That's interestin'.
How d'you propose to set about it?"
"By methodical sifting of the evidence, by a process of reasoning."
"Suits me," said Colonel Carbury.
"And by a study of the psychological possibilities."
"Suits Dr. Gerard, I expect," said Carbury. "And after that, after you've sifted the evidence and done some reasoning and paddled in psychology - hey, presto! - you think you can produce the rabbit out of the hat?"
"I should be extremely surprised if I could not do so," said Poirot calmly.
Colonel Carbury stared at him over the rim of his glass.
Just for a moment the vague eyes were no longer vague - they measured - and appraised.
He put down his glass with a grunt. "What do you say to that, Dr. Gerard?"
"I admit that I am skeptical of success... yet I know that M. Poirot has great powers."
"I am gifted - yes," said the little man. He smiled modestly.
Colonel Carbury turned away his head and coughed.
Poirot said: "The first thing to decide is whether this is a composite murder - planned and carried out by the Boynton family as a whole, or whether it is the work of one of them only.
If the latter, which is the most likely member of the family to have attempted it?"
Dr. Gerard said: "There is your own evidence. One must, I think, consider first Raymond Boynton."
"I agree," said Poirot. "The words I overheard and the discrepancy between his evidence and that of the young woman doctor puts him definitely in the forefront of the suspects.
He was the last person to see Mrs. Boynton alive.
That is his own story, Sarah King contradicts that.
Tell me, Dr. Gerard, is there - eh? - you know what I mean - a little tendresse, shall we say - there?"
The Frenchman nodded. "Emphatically so."
"Alas!
Is she, this young lady, a brunette with hair that goes back from her forehead - so - and big hazel eyes and a manner very decided?"
Dr. Gerard looked rather surprised.
"Yes, that describes her very well."
"I think I have seen her - in the Solomon Hotel.
She spoke to this Raymond Boynton and afterwards he remained plante la - in a dream - blocking the exit from the lift.
Three times I had to say 'Pardon' before he heard me and moved." Poirot remained in thought for some moments. Then he said: "So, to begin with, we will accept the medical evidence of Miss Sarah King with certain mental reservations. She is an interested party." He paused - then went on: "Tell me, Dr. Gerard, do you think Raymond Boynton is of the temperament that could commit murder easily?"
Gerard said slowly: "You mean deliberate, planned murder?
Yes, I think it is possible - but only under conditions of intense emotional strain."
"Those conditions were present?"
"Definitely.
This journey abroad undoubtedly heightened the nervous and mental strain under which all these people were living.
The contrast between their own lives and those of other people was more apparent to them.
And in Raymond Boynton's case - "
"Yes?"
"There was the additional complication of being strongly attracted to Sarah King."
"That would give him an additional motive? And an additional stimulus?"
"That is so."
Colonel Carbury coughed.
"Like to butt in a moment.
That sentence of his you overheard -
'You do see, don't you, that she's got to be killed?' - must have been spoken to someone."
"A good point," said Poirot. "I had not forgotten it.
Yes, to whom was Raymond Boynton speaking?
Undoubtedly to a member of his family.
But which member?
Can you tell us something, Doctor, of the mental conditions of the other members of the family?"
Gerard replied promptly. "Carol Boynton was, I should say, in very much the same state as Raymond - a state of rebellion accompanied by severe nervous excitement, but uncomplicated in her case by the introduction of a sex factor.
Lennox Boynton had passed the stage of revolt. He was sunk in apathy.