But it came to the same in the end.
Yes, yes, I see what you mean, said Mr Reiter.
But indeed, I do not see that I can be much help to you.
I am new here this season and I did not speak much with Mrs Leidner.
I regret, but indeed I can tell you nothing.
There was something a little stiff and foreign in the way he spoke, though, of course, he hadnt got any accent except an American one, I mean.
You can at least tell me whether you liked or disliked her? said Poirot with a smile.
Mr Reiter got quite red and stammered: She was a charming person most charming.
And intellectual. She had a very fine brain yes.
Bien!
You liked her.
And she liked you?
Mr Reiter got redder still.
Oh, I I dont know that she noticed me much.
And I was unfortunate once or twice.
I was always unlucky when I tried to do anything for her.
Im afraid I annoyed her by my clumsiness.
It was quite unintentionalI would have done anything
Poirot took pity on his flounderings.
Perfectly perfectly.
Let us pass to another matter.
Was it a happy atmosphere in the house?
Please?
Were you all happy together?
Did you laugh and talk?
No no, not exactly that.
There was a little stiffness.
He paused, struggling with himself, and then said: You see, I am not very good in company.
I am clumsy.
I am shy.
Dr Leidner always he has been most kind to me.
But it is stupid I cannot overcome my shyness.
I say always the wrong thing.
I upset water jugs.
I am unlucky.
He really looked like a large awkward child.
We all do these things when we are young, said Poirot, smiling.
The poise, thesavoir faire, it comes later.
Then with a word of farewell we walked on.
He said: That, ma soeur, is either an extremely simple young man or a very remarkable actor.
I didnt answer.
I was caught up once more by the fantastic notion that one of these people was a dangerous and cold-blooded murderer.
Somehow, on this beautiful still sunny morning it seemed impossible.
Chapter 21.
Mr Mercado, Richard Carey
They work in two separate places, I see, said Poirot, halting.
Mr Reiter had been doing his photography on an outlying portion of the main excavation.
A little distance away from us a second swarm of men were coming and going with baskets.
Thats what they call the deep cut, I explained.
They dont find much there, nothing but rubbishy broken pottery, but Dr Leidner always says its very interesting, so I suppose it must be.