I want to be able to bring home a crime to the person responsible for it."
"According to Mr. Shaitana, that is impossible," remarked Poirot.
"It is in Roberts's case.
It remains to be seen if it is in Miss Meredith's.
I shall go down to Devon tomorrow."
"Will you know where to go?" asked Mrs. Oliver. "I didn't like to ask Rhoda for more details."
"No, that was wise of you.
I shan't have much difficulty.
There must have been an inquest.
I shall find it in the coroner's records.
That's routine police work.
They'll have it all taped out for me by tomorrow morning."
"What about Major Despard?" asked Mrs. Oliver. "Have you found out anything about him?"
"I've been waiting for Colonel Race's report.
I've had him shadowed, of course.
One rather interesting thing, he went down to see Miss Meredith at Wallingford.
You remember he said he'd never met her until the other night."
"But she is a very pretty girl," murmured Poirot.
Battle laughed.
"Yes, I expect that's all there is to it.
By the way, Despard's taking no chances. He's already consulted a solicitor.
That looks as though he's expecting trouble."
"He is a man who looks ahead," said Poirot. "He is a man who prepares for every contingency."
"And therefore not the kind of man to stick a knife into a man in a hurry," said Battle with a sigh.
"Not unless it was the only way," said Poirot.
"He can act quickly, remember."
Battle looked across the table at him.
"Now, Monsieur Poirot, what about your cards?
Haven't seen your hand down on the table yet."
Poirot smiled.
"There is so little in it.
You think I conceal facts from you?
It is not so.
I have not learned many facts.
I have talked with Doctor Roberts, with Mrs. Lorrimer, with Major Despard, I have still to talk to Miss Meredith and what have I learned?
This. That Doctor Roberts is a keen observer; that Mrs. Lorrimer on the other hand has a most remarkable power of concentration but is, in consequence, almost blind to her surroundings.
But she is fond of flowers.
Despard notices only those things which appeal to him - rugs, trophies of sport - he has neither what I call the outward vision, seeing details all around you - what is called an observant person, nor the inner vision - concentration, the focusing of the mind on one object.
He has a purposefully limited vision, He sees only what blends and harmonizes with the bent of his mind."
"So those are what you call facts, eh?" said Battle curiously.
"They are facts.
Very small fry, perhaps."
"What about Miss Meredith?"
"I have left her to the end.
But I shall question her, too, as to what she remembers in that room."
"It's an odd method of approach," said Battle thoughtfully. "Purely psychological.
Suppose they're leading you up the garden path?"
Poirot shook his head with a smile.
"No, that would be impossible.
Whether they try to hinder or to help, they necessarily reveal their type of mind."