Us?
You say us?
I mean Mr Carey and myself.
Were the two old-timers, you see.
And we didnt much care for the new order of things.
I suppose thats natural, though perhaps it was rather petty of us.
But it did make a difference.
What kind of a difference?
Oh! to everything.
We used to have such a happy time.
A good deal of fun, you know, and rather silly jokes, like people do who work together.
Dr Leidner was quite light-hearted just like a boy.
And when Mrs Leidner came she changed all that?
Well, I suppose it wasnt her fault.
It wasnt so bad last year.
And please believe, M. Poirot, that it wasnt anything she did.
Shes always been charming to me quite charming.
Thats why Ive felt ashamed sometimes.
It wasnt her fault that little things she said and did seemed to rub me up the wrong way.
Really, nobody could be nicer than she was.
But nevertheless things were changed this season?
There was a different atmosphere.
Oh, entirely.
Really. I dont know what it was.
Everything seemed to go wrong not with the work I mean with us our tempers and our nerves.
All on edge.
Almost the sort of feeling you get when there is a thunderstorm coming.
And you put that down to Mrs Leidners influence?
Well, it was never like that before she came, said Miss Johnson dryly.
Oh! Im a cross-grained, complaining old dog.
Conservative liking things always the same.
You really mustnt take any notice of me, M. Poirot.
How would you describe to me Mrs Leidners character and temperament?
Miss Johnson hesitated for a moment.
Then she said slowly: Well, of course, she was temperamental.
A lot of ups and downs.
Nice to people one day and perhaps wouldnt speak to them the next.
She was very kind, I think.
And very thoughtful for others.
All the same you could see she had been thoroughly spoilt all her life.
She took Dr Leidners waiting on her hand and foot as perfectly natural.
And I dont think she ever really appreciated what a very remarkable what a really great man she had married.
That used to annoy me sometimes.
And of course she was terribly highly strung and nervous.
The things she used to imagine and the states she used to get into!
I was thankful when Dr Leidner brought Nurse Leatheran here.
It was too much for him having to cope both with his work and with his wifes fears.
What is your own opinion of these anonymous letters she received?
I had to do it.
I leaned forward in my chair till I could just catch sight of Miss Johnsons profile turned to Poirot in answer to his question.