He must have taken a different name.
He must have built himself up a career.
As a Pere Blanc? asked Dr Reilly sceptically.
It is a little fantastic that, yes, confessed Poirot.
But we cannot put it right out of court.
Besides, these other possibilities.
The young uns? said Reilly.
If you want my opinion, on the face of it theres only one of your suspects thats even plausible.
And that is?
Young Carl Reiter.
Theres nothing actually against him, but come down to it and youve got to admit a few things hes the right age, hes got a German name, hes new this year and he had the opportunity all right. Hed only got to pop out of his photographic place, cross the courtyard to do his dirty work and hare back again while the coast was clear.
If anyone were to have dropped into the photographic-room while he was out of it, he can always say later that he was in the dark-room.
I dont say hes your man but if you are going to suspect someone I say hes by far and away the most likely.
M. Poirot didnt seem very receptive. He nodded gravely but doubtfully.
Yes, he said. He is the most plausible, but it may not be so simple as all that.
Then he said: Let us say no more at present.
I would like now, if I may, to examine the room where the crime took place.
Certainly.
Dr Leidner fumbled in his pockets, then looked at Dr Reilly.
Captain Maitland took it, he said.
Maitland gave it to me, said Reilly. He had to go off on that Kurdish business. He produced the key.
Dr Leidner said hesitatingly: Do you mind if I dont Perhaps, nurse
Of course. Of course, said Poirot.
I quite understand.
Never do I wish to cause you unnecessary pain.
If you will be good enough to accompany me, ma soeur.
Certainly, I said.
Chapter 17.
The Stain by the Washstand
Mrs Leidners body had been taken to Hassanieh for the postmortem, but otherwise her room had been left exactly as it was.
There was so little in it that it had not taken the police long to go over it.
To the right of the door as you entered was the bed.
Opposite the door were the two barred windows giving on the countryside.
Between them was a plain oak table with two drawers that served Mrs Leidner as a dressing-table.
On the east wall there was a line of hooks with dresses hung up protected by cotton bags and a deal chest of drawers. Immediately to the left of the door was the washstand.
In the middle of the room was a good-sized plain oak table with a blotter and inkstand and a small attache-case.
It was in the latter that Mrs Leidner had kept the anonymous letters.
The curtains were short strips of native material white striped with orange.
The floor was of stone with some goatskin rugs on it, three narrow ones of brown striped with white in front of the two windows and the washstand, and a larger better quality one of white with brown stripes lying between the bed and the writing-table.
There were no cupboards or alcoves or long curtains nowhere, in fact, where anyone could have hidden.
The bed was a plain iron one with a printed cotton quilt.
The only trace of luxury in the room were three pillows all made of the best soft and billowy down.
Nobody but Mrs Leidner had pillows like these.
In a few brief words Dr Reilly explained where Mrs Leidners body had been found in a heap on the rug beside the bed.
To illustrate his account, he beckoned me to come forward. If you dont mind, nurse? he said.
Im not squeamish.
I got down on the floor and arranged myself as far as possible in the attitude in which Mrs Leidners body had been found.
Leidner lifted her head when he found her, said the doctor.
But I questioned him closely and its obvious that he didnt actually change her position.
It seems quite straightforward, said Poirot.