listening to her having to put up with the girl's insolence - and she was
insolent,M.Poirot.Oh,no,AmyasCraledeservedwhathegot.Nomanshouldtreathiswifeashedid
andnotbepunishedforit.Hisdeathwasajustretribution."

HerculePoirotsaid,"Youfeelstrongly."

Thesmallwomanlookedathimwiththoseindomitablegrayeyes.Shesaid,"Ifeelverystronglyabout
themarriagetie.Unlessitisrespectedandupheld,acountrydegenerates.MrsCralewasadevotedand
faithfulwife.HerhusbanddeliberatelyfloutedherandintroducedElsaGreerintoherhome.AsIsay,he
deservedwhathegot.HegoadedherpastenduranceandI,forone,donotblameherforwhatshedid."

Poirotsaidslowly,"Heactedverybadly-thatIadmit.Buthewasagreatartist,remember."

MissWilliamsgaveaterrificsnort.

"Oh, yes, I know. That's always the excuse nowadays. An artist! An excuse for every kind of loose
living,fordrunkenness,forbrawling,forinfidelity.AndwhatkindofanartistwasMrCrale,whenallis
saidanddone?Itmaybethefashiontoadmirehispicturesforafewyears.Buttheywon'tlast.Why,he
couldn t even draw! His perspective was terrible! Even his anatomy was quite incorrect. I know
somethingofwhatIamtalkingabout,M.Poirot.Istudiedpaintingforatime,asagirl,inFlorence,and
toanyonewhoknowsandappreciatesthegreatmastersthesedaubsofMrCrale'sarereallyludicrous.
Justsplashingafewcolorsaboutonthecanvas-noconstruction,nocarefuldrawing.No,"sheshook
herhead,"don'taskmetoadmireMrCrale'spainting."

"TwoofthemareintheTateGallery,"Poirotremindedher.

MissWilliamssniffed."Possibly.SoisoneofMrEpstein'sstatues,Ibelieve."

Poirot perceived that, according to Miss Williams, the last word had been said. He abandoned the
subjectofart.

Hesaid,"YouwerewithMrsCralewhenshefoundthebody?"

"Yes. She and I went down from the house together after lunch. Angela had left her pull-over on the
beach after bathing, or else in the boat. She was always very careless about her things. I parted from
MrsCraleatthedooroftheBatteryGarden,butshecalledmebackalmostatonce.IbelieveMrCrale
hadbeendeadoveranhour.Hewassprawledonthebenchnearhiseasel."

"Wassheterriblyupsetatthediscovery?"

"Whatexactlydoyoumeanbythat,M.Poirot?"

"Iamaskingyouwhatyourimpressionswereatthetime."

"Oh,Isee.Yes,sheseemedtomequitedazed.Shesentmeofftotelephoneforthedoctor.Afterall,we
couldn'tbeabsolutelysurehewasdead-itmighthavebeenacatalepticseizure."

"Didshesuggestsuchapossibility?"

"Idon'tremember."

"Andyouwentandtelephoned?"

MissWilliams'stonewasdryandbrusque:"IhadgonehalfupthepathwhenImetMrMeredithBlake.
IentrustedmyerrandtohimandreturnedtoMrsCrale.Ithought,yousee,shemighthavecollapsed-
andmenarenogoodinamatterofthatkind."

"Andhadshecollapsed?"

Miss Williams said dryly, "Mrs Crale was quite in command of herself. She was quite different from
MissGreer,whomadeahystericalandveryunpleasantscene."

"Whatkindofascene?"

"ShetriedtoattackMrsCrale."

"YoumeansherealizedthatMrsCralewasresponsibleforMrCrale'sdeath?"

MissWilliamsconsideredforamomentortwo.

"No,shecouldhardlybesureofthat.That-er-terriblesuspicionhadnotyetarisen.MissGreerjust
screamedout,"It'sallyourdoing,Caroline.Youkilledhim.It'sallyourfault."Shedidnotactuallysay,
"You'vepoisonedhim,"butIthinkthereisnodoubtthatshethoughtso."

"AndMrsCrale?"

MissWilliamsmovedrestlessly."Mustwebehypocritical,M.Poirot?IcannottellyouwhatMrsCrale
reallyfeltorthoughtatthatmoment.Whetheritwashorroratwhatshehaddone-"

"Diditseemlikethat?"

"N-no,n-no,Ican'tsayitdid.Stunned,yes-and,Ithink,frightened.Yes,Iamsure,frightened.Butthat
isnaturalenough."

HerculePoirotsaidinadissatisfiedtone:"Yes,perhapsthatisnaturalenough.Whatviewdidsheadopt
officiallyastoherhusband'sdeath?"

"Suicide.Shesaid,verydefinitelyfromthefirst,thatitmustbesuicide."

"Didshesaythesamewhenshewastalkingtoyouprivately,ordidsheputforwardanyothertheory?"

"No.She-she-tookpainstoimpressuponmethatitmustbesuicide."

MissWilliamssoundedembarrassed.

"Andwhatdidyousaytothat?"

"Really,M.Poirot,doesitmatterwhatIsaid?"

"Yes,Ithinkitdoes."

"Idon'tseewhy-"

Butasthoughhisexpectantsilencehypnotizedher,shesaidreluctantly,"IthinkIsaid,'Certainly,Mrs
Crale.Itmusthavebeensuicide.'"

"Didyoubelieveyourownwords?"

MissWilliamsraisedherhead."No,Ididnot,"shesaidfirmly."Butpleaseunderstand,M.Poirot,thatI
wasentirelyonMrsCrale'sside,ifyouliketoputitthatway.Mysympathieswerewithher,notwith
thepolice."

"Youwouldhavelikedtohaveseenheracquitted?"

MissWilliamssaiddefiantly,"Yes,Iwould."

"Thenyouareinsympathywithherdaughter'sfeelings?"

"IhaveeverysympathywithCarla."

"Wouldyouhaveanyobjectiontowritingoutformeadetailedaccountofthetragedy?"

"Youmeanforhertoread?"

"Yes."

MissWilliamssaidslowly,"No,Ihavenoobjection.Sheisquitedeterminedtogointothematter,is
she?"

"Yes.Idaresayitwouldhavebeenpreferableifthetruthhadbeenkeptfromher-"

MissWilliamsinterruptedhim.

"No. It is always better to face the truth. It is no use evading unhappiness, by tampering with facts.
Carlahashadashock,learningthetruth-nowshewantstoknowexactlyhowthetragedycameabout.
Thatseemstometherightattitudeforabraveyoungwomantotake.Oncesheknowsallaboutitshe
willbeabletoforgetitagainandgoonwiththebusinessoflivingherownlife."

"Perhapsyouareright,"saidPoirot.

"I'mquitesureI'mright."

"But,yousee,thereismoretoitthanthat.Shenotonlywantstoknow-shewantstoprovehermother
innocent."

MissWilliamssaid,"Poorchild."

"Thatiswhatyousay,isit?"

Miss Williams said, "I see now why you said that it might be better if she had never known. All the
same,Ithinkitisbestasitis.Towishtofindhermotherinnocentisanaturalhope-and,hardthough
theactualrevelationmaybe,Ithink,fromwhatyousayofher,thatCarlaisbraveenoughtolearnthe
truthandnotflinchfromit."

"Youaresureitisthetruth?"Poirotasked.

"Idon'tunderstandyou."

"YouseenoloopholeforbelievingthatMrsCralewasinnocent?"

"Idon'tthinkthatpossibilityhaseverbeenseriouslyconsidered."

"Andyetsheherselfclungtothetheoryofsuicide?"

MissWilliamssaiddryly,"Thepoorwomanhadtosaysomething."

"DoyouknowthatwhenMrsCralewasdyingsheleftaletterforherdaughterinwhichshesolemnly
swearsthatsheisinnocent?"

MissWilliamsstared."Thatwasverywrongofher,"shesaidsharply.

"Youthinkso?"

"Yes,Ido.Oh,Idaresayyouareasentimentalistlikemostmen-"

Poirotinterruptedindignantly."Iamnotasentimentalist."

"Butthereissuchathingasfalsesentiment.Whywritethat-alie-atsuchasolemnmoment?Tospare
yourchildpain?Yes,manywomenwoulddothat.ButIshouldnothavethoughtitofMrsCrale.She
wasabravewomanandatruthfulwoman.Ishouldhavethoughtitfarmorelikehertohavetoldher
daughternottojudge."

Poirotsaidwithslightexasperation,"Youwillnotevenconsider,then,thepossibilitythatwhatCaroline
Cralewrotewasthetruth?"

"Certainlynot!"

Miss Williams looked at Poirot in a very odd way. "It doesn't matter my saying this now - so long
afterward.Yousee,IhappentoknowthatCarolineCralewasguilty!"

"What?"

"It'strue.WhetherIdidrightinwithholdingwhatIknewatthetimeIcannotbesure,butIdidwithhold
it.Butyoumusttakeitfromme,quitedefinitely,thatIknowCarolineCralewasguilty..."

AngelaWarren'sflatoverlookedRegent'sPark.Here,onthisspringday,asoftairwaftedinthroughthe
openwindowandonemighthavehadtheillusionthatonewasinthecountryifithadnotbeenforthe
steadymenacingroarofthetrafficpassingbelow.

PoirotturnedfromthewindowasthedooropenedandAngelaWarrencameintotheroom.

Itwasnotthefirsttimehehadseenher.Hehadavailedhimselfoftheopportunitytoattendalecture
shehadgivenattheRoyalGeographical.Ithadbeen,heconsidered,anexcellentlecture.Dry,perhaps,
from the view of popular appeal. Miss Warren had an excellent delivery; she neither paused nor
hesitatedforaword.Shedidnotrepeatherself.Thetonesofhervoicewereclearandnotunmelodious.
Shemadenoconcessionstoromanticappealorloveofadventure.Therewasverylittlehumaninterest
inthelecture.Itwasanadmirablerecitalofconcisefacts,adequatelyillustratedbyexcellentslides,and
withintelligentdeductionsfromthefactsrecited.Dry,precise,clear,lucid,highlytechnical.

ThesoulofHerculePoirotapproved.Here,heconsidered,wasanorderlymind.

Now that he saw her at close quarters he realized that Angela Warren might easily have been a very
handsomewoman.Herfeatureswereregular,thoughsevere.Shehadfinelymarkeddarkbrows,clear,
intelligentbrowneyes,afine,paleskin.Shehadverysquareshouldersandaslightlymannishwalk.

There was certainly about her no suggestion of the little pig who cried, "Wee-wee." But on the right
cheek,disfiguringandpuckeringtheskin,wasthathealedscar.Therighteyewasslightlydistorted,the
cornerpulleddownwardbyit,butnoonewouldhaverealizedthatthesightofthateyewasdestroyed.It
seemedtoHerculePoirotalmostcertainthatshehadlivedwiththatdisabilitysolongthatshewasnow
completelyunconsciousofit.Anditoccurredtohimthatofthefivepeopleinwhomhehadbecome
interested as a result of his investigations, those who might have been said to start with the fullest
advantageswerenotthosewhohadactuallywrestedthemostsuccessandhappinessfromlife.

Elsa,whomighthavebeensaidtohavestartedwithalladvantages-youth,beauty,riches-haddone
worst.Shewaslikeaflowerovertakenbyuntimelyfrost-stillinbudbutwithoutlife.CeciliaWilliams,
to outward appearances, had no assets of which to boast. Nevertheless, to Poirot's eye, there was no
despondency there and no sense of failure. Miss Williams's life had been interesting to her - she was
still interested in people and events. She had that enormous mental and moral advantage of a strict
Victorianupbringing,deniedtousinthesedays-shehaddoneherdutyinthatstationoflifetowhichit
hadpleasedGodtocallher,andthatassuranceencasedherinanarmorimpregnabletotheslingsand
darts of envy, discontent, and regret. She had her memories, her small pleasures, made possible by

stringenteconomies,andsufficienthealthandvigortoenableherstilltobeinterestedinlife.

Now, in Angela Warren - that young creature handicapped by disfigurement and its consequent
humiliations - Poirot believed he saw a spirit strengthened by its necessary fight for confidence and
assurance. The undisciplined schoolgirl had given place to a vital and forceful woman, a woman of
considerablementalpowerandgiftedwithabundantenergytoaccomplishambitiouspurposes.Shewas
a woman, Poirot felt sure, both happy and successful. Her life was full and vivid and eminently
enjoyable.

She was not, incidentally, the type of woman that Poirot really liked. Though admiring the clear-cut
precisionofhermind,shehadjustasufficientnuanceofthefemmeformidableabouthertoalarmhim
asamereman.Histastehadalwaysbeenfortheflamboyantandextravagant.

WithAngelaWarrenitwaseasytocometothepointofhisvisit.Therewasnosubterfuge.Hemerely
recountedCarlaLemarchant'sinterviewwithhim.

AngelaWarren'sseverefacelightedupappreciatively.

"LittleCarla?Sheisoverhere?Iwouldliketoseehersomuch."

"Youhavenotkeptintouchwithher?"

"Hardly as much as I should have done. I was a schoolgirl at the time she went to Canada, and I
realized, of course, that in a year or two she would have forgotten me. Of late years an occasional
present at Christmas has been the only link between us. I imagined that she would, by now, be
completely immersed in the Canadian atmosphere and that her future would lie over there. Better so,
underthecircumstances."

Poirotsaid:"Onemightthinkso,certainly.Achangeofname-achangeofscene.Anewlife.Butitwas
not to be so easy as'that." And he then told of Carla's engagement, the discovery she had made upon
comingofage,andhermotiveincomingtoEngland.

Angela Warren listened quietly, her disfigured cheek resting on one hand. She betrayed no emotion
duringtherecital,butasPoirotfinished,shesaidquietly,"GoodforCarla."

Hercule Poirot was startled. It was the first time that he had met with this reaction. He said, "You
approve,MissWarren?"

"Certainly. I wish her every success. Anything I can do to help, I will. I feel guilty, you know, that I
haven'tattemptedanythingmyself."

"Thenyouthinkthatthereisapossibilitythatsheisrightinherviews?"

AngelaWarrensaidsharply,"Ofcourseshe'sright.Carolinedidn'tdoit.I'vealwaysknownthat."

"Yousurprisemeverymuchindeed,mademoiselle,"Poirotmurmured."EverybodyelseIhavespoken
to-"

Shecutinsharply:

"You mustn't go by that. I've no doubt that the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming. My own
convictionisbasedonknowledge-knowledgeofmysister.Ijustknowquitesimplyanddefinitelythat
Carocouldn'thavekilledanyone."

"Canyousaythatwithcertaintyofanyhumancreature?"

"Probablynotinmostcases.Iagreethatthehumananimalisfullofcurioussurprises.ButinCaroline's
casetherewerespecialreasons-reasonswhichIhaveabetterchanceofappreciatingthananyoneelse
could."

Shetouchedherdamagedcheek.

"Youseethis?You'veprobablyheardaboutit."Poirotnodded."Carolinedidthat.That'swhyI'msure-
Iknow-thatshedidnotdomurder."

"Itwouldnotbeaconvincingargumenttomostpeople."

"No,itwouldbetheopposite.Itwasactuallyusedinthatway,Ibelieve.AsevidencethatCarolinehad
aviolentandungovernabletemper!Becauseshehadinjuredmeasababy,learnedmenarguedthatshe
wouldbeequallycapableofpoisoninganunfaithfulhusband."

Poirotsaid,"I,atleast,appreciatedthedifference.Asuddenfitofungovernableragedoesnotleadyou

toabstractapoisonfirstandthenuseitdeliberatelyonthefollowingday."

AngelaWarrenwavedanimpatienthand.

"That'snotwhatImeanatall.Imusttryandmakeitplaintoyou.Supposingthatyouareapersonof
normally affectionate and kindly disposition, but that you are also liable to intense jealousy. And
supposingthatduringtheyearsofyourlifewhencontrolismostdifficultyoudo,inafitofrage,come
near to committing what is, in effect, murder. Think of the awful shock, the horror, the remorse that
seizesuponyou.

"IfyouareasensitivepersonlikeCarolinethathorrorandremorsewillneverquiteleaveyou.Itnever
left her. I don't suppose I was consciously aware of it at the time, but looking back I recognize it
perfectly.Carowashaunted,continuallyhaunted,bythefactthatshehadinjuredme.Thatknowledge
neverleftherinpeace.Itcoloredallheractions.Itexplainedherattitudetome.Nothingwastoogood
for me. In her eyes, I must always come first. Half the quarrels she had with Amyas were on my
account."

MissWarrenpaused,thenwenton."Itwasverybadforme,ofcourse.Igothorriblyspoiled.Butthat's
neither here nor there. We're discussing the effect on Caroline. The result of that impulse to violence
wasalifelongabhorrenceofanyfurtheractofthesamekind.Carowaswatchingherself,alwaysinfear
that something kind might happen again. And she took her own of guarding against it. One of those
ways was a great of language. She felt (and I think, quite truly) that if she were violent enough in
speech she would have no temptation to violence in action. She found by experience that the method
worked.

"That'swhyI'veheardCarosaythingslike,'I'dliketocutsoandsoinpiecesandboilhimslowlyin
oil.'Andshe'dsaytome,ortoAmyas,'IfyougoonannoyingmeIshallmurderyou.'Inthesameway
shequarreledeasilyandviolently.Sherecognized,Ithink,theimpulsetoviolencethattherewasinher
nature,andshedeliberatelygaveitanoutletthatway.SheandAmyasusedtohavethemostfantastic
andluridquarrels."

HerculePoirotnodded."Yes,therewasevidenceofthat.Theyquarreledlikecatanddog,itwassaid."

AngelaWarrensaid:

"Exactly.That'swhatissostupidandmisleadingaboutevidence.OfcourseCaroandAmyasquarreled!
Of course they said bitter and outrageous and cruel things to each other! What nobody appreciates is
thattheyenjoyedquarreling.Buttheydid!Amyasenjoyedit,too.Theywerethatkindofcouple.They
bothofthemlikeddramaandemotionalscenes.Mostmendon't.Theylikepeace.ButAmyaswasan

artist.Helikedshoutingandthreateningandgenerallybeingoutrageous.Itwaslikelettingoffsteamto
him.Hewasthekindofmanwhowhenheloseshiscollarstudbellowsthehousedown.Itsoundsvery
odd,Iknow,butlivingthatwaywithcontinualrowsandmakingsupwasAmyas'sandCaroline'sidea
offun!"

Shemadeanimpatientgesture.

"If they'd only not hustled me away and let me give evidence, I'd have told them that." Then she
shrugged her shoulders. "But I don't suppose they would have believed me. And, anyway, then it
wouldn'thavebeenasclearinmymindasitisnow.ItwasthekindofthingIknewbuthadn'tthought
aboutandcertainlyhadneverdreamedofputtingintowords."

ShelookedacrossatPoirot.

"YoudoseewhatImean?"

Henoddedvigorously."Iseeperfectly,andIrealizetheabsoluterightnessofwhatyouhavesaid.There
arepeopletowhomagreementismonotony.Theyrequirethestimulantofdissensiontocreatedramain
theirlives."

"Exactly."

"MayIaskyou,MissWarren,whatwereyourownfeelingsatthetime?"

AngelaWarrensighed."Mostlybewildermentandhelplessness,Ithink.Itseemedafantasticnightmare.
Caroline was arrested very soon - about three days afterward, I think, I can still remember my
indignation, my dumb fury - and, of course, my childish faith that it was just a silly mistake, that it
wouldbeallright.Carowaschieflyperturbedaboutme-shewantedmekeptrightawayfromitallas
faraspossible.ShegotMissWilliamstotakemeawaytosomerelationsalmostatonce.Thepolicehad
noobjection.Andthen,whenitwasdecidedthatmyevidencewouldnotbeneeded,arrangementswere
madeformetogotoschoolabroad.

"Ihatedgoing,ofcourse.ButitwasexplainedtomethatCarohadmeterriblyonhermindandthatthe
onlywayIcouldhelpherwasbygoing."

Shepaused.Thenshesaid,"SoIwenttoMunich.Iwastherewhen-whentheverdictwasgiven.They
never let me go to see Caro. Caro wouldn't have it. That's the only time, I think, when she failed in

understanding."

"You cannot be sure of that, Miss Warren. To visit someone dearly loved in a prison might make a
terribleimpressiononayoung,sensitivegirl."

"Possibly."

AngelaWarrengotup.Shesaid:"Aftertheverdict,whenshehadbeencondemned,mysisterwroteme
a letter. I have never shown it to anyone. I think I ought to show it to you now. It may help you to
understandthekindofpersonCarolinewas.Ifyoulike,youmaytakeittoshowtoCarla,also."

Shewenttothedoor,thenturningbackshesaid:"Comewithme.ThereisaportraitofCarolineinmy
room."

Forthesecondtime,Poirotstoodgazingupataportrait.

Asapainting,CarolineCrale'sportraitwasmediocre.ButPoirotlookedatitwithinterest-itwasnotits
artisticvaluethatinterestedhim.

He saw a long, oval face, a gracious line of jaw and a sweet, slightly timid expression. It was a face
uncertainofitself,emotional,withawithdrawn,hiddenbeauty.Itlackedtheforcefulnessandvitalityof
her daughter's face - that energy and joy of life Carla Lemarchant had doubtless inherited from her
father.Thiswasalesspositivecreature.Yet,lookingatthepaintedface,HerculePoirotunderstoodwhy
animaginativemanlikeQuentinFogghadnotbeenabletoforgether.

AngelaWarrenstoodathissideagain-aletterinherhand.Shesaidquietly,"Nowthatyouhaveseen
whatshewaslike,readherletter."

