Poirot inquired after the health of Mrs. Renauld.
Léonie shook her head.
“She is terribly upset, la pauvre dame5! She will eat nothing—but nothing! And she is as pale as a ghost. It is heartrending to see her. Ah, par6 exemple, it is not I who would grieve like that for a man who had deceived me with another woman!”
Poirot nodded sympathetically.
“What you say is very just, but what will you? The heart of a woman who loves will forgive many blows. Still, undoubtedly7 there must have been many scenes of recrimination between them in the last few months?”
Again Léonie shook her head.
“Never, monsieur. Never have I heard Madame utter a word of protest—of reproach, even! She had the temper and disposition8 of an angel—quite different to Monsieur.”
“Monsieur Renauld had not the temper of an angel?”
“Far from it. When he enraged9 himself, the whole house knew of it. The day that he quarrelled with M. Jack10—ma foi! they might have been heard in the market place, they shouted so loud!”
“Indeed,” said Poirot. “And when did this quarrel take place?”
“Oh! it was just before M. Jack went to Paris. Almost he missed his train. He came out of the library, and caught up his bag which he had left in the hall. The automobile11, it was being repaired, and he had to run for the station. I was dusting the salon12, and I saw him pass, and his face was white—white—with two burning spots of red. Ah, but he was angry!”
“And the dispute, what was it about?”
“Ah, that I do not know,” confessed Léonie. “It is true that they shouted, but their voices were so loud and high, and they spoke15 so fast, that only one well acquainted with English could have comprehended. But Monsieur, he was like a thundercloud all day! Impossible to please him!”
“And Françoise who awaits me!” she exclaimed, awakening17 to a tardy18 remembrance of her duties. “That old one, she always scolds.”
“One moment, mademoiselle. The examining magistrate19, where is he?”
“They have gone out to look at the automobile in the garage. Monsieur the commissary had some idea that it might have been used on the night of the murder.”
“Quelle idée,” murmured Poirot, as the girl disappeared.
“You will go out and join them?”
“No, I shall await their return in the salon. It is cool there on this hot morning.”
“If you don’t mind—” I said, and hesitated.
“Not in the least. You wish to investigate on your own account, eh?”
“Well, I’d rather like to have a look at Giraud, if he’s anywhere about, and see what he’s up to.”
“The human foxhound,” murmured Poirot, as he leaned back in a comfortable chair, and closed his eyes. “By all means, my friend. Au revoir.”
I strolled out of the front door. It was certainly hot. I turned up the path we had taken the day before. I had a mind to study the scene of the crime myself. I did not go directly to the spot, however, but turned aside into the bushes, so as to come out on the links some hundred yards or so further to the right. If Giraud were still on the spot, I wanted to observe his methods before he knew of my presence. But the shrubbery here was much denser22, and I had quite a struggle to force my way through. When I emerged at last on the course, it was quite unexpectedly and with such vigour23 that I cannoned24 heavily into a young lady who had been standing25 with her back to the plantation26.
She not unnaturally27 gave a suppressed shriek28, but I, too, uttered an exclamation29 of surprise. For it was my friend of the train, Cinderella!
“You,” we both exclaimed simultaneously31.
The young lady recovered herself first.
“My only Aunt!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
“For the matter of that, what are you?” I retorted.
“When last I saw you, the day before yesterday, you were trotting32 home to England like a good little boy. Have they given you a season ticket to and fro, on the strength of your M.P.?”
I ignored the end of the speech.
“When last I saw you,” I said, “you were trotting home with your sister, like a good little girl. By the way, how is your sister?”
A flash of white teeth rewarded me.
“How kind of you to ask! My sister is well, I thank you.”
“She is here with you?”
“She remained in town,” said the minx with dignity.
“I don’t believe you’ve got a sister,” I laughed. “If you have, her name is Harris!”
“Do you remember mine?” she asked, with a smile.
“Cinderella. But you’re going to tell me the real one now, aren’t you?”
She shook her head with a wicked look.
“Not even why you’re here?”
“Oh, that! I suppose you’ve heard of members of my profession ‘resting.’ ”
“At expensive French watering-places?”
“Dirt cheap if you know where to go.”
I eyed her keenly.
“Still, you’d no intention of coming here when I met you two days ago?”
“We all have our disappointments,” said Miss Cinderella sententiously. “There now, I’ve told you quite as much as is good for you. Little boys should not be inquisitive33. You’ve not yet told me what you’re doing here? Got the M.P. in tow, I suppose, doing the gay boy on the beach.”
