Murder Killing
24. Doncaster II
Poirot looked at his watch. We caught the signal. It was mutually agreed that we would be on full-day guard, early in the morning watching as many roads as possible, and after that put ourselves in various places inside the racecourses.
I called ”kami”. Of course, to me those warnings won't mean much because I haven't seen the ABC myself. Nevertheless, since the intention was to split up and keep an eye on the vast area, I suggested that I should accompany one of the girls.
Poirot agreed I guess, with a wink that hinted at something.
The girls went to wear their hats. Donald Fraser stood by the window staring out, clearly glued to his mind.
Franklin Clarke turned to him, real once he realized that Donald Fraser was too confused to talk to, then with a slight humbling voice he spoke to Poirot.
”Sorry, Mr. Poirot's. I know you went to Churston and met my brother-in-law. Did he say, or hinted at my point did he not mention at all?”
He was silent, embarrassed.
Poirot answered with an innocent face, thus arousing my suspicions.
”Comment? Whahuh? Your IPar says or hints what do you mean?”
Franklin Clarke's face flushed.
”Maybe you feel this is not a good time to talk about personal things”
”Du tout absolutely not!”
”But I think I should frankly reveal everything.”
”Actions worth appreciating.”
I think this time Clarke began to suspect Poirot's innocent face was presumably hiding something behind it. He continued with great difficulty.
”Ipar I am a very kind woman. I always loved him. But of course with his rather long illness and such diseases being given too many medicines and so on, one tends to well, imagine various things about others!”
”Ah?”
Now there's no mistaking it, there's a light in Poirot's eyes.
But Franklin Clarke who was too busy choosing words paid no attention to it. ”It's about hora Miss Grey,” she said.
”Oh, so you're talking about Miss Grey?” poirot's tone showed as if he was really shocked.
”Yes. Lady Clarke had conjectures in her mind. You know hora Miss Grey, hm, is a pretty girl”
”Maybe yes,” Poirot admits.
”And women, the best though, are always a bit of a pussy about other women. Hora means a lot to my brother. He always said that Hora was the best secretary who ever helped him and he also liked her very much. But true is only pure innocence and pure sincerity. I mean, hora is not a type of girl”
”Not?” poirot said it helped.
”But in my brother-in-law's mind well there's jealousy, I guess. He never showed that. But after Car's death, when it came to the conversation about Miss Grey whether she could continue to stay, Charlotte rudely interrupted him. Of course partly because of her disease, the influence of morphine, and so Sister Capstick said so, she said we should not blame Charlotte for thinking that is not-not”
He was silent for a moment. ”Then?”
”I want you to understand, Mr. Poirot, that there's nothing behind it all. It was just a wishful thinking of a sick woman. Try to see” He reached into his pocket, ”ini letter I received from my brother at the time I was in Malaya. I'd like you to read it because it shows how their relationship really is.”
Poirot. Franklin drew closer to his side and while pointing with his finger he read part of the quote aloud.
..."everything goes as usual. Charlotte's good enough not to be so sick anymore. I wish I could express it more. You might remember Hora Grey?...
...She's a nice girl and gives me more peace than I can tell you. I certainly don't know what I'd do in these difficult times if there wasn't him. He continues to give sympathy and attention. His taste is high and he has a keen eye for good stuff and he also likes Chinese art. I was lucky to meet him. Girls are not necessarily able to be such close and caring friends. Her life is difficult and not always happy, but I am happy that she has her own home, as well as her affection"....
”Remember, your brother-in-law is sick and suffering.” ”I know. That's what I always tell myself
myself. We can't blame him. Nevertheless, I think I should show it to you. I don't want you to have the wrong impression of hora through whatever Lady Clarke has to say.”
Poirot returned the letter.
”I guarantee,” he said smile, ”I won't have the wrong impression of what people say. I have my own considerations.”
”Alright,” Clarke said while saving the letter, ”I'm glad to have shown it to you. The girls have arrived. We'd better leave.”
By the time we left the room, Poirot called me back.
”You still want to join this expedition, Hastings?”
”Oh, yes. I definitely don't like sitting here on my hands.”
”There are brain activities in addition to body activities, Hastings.” ”Ah, you're more expert at it than I am,”
I said.
”That's right, Hastings. Do you really want to be the bodyguard of one of those girls?”
”That's what it means.”
”And which girl are you nominated for the honor of kautemani?”
”Wah I hm haven't thought about it.” ”How about Miss Barnard?”
”It appears she is an independent girl,” I said objected.
”Miss Grey?”
”Yes. Better him.”
”I think, Hastings, you're really honest, though too obvious! From the beginning you've decided to spend your day with your blonde angel!”
”Oh, really, Poirot?”
”Sorry that I messed up your plans, but I had to ask you to escort the others.”
”Oh, okay. I think you fell in love with that Dutch doll girl.”
”The person you have to guard is Mary Drower and I'm asking you not to leave her.”
”But why, Poirot?”
”For, my friend, his name begins with the letter D. We can't take any risks.”
I think his statement makes sense. It seems difficult to understand at first. But then I realized that if the ABC hated Poirot so fanatically, he must have been watching all of Poirot's movements. And in this case the murder of Mary Drower could be the fourth successful blow.
I promise to be faithful to the trust I am given.
I left Poirot sitting in a chair by the window.
In front of him was a roulette game. He turned it around the moment I passed the door and he shouted at me,
”Red good sign, Hastings. Honesty turned!”
