I tell you that! I, Hercule Poirot!"
"How hard you are!"
"Madame, in some ways I am adamant.
I will not condone murder!
That is the final word of Hercule Poirot."
She got up.
Her dark eyes flashed with sudden fire.
"Then go on! Bring ruin and misery into the lives of innocent people!
I have nothing more to say."
"But I - I think, Madame, that you have a lot to say." "No, nothing more."
"What happened, Madame, after you left your mother-in-law?
Whilst you and your husband were in the marquee together?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"How should I know?"
"You do know - or you suspect."
She looked him straight in the eyes.
"I know nothing, M. Poirot."
Turning, she left the room.
8
After noting on his pad
"N. B. 4:40," Poirot opened the door and called to the orderly whom Colonel Carbury had left at his disposal, an intelligent man with a good knowledge of English. He asked him to fetch Miss Carol Boynton.
Poirot looked with some interest at the girl as she entered: at the chestnut hair, the poise of the head on the long neck, the nervous energy of the beautifully shaped hands.
He said: "Sit down Mademoiselle."
She sat down obediently.
Her face was colorless and expressionless.
Poirot began with a mechanical expression of sympathy to which the girl acquiesced without any change of expression.
"And now, Mademoiselle, will you recount to me how you spent the afternoon of the day in question?"
Her answer came promptly, raising the suspicion that it had already been well rehearsed.
"After luncheon we all went for a stroll.
I returned to the camp - "
Poirot interrupted. "A little minute. Were you all together until then?"
"No, I was with my brother Raymond and Miss King or most of the time. Then I strolled off on my own."
"Thank you.
And you were saying you returned to the camp. Do you know the approximate time?"
"I believe it was just about ten minutes past five."
Poirot put down
"C. B. 5:10."
"And what then?"
"My mother was still sitting where she had been when we set out.
I went up and spoke to her and then went on to my tent."
"Can you remember exactly what passed between you?"
"I just said it was very hot and that I was going to lie down.
My mother said she would remain where she was.
That was all."
"Did anything in her appearance strike you as out of the ordinary?"
"No.
At least - that is - " She paused doubtfully, staring at Poirot.
"It is not from me that you can get the answer, Mademoiselle," said Poirot quietly.
She flushed and looked away. "I was just considering.
I hardly noticed at the time, but now, looking back - "