All the same, I rather think she did.
What do you think, Monsieur Poirot?"
"Me, I have just made a discovery."
"In the bridge scores again?"
"Yes, Miss Anne Meredith turns her score over, draws lines, and uses the back."
"And what does that mean?"
"It means she has the habit of poverty or else is of a naturally economical turn of mind."
"She's expensively dressed," said Mrs Oliver.
"Send in Major Despard," said Superintendent Battle.
Chapter 7 FOURTH MURDERER?
Despard entered the rood with a quick springing step - a step that reminded Poirot of something or someone.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting all this while, Major Despard," said Battle. "But I wanted to let the ladies get away as soon as possible."
"Don't apologize. I understand." He sat down and looked inquiringly at the superintendent.
"How well did you know Mr. Shaitana?" began the latter.
"I've met him twice," said Despard crisply.
"Only twice?"
"That's all."
"On what occasions?"
"About a month ago we were both dining at the same house.
Then he asked me to a cocktail party a week later."
"A cocktail party here?"
"Yes."
"Where did it take place - this room or the drawing-room?"
"In all the rooms."
"See this little thing lying about?" Battle once more produced the stiletto.
Major Despard's lip twisted slightly.
"No," he said, "I didn't mark it down on that occasion for future use."
"There's no need to go ahead of what I say, Major Despard."
"I beg your pardon. The inference was fairly obvious."
There was a moment's pause, then Battle resumed his inquiries.
"Had you any motive for disliking Mr. Shaitana?"
"Every motive."
"Eh?" The superintendent sounded startled.
"For disliking him - not for killing him, said Despard. "I hadn't the least wish to kill him, but I would thoroughly have enjoyed kicking him. A pity.
It's too late now."
"Why did you want to kick him, Major Despard?"
"Because he was the sort of rat who needed kicking badly.
He used to make the toe of my boot fairly itch."
"Know anything about him - to his discredit, I mean?"
"He was too well dressed; he wore his hair too long, and he smelled of scent."
"Yet you accepted his invitation to dinner," Battle pointed out.
"If I were only to dine in houses where I thoroughly approved of my host I'm afraid, I shouldn't dine out very much, Superintendent Battle," said Despard dryly.
"You like society, but you don't approve of it?" suggested the other.
"I like it for very short periods.
To come back from the wilds to lighted rooms and women in lovely clothes, to dancing and good food, and laughter - yes, I enjoy that - for a time.
And then the insincerity of it all sickens me and I want to be off again."
"It must be a dangerous sort of life that you lead, Major Despard, wandering about in these wild places."
Despard shrugged his shoulders, He smiled slightly.
"Mr. Shaitana didn't lead a dangerous life - but he is dead, and I am alive!"
"He may have led a more dangerous life than you think," said Battle meaningly.