HeunfoldeditcarefullyandreadwhatCarolineCralehadwrittensixteenyearsago:

"MydarlinglittleAngela:

"Youwillhearbadnewsandyouwillgrieve,butwhatIwanttoimpressuponyouisthatitisall,all
right. I have never told you lies and I don't now when I say that I am actually happy - that I feel an
essentialrightnessandapeacethatIhaveneverknownbefore.It'sallright,darling;it'sallright.Don't
lookbackandregretandgrieveforme-goonwithyourlifeandsucceed.Youcan,Iknow.It'sall,all

right,darling,andI'mgoingtoAmyas.Ihaven'ttheleastdoubtthatweshallbetogether.Icouldn'thave
livedwithouthim.Dothisonethingforme-behappy.I'vetoldyou-I'mhappy.Onehastopayone's
debts.It'slovelytofeelpeaceful.

"Yourlovingsister,

"Caro."

HerculePoirotreaditthroughtwice.Thenhehandeditback.Hesaid,"Thatisaverybeautifulletter,
mademoiselle-andaveryremarkableone.Averyremarkableone."

"Caroline,"saidAngelaWarren,"wasaveryremarkableperson."

"Yes,anunusualmind.Youtakeitthatthisletterindicatesinnocence?"

"Ofcourseitdoes!"

"Itdoesnotsaysoexplicitly."

"BecauseCarowouldknowthatI'dneverdreamofherbeingguilty!"

"Perhaps - perhaps... But it might be taken another way. In the sense that she was guilty and that in
expiatinghercrimeshewillfindpeace."

It fitted in, he thought, with the description of her in court. And he experienced in this moment the
strongestdoubtshehadyetfeltofthecoursetowhichhehadcommittedhimself.Everythingsofarhad
pointedunswervinglytoCarolineCrale'sguilt.Nowevenherownwordstestifiedagainsther.

On the other side was only the unshaken conviction of Angela Warren. Angela had known her well,
undoubtedly,butmightnothercertaintybethefanaticalloyaltyofanadolescentgirl,upinarmsfora
dearlylovedsister?

AsthoughshehadreadhisthoughtsAngelasaid,"No,M.Poirot-IknowCarolinewasn'tguilty."

Poirot said briskly: "The bon Dieu knows I do not want ito shake you on that point. But let us be
practical.Yousayyoursisterwasnotguilty.Verywell,then,whatreallyhappened?"

Angela nodded thoughtfully. "That is difficult, I agree," she said. "I suppose that, as Caroline said,
Amyascommittedsuicide."

"Isthatlikelyfromwhatyouknowofhischaracter?"

"Veryunlikely."

"Butyoudonotsay,asinthefirstcase,thatyouknowitisimpossible?"

"No,because,asIsaidjustnow,mostpeopledodoimpossiblethings-thatistosay,thingsthatseem
outofcharacter.ButIpresume,ifyouknowthemintimately,itwouldn'tbeoutofcharacter."

"Youknewyourbrother-in-lawwell?"

"Yes,butnotlikeIknewCaro.ItseemstomequitefantasticthatAmyasshouldhavekilledhimself,but
Isupposehecouldhavedoneso.Infact,hemusthavedoneso."

"Youcannotseeanyotherexplanation?"

Angelaacceptedthesuggestioncalmly,butnotwithoutacertainstirringofinterest.

"Oh, I see what you mean... I've never really considered that possibility. You mean one of the other
peoplekilledhim?Thatitwasadeliberatecold-bloodedmurder?..."

"Itmighthavebeen,mightitnot?"

"Yes,itmighthavebeen...Butitcertainlyseemsveryunlikely."

"Moreunlikelythansuicide?"

"That'sdifficulttosay...Onthefaceofit,therewasnoreasonforsuspectinganybodyelse.Thereisn't
nowwhenIlookback..."

"Allthesame,letusconsiderthepossibility.Whoofthoseintimatelyconcernedwouldyousaywas-
shallwesaythemostlikelyperson?"

"Let me think. Well, I didn't kill him. And the Elsa creature certainly didn't. She was mad with rage
whenhedied.Whoelsewasthere?MeredithBlake?HewasalwaysverydevotedtoCaroline,quitea
tame cat about the house. I suppose that might give him a motive in a way. In a book he might have
wanted to get Amyas out of the way so that he himself could marry Caroline. But he could have
achievedthatjustaswellbylettingAmyasgooffwithElsaandtheninduetimeconsolingCaroline.
Besides,Ireallycan'tseeMeredithasamurderer.Toomildandtoocautious.Whoelsewasthere?"

"MissWilliams?PhilipBlake?"Poirotsuggested.

Angela's grave face relaxed into a smile. "Miss Williams? One can't really make oneself believe that
one's governess could commit a murder! Miss Williams was always so unyielding and so full of
rectitude."

She paused a minute and then went on. "She was devoted to Caroline, of course. Would have done
anythingforher.AndshehatedAmyas.Shewasagreatfeministanddislikedmen.Isthatenoughfor
murder?Surelynot."

"Itwouldhardlyseemso,"agreedPoirot.

Angelawenton."PhilipBlake?"Shewassilentforsomefewmoments.Thenshesaidquietly,"Ithink,
youknow,ifwe'rejusttalkingoflikelihoods,he'sthemostlikelyperson."

Poirotsaid,"Youinterestmeverymuch,MissWarren.MayIaskwhyyousaythat?"

"Nothing at all definite. But from what I remember of him, I should say he was a person of rather
limitedimagination."

"Andalimitedimaginationpredisposesyoutomurder?"

"It might lead you to take a crude way of settling your difficulties. Men of that type get a certain

satisfactionfromactionofsomekindorother.Murderisaverycrudebusiness,don'tyouthinkso?"

"Yes-Ithinkyouareright...Itisdefinitelyapointofview,that.But,allthesame,MissWarren,there
mustbemoretoitthanthat.WhatmotivecouldPhilipBlakepossiblyhavehad?"

AngelaWarrendidnotansweratonce.Shestoodfrowningdownatthefloor.

HerculePoirotsaid,"HewasAmyasCrale'sbestfriend,washenot?"

Shenodded.

"Butthereissomethinginyourmind,MissWarren.Somethingthatyouhavenotyettoldme.Werethe
twomenrivals,perhaps,overthegirl-overElsa?"

AngelaWarrenshookherhead."Oh,no,notPhilip."

"Whatisthere,then?"

AngelaWarrensaidslowly,"Doyouknowthewaythatthingssuddenlycomebacktoyou-afteryears,
perhaps.I'llexplainwhatImean.Somebodytoldmeastoryonce,whenIwaseleven.Isawnopointin
thatstorywhatsoever.Itdidn'tworryme-itjustpassedstraightovermyhead.Idon'tbelieveIever,as
they say, thought of it again. But about two years ago, sitting in the stalls at a revue, that story came
backtome,andIwassosurprisedthatIactuallysaidaloud,'Oh,nowIseethepointofthatsillystory
about the rice pudding.' And yet there had been no direct allusion on the same lines - only some fun
sailingrathernearthewind."

Poirotsaid,"Iunderstandwhatyoumean,mademoiselle."

"ThenyouwillunderstandwhatIamgoingtotellyou.Iwasoncestayingatahotel.AsIwalkedalong
apassageoneofthebedroomdoorsopenedandawomanIknewcameout.Itwasnotherbedroom-
andsheregisteredthefactplainlyonherfacewhenshesawme.

"AndIknewthenthemeaningoftheexpressionIhadonceseenonCaroline'sfacewhenatAlderbury
shecameoutofPhilipBlake'sroomonenight."

Sheleanedforward,stoppingPoirot'swords."Ihadnoideaatthetime,youunderstand.Iknewthings-
girlsoftheageIwasusuallydo-butIdidn'tconnectthemwithreality.CarolinecomingoutofPhilip
Blake's bedroom was just Caroline coming out of Philip Blake's bedroom to me. It might have been
Miss Williams's room or my room. But what I did notice was the expression on her face - a queer
expressionthatIdidn'tknowandcouldn'tunderstand.Ididn'tunderstandituntil,asIhavetoldyou,the
nightinPariswhenIsawthatsameexpressiononanotherwoman'sface."

Poirotsaidslowly:"Butwhatyoutellme,MissWarren,issufficientlyastonishing.FromPhilipBlake
himselfIgottheimpressionthathedislikedyoursisterandalwayshad."

"Iknow,"Angelasaid."Ican'texplainit,butthereitis."

Poirotnoddedslowly.Already,inhisinterviewwithPhilipBlake,hehadfeltvaguelythatsomething
didnotringtrue.ThatoverdoneanimosityagainstCaroline;ithadnot,somehow,beennatural.

AndwordsandphrasesfromhisconversationwithMeredithBlakecamebacktohim:"Veryupsetwhen
Amyasmarried-didnotgonearthemforoverayear."

HadPhilip,then,alwaysbeeninlovewithCaroline?Andhadhislove,whenshechoseAmyas,turned
tobitterandhate?

Yes, Philip had been too vehement, too biased. Poirot visualized him thoughtfully - the cheerful,
prosperousmanwithhisgolfandhiscomfortablehouse.WhathadPhilipreallyfeltsixteenyearsago?

AngelaWarrenwasspeaking:

"Idon'tunderstandit.Yousee,I'venoexperienceinloveaffairs-theyhaven'tcomemyway.I'vetold
youthisforwhatit'sworthincaseitmighthaveabearingonwhathappened."

Chapter7

TheNarrativeofPhilipBlake

(Coveringletterreceivedwithmanuscript)

DearM.Poirot:

Iamfulfillingmypromiseandherewithfindenclosedanaccountoftheeventsrelatingtothedeathof
AmyasCrale.AftersuchalapseoftimeIamboundtopointoutthatmymemoriesmaynotbestrictly
accurate,butIhaveputdownwhatoccurredtothebestofmyrecollection.

Yourstruly,

PhilipBlake.

NotesonProgressofEventsleadinguptoMurderofAmyasCraleon18thSept.19--

Myfriendshipwithdeceaseddatesbacktoaveryearlyperiod.Hishomeandminewerenextdoorto
eachotherinthecountryandourfamilieswerefriends.AmyasCralewasalittleovertwoyearsolder
thanIwas.Weplayedtogetherasboys,intheholidays,thoughwewerenotatthesameschool.

FromthepointofviewofmylongknowledgeofthemanIfeelmyselfparticularlyqualifiedtotestify
astohischaracterandgeneraloutlookonlife.AndIwillsaythisstraightaway-toanyonewhoknew
Amyas Crale well, the notion of his committing suicide is quite ridiculous. Crale would never have
takenhisownlife.Hewasfartoofondofliving!ThecontentionofthedefenseatthetrialthatCrale
wasobsessedbyconscience,andtookpoisoninafitofremorseisutterlyabsurd.

Crale, I should say, had very little conscience, and certainly not a morbid one. Moreover, he and his
wifewereonbadtermsandIdon'tthinkhewouldhavehadanyunduescruplesaboutbreakingupwhat
was,tohim,averyunsatisfactorymarriedlife.Hewaspreparedtolookafterherfinancialwelfareand
thatofthechildofthemarriage,andIamsurewouldhavedonesogenerously.Hewasaverygenerous
man,andaltogetherawarm-heartedandtolovableperson.Notonlywasheagreatpainter,buthewas
alsoamanwhosefriendsweredevotedtohim.AsfarasIknowhehadnoenemies.

I had also known Caroline Crale for many years. I knew her before her marriage, when she used to
comeandstayatAlderbury.Shewasthenasomewhatneuroticgirl,subjecttouncontrollableoutbursts
oftemper,notwithoutattraction,butunquestionablyadifficultpersontolivewith.

SheshowedherdevotiontoAmyasalmostimmediately.He,Ithink,wasnotreallyverymuchinlove
with her. But they were frequently thrown together. She was, as I say, attractive, and they eventually
became engaged. Crale's friends were apprehensive about the marriage, as they felt that Caroline was
quiteunsuitedtohim.

ThiscausedacertainamountofstraininthefirstfewyearsbetweenCrale'swifeandCrale'sfriends,but
Amyas was a loyal friend and was not disposed to give up his old friends at the bidding of his wife.
AfterafewyearsheandIwereonthesameoldtermsandIwasafrequentvisitoratAlderbury.Imay
add that I stood godfather to the little girl, Carla. This proves, I think, that Amyas considered me his
bestfriend,anditgivesmeauthoritytospeakforamanwhocannolongerspeakforhimself.

TocometotheactualeventsofwhichIhavebeenaskedtowrite,IarriveddownatAlderbury(soIsee
byanolddiary)fivedaysbeforethecrime.Thatis,onSeptember13th.Iwasconsciousatonceofa
certaintensionintheatmosphere.TherewasalsostayinginthehouseMissElsaGreer,whomAmyas
waspaintingatthetime.

ItwasthefirsttimeIhadseenMissGreerintheflesh,butIhadbeenawareofherexistenceforsome
time.Amyashadravedabouthertomeamonthpreviously.Hehadmet,hesaid,amarvelousgirl.He
talkedabouthersoenthusiasticallythatIsaidtohimjokingly,"Becareful,oldboy,oryou'llbelosing
yourheadagain."Hetoldmenottobeabloodyfool.Hewaspaintingthegirl;he'dnopersonalinterest
inher.Isaid,"Tellthattothemarines!I'veheardyousaythatbefore."Hesaid,"Thistimeit'sdifferent,"
towhichIansweredsomewhatcynically,'Italwaysis!"Amyasthenlookedquiteworriedandanxious.
Hesaid,"Youdon'tunderstand.She'sjustagirl.Notmuchmorethanachild."Headdedthatshehad
verymodernviewsandwasabsolutelyfreefromold-fashionedprejudices.Hesaid,"She'shonestand
naturalandabsolutelyfearless!"

Ithoughttomyself,thoughIdidn'tsayso,thatAmyashadcertainlygotitbadlythistime.Afewweeks
later I heard comments from other people. It was said that the Greer girl was absolutely infatuated.
SomebodyelsesaidthatitwasabitthickofAmyas,consideringhowyoungthegirlwas,whereupon
somebodyelsesnickeredandsaidthatElsaGreerknewherwayabout,allright.

TherewasaquestionastowhatCrale'swifethoughtaboutit,andthesignificantreplythatshemustbe
used to that sort of thing by now, to which someone demurred by saying they'd heard that she was
jealousashellandledCralesuchanimpossiblelifethatanymanwouldbejustifiedinhavingafling
fromtimetotime.

ImentionallthisbecauseIthinkitisimportantthatthestateofaffairsbeforeIgotdownthereshould
befullyrealized.

Iwasinterestedtoseethegirl.Shewasremarkablygood-lookingandveryattractive,andIwas,Imust
admit,maliciouslyamusedtonotethatCarolinewascuttingupveryroughindeed.

AmyasCralehimselfwaslesslightheartedthanusual.Thoughtoanyonewhodidnotknowhimwell,
hismannerwouldhaveappearedmuchasusual,I,whoknewhimsointimately,notedatoncevarious

signsofstrain,uncertaintemper,fitsofmoodyabstraction,generalirritabilityofmanner.

Althoughhewasalwaysinclinedtobemoodywhenpainting,thepicturehewasatworkupondidnot
accountentirelyforthestrainheshowed.Hewaspleasedtoseemeandsaidassoonaswewerealone,
"Thankgoodnessyou'veturnedup,Phil.Livinginahousewithfourwomenisenoughtosendanyman
cleanoffhischump.Betweenthemall,they'llsendmeintoalunaticasylum."

Itwascertainlyanuncomfortableatmosphere.Caroline,asIsaid,wasobviouslycuttinguproughabout
the whole thing. In a polite, well-bred way, she was ruder to Elsa than one would believe possible -
withoutasingleactuallyoffensiveword.ElsaherselfwasopenlyandflagrantlyrudetoCaroline.She
wastopdogandsheknewit,andnoscruplesofgoodbreedingrestrainedherfromovertbadmanners.

TheresultwasthatCralespentmostofhistimescrappingwiththegirlAngelawhenhewasn'tpainting.
They were usually on affectionate terms, though they teased and fought a good deal. But on this
occasion there was an edge in everything Amyas said or did, and the two of them really lost their
temperswitheachother.Thefourthmemberofthepartywasthegoverness."Asour-facedhag,"Amyas
calledher."Shehatesmelikepoison.Sitstherewithherlipssettogether,disapprovingofmewithout
stopping."

It was then that he said, "Damn all women! If a man is to have any peace he must steer clear of
women!"

"Yououghtn'ttohavemarried,"Isaid."You'rethesortofmanwhooughttohavekeptclearofdomestic
ties."

Herepliedthatitwastoolatetotalkaboutthatnow.HeaddedthatnodoubtCarolinewouldbeonlytoo
gladtogetridofhim.ThatwasthefirstindicationIhadthatsomethingunusualwasinthewind.

Isaid:"What'sallthis?IsthisbusinesswiththelovelyElsaserious,then?"Hesaidwithasortofgroan:
"Sheislovely,isn'tshe?SometimesIwishI'dneverseenher."

Isaid:"Lookhere,oldboy,youmusttakeaholdonyourself.Youdon'twanttogettiedupwithany
more women." He looked at me and laughed. He said: "It's all very well for you to talk. I can't let
womenalone-simplycan'tdoit-andifIcouldtheywouldn'tletmealone!"Thenheshruggedthose
greatshouldersofhis,grinnedatme,andsaid:"Oh,well,itwillallpanoutintheend,Iexpect.And
youmustadmitthepictureisgood!"

He was referring to the portrait he was doing of Elsa, and, although I had very little technical

knowledgeofpainting,evenIcouldseethatitwasgoingtobeaworkofespecialpower.

While he was painting, Amyas was a different man. Although he would growl, groan, frown, swear
extravagantlyandsometimeshurlhisbrushesaway,hewasreallyintenselyhappy.

Itwasonlywhenhecamebacktothehouseformealsthatthehostileatmospherebetweenthewomen
got him down. That hostility came to a head on September 17th. We had had an embarrassing lunch.
Elsa had been particularly - really, I think insolent is the only word for it! She had ignored Caroline
pointedly, persistently addressing the conversation to Amyas as though he and she were alone in the
room.Carolinehadtalkedlightlyandgailytotherestofus,cleverlycontrivingsothatseveralperfectly
innocent-soundingremarksshouldhaveasting.Shehadn'tElsaGreer'sscornfulhonesty-withCaroline
everythingwasoblique,suggestedratherthansaid.

Things came to a head after lunch in the drawing-room just as we were finishing coffee. I had
commentedonacarvedheadinhighlypolishedbeechwood-averycuriousthing-andCarolinesaid,
"ThatistheworkofayoungNorwegiansculptor.AmyasandIadmirehisworkverymuch.Wehopeto
go and see him next summer." That calm assumption of possession was too much for Elsa. She was
never one to let a challenge pass. She waited a minute or two and then she spoke in her clear, rather
overemphasizedvoice.

Shesaid,"Thiswouldbealovelyroomifitwereproperlyfixed.It'sgotfartoomuchfurnitureinit.
WhenI'mlivinghereIshalltakealltherubbishoutandjustleaveoneortwogoodpieces.AndIshall
have copper-colored curtains, I think - so that the setting sun will just catch them through that big
westernwindow."Sheturnedtomeandsaid,"Don'tyouthinkthatwouldberatherlovely?"

I didn't have time to answer. Caroline spoke and her voice was soft and silky and what I can only
describeasdangerous.Shesaid,"Areyouthinkingofbuyingthisplace,Elsa?"

Elsasaid,"Itwon'tbenecessaryformetobuyit."

Caroline said, "What do you mean?" And there was no softness in her voice now. It was hard and
metallic.Elsalaughed.Shesaid,"Mustwepretend?Come,now,Caroline,youknowverywellwhatI
mean!"

Carolinesaid,"I'venoidea."

Elsasaidtothat,"Don'tbesuchanostrich.It'snogoodpretendingyoudon'tseeandknowallaboutit.
AmyasandIcareforeachother.Thisisn'tyourhome.It'shis.Andafterwe'remarriedIshalllivehere

withhim!"

Carolinesaid,"Ithinkyou'recrazy."

Elsasaid,"Oh,no,I'mnot,mydear,andyouknowit.Itwouldbemuchsimplerifwewerehonestwith
eachother.AmyasandIloveeachother;you'veseenthatclearlyenough.There'sonlyonedecentthing
foryoutodo.You'vegottogivehimhisfreedom."

Carolinesaid,"Idon'tbelieveawordofwhatyouaresaying."

Buthervoicewasunconvincing.Elsahadgotunderherguard,allright.

AndatthatminuteAmyasCralecameintotheroom,andElsasaidwithalaugh,"Ifyoudon'tbelieve
me,askhim."

AndCarolinesaid,"Iwill."

Shedidn'tpauseatall.Shesaid,"Amyas,Elsasaysyouwanttomarryher.Isthistrue?"

PooroldAmyas.Ifeltsorryforhim.Itmakesamanfeelafooltohaveasceneofthatkindforcedupon
him. He went crimson and started blustering. He turned on Elsa and asked her why the devil she
couldn'thaveheldhertongue.

Carolinesaid,"Thenitistrue?"

Hedidn'tsayanything,juststoodtherepassinghisfingerroundinsidetheneckofhisshirt.Heusedto
do that as a kid when he got into a jam of any kind. He said - and he tried to make the words sound
dignifiedandauthoritative-andofcoursecouldn'tmanageit,poordevil:

"Idon'twanttodiscussit."

Carolinesaid,"Butwe'regoingtodiscussit!"

Elsachippedinandsaid,"Ithinkit'sonlyfairtoCarolinethatsheshouldbetold."

"Isittrue,Amyas?"Carolinesaidveryquietly.

Helookedabitashamedofhimself.Likemendowhenwomenpinthemdowninacorner.

Shesaid,"Answerme,please.I'vegottoknow."

Heflunguphisheadthen,ratherthewayabulldoesinthebullring.Hesnappedout,"It'strueenough,
butIdon'twanttodiscussitnow."

Andheturnedandstrodeoutoftheroom.Iwentafterhim.Ididn'twanttobeleftwiththewomen.I
caughtupwithhimontheterrace.Hewasswearing.Ineverknewamantoswearmoreheartily.Then
heraved.

