Murder Killing
17. Poirot Speech II
”Try I remember, that morning on the day of the Car murders I went sailing. Caught eight tuna. What a beautiful view on the bay. Lunch at home. Irish soup, I remember. Sleeping in a hammock. Drink tea. Writing the letters, the postman was already passing by, and I went to Paignton to post the letters. Then dinner, and I am not ashamed to say that I read again a book by E. Nesbit was my favorite book when I was a kid. Then the phone rings”
”Enough. Now try to remember, Mr. Clarke, did you meet someone on the way to the sea in the morning?”
”Many people.”
”Do you remember those people?” ”Samely not now.”
”You sure?”
”Try I remember. There was a very fat woman. She wears a striped silk dress and I wonder why she dresses like that. He was with two young children.two young men with his dog on the beach, they threw stones at the dog Oh yes, a yellow-haired girl, who was swimming while screaming hm, now everything is clearly illustrated in my memory like a photo in the print process getting clearer and clearer.”
”You're a keen observer. It's daytime in the garden and then to the post office”
”The gardener is watering the plants... Going to the post office? Almost hit a man cycling an ignorant woman for yelling at her friend. That's it all, I guess.”
Poirot turned to Hora Grey. ”Miss Grey?”
hora Grey replied with a clear and sure voice.
”I did correspondence with Sir Car Michael in the morning to meet the housekeeper. I wrote letters and embroidered it in the afternoon as I remembered. It's kind of hard to remember. That day is ordinary. I got into bed early.”
I was a bit surprised because Poirot didn't ask further. He said, ”Miss Barnard can you remember the incident when you last saw your sister?”
”About two weeks before his death. I went home and stayed at home Saturday and Sunday. The weather is great. We went to the pool in Hastings.”
”What were you talking about that day?”
”I advise him,” Megan said.
”And what else? What is he talking about with you?”
The girl frowned, trying to remember.
”She told me about her frustration about a hat and some summer dresses that she just bought. And a little about Don... He also
saying no like Milly Higley the girl who works at the cafeteria and we laughed at the woman named Merrion who runs the cafeteria...
I don't remember anything else..”.
”He didn't mention men sorry, Mr. The fraser he met?”
”He won't tell me,” said Megan Barnard indifferently.
Poirot turned his head towards the red-haired young man, with his burly jaws.
”Mr. Fraser, I'm asking you to recall. You said you went to the cafeteria on that disastrous night. You meant to wait there and watch Betty Barnard when she came out. Do you remember anyone you saw while waiting in that place?”
”Many people passed by in front of that cafeteria.
I don't remember anyone.”
”Sorry, can you try to remember it? Although your mind is being filled with other things, but the eyes see automatically not with reason, but always right.
The young man remained insistent, ”I don't remember anyone.” Poirot sighed and turned to Mary Drower.
”I think you receive mail regularly from your aunt, don't you?”
”Oh yes, Mr.” ”When is the last?” Mary thought for a moment.
”Two days before the murder, Mr.”
”What is it?”
”He said the Old Devil was there and that he threw him out in a pardon of my term, Sir he wanted me to come Wednesday it was my holiday, Sir said I'll be invited to watch a movie. Actually it was my birthday, Mr.”
Something reminiscent of that little party might have caused tears to well up in her eyes. Mary sobbed and asked to be forgiven for it.
”I'm sorry, Sir. I don't want to look stupid. Crying is useless. Only the memory of my aunt and I expecting those joyful moments moved me, Mr.”
”I know how you feel,” said Franklin Clarke. ”Always it is precisely such small memories that are most memorable and in particular special days or gifts of something pleasant and reasonable. I remember seeing a woman who had an accident. He just bought new shoes. I saw him lying there and in the unpacked package was a strange little high-heeled sandal. It touched my feeling that the slippers looked very sad.”
Megan suddenly said kindly and warmly, ”That's really it. The same thing happened after Betty died. Mom has bought some stocking, a gift for Betty. He bought it on that bad day. Poor Mother. So broken his heart. I saw him crying over the thing. He repeatedly said, ’I bought it for Betty I bought it for Betty and Betty never even saw it.”’
His voice is a little shaky. He leaned forward, looking straight at Franklin Clarke. Instantly there was sympathy among them the sense of fate as a whole arising from facing the same problem.
