But you were not fond of her - oh, no - I think you disliked her very much.
That was very plain to see."
Linda said: "Perhaps I didn't like her very much. But one can't say that when a person is dead.
It wouldn't be decent."
Poirot sighed. He said: "They taught you that at your school?"
"More or less, I suppose."
Hercule Poirot said: "When a person has been murdered, it is more important to be truthful than to be decent."
Linda said: "I suppose you would say a thing like that."
"I would saw it and I do say it.
It is my business, you see, to find out who killed Arlena Marshall."
Linda muttered: "I want to forget it all.
It's so horrible."
Poirot said gently:
"But you can't forget, can you?"
Linda said: "I suppose some beastly madman killed her."
Hercule Poirot murmured: "No, I do not think it was quite like that."
Linda caught her breath.
She said: "You sound - as though you knew?"
Poirot said: "Perhaps I do know."
He paused and went on,
"Will you trust me, my child, to do the best I can for you in your bitter trouble?"
Linda sprang up.
She said: "I haven't any trouble. There is nothing you can do for me.
I don't know what you are talking about."
Poirot said, watching her: "I am talking about candles..."
He saw the terror leap into her eyes.
She cried: "I won't listen to you.
I won't listen."
She ran across the beach, swift as a young gazelle, and went flying up the zigzag path.
Poirot shook his head.
He looked grave and troubled.
Chapter 11
Inspector Colgate was reporting to the Chief Constable.
"I've got on to one thing, sir, and something pretty sensational.
It's about Mrs Marshall's money.
I've been into it with her lawyers. I'd say it's a bit of a shock to them. I've got proof of the blackmail story.
You remember she was left fifty thousand pounds by old Erskine?
Well, all that's left of that is about fifteen thousand."
The Chief Constable whistled.
"Whew, what's become of the rest?"
"That's the interesting point, sir.
She's sold out stuff from time to time, and each time she's handled it in cash or negotiable securities - that's to say she's handed out money to some one that she didn't want traced.
Blackmail all right."
The Chief Constable nodded. "Certainly looks like it.
And the blackmailer is here in this hotel.
That means it must be one of those three men.
Got anything fresh on any of them?"
"Can't say I've got anything definite, sir.
Major Barry's a retired Army man, as he says.
Lives in a small flat, has a pension and a small income from stocks.