"Whycouldn'tsheholdhertongue?Whythedevilcouldn'tsheholdhertongue?Nowthefat'sinthe
fire.AndI'vegottofinishthatpicture-doyouhear,Phil?It'sthebestthingI'vedone.Thebestthing
I'veeverdoneinmylife.Andacoupleoffoolwomenwanttomuckitupbetweenthem!"

Thenhecalmeddownalittleandsaidwomenhadnosenseofproportion.

Icouldn'thelpsmilingalittle.Isaid,"Well,dashitall,oldboy,youhavebroughtthisonyourself."

"Don'tIknowit?"hesaid,andgroaned.Thenheadded,"Butyoumustadmit,Phil,thatamancouldn't
beblamedforlosinghisheadabouther.EvenCarolineoughttounderstandthat."

IaskedhimwhatwouldhappenifCarolinegotherbackupandrefusedtogivehimadivorce.

Butbynowhehadgoneoffintoafitofabstraction.Irepeatedtheremark,andhesaidabsently,

"Carolinewouldneverbevindictive.Youdon'tunderstand,oldboy."

"There'sthechild,"Ipointedout.

He took me by the arm. "Phil, old boy, you mean well, but don't go on croaking like a raven. I can

managemyaffairs.Everythingwillturnoutallright.You'llseeifitdoesn't."

ThatwasAmyasallover-anabsolutelyunjustifiedoptimist.Hesaidnow,cheerfully,"Tohellwiththe
wholepackofthem!"

Idon'tknowwhetherwewouldhavesaidanythingmore,butafewminuteslaterCarolinesweptouton
theterrace.Shehadahaton-aqueer,flopping,dark-brownhat,ratherattractive.

She said in an absolutely ordinary, everyday voice, "Take off that paint-stained coat, Amyas. We're
goingovertoMeredith'stotea-don'tyouremember?"

Hestared,stammeredabitashesaid,"Oh,I'dforgotten.Yes,ofc-c-courseweare."

"Then,"shesaid,"goandtryandmakeyourselflooklesslikearag-and-boneman."

Althoughhervoicewasquitenatural,shedidn'tlookathim.Shemovedovertowardabedofdahlias
andbeganpickingoffsomeoftheoverblownflowers.

Amyasturnedaroundslowlyandwentintothehouse.

Carolinetalkedtome.Shetalkedagooddeal.Aboutthechancesoftheweatherlasting.Andwhether
there might he mackerel about and, if so, Amyas and Angela and I might like to go fishing. She was
reallyamazing.I'vegottohandittoher.

ButIthink,myself,thatthatshowedthesortofwomanshewas.Shehadenormousstrengthofwilland
completecommandoverherself.Idon'tknowwhethershe'dmadeuphermindtokillhimthen,butI
shouldn'tbesurprised.Andshewascapableofmakingherplanscarefullyandunemotionally,withan
absolutelyclearandruthlessmind.

CarolineCralewasaverydangerouswoman.Ioughttohaverealizedthenthatshewasn'tpreparedto
take this thing lying down. But, like a fool, I thought that she had made up her mind to accept the
inevitable-orelsepossiblyshethoughtthatifshecarriedonexactlyasusualAmyasmightchangehis
mind.

Presentlytheotherscameout.Elsalookingdefiant,butatthesametimetriumphant.Carolinetookno
notice of her. Angela really saved the situation. She came out arguing with Miss Williams that she

wasn't going to change her skirt for anyone. It was quite all right - good enough for darling old
Meredith,anyway-henevernoticedanything.

We got off at last. Caroline walked with Angela. And I walked with Amyas. And Elsa walked by
herself,smiling.

Ididntadmireher,myself-tooviolentatype-butIhavetoadmitthatshelookedincrediblybeautiful
thatafternoon.Womendowhentheywegotwhattheywant.

I can't remember the events of that afternoon clearly at all. It's all blurred. I remember old Merry
comingouttomeetus.Ithinkwewalkedaroundthegardenfirst.Irememberhavingalongdiscussion
withAngelaaboutthetrainingofterriersforratting.Sheateanincrediblelotofapples,too,andtriedto
persuademetodoso,too.

When we got back to the house, tea was going on under the big cedar tree. Merry, I remember, was
looking very upset. I suppose either Caroline or Amyas had told him something. He was looking
doubtfully at Caroline, and then he stared at Elsa. The old boy looked thoroughly upset. Of course,
CarolinelikedtohaveMeredithonastringmoreorless-thedevoted,platonicfriendwhowouldnever,
nevergotoofar.Shewasthatkindofwoman.

AfterteaMeredithhadahurriedwordwithme.Hesaid,"Lookhere,Phil,Amyascan'tdothisthing!"

Isaid,"Makenomistake,he'sgoingtodoit."

"He can't leave his wife and child and go off with this girl. He's years older than she is. She can't be
morethaneighteen."

IsaidtohimthatMissGreerwasafullysophisticatedtwenty.Hesaid,"Anyway,that'sunderage.She
can'tknowwhatshe'sdoing."

PooroldMeredith.Alwaysthechivalrouspuckasahib.

Isaid,"Don'tworry,oldboy.Sheknowswhatshesdoingandshelikesit!"

That's all we had the chance of saying. I thought to myself that probably Merry felt disturbed at the
thoughtofCaroline'sbeingadesertedwife.Oncethedivorcewasthroughshemightexpectherfaithful

Dobbintomarryher.Ihadanideathathopelessdevotionwasreallyfarmoreinhisline.Imustconfess
thatthatsideofitamusedme.

Curiouslyenough,IrememberverylittleaboutourvisittoMeredith'sstinkroom.Heenjoyedshowing
people his hobby. Personally I always found it very boring. I suppose I was in there with the rest of
themwhenhegaveadissertationontheefficacyofconiine,butIdon'trememberit.AndIdidn'tsee
Carolinepinchthestuff.AsI'vesaid,shewasaveryadroitwoman.IdorememberMeredithreading
aloudthepassagefromPlatodescribingSocrates'sdeath.Veryboring,Ithoughtit.Classicsalwaysdid
boreme.

There'snothingmuchmoreIcanrememberaboutthatday.AmyasandAngelahadafirst-classrow,I
know,andtherestofusratherwelcomedit.Itavoidedotherdifficulties.Angelarushedofftobedwitha
finalvituperativeoutburst.Shesaid,A,she'dpayhimout;B,shewishedheweredead;C,shehoped
he'ddieofleprosy-itwouldservehimright;D,shewishedasausagewouldsticktohisnose,likein
thefairystory,andnevercomeoff.Whenshe'dgonewealllaughed-wecouldn'thelpit,itwassucha
funnymixture.

Carolinewentuptobedimmediatelyafterward.MissWilliamsdisappearedafterherpupil.Amyasand
Elsawentofftogetherintothegarden.ItwasclearthatIwasn'twanted.Iwentforastrollbymyself.It
wasalovelynight.

Icamedownlatethefollowingmorning.Therewasnooneinthedining-room.Funny,thethingsyou
do remember. I remember the taste of the kidneys and bacon I ate quite well. They were very good
kidneys.Deviled.

AfterwardIwanderedoutlookingforeverybody.Iwentoutside,didn'tseeanybody,smokedacigarette,
encounteredMissWilliamsrunningaboutlookingforAngela,whohadplayedtruantasusualwhenshe
oughttohavebeenmendingatornfrock.IwentbackintothehallandrealizedthatAmyasandCaroline
werehavingaset-tointhelibrary.Theyweretalkingveryloud.Iheardhersay:

"You and your women! I'd like to kill you. Some day I will kill you." Amyas said, "Don't be a fool,
Caroline."Andshesaid,"Imeanit,Amyas."

Well,Ididn'twanttooverhearanymore.Iwentoutagain.Iwanderedalongtheterracetheotherway
andcameacrossElsa.

She was sitting on one of the long seats. The seat was directly under the library window, and the
windowwasopen.Ishouldimaginethattherewasn'tmuchshehadmissedofwhatwasgoingoninside.
Whenshesawmeshegotupascoolasacucumberandcametowardme.Shewassmiling.

Shetookmyarmandsaid,"Isn'titalovelymorning?"

Itwasalovelymorningforher,allright!Ratheracruelgirl.No,Ithinkmerelyhonestandlackingin
imagination.Whatshewantedherselfwastheonlythingthatshecouldsee.

We'dbeenstandingontheterrace,talkingforaboutfiveminuteswhenIheardthelibrarydoorbangand
AmyasCralecameout.Hewasveryredintheface.

HecaughtholdofElsaunceremoniouslybytheshoulder.Hesaid,"Comeon;timeforyoutosit.Iwant
togetonwiththatpicture."

Shesaid,"Allright.I'lljustgoupandgetapullover.There'sachillywind."

Shewentintothehouse.

IwonderedifAmyaswouldsayanythingtome,buthedidn'tsaymuch.Just,"Thesewomen!"

Isaid,"Cheerup,oldboy!"

ThenneitherofussaidanythingtillElsacameoutofthehouseagain.

TheywentofftogetherdowntotheBatteryGarden.Iwentintothehouse.Carolinewasstandinginthe
hall.Idon'tthinksheevennoticedme.Itwasawayofhersattimes.She'dseemtogorightaway-to
getinsideherselfasitwere.Shejustmurmuredsomething.Nottome-toherself.Icaught,thewords:

"It'stoocruel..."

That's what she said. Then she walked past me and upstairs, still without seeming to see me - like a
personintentonsomeinnervision.Ithinkmyself(I'venoauthorityforsayingthis,youunderstand)that
shewentuptogetthestuff,andthatitwasthenshedecidedtodowhatshediddo.

Andjustatthatmomentthetelephonerang.Insomehousesonewouldwaitfortheservantstoanswer
it,butIwassooftenatAlderburythatIactedmoreorlessasoneofthefamily.Ipickedupthereceiver.

ItwasmybrotherMeredithsvoicethatanswered.Hewasveryupset.Heexplainedthathehadbeen
intohislaboratoryandthattheconiinebottlewashalfempty.

Idon'tneedtogoagainoverallthethingsIknownowIoughttohavedone.Thethingwassostartling,
andIwasfoolishenoughtobetakenaback.Meredithwasditheringagoodbitattheotherend.Iheard
someoneonthestairsandIjusttoldhimsharplytocomeoveratonce.

Imyselfwentdowntomeethim.Incaseyoudon'tknowthelayoftheland,theshortestwayfromone
estatetotheotherwasbyrowingacrossasmallcreek.Iwentdownthepathtowheretheboatswere
kept by a small jetty. To do so I passed under the wall of the Battery Garden. I could hear Elsa and
Amyastalkingtogetherashepainted.Theysoundedverycheerfulandcarefree.

Amyassaiditwasanamazinglyhotday(soitwas,veryhotforSeptember),andElsasaidthatsitting
whereshewas,poisedonthebattlements,therewasacoldwindblowinginfromthesea.Andthenshe
said,"I'mhorriblystifffromposing.Can'tIhavearest,darling?"AndIheardAmyascryout,"Noton
yourlife!Stickit!You'reatoughgirl.Andthisisgoinggood,Itellyou."IjustheardElsasay,"Brute,"
andlaugh,asIwentoutofearshot.

Meredithwasjustrowinghimselfacrossfromtheotherside.Iwaitedforhim.Hetieduptheboatand
came up the steps. He was looking very white and worried. He said to me, "Your head's better than
mine,Philip.WhatoughtItodo?Thatstuff'sdangerous."

Isaid,"Areyouabsolutelysureaboutthis?"Meredith,yousee,wasalwaysratheravaguekindofchap.
Perhapsthat'swhyIdidn'ttakeitasseriouslyasIoughttohavedone.Andhesaidhewasquitesure.
Thebottlehadbeenfullyesterdayafternoon.

Isaid,"Andyou'veabsolutelynoideawhopinchedit?"

HesaidnonewhateverandaskedmewhatIthought.Couldithavebeenoneoftheservants?IsaidI
supposeditmighthavebeen,butitseemedunlikelytome.Healwayskeptthedoorlocked,didn'the?
Always,hesaid,andthenbeganarigmaroleabouthavingfoundthewindowafewinchesopenatthe
bottom.Someonemighthavegotinthatway.

"Achanceburglar?"Iasked."Itseemstome,Meredith,thattherearesomeverynastypossibilities."

HeaskedwhatdidIreallythink?AndIsaid,ifhewassurehewasn'tmakingamistake,thatprobably
CarolinehadtakenittopoisonElsawith-orthat,alternatively,ElsahadtakenittogetCarolineoutof

thewayandstraightenthepathoftruelove.

Meredithtwitteredabit.Hesaiditwasabsurdandmelodramaticandcouldn'tbetrue.Isaid,"Well,the
stuff's gone. What's your explanation?" He hadn't any, of course. Actually thought just as I did, but
didn'twanttofacethefact.

Hesaidagain,"Whatarewetodo?"

Isaid,stupidfoolthatIwas,"Wemustthinkitovercarefully.Eitheryou'dbetterannounceyourloss,
straightoutwheneverybody'sthere,orelseyou'dbettergetCarolinealoneandtaxherwithit.Ifyou're
convincedshehasnothingtodowithit,adoptthesametacticsforElsa."Hesaid,"Agirllikethat!She
couldn'thavetakenit."IsaidIwouldn'tputitpasther.

Wewerewalkingupthepathtothehouseaswetalked.AswewereroundingtheBatteryGardenagain
IheardCaroline'svoice.

I thought perhaps a three-handed row was going on, but actually it was Angela that they were
discussing. Caroline was protesting. She said, "It s very hard on the girl." And Amyas made some
impatientrejoinder.Thenthedoortothegardenopenedjustaswecameabreastofit.Amyaslookeda
little taken aback at seeing us. Caroline was just coming out. She said, "Hullo, Meredith. We've been
discussing the question of Angela's going to school. I'm not at all sure it s the right thing for her."
Amyassaid,"Don'tfussaboutthegirl.She'llbeallright.Goodriddance."

JustthenElsacamerunningdownthepathfromthehouse.Shehadsomesortofscarletjumperinher
hand.Amyasgrowled,"Comealong!Getbackintothepose!Idon'twanttowastetime."

Hewentbacktowherehiseaselwasstanding.InoticedthathestaggeredabitandIwonderedifhehad
beendrinking.Amanmighteasilybeexcusedfordoingsowithallthefussandthescenes.

Hegrumbled:"Thebeerhereisred-hot.Whycan'twekeepsomeicedownhere?"

AndCarolineCralesaid:"I'llsendyoudownsomebeerjustofftheice."

Amyasgruntedout:"Thanks."

ThenCarolineshutthedooroftheBatteryGardenandcameupwithustothehouse.Wesatdownon

theterraceandshewentintothehouse.AboutfiveminuteslaterAngelacamealongwithacoupleof
bottlesofbeerandsomeglasses.Itwasahotdayandweweregladtoseeit.

AsweweredrinkingitCarolinepassedus.Shewascarryinganotherbottleandsaidshewouldtakeit
downtoAmyas.Meredithsaidhe'dgo,butshewasquitefirmthatshe'dgoherself.Ithought-foolthat
Iwas-thatitwasjustherjealousy.Shecouldn'tstandthosetwobeingalonedownthere.Thatwaswhat
hadtakenherdownthereoncealreadywiththeweakpretextofarguingaboutAngela'sdeparture.

Shewentoffdownthatzigzagpath,andMeredithandIwatchedhergo.We'dstillnotdecidedanything,
and now Angela clamored that I should come bathing with her. It seemed impossible to get Meredith
alone.Ijustsaidtohim,"Afterlunch."Andhenodded.

ThenIwentoffbathingwithAngela.Wehadagoodswim-acrossthecreekandback-andthenwelay
out on the rocks, sun-bathing. Angela was a bit taciturn, and that suited me. I made up my mind that
directlyafterlunchI'dtakeCarolineasideandaccuseherpoint-blankofhavingstolenthestuff.Nouse
lettingMeredithdoit-he'dbetooweak.No,I'dtaxherwithitoutright.Afterthatshe'dhavetogiveit
backor,evenifshedidn't,shewouldn'tdareuseit.

I was pretty sure it must be her on thinking things over. Elsa was far too sensible and hard-boiled a
youngwomantorisktamperingwithpoisons.Shehadahardheadandwouldtakecareofherownskin.
Caroline was made of more dangerous stuff - unbalanced, carried away by impulses and definitely
neurotic.Andstill,youknow,atthebackofmymind,wasthefeelingthatMeredithmighthavemadea
mistake.Orsomeservantmighthavebeenpokingaboutinthereandspilledthestuffandthennotdared
toownup.Yousee,poisonseemssuchamelodramaticthing-youcan'tbelieveinit.

Nottillithappens.

ItwasquitelatewhenIlookedatmywatch,andAngelaandIfairlyraceduptolunch.Theywerejust
sittingdown-allbutAmyas,whohadremaineddownintheBatterypainting.Quiteausualthingfor
himtodo,andprivatelyIthoughthimverywisetoelecttodoittoday.Lunchwaslikelytohavebeen
anawkwardmeal.

Wehadcoffeeontheterrace.IwishIcouldrememberbetterhowCarolinelookedandacted.Shedidn't
seemexcitedinanyway.Quietandrathersadismyimpression.Whatadevilthatwomanwas!

Foritisadevilishthingtodo-topoisonamanincoldblood.Iftherehadbeenarevolveraboutand
she'dcaughtitupandshothim-well,thatmighthavebeenunderstandable.Butthiscold,deliberate,
vindictivepoisoning-andsocalmandcollected.

She got up and said, in the most natural way possible, that she'd take his coffee to him. And yet she
knew-shemusthaveknown-thatbynowshe'dfindhimdead.MissWilliamswentwithher.Idon't
rememberifthatwasatCaroline'ssuggestionornot.Iratherthinkitwas.

The two women went off together. Meredith strolled away shortly afterward. I was just making an
excusetogoafterhimwhenhecamerunningupthepathagain.Hisfacewasgray.Hegaspedout,"We
mustgetadoctor-quick-Amyas-"

Isprangup."Isheill-dying?"

Meredithsaid,"I'mafraidhe'sdead..."

We'dforgottenElsaforaminute.Butsheletoutasuddencry.Itwaslikethewailofabanshee.

Shecried,"Dead?Dead?..."Andthensheran.Ididn'tknowanyonecouldmovelikethat-likeadeer,
likeastrickenthing,andlikeanavengingfury,too.

Meredithpantedout:"Goafterher.I'lltelephone.Goafterher.Youdon'tknowwhatshe'lldo."

I did go after her - and it's as well I did. She might quite easily have killed Caroline. I've never seen
suchgriefandsuchfrenziedhate.Alltheveneerofrefinementandeducationwasstrippedoff.Deprived
ofherlover,shewasjustelementalwoman.She'dhaveclawedCaroline'sface,tornherhair,hurledher
overtheparapetifshecould.ShethoughtforsomereasonorotherthatCarolinehadknifedhim.She'd
gotitallwrong-naturally.

Iheldheroff,andthenMissWilliamstookcharge.Shewasgood,Imustsay.ShegotElsatocontrol
herself in under a minute - told her she'd got to be quiet and that we couldn't have this noise and
violencegoingon.Shewasatartar,thatwoman.Butshedidthetrick.Elsawasquiet-juststoodthere
gaspingandtrembling.

AsforCaroline,asfarasIwasconcerned,themaskwasrightoff.Shestoodthereperfectlyquiet-you
mighthavesaiddazed.Butshewasn'tdazed.Itwashereyesgaveheraway.Theywerewatchful-fully
awareandquietlywatchful.She'dbegun,Isuppose,tobeafraid.

Iwentuptoherandspoketoher.Isaiditquitelow.Idon'tthinkeitherofthetwowomenoverheard.I
said,"Youdamnedmurderess,you'vekilledmybestfriend."

Sheshrankback.Shesaid,"No-oh,no-he-hedidithimself."

Ilookedherfullintheeyes.Isaid,"Youcantellthatstory-tothepolice."

Shedid,andtheydidn'tbelieveher.

(EndofPhilipBlake'sNarrative)

NarrativeofMeredithBlake

DearM.Poirot:

AsIpromisedyou,IhavesetdowninwritinganaccountofallIcanrememberrelatingtothetragic
eventsthathappenedsixteenyearsago.Firstofall,IwouldliketosaythatIhavethoughtovercarefully
allyousaidtomeatourrecentmeeting.AndonreflectionIammoreconvincedthanIwasbeforethat
it is in the highest degree unlikely that Caroline Crale poisoned her husband. It always seemed
incongruous,buttheabsenceofanyotherexplanationandherownattitudeledmetofollow,sheeplike,
theopinionofotherpeople,andtosaywiththem-thatifshedidn'tdoit,whatexplanationcouldthere
be?

Since seeing you I have reflected very carefully on the alternative solution presented at the time and
broughtforwardbythedefenseatthetrial.Thatis,thatAmyasCraletookhisownlife.Althoughfrom
whatIknewofhimthatsolutionseemedquitefantasticatthetime,Inowseefittomodifymyopinion.
Tobeginwith,andhighlysignificant,isthefactthatCarolinebelievedit.Ifwearenowtotakeitthat
that charming and gentle lady was unjustly convicted, then her own frequently reiterated belief must
carry great weight. She knew Amyas better than anyone else. If she thought suicide possible, then
suicidemusthavebeenpossibleinspiteoftheskepticismofhisfriends.

I will advance the theory, therefore, that there was in Amyas Crale some core of conscience, some
undercurrentofremorse,andevendespairattheexcessestowhichhistemperamentledhim,ofwhich
onlyhiswifewasaware.This,Ithink,isanotimpossiblesupposition.Hemayhaveshownthatsideof
himselfonlytoher.

ThoughitisinconsistentwithanythingIeverheardhimsay,yetitisneverthelessatruththatinmost
menthereissomeunsuspectedandinconsistentstreakwhichoftencomesasasurprisetopeoplewho
haveknownthemintimately.Arespectedandausteremanisdiscoveredtohavehadacoarsersidetohis
lifehidden.Avulgarmoneymakerhas,perhaps,asecretappreciationofsomedelicateworkofart.Hard

and ruthless people have been convicted of unsuspected hidden kindnesses. Generous and jovial men
havebeenshowntohaveameanandcruelside.

