I know nothing about him.
He rang up and particularly asked for an appointment this morning."
"Where did he ring up from?"
"Holborn Palace Hotel.
He's an American, I fancy."
"So Alfred said."
"Alfred should know," said Mr. Reilly.
"He's a film fan, our Alfred."
"And your other patient?"
"Barnes?
A funny precise little man.
Retired civil servant.
Lives out Ealing way."
Japp paused a minute and then said: "What can you tell us about Miss Nevill?"
Mr. Reilly raised his eyebrows.
"The bee-yewtiful blond secretary?
Nothing doing, old boy!
Her relations with old Morley were perfectly pure – I'm sure of it."
"I never suggested they weren't," said Japp, reclining slightly.
"My fault," said Reilly.
"Excuse my filthy mind, won't you? I thought it might be an attempt on your part to cherchez la femme."
"Excuse me for speaking your language," he added parenthetically to Poirot.
"Beautiful accent, haven't I?
It comes of being educated by nuns."
Japp disapproved of this flippancy.
He asked: "Do you know anything about the young man Miss Nevill is engaged to?
His name is Carter, I understand.
Frank Carter."
"Morley didn't think much of him," said Reilly.
"He tried to get la Nevill to turn him down."
"That might have annoyed Carter?"
"Probably annoyed him frightfully," agreed Mr. Reilly cheerfully. He paused and then added:
"Excuse me, this is a suicide you are investigating, not a murder?"
Japp said sharply: "If it were a murder, would you have anything to suggest?"
"Not I!
I'd like it to be Georgina!
One of those grim females with temperance on the brain. But I'm afraid Georgina is full of moral rectitude.
Of course, I could easily have nipped upstairs and shot the old boy myself, but I didn't.
In fact, I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill Morley.
But then I can't conceive of his killing himself." He added – in a different voice:
"As a matter of fact, I'm very sorry about it. You mustn't judge by my manner. That's just nervousness, you know.
I was fond of old Morley and I shall miss him."
VII Japp put down the telephone receiver. His face, as he turned to Poirot, was rather grim.
He said: "Mr. Amberiotis isn't feeling very well – would rather not see anyone this afternoon.
He's going to see me – and he's not going to give me the slip either! I've got a man at the Savoy ready to trail him if he tries to make a getaway."
Poirot said thoughtfully: "You think Amberiotis shot Morley?"
"I don't know.
But he was the last person to see Morley alive.
And he was a new patient.
According to his story, he left Morley alive and well at twenty-five minutes past twelve.