Cards On The Table Part 41

"Really, M. Poirot "

"Absolutely useless to protest--to lie further to me, madame. I tell you, I know the truth. I know the very emotions that swept over you that day in Harley Street. You would not have done it for Major Despard, non plus. You would not have done it for Dr. Roberts--oh, no! But Anne Meredith is different. You have compa.s.sion for her, because she has done what you once did. You do not know even--or so I imaginewhat reason she had for the crime. But you are quite sure she did it. You were sure that first evening--the evening it happened--when Superintendent Battle invited you to give your views on the case. Yes, I know it all, you see. It is quite useless to lie further to me. You see that, do you not?"

He paused for an answer, but none came. He nodded his head in satisfaction.

"Yes, you are sensible. That is good. It is a very n.o.ble action that you perform there, madame, to take the blame on yourself and to let this child escape."

"You forget," said Mrs. Lorrimer in a dry voice, "I am not an innocent woman.

Years ago, M. Poirot, I killed my husband "

There was a moment's silence.

"I see," said Poirot. "It is justice. After all, only justice. You have the logical mind.

You are willing to suffer for the act you committed. Murder is murder--it does not matter who the victim is. Madame, you have courage, and you have clearsightedness.

But I ask of you once more: How can you be so sure? How do you know that it was Anne Meredith who killed Mr. Shaitana?'

A deep sigh broke from Mrs. Lorrimer. Her last resistance had gone down before Poirot's insistence. She answered his question quite simply like a child.

"Because,"

she said, "I saw her."

CHAPTER 27

The EyeWitness

Suddenly Poirot laughed. He could not help it. His head went back, and his high Gallic laugh filled the room.

"Pardon, madame," he said, wiping his eyes. "I could not help it. Here we argue and we reason! We ask questions! We invoke the psychology--and all the time there was an eye-witness of the crime. Tell me, I pray of you."

"It was fairly late in the evening. Anne Meredith was dummy. She got up anQ looked over her partner's hand, and then she moved about the room. The hand wasn't very interesting--the conclusion was inevitable. I didn't need to concen-

trate on the cards. Just as we got to the last three tricks I looked over towards the fireplace. Anne Meredith was bent over Mr. Shaitana. As I watched, she straightened herself her hand had been actually on his breast--a gesture which awakened my surprise. She straightened herself, and I saw her face and her quick look over towards us. Guilt and fear--that is what I saw on her face. Of course, I didn't know what had happened then. I only wondered what on earth the girl could have been doing. Later--I knew."

Poirot nodded.

"But she did not know that you knew. She did not know that you had seen her?"

"Poor child," said Mrs. Lorrimer. "Young, frightened--her way to make in

the world. Do you wonder that I--well, held my tongue?"

"No, no, I do not wonder."

"Especially knowing that I--that I myself "She finished the sentence with

a shrug. "It was certainly not my place to stand accuser. It was up to the police."

"Quite so--but to-day you have gone further than that."

Mrs. Lorrimer said grimly:

"I've never been a very soft-hearted or compa.s.sionate woman, but I suppose these qualities grow upon one in one's old age. I a.s.sure you, I'm not often actuated by pity."

"It is not always a very safe guide, madame. Mademoiselle Anne is young, she is fragile, she looks timid and frightened--oh, yes, she seems a very worthy subject for compa.s.sion. But I, I do not agree. Shall I tell you, madame, why Miss Anne Meredith killed Mr. Shaitana? It was because he knew that she had previously

killed an elderly lady to whom she was companion because that lady had found

her out in a petty theft."

Mrs. Lorrimer looked a little startled.

"Is that true, M. Poirot?"

"I have no doubt of it, whatsoever. She is so so-so gentlc one would say.

Pah! She is dangerous, madame, that little Mademoiselle Anne! Where her own safety, her own comfort, is concerned, she will strike wildly--treacherously. With Mademoiselle Anne those two crimes will not be the end. She will gain confidence from them .... "

Mrs. Lorrimer said sharply:

"What you say is horrible, M. Poirot. Horrible!"

Poirot rose.

"Madame, I will now take my leave. Reflect on what I have said."

Mrs. Lorrimer was looking a little uncertain of herself. She said with an attempt at her old manner:

"If it suits me, M. Poirot, I shall deny this whole conversation. You have no witnesses, remember. What I have just told you that I saw on that fatal evening

is--well, private between ourselves."

Poirot said gravely.

"Nothing shall be done without your consent, madame. And be at peace; I

have my own methods. Now that I know what I am driving at "

He took her hand and raised it to his lips.

"Permit me to tell you, madame, that you are a most remarkable woman. All my homage and respects. Yes, indeed, a woman in a thousand. Why, you have not even done what nine hundred and ninety-nine women out of a thousand could not have resisted doing."

"What is that?"

482

"Told me just why you killed your husband and how entirely justified such a

proceeding really was."

Mrs. Lorrimer drew herself up.

"Really, M. Poirot," she said stiffly. "My reasons were entirely my own business."

"Magnifique!" said Poirot, and, once more raising her hand to his lips, he left the room.

It was cold outside the house, and he looked up and down for a taxi, but there was none in sight.