So it may be that in Amyas Crale there ran a strain of morbid self-accusation, and that the more he
blusteredouthisegoismandhisrighttodoashepleasedthemorestronglythatsecretconscienceofhis
worked. It is improbable, on the face of it, but I now believe that it must have been so. And I repeat
again,Carolineherselfheldsteadfastlytothatview.That,Iinsist,issignificant!

Andnowtoexaminefacts,orrathermymemoryoffacts,inthelightofthatnewbelief.

IthinkthatImightwithrelevanceincludehereaconversationIheldwithCarolinesomeweeksbefore
theactualtragedy.ItwasduringElsaGreer'sfirstvisittoAlderbury.

Caroline,asIhavetoldyou,wasawareofmydeepaffectionandfriendshipforher.Iwas,therefore,the
personinwhomshecouldmosteasilyconfide.Shehadnotbeenlookingveryhappy.Nevertheless,I
wassurprisedwhenshesuddenlyaskedmeonedaywhetherIthoughtAmyasreallycaredverymuch
forthisgirlhehadbroughtdown.

Isaid,"He'sinterestedinpaintingher.YouknowwhatAmyasis."

Sheshookherheadandsaid,"No,he'sinlovewithher."

"Well-perhapsalittle."

"Agreatdeal,Ithink."

Isaid:"Sheisunusuallyattractive,Iadmit.AndwebothknowthatAmyasissusceptible.Butyoumust
know by now, my dear, that Amyas really only cares for one person - and that is you. He has these
infatuations,buttheydon'tlast.Youaretheonepersontohim,and,thoughhebehavesbadly,itdoesnot
reallyaffecthisfeelingforyou."

Shesaid:"Butthistime,Merry,I'mafraid.Thatgirlisso-soterriblysincere.She'ssoyoungandso
intenseIhaveafeelingthatthistimeit'sserious."

Isaid:"Buttheveryfactthatsheissoyoungand,asyousay,sosincere,willprotecther.Onthewhole,
womenarefairgametoAmyas,butinthecaseofagirllikethisitwillbedifferent."

Shesaid,"Yes,that'swhatI'mafraidof-itwillbedifferent."

Isaid,"Butyouknow,Caroline,youknowthatAmyasisreallydevotedtoyou."

Shesaidtothat,"Doesoneeverknowwithmen?"Andthenshelaughedalittleruefullyandsaid,"I'ma
veryprimitivewoman,Merry.I'dliketotakeahatchettothatgirl."

Chapter8

I told her that the child probably didn't understand in the least what she was doing. She had a great
admirationandheroworshipforAmyasandsheprobablydidn'trealizeatallthatAmyaswasfallingin
lovewithher.

Caroline just said to me, "Dear Merry!" and began to talk about the garden. I hoped that she was not
goingtoworryanymoreaboutthematter.

Shortly afterward Elsa went back to London. Amyas was away, too, for several weeks. I had really
forgotten all about the business. In fact, I thought there wasn't anything to worry about. And then I
heardthatElsawasbackagainatAlderburyinorderthatAmyasmightfinishthepicture.

Iwasalittledisturbedbythenews.ButCaroline,whenIsawher,wasnotinacommunicativemood.
Sheseemedquiteherusualself-notworriedorupsetinanyway.Iimaginedthateverythingwasall
right.

That'swhyitwassuchashocktometolearnhowfarthethinghadgone.

I have told you of my conversations with Crale and with Elsa. I had no opportunity of talking to
Caroline.WewereonlyabletoexchangethosefewwordsaboutwhichIhavealreadytoldyou.

Icanseeherfacenow-thewide,darkeyesandtherestrainedemotion.Icanstillhearhervoiceasshe
said,"Everything'sfinished..."

Ican'tdescribetoyoutheinfinitedesolationsheconveyedinthosewords.Theywerealiteralstatement
oftruth.WithAmyas'sdefectioneverythingwasfinishedforher.That,Iamconvinced,waswhyshe
tooktheconiine.Itwasawayout.Awaysuggestedtoherbymystupiddissertationonthedrug.And

thepassageIreadfromthePhaedogivesagraciouspictureofdeath.

Hereismypresentbelief:Shetooktheconiine,resolvedtoendherownlifewhenAmyaslefther.He
mayhaveseenhertakeitorhemayhavediscoveredthatshehaditlater.

Thatdiscoveryacteduponhimwithterrificforce.Hewashorrifiedatwhathisactionshadledherto
contemplate. But, notwithstanding his horror and remorse, he still felt himself incapable of giving up
Elsa.Icanunderstandthat.Anyonewhohadfalleninlovewithherwouldfinditalmostimpossibleto
tearhimselfaway.

He could not envisage life without Elsa. He realized that Caroline could not live without him. He
decidedtherewasonlyonewayout-tousetheconiinehimself.

Allthis,alas,isnotwhatyouaskedmefor-whichwasanaccountofthehappeningsasIremember
them. Let me now repair that omission. I have already told you fully what happened on the day
precedingAmyas'sdeath.Wenowcometothedayitself.

Ihadsleptverybadly-worriedbythedisastrousturnofeventsformyfriends.Afteralongwakeful
period,whileIvainlytriedtothinkofsomethinghelpfulIcoulddotoavertthecatastrophe,Ifellintoa
heavysleepabout6a.m.Thebringingofmyearlyteadidnotawakenme,andIfinallywokeup,heavy-
headedandunrefreshed,abouthalfpastnine.ItwasshortlyafterthatthatIthoughtIheardmovements
intheroombelow,whichwastheroomIusedasalaboratory.

Imaysayherethatactuallythosesoundswereprobablycausedbyacatgettingin.Ifoundthewindow
sash raised a little way, as it had carelessly been left from the day before. It was just wide enough to
admitthepassageofacat.ImerelymentionthesoundstoexplainhowIcametoenterthelaboratory.

I went in there as soon as I had dressed and, looking along the shelves, I noticed that the bottle
containingthepreparationofconiinewasslightlyoutoflinewiththerest.Havinghadmyeyedrawnto
it in this way, I was startled to see that a considerable quantity of it was gone. The bottle had been
nearlyfullthedaybefore,nowitwasnearlyempty.

Ishutandlockedthewindowandwentout,lockingtheIdoorbehindme.Iwasconsiderablyupsetand
alsobewildered.Whenstartled,mymentalprocessesare,Iamafraid,somewhatslow.

Iwasfirstdisturbed,thenapprehensive,andfinallydefinitelyalarmed.Iquestionedthehousehold,and
theyalldeniedhavingenteredthelaboratoryatall.Ithoughtthingsoveralittlewhilelongerandthen
decidedtoringupmybrotherandgethisadvice.

PhilipwasquickerthanIwas.Hesawtheseriousnessofmydiscoveryandurgedmetocomeoverat
onceandconsultwithhim.

Iwentout,encounteringMissWilliams,whowaslookingforatruantpupil.IassuredherthatIhadnot
seenAngelaandthatshehadnotbeentothehouse.

IthinkthatMissWilliamsnoticedtherewassomethingamiss.Shelookedatmerathercuriously.Ihad
nointention,however,oftellingherwhathadhappened.Isuggestedsheshouldtrythekitchengarden-
Angelahadafavoriteappletreethere-andImyselfhurrieddowntotheshoreandrowedmyselfacross
totheAlderburyside.Mybrotherwasalreadytherewaitingforme.

We walked up to the house together by the way you and I went the other day. Having seen the
topography, you can understand that in passing underneath the wall of the Battery Garden we were
boundtooverhearanythingbeingsaidinsideit.

BeyondthefactthatCarolineandAmyaswereengagedinadisagreementofsomekind,Ididnotpay
muchattentiontowhatwassaid.

CertainlyIoverheardnothreatofanykindutteredbyCaroline.ThesubjectofdiscussionwasAngela,
and I presume Caroline was pleading for a respite from the fiat of school. Amyas, however, was
adamant,shoutingoutirritablythatitwasallsettled-he'dseetoherpacking.

The door of the Battery opened just as we drew abreast of it and Caroline came out. She looked
disturbed, but not unduly so. She smiled rather absently at me, and said they had been discussing
Angela.Elsacamedownthepathatthatminuteand,asAmyasdearlywantedtogetonwiththesitting
withoutinterruptionfromus,wewentonupthepath.

Philipblamedhimselfseverelyafterwardforthefactthatwedidnottakeimmediateaction.

ButImyselfcannotseeitthesameway.Wehadnoearthlyrighttoassumethatsuchathingasmurder
wasbeingcontemplated.(Moreover,Inowbelievethatitwasnotcontemplated.)Itwasclearthatwe
shouldhavetoadoptsomecourseofaction,butIstillmaintainthatwewererighttotalkthematterover
carefullyfirst.Itwasnecessarytofindtherightthingtodo,andonceortwiceIfoundmyselfwondering
ifIhadnot,afterall,madeamistake.HadthebottlereallybeenfullthedaybeforeasIthought?

Iamnotoneofthesepeople(likemybrotherPhilip)whocanbecocksureofeverything.One'smemory
does play tricks on one. How often, for instance, one is convinced one has put an article in a certain

place,latertofindthathehasputitsomewherequitedifferent.ThemoreItriedtorecallthestateofthe
bottleontheprecedingafternoonthemoreuncertainanddoubtfulIbecame.Thiswasveryannoyingto
Philip,whobegancompletelytolosepatiencewithme.

We were not able to continue our discussion at the time and tacitly agreed to postpone it until after
lunch.(ImaysaythatIwasalwayfreetodropinforlunchatAlderburyifIchose.)

Later,AngelaandCarolinebroughtusbeer.IaskedAngelawhatshehadbeenupto,playingtruant,and
toldherMissWilliamswasonthewarpath,andshesaidshehadbeenbathing,andaddedthatshedidn't
seewhysheshouldhavetomendherhorribleoldskirtwhenshewasgoingtohaveallnewthingstogo
toschoolwith.

SincethereseemednochanceoffurthertalkwithPhilipalone,andsinceIwasreallyanxioustothink
things out by myself, I wandered off down the path toward the Battery. Just above the Battery, as I
showedyou,thereisaclearinginthetreeswherethereusedtobeanoldbench.Isattheresmokingand
thinking,andwatchingElsaasshesatposingforAmyas.

Ishallalwaysthinkofherasshewasthatday-rigidinthepose,withheryellowshirtanddark-blue
trousersandaredpull-overslungroundhershouldersforwarmth.

Herfacewassoalightwithlifeandhealthandradiance.Andthatgayvoiceofhersrecitingplansfor
thefuture.

ThissoundsasthoughIwaseavesdropping,butthatisnotso.IwasperfectlyvisibletoElsa.Bothshe
andAmyasknewIwasthere.ShewavedherhandatmeandcalledupthatAmyaswasaperfectbear
thatmorning-hewouldn'tletherrest.Shewasstiffandachingallover.

Amyasgrowledoutthatshewasn'tasstiffashewas.Hewasstiffallover-muscularrheumatism.Elsa
saidmockingly,"Pooroldman!"Andhesaidshe'dbetakingonacreakinginvalid.

It shocked me, you know, their light-hearted acquiescence in their future together while they were
causing so much suffering. And yet I couldn't hold it against her. She was so young, so confident, so
verymuchinlove.Andshedidn'treallyknowwhatshewasdoing.Shedidn'tunderstandsuffering.She
justassumedwiththenaïveconfidenceofachildthatCarolinewouldbe"allright,"that"she'dsoonget
overit."Shesawnothing,yousee,butherselfandAmyas-happytogether.She'dalreadytoldmemy
pointofviewwasold-fashioned.Shehadnodoubts,noqualms,nopity,either.Butcanoneexpectpity
fromradiantyouth?Itisanolder,wiseremotion.

Theydidn'ttalkverymuch,ofcourse.Nopainterwantstobechatteringwhenheisworking.Perhaps
everytenminutesorsoElsawouldmakeanobservationandAmyaswouldgruntareply.Onceshesaid:

"I think you're right about Spain. That's the first place we'll go to. And you must take me to see a
bullfight. It must be wonderful! Only I'd like the bull to kill the man - not the other way about. I
understand how Roman women felt when they saw a man die. Men aren't much, but animals are
splendid."

Isupposeshewasratherlikeananimalherself-youngandprimitiveandwithnothingyetofman'ssad
experience and doubtful wisdom. I don't believe Elsa had begun to think - she only felt. But she was
verymuchalive-morealivethananypersonIhaveeverknown.

ThatwasthelasttimeIsawherradiantandassured-ontopoftheworld.Feyisthewordforit,isn'tit?

Thebellsoundedforlunch,andIgotupandwentdownthepathandinattheBatterydoor,andElsa
joinedme.Itwasdazzlinglybrighttherecominginoutoftheshadytrees.Icouldhardlysee.Amyas
wassprawledbackontheseat,hisarmsflungout.Hewasstaringatthepicture.I'vesooftenseenhim
likethat.HowwasItoknowthatalreadythepoisonwasworking,stiffeninghimashesat?

Hesohatedandresentedillness.Hewouldneverowntoit.Idaresayhethoughthehadgotatouchof
thesun-thesymptomsaremuchthesame-buthe'dbethelastpersontocomplainaboutit.

Elsasaid,"Hewon'tcomeuptolunch."

PrivatelyIthoughthewaswise.Isaid,"Solong,then."

Hemovedhiseyesfromthepictureuntiltheyrestedonme.Therewasaqueer-howshallIdescribeit?
-itlookedlikemalevolence.Akindofmalevolentglare.

Naturally I didn't understand it then - if his picture wasn't going as he liked he often looked quite
murderous.Ithoughtthatwaswhatitwas.Hemadeasortofgruntingsound.

NeitherElsanorIsawanythingunusualinhim-justartistictemperament.

So we left him there and she and I went up to the house laughing and talking. If she'd known - poor
child-thatshe'dneverseehimaliveagain-Oh,well,thankGod,shedidn't.Shewasabletobehappya

littlelonger.Carolinewasquitenormalatlunch-alittlepreoccupied,nothingmore.Anddoesn'tthat
showthatshehadnothingtodowithit?Shecouldn'thavebeensuchanactress.

Sheandthegovernesswentdownafterwardandfoundhim.ImetMissWilliamsasshecameup.She
toldmetotelephoneadoctorandwentbacktoCaroline.

That poor child! Elsa, I mean. She had that frantic, unrestrained grief that children have. They can't
believethatlifecandothesethingstothem.Carolinewasquitecalm.Yes,shewasquitecalm.Shewas
able,ofcourse,tocontrolherselfbetterthanElsa.Shedidn'tseemremorseful-then.Justsaidhemust
havedoneithimself.Andwecouldn'tbelievethat.Elsaburstoutandaccusedhertoherface.

Of course, she may have realized, already, that she herself would be suspected. Yes, that probably
explainshermanner.

Philipwasquiteconvincedthatshehaddoneit.

Thegovernesswasagreathelpandstand-by.ShemadeElsaliedownandgaveherasedativeandshe
keptAngelaoutofthewaywhenthepolicecame.Yes,shewasatowerofstrength,thatwoman.

Thewholethingbecameanightmare.Thepolicesearchingthehouseandaskingquestions,andthenthe
reporters swarming about the place like flies and clicking cameras and wanting interviews with
membersofthefamily.

Anightmare,thewholething...

It's still a nightmare, after all these years. Please God, once you've convinced little Carla what really
happened,wecanforgetitallandneverrememberitagain.

Amyasmusthavecommittedsuicide-howeverunlikelyitseems.

(EndofMeredithBlake'sNarrative)

NarrativeofLadyDittisham

IhavesetdownherethefullstoryofmymeetingwithAmyasCrale,uptothetimeofhistragicdeath.

Isawhimfirstatastudioparty.Hewasstanding,Iremember,byawindowandIsawhimasIcamein
atthedoor.Iaskedwhohewas.Someonesaid,"That'sCrale,thepainter."IsaidatoncethatI'dliketo
meethim.

We talked on that occasion for perhaps ten minutes. When anyone makes the impression on you that
AmyasCralemadeonme,it'shopelesstoattempttodescribeit.IfIsaythatwhenIsawAmyasCrale
everybodyelseseemedtogrowverysmallandfadeaway,thatexpressesitaswellasanythingcan.

ImmediatelyafterthatmeetingIwenttolookatasmanyofhispicturesasIcould.Hehadashowonin
BondStreetatthemomentandtherewasoneofhispicturesinManchesterandoneinLeedsandtwoin
publicgalleriesinLondon.Iwenttoseethemall.ThenImethimagain.Isaid,"I'vebeentoseeallyour
pictures.Ithinkthey'rewonderful."

Hejustlookedamused.Hesaid,"Whosaidyouwereanyjudgeofpainting?Idon'tbelieveyouknow
anythingaboutit."

Isaid,"Perhapsnot.Buttheyaremarvelous,allthesame."

Hegrinnedatmeandsaid,"Don'tbeagushinglittlefool."

Isaid,"I'mnot;Iwantyoutopaintme."

Cralesaid,"Ifyou'veanysenseatall,you'llrealizethatIdon'tpaintportraitsofprettywomen."

Isaid,"Itneedn'tbeaportrait,andI'mnotaprettywoman."

Helookedatmethenasthoughhe'dbeguntoseeme.Hesaid,"No,perhapsyou'renot."

Isaid,"Willyoupaintme,then?"

He studied me for some time with his head on one side. Then he said, "You're a strange child, aren't
you?"

Isaid,"I'mquiterich,youknow;Icanaffordtopaywellforit."

Hesaid,"Whyareyousoanxiousformetopaintyou?"

Isaid,"BecauseIwantit!"

Hesaid,"Isthatareason?"

AndIsaid,"Yes.IalwaysgetwhatIwant."

Hesaidthen,"Oh,mypoorchild,howyoungyouare!"

Isaid,"Willyoupaintme?"

Hetookmebytheshouldersandturnedmetowardthelightandlookedmeover.Thenhestoodaway
frommealittle.Istoodquitestill,waiting.

Hesaid,"I'vesometimeswantedtopaintaflightofimpossiblycoloredAustralianmacawsalightingon
StPaul'sCathedral.IfIpaintedyouagainstanicetraditionalbitofoutdoorlandscapeIbelieveI'dget
exactlythesameresult."

Isaid,"Thenyouwillpaintme?"

Hesaid,You'reoneoftheloveliest,crudest,mostflamboyantbitsofexoticcoloringI'veeverseen.I'll
paintyou!"

Isaid,"Thenthat'ssettled."

Hewenton."ButI'llwarnyou,ElsaGreer.IfIdopaintyou,Ishallprobablymakelovetoyou."

Isaid,"Ihopeyouwill..."

I said it quite steadily and quietly. I heard him catch his breath and I saw the look that came into his
eyes.

Yousee,itwasassuddenasallthat.

Adayortwolaterwemetagain.HetoldmethathewantedmetocomedowntoDevonshire-he'dgot
the very place there that he wanted for a background. He said, "I'm married, you know, and I'm very
fondofmywife."

Isaidifhewasfondofhershemustbeverynice.

Hesaidshewasextremelynice."Infact,"hesaid,"she'squiteadorable-andIadoreher.Soputthatin
yourpipe,youngElsa,andsmokeit."

ItoldhimthatIquiteunderstood.

He began the picture a week later. Caroline Crale welcomed me very pleasantly. She didn't like me
much,but,afterall,whyshouldshe?Amyaswasverycircumspect.Heneversaidawordtomethathis
wifecouldn'thaveoverheardandIwaspoliteandformaltohim.Underneath,though,webothknew.

AftertendayshetoldmeIwastogobacktoLondon.

Isaid,"Thepictureisn'tfinished."

Hesaid:"It'sbarelybegun.ThetruthofthematteristhatIcan'tpaintyou,Elsa."

Isaid,"Why?"

Hesaid,"Youknowwellenoughwhy,Elsa.Andthat'swhyyouwegottoclearout.Ican'tthinkabout
thepainting-Ican'tthinkaboutanythingbutyou."

IknewitwouldbenogoodmygoingbacktoLondon,butIsaid,"Verywell,I'llgoifyousayso."

Amyassaid,"Goodgirl."

SoIwent.Ididn'twritetohim.

Heheldoutfortendaysandthenhecame.Hewassothinandhaggardandmiserablethatitshocked
me.

Hesaid,"Iwarnedyou,Elsa.Don'tsayIdidn'twarnyou."

Isaid,"I'vebeenwaitingforyou.Iknewyou'dcome."

Hegaveasortofgroanandsaid,"Therearethingsthataretoostrongforanyman.Ican'teatorsleepor
restforwantingyou."

IsaidIknewthat,andthatitwasthesamewithmeandhadbeenfromthefirstmomentI'dseenhim.

We were made for each other and we'd found each other - and we both knew we had to be together
always.

But something else happened, too. The unfinished picture began to haunt Amyas. He said to me,
"Damnedfunny,Icouldn'tpaintyoubefore-youyourselfgotinthewayofit.ButIwanttopaintyou,
Elsa. I want to paint you so that that picture will be the finest thing I've ever done. I'm itching and
achingnowtogetatmybrushesandtoseeyousittingthereonthathoaryoldchestnutofabattlement
wallwiththeconventionalblueseaandthedecorousEnglishtrees-andyou-you-sittingtherelikea
discordantshriekoftriumph."

He said, "And I've got to paint you that way! And I can t be fussed and bothered while I'm doing it.
When the picture's finished I'll tell Caroline the truth and we'll get the whole messy business cleaned
up."

Isaid,"WillCarolinemakeafussaboutdivorcingyou?"

Hesaidhedidn'tthinkso.Butyouneverknewwithwomen.

IsaidIwassorryifshewasgoingtobeupset;but,afterall,Isaid,thesethingsdidhappen.

Hesaid,"Veryniceandreasonable,Elsa.ButCarolineisn'treasonable,neverhasbeenreasonable,and
certainlyisn'tgoingtofeelreasonable.Shelovesme,youknow."