”I know,” said Franklin Clarke. ”I know very well. Such things are very sad to remember.”
Donald Fraser made a gesture in his place with a misdeed.
hora Grey switched the conversation.
”Can't we make plans for the coming days?” tanyakanya.
”Of course.” Franklin Clarke returned to his former attitude. ”I think when the time comes that is, when the fourth letter comes we have to exert energy. Before that, maybe we can try each other's luck. I don't know if there are factors that Mr. Poirot can replace inquiry?”
”I can give you suggestions,” said Poirot. ”Good. I'll take note,” Franklin Clarke pulled out a notepad. ”Please, Mr. Poirot's.
A—”
”My guess, maybe that waitress, Milly Higley, knows something that means.”
”I propose two ways of approach. You, you,
Miss Barnard, may try what I call the attack approach.”
”I think you think it fits my style?” megan said flat.
”Make a fight with the girl say you know she never liked your sister and that your sister has told you all about her. If I am not mistaken, this will provoke accusations. He'll tell you how his judgment regarding your sister is! Important facts will be revealed.”
”And second approach?”
”Can I give you a suggestion, Mr. Fraser, so that you show signs as if attracted to the girl?”
”Do they need?”
”No, no need. That's just one possible investigation.”
”Can I try to help?” ask Franklin. ”I have quite extensive experience, Mr. Poirot's. I'll see what I can do about the girl.”
”You have your own parts to work with,” says hora Grey is rather sharp.
Franklin's face was slightly bowed. ”Ya, right,” he said.
”Tout de meme is just the same I guess there's not much you can do there right now,” Poirot said. ”Now Mademoiselle Grey, she is much more match”
hora Grey interrupted his words.
”But did you know, Mr. Poirot, I've left Devon for next.”
”Oh? I don't understand.”
”Miss Grey is willing to stay longer there just to help me clear up all affairs,” Franklin said. ”But actually he prefers working in London.”
Poirot stared at them one by one. ”How about Lady Clarke?” tanyakanya.
I was admiring Grey's faint red hue and barely heard Clarke's reply.
”Very bad. By the way, Mr. Poirot, are you willing to come to Devon and visit him? He said he wanted to see you before I left. Indeed, often he can not meet people at all for one or two days, but if you want to risk it the cost I bear, of course.”
”Sure, Mr. Clarke's. Then, how about the day after tomorrow?”
”Good. I will notify the caretaker and he will arrange a schedule for the administration of the drug.”
”And for you, Son,” said Poirot, turning to Mary. ”Possibly you will get results in Andover. Try approaching kids.”
”Kids?”
”Betul. Children are not easy to talk to strangers. But you're known on the street where your aunt lives. There are many children playing around your aunt's house. Maybe they saw who went in and out of that store.”
”How about Miss Grey and myself?” ask Clarke. ”It... if I don't have to go to Bexhill.”
”Mr. Poirot,” says hora Grey. ”Cap which post is listed in the third letter?”
”Putney, Mademoiselle.”
hora Grey said while contemplating, ”S. W. 15, Putney, that's right, isn't it?”
”Attracted, newspapers printed it correctly.”
”As show that ABC is Londoners. ” ”Traffic is so.”
”Someone should be able to snare it,” Clarke said. ”Mr. Poirot, how about I put an ad for example: ABC. Significant. H.P. is close to your trail. One hundred for my silence. XYZ. There is nothing rougher than that but you understand the point. Maybe it can ensnare him.”
”Maybe also.”
”Can lure him to try to attack me.”
”I think it's a stupid and dangerous act,” said Hora Grey sharply.
”How, Mr. Poirot?”
”It never hurts to try. I myself think ABC is too slippery to make a reaction.” Poirot smiled slightly. ”I noticed, Mr. Clarke's sorry if this rude remark of mine your heart is young, like a schoolboy.”
Franklin Clarke looked shy.
”Yes,” he said, paying attention to his notes, ”we've made a start.
A. Miss Barnard and Milly Higley
B. Mr. Fraser and Miss Higley
C. Kids in Andover
D. Advertisement
I'm not sure if those efforts can work well, but at least something is done while waiting.”
He got up and a few moments later the meeting was dissolved.
