"Only whether I heard anything last night," said Mrs Allerton. "And unluckily I didn't hear anything at all.
I can't think why not.
After all, Linnet's cabin is only one away from mine.
I should think I'd have been bound to hear the shot.
Go along, Tim; they're waiting for you."
To Tim Allerton Poirot repeated his previous question.
Tim answered: "I went to bed early, half past ten or so. I read for a bit.
Put out my light just after eleven."
"Did you hear anything after that?"
"Heard a man's voice saying good-night, I think, not far away."
"That was I saying good-night to Mrs Doyle," said Race.
"Yes.
After that I went to sleep.
Then, later, I heard a kind of hullabaloo going on, somebody calling Fanthorp, I remember."
"Mademoiselle Robson when she ran out from the observation saloon."
"Yes, I suppose that was it.
And then a lot of different voices.
And then somebody running along the deck.
And then a splash.
And then I heard old Bessner booming out something about
'Careful now' and
'Not too quick.'"
"You heard a splash?"
"Well, something of that kind."
"You are sure it was not a shot you heard?"
"Yes, I suppose it might have been... I did hear a cork pop.
Perhaps that was the shot.
I may have imagined the splash from connecting the idea of the cork with liquid pouring into a glass... I know my foggy idea was that there was some kind of party on, and I wished they'd all go to bed and shut up."
"Anything more after that?"
Tim thought.
"Only Fanthorp barging round in his cabin next door.
I thought he'd never get to bed."
"And after that?"
Tim shrugged his shoulders.
"After that - oblivion."
"You heard nothing more?"
"Nothing whatever."
"Thank you, Monsieur Allerton."
Tim got up and left the cabin.
Chapter 15
Race poured thoughtfully over a plan of the promenade deck of the Karnak.
"Fanthorp, young Allerton, Mrs Allerton.
Then an empty cabin, Simon Doyle's...
Now who's on the other side of Mrs Doyle's?
The old American dame.
If anyone heard anything, she should have done.
If she's up we'd better have her along."
Miss Van Schuyler entered the room.
She looked even older and yellower than usual this morning.
Her small, dark eyes had an air of venomous displeasure in them.