IsaidIunderstoodthat,butifshelovedhimshe'dputhishappinessfirst,and,atanyrate,shewouldn't
wanttokeephimifhewantedtobefree.

Hesaid,"Lifecan'treallybesolvedbyadmirablemaximsoutofmodernliterature.Nature'sredintooth
andclaw,remember."

Isaid,"Surelyweareallcivilizedpeoplenowadays!"andAmyaslaughed.Hesaid,"Civilizedpeople
myfoot!Carolinewouldprobablyliketotakeahatchettoyou.Shemightdoit,too."

Isaid,"Thendon'ttellher."

Hesaid,"No.Thebreak'sgottocome.You'vegottobelongtomeproperly,Elsa.Beforealltheworld.
Openlymine."

Isaid,"Supposeshewon'tdivorceyou?"

Hesaid,"I'mnotafraidofthat."

Isaid,"Whatareyouafraidofthen?"

Andhesaidslowly,"Idon'tknow..."

Yousee,heknewCaroline.WhileIdidn't.

IfI'dhadanyidea...

WewentdownagaintoAlderbury.Thingsweredifficultthistime.Carolinehadgotsuspicious.Ididn't
like it; I didn't like it a bit. I've always hated deceit and concealment. I thought we ought to tell her.
Amyaswouldn'thearofit.

The funny part of it was that he didn't really care at all. In spite of being fond of Caroline and not
wantingtohurther,hejustdidn'tcareaboutthehonestyordishonestyofitall.Hewaspaintingwitha
kind of frenzy, and nothing else mattered. I hadn't seen him in one of his working spells before. I
realizednowwhatareallygreatgeniushewas.Itwasnaturalforhimtobesocarriedawaythatallthe

ordinary decencies didn't matter. But it was different for me. I was in a horrible position. Caroline
resentedme-andquiterightly.Theonlythingtoputthepositionquitestraightwastobehonestandtell
herthetruth.

But all Amyas would say was that he wasn't going to be bothered with scenes and fusses until he'd
finishedthepicture.Isaidthereprobablywouldn'tbeascene.Carolinewouldhavetoomuchdignity
andprideforthat.

Isaid,"Iwanttobehonestaboutitall.We'vegottobehonest!"

Amyassaid,"Tohellwithhonesty.I'mpaintingapicture!"

Ididseehispointofview,buthewouldn'tseemine.

And in the end I broke down. Caroline had been talking of some plan she and Amyas were going to
carryoutnextautumn.Shetalkedaboutitquiteconfidently.AndIsuddenlyfeltitwastooabominable
whatweweredoing-lettinghergoonlikethis-andperhaps,too,Iwasangry,becauseshewasreally
beingveryunpleasanttomeinacleversortofwaythatonecouldn'ttakeholdof.

AndsoIcameoutwiththetruth.Inaway,IstillthinkIwasright.Though,ofcourse,Iwouldn'thave
doneitifI'dhadthefaintestideawhatwastocomeofit.

Theclashcamerightaway.AmyaswasfuriouswithmefortellingCaroline,buthehadtoadmitthat
whatIhadsaidwastrue.

Ididn'tunderstandCarolineatall.WeallwentovertoMeredithBlake'stotea,andCarolineplayedup
marvelously-talkingandlaughing.Likeafool,Ithoughtshewastakingitwell.Itwasawkward,my
notbeingabletoleavethehouse,butAmyaswouldhavegoneupinsmokeifIhad.Ithoughtperhaps
Carolinewouldgo.Itwouldhavemadeitmucheasierforusifshehad.

Ididn'tseehertaketheconiine.Iwanttobehonest,soIthinkthatit'sjustpossiblethatshemayhave
takenitasshesaidshedid-withtheideaofsuicideinhermind.

But I don't really think so. I think she was one of those intensely jealous and possessive women who
won'tletgoofanythingthattheythinkbelongstothemAmyaswasherproperty.Ithinkshewasquite
preparedtokillhimratherthantolethimgo,completelyandfinally,toanotherwoman.Ithinksheright
awaymadeuphermindtokillhim.AndIthinkthatMeredith'shappeningtodiscussconiinesofreely

just gave her the means to do what she'd already made up her mind to do. She was a very bitter and
revengefulwoman-vindictive.Amyasknewallalongthatshewasdangerous.Ididn't.

ThenextmorningshehadafinalshowdownwithAmyas.Iheardmostofitfromoutsideontheterrace.
Hewassplendid-verypatientandcalm.Heimploredhertobereasonable.Hesaidhewasveryfondof
her and the child, and always would be. He'd do everything he could to assure their future. Then he
hardened up and said, "But understand this: I'm damned well going to marry Elsa, and nothing shall
stopme.YouandIalwaysagreedtoleaveeachotherfree.Thesethingshappen."

Carolinesaidtohim,"Doasyouplease.I'vewarnedyou."

Hervoicewasveryquiet,buttherewasaqueernoteinit.

Amyassaid,"Whatdoyoumean,Caroline?"

Shesaid,"You'remineandIdon'tmeantoletyougo.SoonerthanletyougotothatgirlI'llkillyou..."

JustatthatminutePhilipBlakecamealongtheterrace.Igotupandwenttomeethim.Ididn'twanthim
tooverhear.

PresentlyAmyascameoutandsaiditwastimetogetonwiththepicture.Wewentdowntogethertothe
Battery.Hedidn'tsaymuch.JustsaidthatCarolinewascuttinguprough-butnottotalkaboutit.He
wantedtoconcentrateonwhathewasdoing.Anotherday,hesaid,wouldaboutfinishthepicture.

Hesaid,"Andit'llbethebestthingI'vedone,Elsa,evenifitispaidforinbloodandtears."

AlittlelaterIwentuptothehousetogetapull-over.Therewasachillywindblowing.WhenIcame
backagain,Carolinewasthere.IsupposeshehadcomedowntomakeonelastappealtoAmyas.Philip
andMeredithBlakewerethere,too.

ItwasthenthatAmyassaidhewasthirstyandwantedadrink.Hesaidtherewasbeerbutitwasn'ticed.

Carolinesaidshe'dsendhimdownsomeicedbeer.Shesaiditquitenaturally,inanalmostfriendlytone.
Shewasanactress,thatwoman.Shemusthaveknownthenwhatshemeanttodo.

Shebroughtitdownabouttenminuteslater.Amyaswaspainting.Shepoureditoutandsettheglass
downbesidehim.Neitherofuswaswatchingher.AmyaswasintentonwhathewasdoingandIhadto
keepthepose.

Amyas drank it down the way he always drank beer - just pouring it down his throat in one draught.
Thenhemadeafaceandsaidittastedfoul;but,atanyrate,itwascold.

Andeventhen,whenhesaidthat,nosuspicionenteredmyhead.Ijustlaughedandsaid,"Liver."

Whenshe'dseenhimdrinkitCarolinewentaway.

ItmusthavebeenaboutfortyminuteslaterthatAmyascomplainedofstiffnessandpains.Hesaidhe
thoughthemusthavegotatouchofmuscularrheumatism.Amyaswasalwaysintolerantofanyailment,
andhedidn'tlikebeingfussedover.Aftersayingthatheturneditoffwithalight"Oldage,Isuppose.
You'vetakenonacreakingoldman,Elsa."

Iplayeduptohim.ButInoticedthathislegsmovedstifflyandqueerlyandthathegrimacedonceor
twice.Ineverdreamedthatitwasn'trheumatism.Presentlyhedrewthebenchalongandsatsprawled
onthat,occasionallystretchinguptoputamuchofpainthereandthereonthecanvas.Heusedtodo
thatsometimeswhenhewaspainting.Justsitstaringatmeandthenatthecanvas.Sometimeshe'ddoit
forhalfanhouratatime.SoIdidn'tthinkitspeciallyqueer.

Weheardthebellgoforlunchandhesaidhewasn'tcomingup.He'dstaywherehewasandhedidn't
want anything. That wasn't unusual either and it would be easier for him than facing Caroline at the
table.

Hewastalkinginratheraqueerway-gruntingouthiswords.Buthesometimesdidthatwhenhewas
dissatisfiedwiththeprogressofthepicture.

MeredithBlakecameintofetchme.HespoketoAmyas,butAmyasonlygruntedathim.

We went up to the house together and left him there. We left him there - to die alone. I'd never seen
muchillness,Ididn'tknowmuchaboutit;IthoughtAmyaswasjustinapainter'smood.IfI'dknown-
ifI'drealized,perhapsadoctorcouldhavesavedhim...Oh,whydidn'tI-It'snogoodthinkingofthat
now.Iwasablindfool,ablind,stupidfool.

Thereisn'tmuchmoretotell.

Caroline and the governess went down there after lunch. Meredith followed them. Presently he came
runningup.HetoldusAmyaswasdead.

Then I knew! Knew, I mean, that it was Caroline. I still didn't think of poison. I thought she'd gone
downthatminuteandeithershotorstabbedhim.

Iwantedtogetather-tokillher...

Howcouldshedoit?Howcouldshe?Hewassoalive,sofulloflifeandvigor.Toputallthatout-to
makehimlimpandcold.JustsothatIshouldn'thavehim.

Horriblewoman!...Horrible,scornful,cruel,vindictivewoman!...Ihateher!Istillhateher!

Theydidn'tevenhangher.

Theyoughttohavehangedher...Evenhangingwastoogoodforher...

Ihateher!...Ihateher!...Ihateher!...

(EndofLadyDittisham'sNarrative)

NarrativeofCeciliaWilliams

DearM.Poirot:

IamsendingyouanaccountofthoseeventsinSeptember,19--,actuallywitnessedbymyself.

Ihavebeenabsolutelyfrankandhavekeptnothingback.YoumayshowittoCarlaCrale.Itmaypain
her,butIhavealwaysbeenabelieverintruth.Palliativesareharmful.Onemusthavethecourageto
facereality.Withoutthatcourage,lifeismeaningless.Thepeoplewhodousmostharmarethepeople
whoshieldusfromreality.

Believeme,yourssincerely,

CeciliaWilliams.

My name is Cecilia Williams. I was engaged by Mrs Crale as governess to her half sister, Angela
Warren,in19--.Iwasthenforty-eight.

I took up my duties at Alderbury, a very beautiful estate in South Devon which had belonged to Mr
Crale'sfamilyformanygenerations.IknewthatMrCralewasawell-knownpainterbutIdidnotmeet
himuntilItookupresidenceatAlderbury.

The household consisted of Mr and Mrs Crale, Angela Warren (then a girl of thirteen), and three
servants,whohadbeenwiththefamilymanyyears.

I found my pupil an interesting and promising character. She had very marked abilities and it was a
pleasuretoteachher.Shewassomewhatwildandundisciplined,butthesefaultsarosemainlythrough
highspirits,andIhavealwayspreferredmygirlstoshowspirit.Anexcessofvitalitycanbetrainedand
guidedintopathsofrealusefulnessandachievement.

Onthewhole,IfoundAngelaamenabletodiscipline.Shehadbeensomewhatspoiled-mainlybyMrs
Crale, who was far too indulgent where she was concerned. Mr Crale's influence was, I considered,
unwise.Heindulgedherabsurdlyonedayandwasunnecessarilyperemptoryonanotheroccasion.He
wasverymuchamanofmoods,possiblyowingtowhatisstyledtheartistictemperament.

I have never seen, myself, why the possession of artistic ability should be supposed to excuse a man
from a decent exercise of self-control. I did not myself admire Mr Crale's paintings. The drawing
seemedtomefaultyandthecoloringexaggerated,but,naturally,Iwasnotcalledupontoexpressany
opiniononthesematters.

I soon formed a deep attachment to Mrs Crale. I admired her character and her fortitude in the
difficultiesofherlife.MrCralewasnotafaithfulhusband,andIthinkthatthatfactwasthesourceof
much pain to her. A stronger-minded woman would have left him, but Mrs Crale never seemed to
contemplatesuchacourse.Sheenduredhisinfidelitiesandforgavehimforthem,butImaysaythatshe
didnottakethemmeekly.Sheremonstrated-andwithspirit!

Itwassaidatthetrialthattheyledacat-and-doglife.Iwouldnotgoasfarasthat-MrsCralehadtoo
much dignity for that term to apply - but they did have quarrels. And I consider that that was only
naturalunderthecircumstances.

I had been with Mrs Crale just over two years when Miss Elsa Greer appeared upon the scene. She
arriveddownatAlderburyinthesummerof19--.MrsCralehadnotmetherpreviously.ShewasMr
Crale'sfriend,andshewassaidtobethereforthepurposeofhavingherportraitpainted.

ItwasapparentatoncethatMrCralewasinfatuatedwiththisgirl,andthatthegirlherselfwasdoing
nothingtodiscouragehim.Shebehaved,inmyopinion,quiteoutrageously,beingabominablyrudeto
MrsCraleandopenlyflirtingwithMrCrale.

NaturallyMrsCralesaidnothingtome,butIcouldseethatshewasdisturbedandunhappyandIdid
everythinginmypowertodistracthermindandlightenherburden.MissGreersateverydayforMr
Crale,butInoticedthatthepicturewasnotgettingonveryfast.Theyhad,nodoubt,otherthingstotalk
about.

My pupil, I am thankful to say, noticed very little of what was going on. Angela was in some ways
young for her age. Though her intellect was well developed, she was not at all what I may term
precocious. She seemed to have no wish to read undesirable books and showed no signs of morbid
curiositysuchasgirlsoftendoatherage.

She, therefore, saw nothing undesirable in the friendship between Mr Crale and Miss Greer.
Nevertheless,shedislikedMissGreerandthoughtherstupid.Hereshewasquiteright.MissGreerhad
had,Ipresume,apropereducation,butsheneveropenedabookandwasquiteunfamiliarwithcurrent
literaryallusions.Moreover,shecouldnotsustainadiscussiononanyintellectualsubject.

Shewasentirelytakenupwithherpersonalappearance,herclothes,andmen.

Angela, I think, did not even realize that her sister was unhappy. She was not at that time a very
perceptiveperson.Shespentalotoftimeinhoydenishpastimes,suchastreeclimbingandwildfeatsof
bicycling.Shewasalsoapassionatereaderandshowedexcellenttasteinwhatshelikedanddisliked.

MrsCralewasalwayscarefultoconcealanysignsofunhappinessfromAngela,andexertedherselfto
appearbrightandcheerfulwhenthegirlwasabout.

Miss Greer went back to London - at which, I can tell you, we were all very pleased! The servants
dislikedherasmuchasIdid.Shewasthekindofpersonwhogivesalotofunnecessarytroubleand
forgetstosaythankyou.

MrCralewentawayshortlyafterward,andofcourseIknewthathehadgoneafterthegirl.Iwasvery

sorryforMrsCrale.Shefeltthesethingsverykeenly.IfeltextremelybittertowardMrCrale.Whena
manhasacharming,gracious,intelligentwifehehasnobusinesstotreatherbadly.

However,sheandIbothhopedtheaffairwouldsoonbeover.Notthatwementionedthesubjecttoeach
other-wedidnot-butsheknewquitewellhowIfeltaboutit.

Unfortunately,aftersomeweeks,thepairofthemreappeared.Itseemedthesittingsweretoberesumed.

MrCralewasnowpaintingwithabsolutefrenzy.Heseemedlesspreoccupiedwiththegirlthanwithhis
picture of her. Nevertheless, I realized that this was not the usual kind of thing we had gone through
before.Thisgirlhadgotherclawsintohimandshemeantbusiness.Hewasjustlikewaxinherhands.

Thethingcametoaheadonthedaybeforehedied-thatis,onSeptember17th.MissGreer'smanner
hadbeenunbearablyinsolentthelastfewdays.Shewasfeelingsureofherselfandshewantedtoassert
her importance. Mrs Crale behaved like a true gentlewoman. She was icily polite but she showed the
otherclearlywhatshethoughtofher.

Onthisday,September17th,asweweresittinginthedrawing-roomafterlunch,MissGreercameout
with an amazing remark as to how she was going to redecorate the room when she was living at
Alderbury.

Naturally, Mrs Crale couldn't let that pass. She challenged her, and Miss Greer had the impudence to
say,beforeusall,thatshewasgoingtomarryMrCrale.Sheactuallytalkedaboutmarryingamarried
man-andshesaidittohiswife!

Chapter9

I was very, very angry with Mr Crale. How dared he let this girl insult his wife in her own drawing-
room?Ifhewantedtorunawaywiththegirlheshouldhavegoneoffwithher,notbroughtherintohis
wifeshouseandbackedherupinherinsolence.

Inspiteofwhatshemusthavefelt,MrsCraledidnotloseherdignity.Herhusbandcameinjustthen,
andsheimmediatelydemandedconfirmationfromhim.

Hewas,notunnaturally,annoyedwithMissGreerforherunconsideredforcingofthesituation.Apart
from anything else, it made him appear at a disadvantage, and men do not like appearing at a
disadvantage.Itupsetstheirvanity.

Hestoodthere,agreatgiantofaman,lookingassheepishandfoolishasanaughtyschoolboy.Itwas
hiswifewhocarriedoffthehonorsofthesituation.Hehadtomutterfoolishlythatitwastrue,butthat
hehadn'tmeanthertolearnitlikethis.

Ihaveneverseenanythinglikethelookofscornshegavehim.Shewentoutoftheroomwithherhead
heldhigh.Shewasabeautifulwoman-muchmorebeautifulthanthatflamboyantgirl-andshewalked
likeanempress.

Ihoped,withallmyheart,thatAmyasCralewouldbepunishedforthecrueltyhehaddisplayedandfor
theindignityhehadputuponalong-sufferingandnoblewoman.

ForthefirsttimeItriedtosaysomethingofwhatIfelttoMrsCrale,butshestoppedme.

Shesaid,"Wemusttryandbehaveasusual.It'sthebestway.We'reallgoingovertoMeredithBlake's
totea."

Isaidtoherthen,"Ithinkyouarewonderful,MrsCrale."

Shesaid,"Youdon'tknow..."

Then,asshewasgoingoutoftheroom,shecamebackandkissedme.Shesaid,"You'resuchagreat
comforttome."

Shewenttoherroomthen,andIthinkshecried.Isawherwhentheyallstartedoff.Shewaswearinga
big-brimmedhatthatshadedherface-ahatsheveryseldomwore.

MrCralewasuneasybutwastryingtobrazenthingsout.MrPhilipBlakewastryingtobehaveasusual.
ThatMissGreerwaslookinglikeacatwhohasgotatthecreamjug-allself-satisfactionandpurrs!

Theyallstartedoff.Theygotbackaboutsix.IdidnotseeMrsCraleagainalonethatevening.Shewas
veryquietandcomposedatdinnerandshewenttobedearly.Idon'tthinkthatanyonebutIknewhow
shewassuffering.

TheeveningwastakenupwithakindofrunningquarrelbetweenMrCraleandAngela.Theybrought
uptheoldschoolquestionagain.Hewasirritableandonedgeandshewasunusuallytrying.Thewhole

matter was settled and her outfit had been bought and there was no sense in starting up an argument
again,butshesuddenlychosetomakeagrievanceofit.Ihavenodoubtshesensedthetensionintheair
andthatitreactedonherasmuchasoneverybodyelse.IamafraidIwastoopreoccupiedwithmyown
thoughtstotrytocheckher,asIshouldhavedone.ItallendedwithherflingingapaperweightatMr
Craleanddashingwildlyoutoftheroom.

IwentafterherandtoldhersharplythatIwasashamedofherbehavinglikeababy,butshewasstill
veryuncontrolled,andIthoughtitbesttoleaveheralone.

I hesitated as to whether to go to Mrs Crale's room, but I decided in the end that it would, perhaps,
annoyher.IwishsincethatIhadovercomemydiffidenceandinsistedonhertalkingtome.Ifshehad
doneso,itmightpossiblyhavemadeadifference.Shehadnoone,yousee,inwhomshecouldconfide.
Although I admire self-control, I must regretfully admit that sometimes it can be carried too far. A
naturaloutlettothefeelingsisbetter.

ImetMrCraleasIwentalongtomyroom.Hesaidgoodnight,butIdidnotanswer.

Thenextmorningwas,Iremember,abeautifulday.Onefeltwhenwakingthatsurelywithsuchpeace
allaroundevenamanmustcometohissenses.

IwentintoAngela'sroombeforegoingdowntobreakfast,butshewasalreadyupandout.Ipickedupa
tornskirtwhichshehadleftlyingonthefloorandtookitdownwithmeforhertomendafterbreakfast.

Shehad,however,obtainedbreadandmarmaladefromthekitchenandgoneout.AfterIhadhadmy
ownbreakfastIwentinsearchofher.ImentionthistoexplainwhyIwasnotmorewithMrsCraleon
that morning as perhaps I should have been. At the time, however, I felt it was my duty to look for
Angela. She was very naughty and obstinate about mending her clothes and I had no intention of
allowinghertodefymeinthematter.

HerbathingdresswasmissingandIaccordinglywentdowntothebeach.Therewasnosignofherin
thewaterorontherockssoIconceiveditpossiblethatshehadgoneovertoMrMeredithBlake's.She
andheweregreatfriends.Iaccordinglyrowedmyselfacrossandresumedmysearch.Ididnotfindher
andeventuallyreturned.MrsCrale,MrBlake,andMrPhilipBlakewereontheterrace.

Itwasveryhotthatmorningifonewasoutofthewind,andthehouseandterraceweresheltered.Mrs
Cralesuggestedtheymightlikesomeicedbeer.

There was a little conservatory which had been built onto the house in Victorian days. Mrs Crale

dislikedit,anditwasnotusedforplants,butithadbeenmadeintoakindofbar,withvariousbottlesof
gin,vermouth,lemonade,gingerbeer,etc.,onshelves,andasmallrefrigeratorwhichwasfilledwithice
everymorningandinwhichsomebeerandgingerbeerwerealwayskept.

MrsCralewenttheretogetthebeerandIwentwithher.Angelawasattherefrigeratorandwasjust
takingoutabottleofbeer.

MrsCralewentinaheadofme.Shesaid,"IwantabottleofbeertotakedowntoAmyas."

It is so difficult now to know whether I ought to have suspected anything. Her voice, I feel almost
convinced,wasperfectlynormal.ButImustadmitthatatthatmomentIwasintent,notonher,buton
Angela.AngelawasbytherefrigeratorandIwasgladtoseethatshelookedredandratherguilty.

Iwasrathersharpwithher,andtomysurpriseshewasquitemeek.Iaskedherwhereshehadbeenand
shesaidshehadbeenbathing.Isaid,"Ididn'tseeyouonthebeach."Andshelaughed.ThenIaskedher
whereherjerseywas,andshesaidshemusthaveleftitdownonthebeach.

ImentionthesedetailstoexplainwhyIletMrsCraletakethebeerdowntotheBatteryGarden.

The rest of the morning is quite blank in my mind. Angela fetched her needle book and mended her
skirtwithoutanymorefuss.IratherthinkthatImendedsomeofthehouseholdlinen.MrCraledidnot
comeupforlunch.Iwasgladthathehadatleastthatmuchdecency.

After lunch, Mrs Crale said she was going down to the Battery. I wanted to retrieve Angela's jersey
from the beach. We started down together. She went into the Battery; I was going on when her cry
calledmeback.AsItoldyouwhenyoucametoseeme,sheaskedmetogoupandtelephone.Onthe
wayupImetMrMeredithBlakeandIwentbacktoMrsCrale.

ThatwasmystoryasItolditattheinquestandlateratthetrial.

What I am about to write down I have never told to any living soul. I was not asked any question to
which I returned an untrue answer. Nevertheless, I was guilty of withholding certain facts. I do not
repentofthat.Iwoulddoitagain.IamfullyawarethatinrevealingthisImaybelayingmyselfopento
censure, but I do not think that after this lapse of time anyone will take the matter very seriously,
especiallysinceCarolineCralewasconvictedwithoutmyevidence.

This,then,iswhathappened:

ImetMrMeredithBlakeasIsaidandIrandownthepathagainasquicklyasIcould.Iwaswearing
sandshoesandIhavealwaysbeenlightonmyfeet.IcametotheopenBatterydoorandthisiswhatI
saw:

MrsCralewasbusilypolishingthebeerbottleonthetablewithherhandkerchief.Havingdoneso,she
took her dead husband's hand and pressed the fingers of it on the beer bottle. All the time she was
listeningandonthealert.ItwasthefearIsawonherfacethattoldmethetruth.

Iknewthen,beyondanypossibledoubt,thatCarolineCralehadpoisonedherhusband.AndI,forone,
do not blame her. He drove her to a point beyond human endurance, and he brought his fate upon
himself.

InevermentionedtheincidenttoMrsCraleandsheneverknewthatIhadseenittakeplace.Iwould
neverhavementionedittoanybody,butthereisonepersonwhoIthinkhasarighttoknow.

CarolineCrale'sdaughtermustnotbolsterupherlifewithalie.Howevermuchitmaypainhertoknow
thetruth,truthistheonlythingthatmatters.

Tellher,fromme,thathermotherisnottobejudged.Shewasdrivenbeyondwhatalovingwomancan
endure.Itisforherdaughtertounderstandandforgive.

(EndofCecilia,Williams'Narrative)

NarrativeofAngelaWarren

DearM.Poirot:

IamkeepingmypromisetoyouandhavewrittendownallIcanrememberofthatterribletimesixteen
yearsago.ButitwasnotuntilIstartedthatIrealizedhowverylittleIdidremember.Untilthething
actuallyhappened,yousee,thereisnothingtofixanythingby.

TheveryfirstintimationIhadofthewholethingwaswhatIoverheardfromtheterracewhereIhad
escapedafterlunchoneday.ElsasaidshewasgoingtomarryAmyas!Itstruckmeasjustridiculous.I
remembertacklingAmyasaboutit.InthegardenatHandcrossitwas.Isaidtohim:

"WhydoesElsasayshe'sgoingtomarryyou?Shecouldn't.Peoplecan'thavetwowives-itsbigamy
andtheygotoprison."

Amyasgotveryangryandsaid,"Howthedevildidyouhearthat?"

IsaidI'dhearditthroughthelibrarywindow.

He was angrier than ever then and said it was high time I went to school and got out of the habit of
eavesdropping.

IstillremembertheresentmentIfeltwhenhesaidthat.Becauseitwassounfair.Absolutelyandutterly
unfair.

IstammeredoutangrilythatIhadn'tbeenlistening-and,anyhow,Isaid,whydidElsasayasillything
likethat?Amyassaiditwasjustajoke.

Thatoughttohavesatisfiedme.Itdid-almost,butnotquite.

IsaidtoElsawhenwewereonthewayback,"IaskedAmyaswhatyoumeantwhenyousaidyouwere
goingtomarryhimandhesaiditwasjustajoke."

Ifeltthatoughttosnubher.Butsheonlysmiled.

Ididn'tlikethatsmileofhers.IwentuptoCaroline'sroom.Itwaswhenshewasdressingfordinner.I
askedherthenoutrightifitwerepossibleforAmyastomarryElsa.

I remember Caroline's answer as though I heard it now. She must have spoken with great emphasis.
"AmyaswillmarryElsaonlyafterIamdead,"shesaid.

Thatreassuredmecompletely.Deathseemedagesawayfromusall.

I don t remember much about the afternoon at Meredith Blake's, although I do remember his reading
aloudthepassagefromthePhaedo,describingSocrates'sdeath.Ihadneverhearditbefore.Ithoughtit
wastheloveliest,mostbeautifulthingIhadeverheard.

Idon'tremembermuchthathappenedthenextmorningeither,thoughIhavethoughtandthought.I'vea
vaguefeelingthatImusthavebathed,andIthinkIrememberbeingmadetomendsomething.

Butit'sallveryvagueanddimtillthetimewhenMeredithcamepantingupthepathfromtheterrace
and his face was all gray and queer. I remember a coffee cup falling off the table and being broken -
Elsadidthat.AndIrememberherrunning-suddenlyrunningforallshewasworthdownthepath-and
theawfullooktherewasonherface.

Ikeptsayingtomyself,"Amyasisdead."Butitjustdidn'tseemreal.

IrememberDrFaussettcomingandhisgraveface.MissWilliamswasbusylookingafterCaroline.I
wanderedaboutratherforlornly,gettinginpeoplesway.Ihadanasty,sickfeeling.

MissWilliamstookmeintoCaroline'sroomlater.Carolinewasonthesofa.Shelookedverywhiteand
ill.

ShekissedmeandsaidshewantedmetogoawayassoonasIcould,anditwasallhorrible,butIwasn't
toworryorthinkaboutitanymorethanIcouldhelp.IwastojoinCarlaatLadyTressilian's,because
thishousewastobekeptasemptyaspossible.

IclungtoCarolineandsaidIdidn'twanttogoaway.Iwantedtostaywithher.ShesaidsheknewIdid,
but it was better for me to go away and would take a lot of worry off her mind. And Miss Williams
chippedinandsaid,"Thebestwayyoucanhelpyoursister,Angela,istodowhatshewantsyoutodo
withoutmakingafussaboutit."

SoIsaidIwoulddowhateverCarolinewished.AndCarolinesaid,"That'smydarling,Angela."And
shehuggedmeandsaidtherewasnothingtoworryabout.

Ihadtogodownandtalktoapolicesuperintendent.Hewasverykind,askedmewhenIhadlastseen
Amyas, and a lot of other questions which seemed to me quite pointless at the time, but which, of
course,Iseethepointofnow.HesatisfiedhimselfthattherewasnothingthatIcouldtellhimwhichhe
hadn't already heard from the others. So he told Miss Williams that he saw no objection to my going
overtoFerrilbyGrangetoLadyTressilian's.

I went there, and Lady Tressilian was very kind to me. But, of course, I soon had to know the truth.
TheyarrestedCarolinealmostatonce.IwassohorrifiedanddumbfoundedthatIbecamequiteill.

IheardafterwardthatCarolinewasterriblyworriedaboutme.ItwasatherinsistencethatIwassentout
ofEnglandbeforethetrialcameon.ButthatIhavetoldyoualready.

Asyousee,whatIhavetoputdownispitiablymeager.SincetalkingtoyouIhavegoneoverthelittleI
rememberpainstakingly,rackingmymemoryfordetailsofthisorthatperson'sexpressionorreaction.I
canremembernothingconsistentwithguilt.Elsa'sfrenzy,Meredith'sgray,worriedface,Philip'sgrief
andfury-theyallseemnaturalenough.Isuppose,though,someonecouldhavebeenplayingapart.

Ionlyknowthis,Carolinedidnotdoit.

I am quite certain on this point and always shall be, but I have no evidence to offer except my own
intimateknowledgeofhercharacter.

(EndofAngelaWarren'sNarrative)

CarlaLemarchantlookedup.Hereyeswerefulloffatigueandpain.Shepushedbackthehairfromher
foreheadinatiredgesture.

She said, "It's so bewildering, all this." She touched the pile of manuscripts. "Because the angle's
differenteverytime!Everybodyseesmymotherdifferently.Butthefactsarethesame.Everyoneagrees
onthefacts."

"Ithasdiscouragedyou,readingthem?"

"Yes.Hasn'titdiscouragedyou?"

"No,Ihavefoundthosedocumentsveryvaluable-veryinformative."Hespokeslowlyandreflectively.

Carlasaid,"IwishI'dneverreadthem!"

Poirotlookedacrossather."Ah-soitmakesyoufeelthatway?"

Carla said bitterly, "They all think she did it - all of them except Aunt Angela, and what she thinks
doesn'tcount.Shehasn'tgotanyreasonforit.She'sjustoneofthoseloyalpeoplewho'llsticktoathing
throughthickandthin.Shejustgoesonsaying,'Carolinecouldn'thavedoneit.'"

"Itstrikesyoulikethat?"

"Howelseshoulditstrikeme?I'verealized,youknow,thatifmymotherdidn'tdoit,thenoneofthese
fivepeoplemusthavedoneit.I'veevenhadtheoriesastowhy."

"Ah?Thatisinteresting.Tellme."

"Oh, they were only theories. Philip Blake, for instance. He's a stockbroker, he was my father's best
friend-probablymyfathertrustedhim.Andartistsareusuallycarelessaboutmoneymatters.Perhaps
PhilipBlakewasinajamandusedmyfather'smoney.Hemayhavegotmyfathertosignsomething.
Thenthewholethingmayhavebeenonthepointofcomingout-andonlymyfather'sdeathcouldhave
savedhim.That'soneofthethingsIthoughtof."

"Notbadlyimaginedatall.Whatelse?"

"Well,there'sElsa.PhilipBlakesayshereshehadherheadscrewedontoowelltomeddlewithpoison,
butIdon'tthinkthat'strueatall.Supposingmymotherhadgonetoherandtoldherthatshewouldn't
divorcemyfather-thatnothingwouldinducehertodivorcehim.YoumaysaywhatyoulikebutIthink
Elsa had a bourgeois mind - she wanted to be respectably married, I think that then Elsa would have
beenperfectlycapableofpinchingthestuff-shehadjustasgoodachancethatafternoon-andmight
havetriedtogetmymotheroutofthewaybypoisoningher.IthinkthatwouldbequitelikeElsa.And
then,possibly,bysomeawfulaccident,AmyasgotthestuffinsteadofCaroline."

"Againitisnotbadlyimagined.Whatelse?"

Carlasaidslowly,"WellIthought-perhaps-Meredith!"

"Ah!MeredithBlake?"

"Yes.Yousee,hesoundstomejustthesortofpersonwhowoulddoamurder.Imean,hewastheslow,
ditheringonetheotherslaughedat,andunderneath,perhaps,heresentedthat.Thenmyfathermarried
thegirlhewantedtomarry.Andmyfatherwassuccessfulandrich.AndMeredithdidmakeallthose
poisons!Perhapshereallymadethembecausehelikedtheideaofbeingabletokillsomeoneoneday.
Hehadtocallattentiontothestuffbeingtakensoastodivertsuspicionfromhimself.Buthehimself
was far the most likely person to have taken it. He might, even, have liked getting Caroline hanged -
becausesheturnedhimdownlongago.Ithink,youknow,itsratherfishywhathesaysinhisaccount
ofitall-howpeopledothingsthataren'tcharacteristicofthem.Supposinghemeanthimselfwhenhe

wrotethat?"

Hercule Poirot said, "You are at least right in this - not to take what has been written down as
necessarilyatruenarrative.Whathasbeenwrittenmayhavebeenwrittendeliberatelytomislead."

"Oh,Iknow.I'vekeptthatinmind."

"Anyotherideas?"

Carlasaidslowly,"Iwondered-beforeI'dreadthis-aboutMissWilliams.Shelostherjob,yousee,
when Angela went to school. And if Amyas had died suddenly, Angela probably wouldn't have gone
after all. I mean, if it passed off as a natural death - which it easily might have done, I suppose, if
Meredith hadn't missed the coniine. I read up on coniine and it hasn't any distinctive post-mortem
appearances.Itmighthavebeenthoughttobesunstroke.Iknowthatjustlosingajobdoesn'tsounda
very adequate motive for murder. But murders have been committed again and again for what seem
ridiculously inadequate motives. Tiny sums of money sometimes. And a middle-aged, perhaps rather
incompetentgovernessmighthavegotthewindupandjustseennofutureaheadofher.

"AsIsay,that'swhatIthoughtbeforeIreadthis.ButMissWilliamsdoesn'tsoundlikethatatall.She
doesn'tsoundintheleastincompetent-"

"Notatall.Sheisstillaveryefficientandintelligentwoman."

"Iknow.Onecanseethat.Andshesoundsabsolutelytrustworthy,too.That'swhathasupsetmereally.
Oh,youknow-youunderstand.Youdon'tmind,ofcourse.Allalongyou'vemadeitclearitwasthe
truth you wanted. I suppose now we've got the truth! Miss Williams is quite right. One must accept
truth.Itsnogoodbasingyourlifeonaliebecauseit'swhatyouwanttobelieve.Allright,then-Ican
takeit!Mymotherwasn'tinnocent!Shewrotemethatletterbecauseshewasweakandunhappyand
wantedtospareme.Idon'tjudgeher.PerhapsIshouldfeellikethat,too.Idon'tknowwhatprisondoes
toyou.AndIdon'tblameher,either-ifshefeltsodesperatelyaboutmyfather,Isupposeshecouldn't
helpherself.ButIdon'tblamemyfatheraltogether,either.Iunderstand-justalittle-howhefelt.So
aliveandsofullofwantingeverything...Hecouldn'thelpit-hewasmadethatway.Andhewasagreat
painter.Ithinkthatexcusesalot."

Sheturnedherflushed,excitedfacetoHerculePoirotwithherchinraiseddefiantly.

"Soyouaresatisfied?"Poirotsaid.

"Satisfied?"saidCarlaLemarchant.Hervoicebrokeontheword.

Poirotleanedforwardandpattedherpaternallyontheshoulder."Listen,"hesaid."Yougiveupthefight
atthemomentwhenitismostworthfighting.AtthemomentwhenI,HerculePoirot,haveaverygood
ideaofwhatreallyhappened."

Carla stared at him. She said, "Miss Williams loved my mother. She saw her - with her own eyes -
fakingthatsuicideevidence.Ifyoubelievewhatshesays-"

Hercule Poirot got up. "Mademoiselle," he said, "because Cecilia Williams says she saw your mother
fakingAmyasCralesfingerprintsonthebeerbottle-onthebeerbottle,mind-thatistheonethingI
needtotellmedefinitely,onceforall,thatyourmotherdidnotkillyourfather."

Henoddedhisheadseveraltimesandwentoutoftheroom,leavingCarlastaringafterhim.

"Well,M.Poirot?"

PhilipBlake'stonewasimpatient.

Poirotsaid,"Ihavetothankyouforyouradmirableandlucidaccountof,theCraletragedy."

Philip Blake looked rather self-conscious. "Very kind of you," he murmured. "Really surprising how
muchIrememberedwhenIgotdowntoit."

Poirotsaid,"Itwasanadmirablyclearnarrative,buttherewerecertainomissions,weretherenot?"

"Omissions?"PhilipBlakefrowned.

HerculePoirotsaid,"Yournarrative,shallwesay,wasnotentirelyfrank."Histonehardened."Ihave
beeninformed,MrBlake,thatonatleastonenightduringthesummerMrsCralewasseencomingout
ofyourroomatasomewhatcompromisinghour."

TherewasasilencebrokenonlybyPhilipBlake'sheavybreathing.Hesaidatlast,"Whotoldyouthat?"

HerculePoirotshookhishead."Itisnomatterwhotoldme.ThatIknow,thatisthepoint."

Again there was a silence, then Philip Blake made up his mind. He said, "By accident, it seems, you
have stumbled upon a purely private matter. I admit that it does not square with what I have written
down.Nevertheless,itsquaresbetterthanyoumightthink.Iamforcednowtotellyouthetruth.

"IdidentertainafeelingofanimositytowardCarolineCrale.AtthesametimeIwasalwaysstrongly
attractedbyher.Perhapsthelatterfactinducedtheformer.Iresentedthepowershehadovermeand
triedtostifletheattractionshehadformebyconstantlydwellingonherworstpoints.Ineverlikedher,
ifyouunderstand.Butitwouldhavebeeneasyatanymomentformetomakelovetoher.Ihadbeenin
lovewithherasaboyandshehadtakennonoticeofme.Ididnotfindthateasytoforgive.

"My opportunity came when Amyas lost his head so completely over the Greer girl. Quite without
meaning to, I found myself telling Caroline I loved her. She said quite calmly, "Yes, I have always
knownthat."Theinsolenceofthewoman!

"Of course, I knew that she didn't love me, but I saw that she was disturbed and disillusioned by
Amyas'spresentinfatuation.Thatisamoodwhenawomancanveryeasilybewon.Sheagreedtocome
tomethatnight.Andshecame."

Blake paused. He found now a difficulty in getting the words out. "She came to my room. And then,
withmyarmsaroundher,shetoldmequitecoollythatitwasnogood!Afterall,shesaid,shewasa
one-manwoman.ShewasAmyasCrale's,forbetterorworse.Sheagreedthatshehadtreatedmevery
badly,butshesaidshecouldn'thelpit.Sheaskedmetoforgiveher.

"And she left me. She left me! Do you wonder, M. Poirot, that my hatred of her was heightened a
hundredfold?DoyouwonderthatIhaveneverforgivenher?Fortheinsultshedidme,aswellasforthe
factthatshekilledthefriendIlovedbetterthananyoneintheworld!"

Tremblingviolently,PhilipBlakeexclaimed:

"I don't want to speak of it, do you hear? You've got your answer. Now go! And never mention the
mattertomeagain!"

"Iwanttoknow,MrBlake,theorderinwhichyourguestsleftthelaboratorythatday."

MeredithBlakeprotested,"But,mydearM.Poirot-aftersixteenyears!HowcanIpossiblyremember?

I'vetoldyouthatCarolinecameoutlast."

"Youaresureofthat?"

"Yes-atleast-Ithinkso."

"Letusgotherenow.Wemustbesure,yousee."

Stillprotesting,MeredithBlakeledtheway.Heunlockedthedoorandswungbacktheshutters.Poirot
spoke to him authoritatively. "Now, then, my friend. You have showed your visitors your interesting
preparationsofherbs.Shutyoureyesandthink."

MeredithBlakedidsoobediently.Poirotdrewahandkerchieffromhispocketandgentlypasseditto
and fro. Blake murmured, his nostrils twitching slightly, "Yes, yes - extraordinary how things come
back to one! Caroline, I remember, had on a pale coffee-colored dress. Phil was looking bored. He
alwaysthoughtmyhobbywasquiteidiotic."

"Reflect,now,"Poirotsaid."Youareabouttoleavetheroom.Youaregoingtothelibrary,whereyou
aregoingtoreadthepassageaboutthedeathofSocrates.Wholeavestheroomfirst-doyou?"

"Elsa and I - yes. She passed through the door first. I was close behind her. We were talking. I stood
therewaitingfortheotherstocome,sothatIcouldlockthedooragain.Philip-yes,Philipcameout
next. And Angela - she was asking him what bulls and bears were. They went on through the hall.
Amyasfollowedthem.Istoodtherewaitingstill-forCaroline,ofcourse."

"SoyouarequitesureCarolinestayedbehind.Didyouseewhatshewasdoing?"

Blake shook his head. "No, I had my back to the room, you see. I was talking to Elsa - boring her, I
expect - telling her how certain plants must be gathered at the full of the moon, according to old
superstition.AndthenCarolinecameout-hurryingalittle-andIlockedthedoor."

He stopped and looked at Poirot, who was replacing a handkerchief in his pocket. Meredith Blake
sniffeddisgustedlyandthought,"Why,thefellowactuallyusesscent!"Aloudhesaid:"Iamquitesure
ofit.Thatwastheorder:Elsa,myself,Philip,Angela,andCaroline.Doesthathelpyouatall?"

Poirotsaid,"Itallfitsin.Listen:Iwanttoarrangeameetinghere.Itwillnot,Ithink,bedifficult..."

"Well?"

ElsaDittishamsaiditalmosteagerly-likeachild.

Poirotsaid,"Iwanttoaskyouaquestion,madame."

"Yes?"

Poirotsaid,"Afteritwasallover-thetrial,Imean-didMeredithBlakeaskyoutomarryhim?"

Elsastared.Shelookedcontemptuous,almostbored."Yes-hedid.Why?"

"Wereyousurprised?"

"WasI?Idon'tremember."

"Whatdidyousay?"

Elsa laughed. She said, "What do you think I said? After Amyas - Meredith? It would have been
ridiculous!Itwasstupidofhim.Healwayswasratherstupid."

Shesmiledsuddenly.

"He, wanted, you know, to protect me - to 'look after me,' that's how he put it! He thought, like
everybody else, that the assizes had been a terrible ordeal for me. And the reporters! And the booing
crowds!Andallthemudthatwasslungatme."