I shook my head. “Guess again. You remember my telling you that my great friend was a detective?”
“Yes?”
“And perhaps you’ve heard about this crime—at the Villa Geneviève—?”
She stared at me. Her breast heaved, and her eyes grew wide and round.
“You don’t mean—that you’re in on that?”
I nodded. There was no doubt that I had scored heavily. Her emotion, as she regarded me, was only too evident. For some few seconds, she remained silent, staring at me. Then she nodded her head emphatically.
“Well, if that doesn’t beat the band! Tote me round. I want to see all the horrors.”
“What do you mean?”
“What I say. Bless the boy, didn’t I tell you I doted on crimes? What do you think I’m imperilling my ankles for in high-heeled shoes over this stubble? I’ve been nosing round for hours. Tried the front way in, but that old stick-in-the-mud of a French gendarme34 wasn’t taking any. I guess Helen of Troy, and Cleopatra, and Mary, Queen of Scots, rolled in one wouldn’t cut ice with him! It’s a real piece of luck happening on you this way. Come on, show me all the sights.”
“Why are you so keen?” I asked weakly. “And what is it you want to see.”
“Oh, everything! The place where it happened, and the weapon, and the body, and any finger-prints or interesting things like that. I’ve never had a chance of being right in on a murder like this before. It’ll last me all my life?”
I turned away, sickened. What were women coming to nowadays? The girl’s ghoulish excitement nauseated39 me. I had read of the mobs of women who besieged40 the law courts when some wretched man was being tried for his life on the capital charge. I had sometimes wondered who these women were. Now I knew. They were of the likeness41 of Cinderella, young, yet obsessed42 with a yearning43 for morbid44 excitement, for sensation at any price, without regard to any decency45 or good feeling. The vividness of the girl’s beauty had attracted me in spite of myself, yet at heart I retained my first impression of disapproval46 and dislike. I thought of my mother, long since dead. What would she have said of this strange modern product of girlhood? The pretty face with the paint and powder, and the ghoulish mind behind!
“Come off your high horse,” said the lady suddenly. “And don’t give yourself airs. When you got called to this job, did you put your nose in the air and say it was a nasty business, and you wouldn’t be mixed up in it?”
“No, but—”
“If you’d been here on a holiday, wouldn’t you be nosing round just the same as I am? Of course you would.”
“I’m a man. You’re a woman.”
“Your idea of a woman is some one who gets on a chair and shrieks47 if she sees a mouse. That’s all prehistoric48. But you will show me round, won’t you? You see, it might make a big difference to me.”
“In what way?”
“They’re keeping all the reporters out. I might make a big scoop49 with one of the papers. You don’t know how much they pay for a bit of inside stuff.”
I hesitated. She slipped a small soft hand into mine.
“Please—there’s a dear.”
I capitulated. Secretly, I knew that I should rather enjoy the part of showman. After all, the moral attitude displayed by the girl was none of my business. I was a little nervous as to what the examining magistrate might say, but I reassured50 myself by the reflection that no harm could possibly be done.
We repaired first to the spot where the body had been discovered. A man was on guard there, who saluted respectfully, knowing me by sight, and raised no question as to my companion. Presumably he regarded her as vouched51 for by me. I explained to Cinderella just how the discovery had been made, and she listened attentively52, sometimes putting an intelligent question. Then we turned our steps in the direction of the Villa. I proceeded rather cautiously, for, truth to tell, I was not at all anxious to meet any one. I took the girl through the shrubbery round to the back of the house where the small shed was. I recollected53 that yesterday evening, after relocking the door, M. Bex had left the key with the sergent de ville Marchaud, “in case M. Giraud should require it while we are upstairs.” I thought it quite likely that the Sûreté detective, after using it, had returned it to Marchaud again. Leaving the girl out of sight in the shrubbery, I entered the house. Marchaud was on duty outside the door of the salon. From within came the murmur20 of voices.
“Monsieur desires Hautet? He is within. He is again interrogating54 Françoise.”
“No,” I said hastily, “I don’t want him. But I should very much like the key of the shed outside if it is not against regulations.”
“But certainly, monsieur.” He produced it. “Here it is. M. le juge gave orders that all facilities were to be placed at your disposal. You will return it to me when you have finished out there, that is all.”
“Of course.”
I felt a thrill of satisfaction as I realized that in Marchaud’s eyes, at least, I ranked equally in importance with Poirot. The girl was waiting for me. She gave an exclamation of delight as she saw the key in my hand.
“You’ve got it then?”
