She couldn't be trusted to hold her tongue.
Gerda went to see her, asked her to tea, told her to ask for Mrs. Chapman, said she was staying in Mrs. Chapman's flat.
Mabelle Sainsbury Seale came, quite unsuspecting.
She never knew anything – the medinal was in the tea – it's quite painless.
You just sleep and don't wake up.
The face business was done afterwards – rather sickening, but we felt it was necessary.
Mrs. Chapman was to exit for good.
I had given my 'cousin' Helen a cottage to live in.
We decided that after a while we would get married.
But first we had to get Amberiotis out of the way.
It worked beautifully. He hadn't a suspicion that I wasn't a real dentist.
I did my stuff with the hand-picks rather well. I didn't risk the drill. Of course, after the injection he couldn't feel what I was doing. Probably just as well!"
Poirot asked: "The pistols?"
"Actually they belonged to a secretary I once had in America.
He bought them abroad somewhere. When he left he forgot to take them."
There was a pause. Then Alistair Blunt asked:
"Is there anything else you want to know?"
Hercule Poirot said: "What about Morley?"
Alistair Blunt said simply:
"I was sorry about Morley."
Hercule Poirot said: "Yes, I see… "
There was a long pause, then Blunt said:
"Well, M. Poirot, what about it?"
Poirot said: "Helen Montressor is arrested already."
"And now it's my turn?"
"That was my meaning, yes."
Blunt said gently: "But you are not happy about it, eh?"
"No, I am not at all happy."
Alistair Blunt said: "I've killed three people. So presumably I ought to be hanged. But you've heard my defense."
"Which is – exactly?"
"That I believe, with all my heart and soul, that I am necessary to the continued peace and well-being of this country."
Hercule Poirot allowed: "That may be – yes."
"You agree, don't you?"
"I agree, yes.
You stand for all the things that to my mind are important.
For sanity and balance and stability and honest dealing."
Alistair Blunt said quietly: "Thanks."
He added: "Well, what about it?"
"You suggest that I – retire from the case?"
"Yes."
"And your wife?"
"I've got a good deal of pull.
Mistaken identity, that's the line to take."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then," said Alistair Blunt simply, "I'm for it."
He went on: "It's in your hands, Poirot.
It's up to you.
But I tell you this – and it's not just self-preservation – I'm needed in the world.
And do you know why?
Because I'm an honest man. And because I've got common sense – and no particular axe of my own to grind."