And Poirot, who could well imagine the terms in which Giraud - whom he himself had been in the habit of referring to disparagingly as the "human foxhound" - had spoken of him, permitted himself a small discreet smile in reply.
"I suggest," said Poirot, "that both you gentlemen should dine with me at my rooms. I have already invited Maоtre Thibault.
That is, if you and my friend Japp do not object to my collaboration."
"That's all right, old cock," said Japp, slapping him heartily on the back. "You're in on this on the ground floor."
"We shall be indeed honored," murmured the Frenchman ceremoniously.
"You see," said Poirot, "as I said to a very charming young lady just now, I am anxious to clear my character."
"That jury certainly didn't like the look of you," agreed Japp, with a renewal of his grin. "Best joke I've heard for a long time."
By common consent, no mention of the case was made during the very excellent meal which the little Belgian provided for his friends.
"After all, it is possible to eat well in England," murmured Fournier appreciatively, as he made delicate use of a thoughtfully provided toothpick.
"A delicious meal, M. Poirot," said Thibault.
"Bit Frenchified, but damn good," pronounced Japp.
"A meal should always lie lightly on the estomac," said Poirot. "It should not be so heavy as to paralyze thought."
"I can't say my stomach ever gives me much trouble," said Japp. "But I won't argue the point.
Well, we'd better get down to business.
I know that M. Thibault has got an appointment this evening, so I suggest that we should start by consulting him on any point that seems likely to be useful."
"I am your service, gentlemen.
Naturally, I can speak more freely here than in a coroner's court.
I had a hurried conversation with Inspector Japp before the inquest and he indicated a policy of reticence - the bare necessary facts."
"Quite right," said Japp. "Don't ever spill the beans too soon.
But now let's hear all you can tell us of this Giselle woman."
"To speak the truth, I know very little.
I know her as the world knew her - as a public character.
Of her private life as an individual I know very little.
Probably M. Fournier here can tell you more than I can.
But I will say to you this: Madame Giselle was what you call in this country 'a character.'
She was unique.
Of her antecedents nothing is known.
I have an idea that as a young woman she was good-looking. I believe that as a result of smallpox she lost her looks.
She was - I am giving you my impressions - a woman who enjoyed power - she had power.
She was a keen woman of business. She was the type of hard-headed Frenchwoman who would never allow sentiment to affect her business interests, but she had the reputation of carrying on her profession with scrupulous honesty."
He looked for assent to Fournier.
That gentleman nodded his dark melancholic head.
"Yes," he said, "she was honest, according to her lights.
Yet the law could have called her to account if only evidence had been forthcoming; but that -" He shrugged his shoulders despondently. "It is too much to ask - with human nature what it is."
"You mean?"
"Chantage."
"Blackmail?" echoed Japp.
"Yes, blackmail of a peculiar and specialized kind.
It was Madame Giselle's custom to lend money on what I think you call in this country 'note of hand alone.'
She used her discretion as to the sums she lent and the methods of repayment, but I may tell you that she had her own methods of getting paid."
Poirot leaned forward interestedly.
"As Maоtre Thibault said today, Madame Giselle's clientele lay amongst the upper and professional classes.
Those classes are particularly vulnerable to the force of public opinion.
Madame Giselle had her own intelligence service. It was her custom, before lending money - that is, in the case of a large sum - to collect as many facts as possible about the client in question, and her intelligence system, I may say, was an extraordinarily good one.
I will echo what our friend has said - according to her lights, Madame Giselle was scrupulously honest.
She kept faith with those who kept faith with her.
I honestly believe that she has never made use of her secret knowledge to obtain money from anyone, unless that money was already owed to her."
"You mean," said Poirot, "that this secret knowledge was her form of security?"
"Exactly.
And in using it she was perfectly ruthless and deaf to any finer shades of feeling.