She was looking perfectly cool and collected.
I think someone in America had a spite against her and was trying to frighten or annoy her.
Pas plus serieux que ca?
Thats my opinion.
She was a very handsome woman, you know, and might easily have had enemies.
I think, those letters were written by some spiteful woman.
Mrs Leidner being of a nervous temperament took them seriously.
She certainly did that, said Poirot.
But remember the last of them arrived by hand.
Well, I suppose that could have been managed if anyone had given their minds to it.
Women will take a lot of trouble to gratify their spite, M. Poirot.
They will indeed, I thought to myself!
Perhaps you are right, mademoiselle.
As you say, Mrs Leidner was handsome.
By the way, you know Miss Reilly, the doctors daughter?
Sheila Reilly?
Yes, of course.
Poirot adopted a very confidential, gossipy tone. I have heard a rumour (naturally I do not like to ask the doctor) that there was a tendresse between her and one of the members of Dr Leidners staff.
Is that so, do you know?
Miss Johnson appeared rather amused.
Oh, young Coleman and David Emmott were both inclined to dance attendance.
I believe there was some rivalry as to who was to be her partner in some event at the club.
Both the boys went in on Saturday evenings to the club as a general rule.
But I dont know that there was anything in it on her side. Shes the only young creature in the place, you know, and so shes by way of being the belle of it.
Shes got the Air Force dancing attendance on her as well.
So you think there is nothing in it?
Well I dont know.
Miss Johnson became thoughtful.
It is true that she comes out this way fairly often.
Up to the dig and all that.
In fact, Mrs Leidner was chaffing David Emmott about it the other day saying the girl was running after him.
Which was rather a catty thing to say, I thought, and I dont think he liked it Yes, she was here a good deal.
I saw her riding towards the dig on that awful afternoon.
She nodded her head towards the open window.
But neither David Emmott nor Coleman were on duty that afternoon.
Richard Carey was in charge.
Yes, perhaps she is attracted to one of the boys but shes such a modern unsentimental young woman that one doesnt know quite how seriously to take her.
Im sure I dont know which of them it is.
Bills a nice boy, and not nearly such a fool as he pretends to be.
David Emmott is a dear and theres a lot to him.
He is the deep, quiet kind.
Then she looked quizzically at Poirot and said: But has this any bearing on the crime, M. Poirot?
M. Poirot threw up his hands in a very French fashion.
You make me blush, mademoiselle, he said.
You expose me as a mere gossip.
But what will you, I am interested always in the love affairs of young people.
Yes, said Miss Johnson with a little sigh.
Its nice when the course of true love runs smooth.
Poirot gave an answering sigh.
I wondered if Miss Johnson was thinking of some love affair of her own when she was a girl.