She was lying on the bed, asleep or resting someone opens the door, she looks up, rises to her feet
And he struck her down, finished the doctor.
The blow would produce unconsciousness and death would follow very shortly.
You see
He explained the injury in technical language.
Not much blood, then? said Poirot.
No, the blood escaped internally into the brain.
Eh bien, said Poirot, that seems straightforward enough except for one thing.
If the man who entered was a stranger, why did not Mrs Leidner cry out at once for help?
If she had screamed she would have been heard.
Nurse Leatheran here would have heard her, and Emmott and the boy.
Thats easily answered, said Dr Reilly dryly.
Because it wasnt a stranger.
Poirot nodded.
Yes, he said meditatively. She may have been surprised to see the person but she was not afraid.
Then, as he struck, she may have uttered a half-cry too late.
The cry Miss Johnson heard?
Yes, if she did hear it.
But on the whole I doubt it.
These mud walls are thick and the windows were closed.
He stepped up to the bed.
You left her actually lying down? he asked me.
I explained exactly what I had done.
Did she mean to sleep or was she going to read?
I gave her two books a light one and a volume of memoirs.
She usually read for a while and then sometimes dropped off for a short sleep.
And she was what shall I say quite as usual?
I considered.
Yes.
She seemed quite normal and in good spirits, I said.
Just a shade off-hand, perhaps, but I put that down to her having confided in me the day before.
It makes people a little uncomfortable sometimes.
Poirots eyes twinkled.
Ah, yes, indeed, me, I know that well.
He looked round the room.
And when you came in here after the murder, was everything as you had seen it before?
I looked round also.
Yes, I think so.
I dont remember anything being different.
There was no sign of the weapon with which she was struck?
No.
Poirot looked at Dr Reilly.
What was it in your opinion?
The doctor replied promptly: Something pretty powerful, of a fair size and without any sharp corners or edges.
The rounded base of a statue, say something like that.
Mind you, Im not suggesting that that was it.
But that type of thing.
The blow was delivered with great force.
Struck by a strong arm?
A mans arm?