Shebroodedaminute.Thenshesaid,"PooroldMeredith!Suchanass!"Andlaughedagain.

Once again Hercule Poirot encountered the shrewd, penetrating glance of Miss Williams, and once
againfelttheyearsfallingawayandhimselfameekandapprehensivelittleboy.

Therewas,heexplained,aquestionhewishedtoask.

MissWilliamsintimatedherwillingnesstohearwhatthequestionwas.

Poirotsaidslowly,pickinghiswordscarefully:

"AngelaWarrenwasinjuredasaveryyoungchild.MrsCralethrewapaperweightather.Isthatright?"

MissWilliamsreplied,"Yes."

"Whowasyourinformant?"

"Angelaherself.Shevolunteeredtheinformationquiteearly."

"Whatdidshesayexactly?"

"Shetouchedhercheekandsaid,'CarolinedidthiswhenIwasababy.Shethrewapaperweightatme.
Neverrefertoit-willyou?-becauseitupsetsherdreadfully.'"

"DidMrsCraleherselfevermentionthemattertoyou?"

"Onlyobliquely.SheassumedthatIknewthestory.Irememberhersayingonce,'IknowyouthinkI
spoilAngela,but,yousee,IalwaysfeelthereisnothingIcandotomakeuptoherforwhatIdid.'And
on another occasion she said, 'To know you have permanently injured another human being is the
heaviestburdenanyonecouldhavetobear.'"

"Thankyou,MissWilliams.ThatisallIwantedtoknow."

PoirotslowedupalittleasheapproachedthebigblockofflatsoverlookingRegent'sPark.Really,when
hecametothinkofit,hedidnotwanttoaskAngelaWarrenanyquestionsatall.Theonlyquestionhe
didwanttoaskhercouldwait...

No, it was really only his insatiable passion for symmetry that was bringing him here. Five people -
thereshouldbefivequestions!Itwasneaterso.Itroundedoffthethingbetter.

AngelaWarrengreetedhimwithsomethingcloselyapproachingeagerness.Shesaid:"Haveyoufound
outanything?Haveyougotanywhere?"

SlowlyPoirotnoddedhisheadinhisbestChinamandarinmanner."AtlastImakeprogress,"hesaid.

"PhilipBlake?"Itwashalfwaybetweenstatementandaquestion.

"Mademoiselle,Idonotwishtosayanythingatpresent.Themomenthasnotyetcome.WhatIwillask
ofyouistobesogoodastocomedowntoHandcrossManor.Theothershaveconsented."

She said, with a slight frown, "What do you propose to do? Reconstruct something that happened
sixteenyearsago?"

"Seeit,perhaps,fromaclearerangle.Youwillcome?"

"Oh,yes,I'llcome,"AngelaWarrensaidslowly."Itwillbeinterestingtoseeallthosepeopleagain.I
shallseethemnow,perhaps,fromaclearerangle(asyouputit)thanIdidthen."

"Andyouwillbringwithyoutheletterthatyoushowedme?"

AngelaWarrenfrowned."Thatletterismyown.Ishowedittoyouforagoodandsufficientreason,but
Ihavenointentionofallowingittobereadbystrangeandunsympatheticpersons."

"Butyouwillallowyourselftobeguidedbymeinthematter?"

"Iwilldonothingofthekind.Iwillbringtheletterwithme,butIshallusemyownjudgement,whichI
venturetothinkisquiteasgoodasyours."

Poirotspreadouthishandsinagestureofresignation.Hegotuptogo.Hesaid,"YoupermitthatIask
onelittlequestion?"

"Whatisit?"

"Atthetimeofthetragedy,youhadlatelyread-hadyounot?-alifeofthepainterGauguin."

Angelastaredathim.Thenshesaid,"Ibelieve-why,yes,thatisquitetrue."Shelookedathimwith
frankcuriosity."Howdidyouknow?"

"I want to show you, mademoiselle, that even in a small, unimportant matter I seam something of a
magician.TherearethingsIknowwithouthavingtobetold."

The afternoon sun shone into the laboratory at Handcross Manor. Some easy chairs and a settee had
beenbroughtintotheroom,buttheyservedmoretoemphasizeitsforlornaspectthantofurnishit.

Slightly embarrassed, pulling at his mustache, Meredith Blake talked to Carla in a desultory way. He
brokeoffoncetosay,"Mydear,youareverylikeyourmother-andyetunlikeher,too."

Carlaasked,"HowamIlikeherandhowunlike?"

"Youhavehercoloringandherwayofmoving,butyouare-howshallIputit-morepositivethanshe
everwas."

PhilipBlake,ascowlcreasinghisforehead,lookedoutofthewindowanddrummedimpatientlyonthe
pane.Hesaid,"What'sthesenseofallthis?AperfectlyfineSaturdayafternoon-"

HerculePoirothastenedtopouroilontroubledwaters.

"Ah,Iapologize-itis,Iknow,unpardonabletodisarrangethegolf.But,M.Blake,thisisthedaughter
ofyourbestfriend.Youwillstretchapointforher,willyounot?"

Thebutlerannounced,"MissWarren."

Meredith went to welcome her. He said, "It's good of you to spare the time, Angela. You're busy, I
know."

Heledherovertothewindow.

Carla said, "Hullo, Aunt, Angela! I read your article in the Times this morning. It's nice to have a
distinguishedrelative."Sheindicatedthetall,square-jawedyoungmanwiththesteadygrayeyes."This
isJohnRattery.HeandI-hope-tobemarried."

AngelaWarrensaid,"Oh!Ididn'tknow..."

Meredithwenttogreetthenextarrival.

"Well,MissWilliams,it'sagoodmanyyearssincewemet."

Thin,frail,andindomitable,theelderlygovernessadvanceduptheroom.Hereyesrestedthoughtfully
onPoirotforaminute,thentheywenttothetall,square-shoulderedfigureinthewell-cuttweeds.

AngelaWarrencameforwardtomeetherandsaidwithasmile,"Ifeellikeaschoolgirlagain."

"I'mveryproudofyou,mydear,"saidMissWilliams."You'vedonemecredit.ThisisCarla,Isuppose?
Shewon'trememberme.Shewastooyoung."

PhilipBlakesaidfretfully,"Whatisallthis?Nobodytoldme-"

HerculePoirotsaid,"Icallit-me-anexcursionintothepast.Shallwenotallsitdown?Thenweshall
bereadywhenthelastguestarrives.Andwhensheisherewecanproceedtoourbusiness-tolaythe
ghosts."

PhilipBlakeexclaimed,"Whattomfooleryisthis?You'renotgoingtoholdaséance,areyou?"

"No, no. We are only going to discuss some events that happened long ago - to discuss them and,
perhaps,toseemoreclearlythecourseofthem.Astotheghosts,theywillnotmaterialize,butwhoisto
say they are not here, in this room, although we cannot see them. Who is to say that Amyas and
CarolineCralearenothere-listening?"

PhilipBlakesaid,"Absurdnonsense-"andbrokeoffasthedooropenedagainandthebutlerannounced
LadyDittisham.

Conclusion

Elsa Dittisham came in with that faint, bored insolence that was a characteristic of hers. She gave
Meredithaslightsmile,staredcoldlyatAngelaandPhilip,andwentovertoachairbythewindowa
littleapartfromtheothers.Sheloosenedtherich,palefursroundherneckandletthemfallback.She
lookedforaminuteortwoabouttheroom,atCarla,andthegirlstaredback,thoughtfullyappraisingthe
womanwhohadwroughtthehavocinherparents'lives.Therewasnoanimosityinheryoung,earnest
face,onlycuriosity.

Elsasaid,"IamsorryifIamlate,M.Poirot."

"Itwasverygoodofyoutocome,madame."

Cecilia Williams snorted ever so slightly. Elsa met the animosity in her eyes with a complete lack of
interest.Shesaid,"Iwouldn'thaveknownyou,Angela.Howlongisit?Sixteenyears?"

HerculePoirotseizedhisopportunity."Yes,itissixteenyearssincetheeventsofwhichwearetospeak,
butletmefirsttellyouwhywearehere."AndinafewsimplewordsheoutlinedCarla'sappealtohim
andhisacceptanceofthetask.

He went on quickly, ignoring the gathering storm visible on Philip's face and the shocked distaste on
Meredith's.

"Iacceptedthatcommission.Isettoworktofindout-thetruth."

Carla Lemarchant, in the big grandfather chair, heard Poirot's words dimly, from a distance. With her
hand shielding her eyes she studied five faces surreptitiously. Could she see any of these people
committingmurder?Couldshe-ifshetriedhard-visualizeoneofthemkillingsomeone?Yes,perhaps;
but it wouldn't be the right kind of murder. She could picture Philip Blake, in an outburst of fury,
strangling some woman - yes, she could picture that... And she could picture Meredith Blake
threatening a burglar with a revolver - and letting it off by accident... And she could picture Angela
Warren,alsofiringarevolver,butnotbyaccident.Withnopersonalfeelinginthematter-thesafetyof
the expedition depended on it! And Elsa, in some fantastic castle, saying from her couch of Oriental
silks,"Throwthewretchoverthebattlements!"

All wild fancies - and not even in the wildest flight of fancy could she imagine little Miss Williams
killinganybodyatall!

HerculePoirotwastalking:

"That was my task - to put myself in reverse gear, as it were, and go back through the years and
discoverwhatreallyhappened."

PhilipBlakesaid,"Weallknowwhathappened.Topretendanythingelseisaswindle-that'swhatitis,
abarefacedswindle.You'regettingmoneyoutofthisgirlonfalsepretenses."

Poirotdidnotallowhimselftobeangered.Hesaid:

"Yousay,'Weallknowwhathappened.'Youspeakwithoutreflection.Theacceptedversionofcertain
facts is not necessarily the true one. On the face of it, for instance, you, Mr Blake, disliked Caroline
Crale.Thatistheacceptedversionofyourattitude.Butanyonewiththeleastflairforpsychologycan
perceive at once that the exact opposite was the truth. You were always violently attracted toward
CarolineCrale.Youresentedthefact,andtriedtoconqueritbysteadfastlytellingyourselfherdefects
andreiteratingyourdislike.

"Inthesameway,MrMeredithBlakehadatraditionofdevotiontoCarolineCralelastingovermany
years. In his story of the tragedy he represents himself as resenting Amyas Crale's conduct on her
account,butyouhaveonlytoreadcarefullybetweenthelinesandyouwillseethatthedevotionofa
lifetimehadwornitselfthinandthatitwastheyoung,beautifulElsaGreerthatwasoccupyinghismind
andthoughts."

TherewasasplutterfromMeredith,andLadyDittishamsmiled.

Poirotwenton:

"Imentionthesemattersonlyasillustrations,thoughtheyhavetheirbearingonwhathappened.AndI
learnedthesefacts:

"That at no time did Caroline Crale protest her innocence (except in that one letter written to her
daughter).

"ThatCarolineCraleshowednofearinthedock;thatsheshowed,infact,hardlyanyinterest;thatshe
adoptedthroughoutathoroughlydefeatistattitude.Thatinprisonshewasquietandserene.Thatina
letter she wrote to her sister immediately after the verdict she expressed herself as acquiescent in the
fate that had overtaken her. And in the opinion of everyone I talked to (with one notable exception)
CarolineCralewasguilty."

PhilipBlakenoddedhishead."Ofcourseshewas!"

HerculePoirotsaid:

"But it was not my part to accept the verdict of others. I had to examine the evidence for myself. To
examinethefactsandtosatisfymyselfthatthepsychologyofthecaseaccordeditselfwiththem.Todo
thisIwentoverthepolicefilescarefullyandIalsosucceededingettingthefivepeoplewhowereon
thespottowritemeouttheirownaccountsofthetragedy.Theseaccountswereveryvaluable,forthey
contained certain matter which the police files could not give me - that is to say: A, certain
conversationsandincidentswhich,fromthepolicepointofview,werenotrelevant;B,theopinionsof
the people themselves as to what Caroline Crale was thinking and feeling (not admissible legally as
evidence);C,certainfactswhichhadbeendeliberatelywithheldfromthepolice.

"I was in a position now to judge the case for myself. There seems no doubt whatever that Caroline
Crale had ample motive for the crime. She loved her husband, he had publicly admitted that he was
abouttoleaveherforanotherwoman,andbyherownadmissionshewasajealouswoman.

"Tocomefrommotivestomeans-anemptyscentbottlethathadcontainedconiinewasfoundinher
bureau drawer. There were no fingerprints upon it but hers. When asked about it by the police she
admittedtakingitfromthisroomweareinnow.Theconiinebottleherealsohadherfingerprintsupon
it.IquestionedMrMeredithBlakeastotheorderinwhichthepeopleleftthisroomonthatday,forit
seemed to me hardly conceivable that anyone should be able to help himself to the poison while five
people were in the room. The people left the room in this order: Elsa Greer, Meredith Blake, Angela
WarrenandPhilipBlake,AmyasCrale,andlastlyCarolineCrale.Moreover,MrMeredithBlakehadhis
backtotheroomwhilehewaswaitingforMrsCraletocomeout,sothatitwasimpossibleforhimto
seewhatshewasdoing.Shehad,thatistosay,theopportunity.Iamthereforesatisfiedthatshedidtake
theconiine.Thereisindirectconfirmationofit.

"MrMeredithBlakesaidtometheotherday,'Icanrememberstandinghereandsmellingthejasmine
throughtheopenwindow.'ButthemonthwasSeptember,andthejasminecreeperoutsidethatwindow
wouldhavefinishedflowering.ItistheordinaryjasminewhichbloomsinJuneandJuly.Butthescent
bottle found in her room and which contained the dregs of coniine had originally contained jasmine
scent.Itakeitascertain,then,thatMrsCraledecidedtostealtheconiine,andsurreptitiouslyemptied
outthescentfromabottleshehadinherbag.

"ItestedthatasecondtimetheotherdaywhenIaskedMrBlaketoshuthiseyesandtryandremember
theorderofleavingtheroom.Awhiffofjasminescentstimulatedhismemoryimmediately.Weareall
moreinfluencedbysmellthanweknow.

"So we come to the morning of the fatal day. So far the facts are not in dispute. Miss Greer's sudden
revealingofthefactthatsheandMrCralecontemplatemarriage,AmyasCrale'sconfirmationofthat,
andCarolineCrale'sdeepdistress.Noneofthesethingsdependontheevidenceofonewitnessonly.

"Onthefollowingmorningthereisascenebetweenhusbandandwifeinthelibrary.Thefirstthingthat
isoverheardisCarolineCralesaying,'Youandyourwomen!'inabittervoiceandfinallygoingonto
say,'SomedayI'llkillyou.'PhilipBlakeoverheardthisfromthehall.AndMissGreeroverhearditfrom
theterraceoutside.

"ShethenheardMrCraleaskhiswifetobereasonable.AndsheheardMrsCralesay,'Soonerthanlet
you go to that girl - I'll kill you.' Soon after this, Amyas comes out and brusquely tells Elsa Greer to
comedownandposeforhim.Shegetsapull-overandaccompanieshim.

"Thereisnothingsofarthatseemspsychologically,incorrect.Everyonehasbehavedasheorshemight
beexpectedtobehave.Butwecomenowtosomethingthatisincongruous.

"Meredith Blake discovers his loss, telephones his brother. They meet down at the landing stage and
theycomeuppasttheBatteryGarden,whereCarolineCraleishavingadiscussionwithherhusbandon
thesubjectofAngela'sgoingtoschool.Now,thatdoesstrikemeasveryodd.Husbandandwifehavea
terrificscene,endinginadistinctthreatonCaroline'spart,andyet,twentyminutesorsolater,shegoes
downandstartsatrivialdomesticargument."

PoirotturnedtoMeredithBlake:"YouspeakinyournarrativeofcertainwordsyouoverheardCralesay.
Thesewere:'It'sallsettled-I'llseetoherpacking.'Thatisright?"

MeredithBlakesaid,"Itwassomethinglikethat-yes."

PoirotturnedtoPhilipBlake."Isyourrecollectionthesame?"

Thelatterfrowned."Ididn'trememberittillyousayso,butIdoremembernow.Somethingwassaid
aboutpacking!"

"SaidbyMrCrale-notMrsCrale?"

"Amyassaidit.AllIheardCarolinesaywassomethingaboutitsbeingveryhardonthegirl.Anyway,
whatdoesallthismatter?WeallknowAngelawasofftoschoolinadayortwo."

Poirotsaid,"Youdonotseetheforceofmyobjection.WhyshouldAmyasCralepackforthegirl?Itis
absurd,that!TherewasMrsCrale,therewasMissWilliams,therewasahousemaid.Itisawoman'sjob
topack-notaman's."

"Whatdoesitmatter?"PhilipBlakesaidimpatiently."Ithasnothingtodowiththecrime."

"You think not? For me, it was the first point that struck me as suggestive. And it is immediately
followedbyanother.MrsCrale,adesperatewoman,brokenhearted,whohasthreatenedherhusbanda
shortwhilebeforeandwhoiscertainlycontemplatingeithersuicideormurder,nowoffersinthemost
amicablemannertobringherhusbanddownsomeicedbeer."

Meredith Blake said slowly, "That isn't odd if she was contemplating murder. Then, surely, it is just
whatshewoulddo.Dissimulate!"

"You think so? She has decided to poison her husband; she has already got the poison. Her husband
keepsasupplyofbeerdownintheBatteryGarden.Surely,ifshehasanyintelligenceatallshewillput
thepoisoninoneofthosebottlesatamomentwhenthereisnooneabout."

MeredithBlakeobjected."Shecouldn'thavedonethat.Somebodyelsemighthavedrunkit."

"Yes,ElsaGreer.Doyoutellmethathavingmadeuphermindtomurderherhusband,CarolineCrale
wouldhavescruplesagainstkillingthegirl,too?

"Butletusnotarguethepoint.Letusconfineourselvestofacts.CarolineCralesaysshewillsendher
husbanddownsomeicedbeer.Shegoesuptothehouse,fetchesabottlefromtheconservatory,whereit
waskept,andtakesitdowntohim.Shepoursitoutandgivesittohim.AmyasCraledrinksitoffand
says,'Everythingtastesfoultoday.'

"MrsCralegoesupagaintothehouse.Shehaslunchandappearsmuchasusual.Ithasbeensaidofher
that she looks a little worried and preoccupied. That does not help us, for there is no criterion of
behaviorforamurderer.Therearecalmmurderersandexcitedmurderers.

"AfterlunchshegoesdownagaintotheBattery.Shediscoversherhusbanddead,anddoes,shallwe
say,theobviouslyexpectedthings.Sheregistersemotionandshesendsthegovernesstotelephonefora
doctor. We now come to a fact which has previously not been known." He looked at Miss Williams.
"Youdonotobject?"

MissWilliamswasratherpale.Shesaid,"Ididnotpledgeyoutosecrecy."

Quietly,butwithtellingeffect,Poirotrecountedwhatthegovernesshadseen.

Elsa Dittisham moved her position. She stared at the drab little woman in the big chair. She said
incredulously,"Youactuallysawherdothat?"

PhilipBlakesprangup."Butthatsettlesit!"heshouted."Thatsettlesitonceandforall."

HerculePoirotlookedathimmildly.Hesaid,"Notnecessarily."

AngelaWarrensaidsharply,"Idon'tbelieveit."Therewasaquick,hostileglintintheglancesheshotat
thelittlegoverness.

Meredith Blake was pulling at his mustache, his face dismayed. Alone, Miss Williams remained
undisturbed.Shesatveryuprightandtherewasaspotofcolorineachcheck.

Shesaid,"ThatiswhatIsaw."

Poirotsaidslowly,"Thereis,ofcourse,onlyyourwordforit..."

"Thereisonlymywordforit."Theindomitablegrayeyesmethis."Iamnotaccustomed,M.Poirot,to
havingmyworddoubted."

HerculePoirotbowedhishead.Hesaid,"Idonotdoubtyourword,MissWilliams.Whatyousawtook
place exactly as you say it did, and because of what you saw I realized that Caroline Crale was not
guilty-couldnotpossiblybeguilty."

Forthefirsttime,thattall,anxious-facedyoungman,JohnRattery,spoke.Hesaid,"I'dbeinterestedto
knowwhyyousaythat,M.Poirot."

Poirotturnedtohim.

"Certainly. I will tell you. What did Miss Williams see? She saw Caroline Crale very carefully and

anxiouslywipingofffingerprintsandsubsequentlyimposingherdeadhusband'sfingerprintsonthebeer
bottle.Onthebeerbottle,mark.Buttheconiinewasintheglass-notinthebottle.Thepolicefoundno
tracesofconiineinthebottle.Therehadneverbeenanyconiineinthebottle.AndCarolineCraledidn't
knowthat.

"She, who is supposed to have poisoned her husband, didn't know how he had been poisoned. She
thoughtthepoisonwasinthebottle."

Meredithobjected."Butwhy-"

Poirotinterruptedhiminaflash:"Yes-why?WhydidCarolineCraletrysodesperatelytoestablishthe
theoryofsuicide.Theansweris-mustbe-quitesimple.Becausesheknewwhohadpoisonedhimand
shewaswillingtodoanything-endureanything-ratherthanletthatpersonbesuspected.

"There is not far to go now. Who could that person be? Would she have shielded Philip Blake? Or
Meredith? Or Elsa Greer? Or Cecilia Williams? No, there is only one person whom she would be
willingtoprotectatallcosts."

Hepaused.

"MissWarren,ifyouhavebroughtyoursister'slastletterwithyou,Ishouldliketoreaditaloud."

"AngelaWarrensaid,'No.'

"But,MissWarren-"

Angelagotup.Hervoicerangout,coldassteel."Irealizeverywellwhatyouaresuggesting.Youare
saying - are you not? - that I killed Amyas Crale and that my sister knew it. I deny that allegation
utterly."

Poirotsaid,"Theletter-"

"Thatletterwasmeantformyeyesalone."

Poirotlookedtowherethetwoyoungestpeopleintheroomstoodtogether.

