"Because," she said, "I saw her."
Chapter 27 THE EYEWITNESS
Suddenly Poirot laughed.
He could not help it.
His head went back and his high Gallic laugh filled the room.
"Pardon, madame," he said, wiping his eyes. "I could not help it.
Here we argue and we reason!
We ask questions!
We invoke the psychology - and all the time there was an eyewitness of the crime.
Tell me, I pray of you."
"It was fairly late in the evening.
Anne Meredith was dummy.
She got up and looked over her partner's hand and then she moved about the room.
The hand wasn't very interesting - the conclusion was inevitable.
I didn't need to concentrate on the cards.
Just as we got to the last three tricks I looked over toward the fireplace.
Anne Meredith was bent over Mr. Shaitana.
As I watched she straightened herself - her hand had been actually on his breast - a gesture which awakened my surprise.
She straightened herself and I saw her face, and her quick look over toward us.
Guilt and fear - that is what I saw on her face.
Of course, I didn't know what had happened then.
I only wondered what on earth the girl could have been doing.
Later - I knew."
Poirot nodded.
"But she did not know that you knew.
She did not know that you had seen her?"
"Poor child," said Mrs. Lorrimer. "Young, frightened - her way to make in the world.
Do you wonder that I - well, held my tongue?"
"No, no, I do not wonder."
"Especially knowing that I - that I myself -" She finished the sentence with a shrug. "It was certainly not my place to stand accuser.
It was up to the police."
"Quite so, but today you have gone further than that."
Mrs. Lorrimer said grimly, "I've never been a very soft-hearted or compassionate woman, but I suppose these qualities grow upon one in one's old age.
I assure you I'm not often actuated by pity."
"It is not always a very safe guide, madame.
Mademoiselle Anne is young, she is fragile, she looks timid and frightened - oh, yes, she seems a very worthy subject for compassion.
But I, I do not agree.
Shall I tell you, madame, why Miss Anne Meredith killed Mr. Shaitana?
It was because he knew that she had previously killed an elderly lady to whom she was companion - because that lady had found her out in a petty theft."
Mrs. Lorrimer looked a little startled.
"Is that true, Monsieur Poirot?"
"I have no doubt of it whatsoever.
She is so soft - so gentle - one would say.
Pah! she is dangerous, madame, that little Mademoiselle Anne!
Where her own safety, her own comfort, is concerned, she will strike wildly, treacherously.
With Mademoiselle Anne those two crimes will not be the end.
She will gain confidence from them."
Mrs. Lorrimer said sharply, "What you say is horrible, Monsieur Poirot. Horrible!"
Poirot rose.
"Madame, I will now take my leave.