“Of course,” I said coolly. “All the same, you know, what I’m doing is highly irregular.”
“You’ve been a perfect duck, and I shan’t forget it. Come along. They can’t see us from the house, can they?”
“Wait a minute.” I arrested her eager advance. “I won’t stop you if you really wish to go in. But do you? You’ve seen the grave, and the grounds, and you’ve heard all the details of the affair. Isn’t that enough for you? This is going to be gruesome, you know, and—unpleasant.”
“Me for the horrors,” she said. “Come along.”
In silence we arrived at the door of the shed. I opened it and we passed in. I walked over to the body, and gently pulled down the sheet as M. Bex had done the preceding afternoon. A little gasping56 sound escaped from the girl’s lips, and I turned and looked at her. There was horror on her face now, and those debonair57 high spirits of hers were quenched58 utterly59. She had not chosen to listen to my advice, and she was punished now for her disregard of it. I felt singularly merciless towards her. She should go through with it now. I turned the corpse60 gently over.
“You see,” I said, “he was stabbed in the back.”
Her voice was almost soundless.
“With what?”
I nodded towards the glass jar.
Suddenly the girl reeled, and then sank down in a heap. I sprang to her assistance.
“You are faint. Come out of here. It has been too much for you.”
“Water,” she murmured. “Quick. Water. …”
I left her, and rushed into the house. Fortunately none of the servants were about, and I was able to secure a glass of water unobserved and add a few drops of brandy from a pocket flask62. In a few minutes I was back again. The girl was lying as I had left her, but a few sips63 of the brandy and water revived her in a marvellous manner.
“Take me out of here—oh, quickly, quickly!” she cried, shuddering64.
Supporting her with my arm I led her out into the air, and she pulled the door to behind her. Then she drew a deep breath.
“That’s better. Oh, it was horrible! Why did you ever let me go in?”
I felt this to be so feminine that I could not forbear a smile. Secretly, I was not dissatisfied with her collapse65. It proved that she was not quite so callous66 as I had thought her. After all she was little more than a child, and her curiosity had probably been of the unthinking order.
“I did my best to stop you, you know,” I said gently.
“I suppose you did. Well, good-bye.”
“Look here, you can’t start off like that—all alone. You’re not fit for it. I insist on accompanying you back to Merlinville.”
“Nonsense. I’m quite all right now.”
“Supposing you felt faint again? No, I shall come with you.”
But this she combated with a good deal of energy. In the end, however, I prevailed so far as to be allowed to accompany her to the outskirts67 of the town. We retraced68 our steps over our former route, passing the grave again, and making a detour69 on to the road. Where the first straggling line of shops began, she stopped and held out her hand.
“Good-bye, and thank you ever so much for coming with me.”
“Are you sure you’re all right now?”
“Quite, thanks. I hope you won’t get into any trouble over showing me things?”
I disclaimed70 the idea lightly.
“Well, good-bye.”
“Au revoir,” I corrected. “If you’re staying here, we shall meet again.”
She flashed a smile at me.
“That’s so. Au revoir, then.”
“Wait a second, you haven’t told me your address?”
“Oh, I’m staying at the Hôtel du Phare. It’s a little place, but quite good. Come and look me up tomorrow.”
“I will,” I said, with perhaps rather unnecessary empressement.
I watched her out of sight, then turned and retraced my steps to the Villa. I remembered that I had not relocked the door of the shed. Fortunately no one had noticed the oversight71, and turning the key I removed it and returned it to the sergent de ville. And, as I did so, it came upon me suddenly that though Cinderella had given me her address I still did not know her name.
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1
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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loquacity
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| n.多话，饶舌 | |
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awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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denser
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| adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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cannoned
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| vi.与…猛撞（cannon的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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gendarme
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| n.宪兵 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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bugs
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| adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误 | |
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loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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nauseated
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| adj.作呕的，厌恶的v.使恶心，作呕( nauseate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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obsessed
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| adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的 | |
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yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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prehistoric
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| adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的 | |
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49
scoop
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| n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出 | |
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50
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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51
vouched
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| v.保证( vouch的过去式和过去分词 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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52
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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53
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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interrogating
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| n.询问技术v.询问( interrogate的现在分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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55
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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debonair
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| adj.殷勤的，快乐的 | |
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58
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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63
sips
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| n.小口喝，一小口的量( sip的名词复数 )v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的第三人称单数 ) | |
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64
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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65
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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69
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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70
disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
oversight
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| n.勘漏，失察，疏忽 | |
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