Claudia Reece-Holland was not in the office today. Instead, a middle-aged1 woman received Poirot.
She said that Mr. Restarick was waiting for him and ushered2 him into Restarick’s room.
“Well?” Restarick hardly waited until he had come through the door. “Well, what about mydaughter?”
Poirot spread out his hands.
“As yet—nothing.”
“But look here, man, there must be something—some clue. A girl can’t just disappear into thinair.”
“Girls have done it before now and will do it again.”
“Did you understand that no expense was to be spared, none whatever? I—I can’t go on likethis.”
He seemed completely on edge by this time. He looked thinner and his red-rimmed eyes spokeof sleepless3 nights.
“I know what your anxiety must be, but I assure you that I have done everything possible totrace her. These things, alas4, cannot be hurried.”
“She may have lost her memory or—or she may—I mean, she might be sick. Ill.”
Poirot thought he knew what the broken form of the sentence meant. Restarick had been aboutto say “she may perhaps be dead.”
He sat down on the other side of the desk and said:
“Believe me, I appreciate your anxiety and I have to say to you once again that the resultswould be a lot quicker if you consulted the police.”
“No!” The word broke out explosively.
“They have greater facilities, more lines of inquiry5. I assure you it is not only a question ofmoney. Money cannot give you the same result as a highly efficient organisation6 can do.”
“Man, it’s no use your talking in that soothing7 way. Norma is my daughter. My only daughter,the only flesh and blood I’ve got.”
“Are you sure that you have told me everything—everything possible—about your daughter?”
“What more can I tell you?”
“That is for you to say, not me. Have there been, for instance, any incidents in the past?”
“Such as? What do you mean, man?”
“Any definite history of mental instability.”
“You think that—that—”
“How do I know? How can I know?”
“And how do I know?” said Restarick, suddenly bitter. “What do I know of her? All theseyears. Grace was a bitter woman. A woman who did not easily forgive or forget. Sometimes I feel—I feel that she was the wrong person to have brought Norma up.”
He got up, walked up and down the room and then sat down again.
“Of course I shouldn’t have left my wife. I know that. I left her to bring up the child. But then atthe time I suppose I made excuses for myself. Grace was a woman of excellent character devotedto Norma. A thoroughly8 good guardian9 for her. But was she? Was she really? Some of the lettersGrace wrote to me were as though they breathed anger and revenge. Well, I suppose that’s naturalenough. But I was away all those years. I should have come back, come back more often andfound out how the child was getting on. I suppose I had a bad conscience. Oh, it’s no good makingexcuses now.”
He turned his head sharply.
“Yes. I did think when I saw her again that Norma’s whole attitude was neurotic10, indisciplined.
I hoped she and Mary would—would get on better after a little while but I have to admit that Idon’t feel the girl was entirely11 normal. I felt it would be better for her to have a job in London andcome home for weekends, but not to be forced into Mary’s company the whole time. Oh, Isuppose I’ve made a mess of everything. But where is she, M. Poirot? Where is she? Do you thinkshe may have lost her memory? One hears of such things.”
“Yes,” said Poirot, “that is a possibility. In her state, she may be wandering about quite unawareof who she is. