She, I am sorry to say, took it rather hard... I - am very sorry about that - but these things cannot be helped.
She made certain - well, threats - to which I paid very little attention, and which, I may say, she has not attempted to carry out.
But instead she has adopted the extraordinary course of - of following us about wherever we go."
Poirot raised his eyebrows.
"Ah - rather an unusual - er - revenge."
"Very unusual - and very ridiculous!
But also - annoying."
She bit her lip.
Poirot nodded.
"Yes, I can imagine that.
You are, I understand, on your honey-moon?"
"Yes.
It happened - the first time - at Venice.
She was there - at Danielli.
I thought it just an embarrasing coincidence - that was all.
Then we found her on board the boat at Brindisi.
We've understood that she was going on to Palestine.
We left her, as we thought, on the boat.
But - but when we got to Mena House she was there - waiting for us."
Poirot nodded.
"And now?"
"We came up the Nile by boat.
I - I was half expecting to find her on board.
When she wasn't there I thought she had stopped being so - so childish.
But when we got here - she - she was here - waiting."
Poirot eyed her keenly for a moment.
She was still perfectly composed, but the knuckles of the hand that was gripping the table were white with the force of her grip.
He said, "And you are afraid this state of things may continue?"
"Yes." She paused. "Of course the whole thing is idiotic!
Jacqueline is making herself utterly ridiculous.
I am surprised she hasn't got more pride - more dignity."
Poirot made a slight gesture.
"There are times, Madame, when pride and dignity - they go by the board!
There are other - stronger emotions."
"Yes, possibly." Linnet spoke impatiently. "But what on earth can she hope to gain by all this?"
"It is not always a question of gain, Madame."
Something in his tone struck Linnet disagreeably.
She flushed and said quickly:
"You are right.
A discussion of motives is beside the point.
The crux of the matter is that this has got to be stopped."
"And how do you propose that that should be accomplished, Madame?" Poirot asked.
"Well - naturally - my husband and I cannot continue being subjected to this annoyance.
There must be some kind of legal address against such a thing."
She spoke impatiently.
Poirot looked at her thoughtfully as he asked:
"Has she threatened you in actual words in public?
Used insulting language?
Attempted any bodily harm?"
"No."