It seemed to Sir Charles that Poirot’s appeal was addressed especially to Miss Wills.
If so, it had no result.
Nobody spoke or answered.
Poirot sighed. His hand fell.
“Be it so, then.
I have given warning. I can do no more.
Remember, to keep silence is dangerous … ”
But still nobody spoke.
Awkwardly the guests departed.
Egg, Sir Charles and Mr. Satterthwaite were left.
Egg had not yet forgiven Poirot.
She sat very still, her cheeks flushed and her eyes angry.
She wouldn’t look at Sir Charles.
“That was a damned clever bit of work, Poirot,” said Sir Charles appreciatively.
“Amazing,” said Mr. Satterthwaite with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t have believed that I wouldn’t have seen you do that exchange.”
“That is why,” said Poirot, “I could take no one into any confidence. The experiment could only be fair this way.”
“Was that the only reason you planned this - to see whether it could be done unnoticed?”
“Well, not quite, perhaps.
I had one other aim.”
“Yes?”
“I wanted to watch the expression on one person’s face when Sir Charles fell dead.”
“Which person’s?” said Egg sharply.
“Ah, that is my secret.”
“And you did watch that person’s face?” asked Mr. Satterthwaite.
“Yes.”
“Well?”
Poirot did not reply.
He merely shook his head.
“Won’t you tell us what you saw there?”
Poirot said slowly: “I saw an expression of the utmost surprise ... ”
Egg drew her breath in sharply.
“You mean,” she said, “that you know who the murderer is?”
“You can put it that way if you like, mademoiselle.”
“But then - but then - you know everything?”
Poirot shook his head.
“No; on the contrary I know nothing at all.
For, you see, I do not know why Stephen Babbington was killed.
Until I know that I can prove nothing. I can know nothing ...
It all hinges on that - the motive for Stephen Babbington’s death ... ”
There was a knock at the door and a page entered with a telegram on a tray.
Poirot opened it.
His face changed.
He handed the telegram to Sir Charles.
Learning over Sir Charlie’s shoulder, Egg read it aloud:
“Please come and see me at once can give you valuable information as to Bartholomew Strange’s death - Margaret Rushbridger.”
“Mrs. de Rushbridger!” cried Sir Charles. “We were right after all.
She has got something to do with the case.”
24
At once an excited discussion sprang up.
An ABC was produced. It was decided that an early train would be better than going by car.