You are an Englishman, Mr Coleman? he asked at last.
Thats right, sir.
All British.
See the trade-mark.
Guaranteed genuine.
This is your first season?
Quite right.
And you are passionately keen on archaeology?
This description of himself seemed to cause Mr Coleman some embarrassment.
He got rather pink and shot the side look of a guilty schoolboy at Dr Leidner.
Of course its all very interesting, he stammered.
I mean Im not exactly a brainy chap He broke off rather lamely.
Poirot did not insist.
He tapped thoughtfully on the table with the end of his pencil and carefully straightened an inkpot that stood in front of him.
It seems then, he said, that that is as near as we can get for the moment.
If any one of you thinks of something that has for the time being slipped his or her memory, do not hesitate to come to me with it.
It will be well now, I think, for me to have a few words alone with Dr Leidner and Dr Reilly.
It was the signal for a breaking up of the party. We all rose and filed out of the door.
When I was half-way out, however, a voice recalled me.
Perhaps, said M. Poirot, Nurse Leatheran will be so kind as to remain.
I think her assistance will be valuable to us.
I came back and resumed my seat at the table.
Chapter 15.
Poirot Makes a Suggestion
Dr Reilly had risen from his seat.
When everyone had gone out he carefully closed the door.
Then, with an inquiring glance at Poirot, he proceeded to shut the window giving on the courtyard.
The others were already shut.
Then he, too, resumed his seat at the table.
Bien! said Poirot.
We are now private and undisturbed.
We can speak freely.
We have heard what the members of the expedition have to tell us and But yes, ma soeur, what is it that you think?
I got rather red.
There was no denying that the queer little man had sharp eyes.
Hed seen the thought passing through my mind I suppose my face had shown a bit too clearly what I was thinking!
Oh, its nothing I said hesitating.
Come on, nurse, said Dr Reilly. Dont keep the specialist waiting.
Its nothing really, I said hurriedly.
It only just passed through my mind, so to speak, that perhaps even if anyone did know or suspect something it wouldnt be easy to bring it out in front of everybody else or even, perhaps, in front of Dr Leidner.
Rather to my astonishment, M. Poirot nodded his head in vigorous agreement.
Precisely.
Precisely.
It is very just what you say there.
But I will explain.
That little reunion we have just had it served a purpose.
In England before the races you have a parade of the horses, do you not?
They go in front of the grandstand so that everyone may have an opportunity of seeing and judging them.
That is the purpose of my little assembly.
In the sporting phrase, I run my eye over the possible starters.