CarlaLemarchantsaid,"Please,AuntAngela,won'tyoudoasM.Poirotasks?"

AngelaWarrensaidbitterly,"Really,Carla!Haveyounosenseofdecency?Shewasyourmother-you
-"

Carla'svoicerangoutclearandfierce.

"Yes, she was my mother. That's why I've a right to ask you. I'm speaking for her. I want that letter
read."

SlowlyAngelaWarrentookouttheletterfromherbagandhandedittoPoirot.Shesaidbitterly,"Iwish
Ihadnevershownittoyou."

Turningawayfromthemshestoodlookingoutofthewindow.

AsHerculePoirotreadaloudCarolineCrale'slastletter,theshadowsweredeepeninginthecornersof
the room. Carla had a sudden feeling of someone in the room, gathering shape, listening, breathing,
waiting.Shethought:"She'shere-mymother'shere.Caroline-CarolineCraleishereinthisroom!"

HerculePoirot'svoiceceased.Hesaid:

"You will all agree, I think, that that is a very remarkable letter. A beautiful letter, too, but certainly
remarkable.Forthereisonestrikingomissioninit-itcontainsnoprotestationofinnocence."

AngelaWarrensaidwithoutturningherhead,"Thatwasunnecessary."

"Yes, Miss Warren, it was unnecessary. Caroline Crale had no need to tell her sister that she was
innocent,becauseshethoughthersisterknewthatfactalready-knewitforthebestofallreasons.All
Caroline Crale was concerned about was to comfort and reassure and to avert the possibility of a
confessionfromAngela.Shereiteratesagainandagain-'It'sallright,darling;it'sall,allright.'"

AngelaWarrensaid,"Can'tyouunderstand?Shewantedmetobehappy,thatisall."

"Yes,shewantedyoutobehappy,thatisabundantlyclear.Itisheronepreoccupation.Shehasachild,

butitisnotthatchildofwhomsheisthinking-thatistocomelater.No,itishersisterwhooccupies
hermindtotheexclusionofeverythingelse.Hersistermustbereassured,mustbeencouragedtolive
her life, to be happy and successful. And so that the burden of acceptance may not be too great,
Carolineincludesthatoneverysignificantphrase:'Onemustpayone'sdebts.'

"Thatonephraseexplainseverything.ItrefersexplicitlytotheburdenthatCarolinehascarriedforso
manyyears, ever since,in a fitof uncontrolled adolescent rage,she hurled apaperweight at her baby
sisterandinjuredthatsisterforlife.Now,atlast,shehastheopportunitytopaythedebtsheowes.And
if it is any consolation, I will say to you all that I earnestly believe that in the payment of that debt
CarolineCraledidachieveapeaceandserenitygreaterthananyshehadeverknown.Becauseofher
belief that she was paying that debt, the ordeal of trial and condemnation could not touch her. It is a
strangethingtosayofacondemnedmurderess-butshehadeverythingtomakeherhappy.Yes,more
thanyouimagine,asIwillshowyoupresently.

"See how, by this explanation, everything falls into its place where Caroline's own reactions are
concerned.Lookattheseriesofeventsfromherpointofview.Tobeginwith,ontheprecedingevening,
an event occurs which reminds her forcibly of her own undisciplined girlhood. Angela throws a
paperweightatAmyasCrale.That,remember,iswhatsheherselfdidmanyyearsago.Angelashouts
outthatshewishesAmyaswasdead.

"Then, on the next morning, Caroline comes into the little conservatory and finds Angela tampering
with the beer. Remember Miss Williams's words: 'Angela was there. She looked guilty.' Guilty of
playingtruantwaswhatMissWilliamsmeant;buttoCaroline,Angela'sguiltyface,asshewascaught
unawares,wouldhaveadifferentmeaning.RememberthatonatleastoneoccasionbeforeAngelahad
putthingsinAmyas'sdrink.Itwasanideawhichmightreadilyoccurtoher.

"Caroline takes the bottle that Angela gives her and goes down with it to the Battery. And there she
poursitoutandgivesittoAmyas,andhemakesafaceashetossesitoffanduttersthosesignificant
words-'Everythingtastesfoultoday.'

"Carolinehasnosuspicionsthen,butafterlunchshegoesdowntotheBatteryandfindsherhusband
dead-andshehasnodoubtsatallbutthathehasbeenpoisoned.Shehasnotdoneit.Who,then,has?
Andthewholethingcomesoverherwitharush:Angela'sthreats,Angela'sfacestoopingoverthebeer
and caught unawares - guilty - guilty - guilty. Why has the child done it? As a revenge on Amyas,
perhapsnotmeaningtokill,justtomakehimillorsick?Orhasshedoneitforher,Caroline'ssake?Has
sherealizedandresentedAmyas'sdesertionofhersister?

"Carolineremembers-oh,sowell-herownundisciplinedviolentemotionsatAngela'sage.Andonly
one thought springs to her mind: How can she protect Angela? Angela handled that bottle - Angela's
fingerprintswillbeonit.Shequicklywipesitandpolishesit.Ifonlyeverybodycanbegottobelieveit
is suicide. If Amyas's fingerprints are the only ones found. She tries to fit his dead fingers round the

bottle-workingdesperately,listeningforsomeonetocome.

"Once take that assumption as true and everything from then on fits in. Her anxiety about Angela all
along,herinsistenceongettingheraway,keepingheroutoftouchwithwhatwasgoingon.Herfearof
Angela'sbeingquestionedundulybythepolice.FinallyheroverwhelminganxietytogetAngelaoutof
Englandbeforethetrialcomeson.BecausesheisalwaysterrifiedthatAngelamightbreakdownand
confess."

Slowly,AngelaWarrenswungaround.Hereyes,hardandcontemptuous,rangedoverthefacesturned
towardher.

Shesaid,"Youblindfools-allofyou.Don'tyouknowthatifIhaddoneitIwouldhaveconfessed?I'd
neverhaveletCarolinesufferforwhatI'ddone.Never!"

"Butyoudidtamperwiththebeer,"Poirotsaid.

"I?Tamperwiththebeer?"

PoirotturnedtoMeredithBlake."Listen,monsieur.Inyouraccounthereofwhathappenedyoudescribe
havingheardsoundsinthisroom,whichisbelowyourbedroom,onthemorningofthecrime."

Blakenodded."Butitwasonlyacat."

"Howdoyouknowitwasacat?"

"I - I can't remember. But it was a cat. I am quite sure it was a cat. The window was open just wide
enoughforacattogetthrough."

"Butitwasnotfixedinthatposition.Thesashmovesfreely.Itcouldhavebeenpushedupandahuman
beingcouldhavegotinandout."

"Yes,butIknowitwasacat."

"Youdidnotseeacat?"

Blakesaidperplexedlyandslowly,"No,I,didnotseeit-"Hepaused,frowning."AndyetIknow."

"Iwilltellyouwhyyouknowpresently.InthemeantimeIputthispointtoyou:Someonecouldhave
comeuptothehousethatmorning,havegotintoyourlaboratory,takensomethingfromtheshelf,and
gone again without your seeing him or her. Now, if that someone had come over from Alderbury it
couldnothavebeenPhilipBlake,norElsaGreer,norAmyasCrale,norCarolineCrale.Weknowquite
wellwhatallthosefourweredoing.ThatleavesAngelaWarrenandMissWilliams.

"MissWilliamswasoverhere-youactuallymetherasyouwentout.Shetoldyouthenthatshewas
lookingforAngela.Angelahadgonebathingearly,butMissWilliamsdidnotseeherinthewater,nor
anywhere on the rocks. She could swim across to this side easily - in fact, she did so later in the
morningwhenshewasbathingwithPhilipBlake.Isuggestthatsheswamacrosshere,cameuptothe
house,gotinthroughthewindow,andtooksomethingfromtheshelf."

AngelaWarrensaid,"Ididnothingofthekind-not,atleast-"

"Ah!"Poirotgaveayelpoftriumph."Youhaveremembered.Youtoldme-didyounot?-thattoplaya
maliciousjokeonAmyasCraleyoupinchedsomeofwhatyoucalled"thecatstuff"-thatishowyou
putit-"

MeredithBlakesaidsharply,"Valerian!Ofcourse."

"Exactly.Thatiswhatmadeyousureinyourmindthatitwasacatwhohadbeenintheroom.Your
noseisverysensitive.Yousmelledthefaint,unpleasantodorofvalerianwithoutknowing,perhaps,that
youdidso,butitsuggestedtoyoursubconsciousmind'cat.'Catslovevalerianandwillgoanywherefor
it. Valerian is particularly nasty to taste, and it was your account of it the day before which made
mischievous Miss Angela plan to put some in her brother-in-law's beer, which she knew he always
tosseddownhisthroatinadraught."

Angela Warren said wonderingly, "Was it really that day? I remember taking it perfectly - yes, and I
rememberputtingitinthebeerandCarolinecominginandnearlycatchingme!OfcourseIremember.
ButI'veneverconnecteditwiththatparticularday."

"Ofcoursenot,becausetherewasnoconnectioninyourmind.Thetwoeventswereentirelydissimilar
toyou.Onewasonaparwithothermischievouspranks,theotherwasabombshelloftragedyarriving
without warning and succeeding in banishing all lesser incidents from your mind. But me, I noticed
whenyouspokeofitthatyousaid,'Ipinched,etc.,etc.,toputitinAmyas'sdrink.'Youdidnotsayyou
hadactuallydoneso."

"No,becauseIneverdid.CarolinecameinjustwhenIwasunscrewingthebottle.Oh!"Itwasacry.
"AndCarolinethought-shethoughtitwasme.Shestopped.Shelookedaround.Shesaidquietlyinher
usualcooltones,"Isupposeyouallthinkso,too."

Shepausedandthensaid,"Ididn'tkillAmyas.Notastheresultofamaliciousjokenorinanyother
way.IfIhadIwouldneverhavekeptsilence."

MissWilliamssaidsharply,"Ofcourseyouwouldn't,mydear."ShelookedatHerculePoirot."Nobody
butafoolwouldthinkso."

"Iamnotafool,"Poirotsaidmildly,"andIdonotthinkso.IknowquitewellwhokilledAmyasCrale."

Hepaused.

"Thereisalwaysadangerofacceptingfactsasprovedwhicharereallynothingofthekind.Letustake
thesituationatAlderbury.Averyoldsituation.Twowomenandoneman.Wehavetakenitforgranted
that Amyas Crale proposed to leave his wife for the other woman. But I suggest to you now that he
neverintendedtodoanythingofthekind.

"Hehadhadinfatuationsforwomenbefore.Theyobsessedhimwhiletheylasted,buttheyweresoon
over.Thewomenhehadfalleninlovewithwereusuallywomenofacertainexperience-theydidnot
expecttoomuchofhim.Butthistimethewomandid.Shewasnot,yousee,awomanatall.Shewasa
girl and, in Caroline Crale's words, she was terribly sincere. She may have been hard-boiled and
sophisticatedinspeech,butinloveshewasfrighteninglysingle-minded.Becausesheherselfhadadeep
and overmastering passion for Amyas Crale she assumed that he had the same for her. She assumed
withoutanyquestionthattheirpassionwasforlife.Sheassumedwithoutaskinghimthathewasgoing
toleavehiswife.

"Butwhy,youwillsay,didAmyasCralenotundeceiveher?Andmyansweris-thepicture.Hewanted
tofinishhispicture.

"To some people that sounds incredible, but not to anybody who knows about artists. And we have
alreadyacceptedthatexplanationinprinciple.ThatconversationbetweenCraleandMeredithBlakeis
more intelligible now. Crale is embarrassed - pats Blake on the back, assures him optimistically the
wholethingisgoingtopanoutallright.ToAmyasCrale,yousee,everythingissimple.Heispaintinga
picture,slightlyencumberedbywhathedescribesasacoupleofjealous,neuroticwomen,butneitherof
themisgoingtobeallowedtointerferewithwhattohimisthemostimportantthinginlife.

"If he were to tell Elsa the truth it would be all up with the picture. Perhaps in the first flush of his
feelingsforherhedidtalkofleavingCaroline.Mendosaythesethingswhentheyareinlove.Perhaps
hemerelyletitbeassumed,asheislettingitbeassumednow.Hedoesn'tcarewhatElsaassumes.Let
herthinkwhatshelikes.Anythingtokeepherquietforanotherdayortwo.

"Then he will tell her the truth - that things between them are over. He has never been a man to be
troubledwithscruples.

"Hedid,Ithink,makeaneffortnottogetembroiledwithElsatobeginwith.Hewarnedherwhatkind
of man he was, but she would not take warning. She rushed on to her fate. And to a man like Crale,
women were fair game. If you had asked him, he would have said easily that Elsa was young - she'd
soongetoverit.ThatwasthewayAmyasCrale'smindworked.

"Hiswifewasactuallytheonlypersonhecaredaboutatall.Hewasn'tworryingmuchabouther.She
onlyhadtoputupwiththingsforafewdayslonger.HewasfuriouswithElsaforblurtingoutthingsto
Caroline,buthestilloptimisticallythoughtitwouldbe'allright.'Carolinecouldforgivehimasshehad
donesooftenbefore,andElsa-Elsawouldjusthaveto'lumpit.'Sosimplearetheproblemsoflifetoa
manlikeAmyasCrale.

"ButIthinkthatthatlasteveninghebecamereallyworried.AboutCaroline,notaboutElsa.Perhapshe
wenttoherroomandsherefusedtospeaktohim.Atanyrate,afterarestlessnighthetookheraside
afterbreakfastandblurtedoutthetruth.HehadbeeninfatuatedwithElsa,butitwasallover.Oncehe'd
finishedthepicturehe'dneverseeheragain.

"And it was in answer to that that Caroline Crale cried out indignantly, 'You and your women!' That
phrase, you see, put Elsa in a class with others - those others who had one their way. And she added
indignantly,'SomedayI'llkillyou.'

"Shewasangry,revoltedbyhiscallousnessandbyhiscrueltytothegirl.WhenPhilipBlakesawherin
thehallandheardhermurmurtoherself,'It'stoocruel!'itwasofElsashewasthinking.

"AsforCrale,hecameoutofthelibrary,foundElsawithPhilipBlake,andbrusquelyorderedherdown
to go on with the sitting. What he did not know was that Elsa Greer had been sitting just outside the
librarywindowandhadoverheardeverything.Andtheaccountshegavelaterofthatconversationwas
notthetrueone.Thereisonlyherwordforit,remember.Imaginetheshockitmusthavebeentoherto
hearthetruth,brutallyspoken!

"OnthepreviousafternoonMeredithBlakehastoldusthatwhilehewaswaitingforCarolinetoleave

thisroomhewasstandinginthedoorwaywithhisbacktotheroom.HewastalkingtoElsaGreer.That
means that she would have been facing him and that she could see exactly what Caroline was doing
overhisshoulder-andthatshewastheonlypersonwhocoulddoso.

"She saw Caroline take that poison. She said nothing, but she remembered it as she sat outside the
librarywindow.

"When Amyas Crale came out she made the excuse of wanting a pull-over and went up to Caroline
Crale's room to look for that poison. Women know where other women are likely to hide things. She
founditand,beingcarefulnottoobliterateanyfingerprintsortoleaveherown,shedrewoffthefluid
intoafountain-penfiller.

"Thenshe came downagain and wentoff with Crale tothe Battery Garden.And presently, no doubt,
shepouredhimoutsomebeerandhetosseditdowninhisusualway.

"Meanwhile, Caroline Crale was seriously disturbed. When she saw Elsa come up to the house (this
timereallytofetchapull-over),CarolineslippedquicklydowntotheBatteryGardenandtackledher
husband.Whatheisdoingisshameful!Shewon'tstandforit!It'sunbelievablycruelandhardonthe
girl!Amyas,irritableatbeinginterrupted,saysit'sallsettled-whenthepictureisdonehe'llsendthe
girlpacking!'It'sallsettled-I'llsendherpacking,Itellyou!'

"AndthentheyhearthefootstepsofthetwoBlakes,andCarolinecomesoutand,slightlyembarrassed,
murmurs something about Angela and school and having a lot to do, and by a natural association of
ideas the two men judge the conversation they have overheard refers to Angela and 'I'll send her
packing'becomes'I'llseetoherpacking.'

"AndElsa,pull-overinhand,comesdownthepath,coolandsmiling,andtakesuptheposeoncemore.

"Shehascounted,nodoubt,uponCaroline'sbeingsuspectedandtheconiinebottlebeingfoundinher
room.ButCarolinenowplaysintoherhandscompletely.Shebringsdownsomeicedbeerandpoursit
outforherhusband.

"Amyastosseditoff,makesaface,andsays,'Everythingtastesfoultoday.'

"Doyounotseehowsignificantthatremarkis?Everythingtastesfoul?Thentherehasbeensomething
else before that beer that has tasted unpleasant and the taste, of which is still in his mouth. And one
otherpoint:PhilipBlakespeaksofCrale'sstaggeringalittleandwonders'ifhehasbeendrinking.'But
that slight stagger was the first sign of the coniine working, and that means that it had already been

administeredtohimsometimebeforeCarolinebroughthimtheicedbottleofbeer.

"AndsoElsaGreersatonthegraywallandposedand,sinceshemustkeephimfromsuspectinguntilit
wastoolate,shetalkedtoAmyasCralebrightlyandnaturally.PresentlyshesawMeredithonthebench
aboveandwavedherhandtohimandactedherpartevenmorethoroughlyforhisbehalf.

"AndAmyasCrale,amanwhodetestedillnessandrefusedtogiveintoit,painteddoggedlyontillhis
limbsfailedandhisspeechthickened,andhesprawledthereonthatbench,helpless,hutwithhismind
stillclear.

"ThebellsoundedfromthehouseandMeredithleftthebenchtocomedowntotheBattery.Ithinkin
thatbriefmomentElsaleftherplaceandranacrosstothetableanddroppedthelastfewdropsofthe
poisonintothebeerglassthatheldthatlastinnocentdrink.(Shegotridofthedropperonthepathupto
thehouse,crushingittopowder.)ThenshemetMeredithinthedoorway.

"Thereisaglaretherecominginoutoftheshadows.Meredithdidnotseeveryclearly-onlyhisfriend
sprawled in a familiar position and saw his eyes turn from the picture in what he described as a
malevolentglare.

"How much did Amyas know or guess? How much his conscious mind knew we cannot tell, but his
handandhiseyewerefaithful."

HerculePoirotgesturedtowardthepictureonthewall.

"IshouldhaveknownwhenIfirstsawthatpicture.Foritisaveryremarkablepicture.Itisthepicture
ofamurderesspaintedbyhervictim-itisthepictureofagirlwatchingherloverdie."

In the silence that followed - a horrified, appalled silence - the sunset slowly flickered away, the last
gleamleftthewindowwhereithadrestedonthedarkheadandpalefursofthewomansittingthere.

ElsaDittishammovedandspoke.Shesaid,"Takethemaway,Meredith.LeavemewithM.Poirot."

She sat there motionless until the door shut behind them. Then she said, "You are very clever, aren't
you?"

Poirotdidnotanswer.

Shesaid,"Whatdoyouexpectmetodo?Confess?"

Heshookhishead.

"BecauseIshalldonothingofthekind!"Elsasaid."AndIshalladmitnothing.Butwhatwesayhere,
together,doesnotmatter.Becauseitisonlyyourwordagainstmine."

"Exactly."

"Iwanttoknowwhatyouaregoingtodo."

Hercule Poirot said, "I shall do everything I can to induce the authorities to grant a posthumous free
pardontoCarolineCrale."

Elsalaughed."Howabsurd!"shesaid."Tobegivenafreepardonforsomethingyoudidn'tdo."Then
shesaid,"Whataboutme?"

"Ishalllaymyconclusionsbeforethenecessarypeople.Iftheydecidethereisthepossibilityofmaking
outacaseagainstyou,thentheymayact.Iwilltellyouinmyopinionthereisnotsufficientevidence-
there are only inferences, not facts. Moreover, they will not be anxious to proceed against anyone in
yourpositionunlessthereisamplejustificationforsuchacourse."

"I shouldn't care," Elsa said. "If I were standing in the dock, fighting for my life, there might be
somethinginthat-somethingalive-exciting.Imight-enjoyit."

"Yourhusbandwouldnot."

"DoyouthinkIcareintheleastwhatmyhusbandwouldfeel?"

"No,Idonot.Idonotthinkyouhaveeverinyourlifecaredaboutwhatanyotherpersonwouldfeel.If
youhad,youmightbehappier."

Shesaidsharply,"Whyareyousorryforme?"

"Because,mychild,youhavesomuchtolearn."

"WhathaveIgottolearn?"

"All the grown-up emotions - pity, sympathy, understanding. The only things you know - have ever
known-areloveandhate."

Elsasaid:

"IsawCarolinetaketheconiine.Ithoughtshemeanttokillherself.Thatwouldhavesimplifiedthings.
And then, the next morning, I found out. He told her that he didn't care a button about me - he had
cared,butitwasallover.Oncehe'dfinishedthepicturehe'dsendmepacking.She'dnothingtoworry
about,hesaid.

"Andshe-wassorryforme...Doyouunderstandwhatthatdidtome?IfoundthestuffandIgaveitto
himandIsattherewatchinghimdie.I'veneverfeltsoalive,soexultant,sofullofpower.Iwatched
himdie..."

Sheflungoutherhands.

"Ididn'tunderstandthatIwaskillingmyself-nothim.AfterwardIsawhercaughtinatrap-andthat
was no good, either. I couldn't hurt her - she didn't care - she escaped from it all - half the time she
wasn't there. She and Amyas both escaped - they went somewhere where I couldn't get at them. But
theydidn'tdie.Idied."

ElsaDittishamgotup.Shewentacrosstothedoor.Shesaidagain,"Idied..."

Inthehallshepassedtwoyoungpeoplewhoselifetogetherwasjustbeginning.

Thechauffeurheldopenthedoorofthecar.LadyDittishamgotin,andthechauffeurwrappedthefur
rugaroundherknees.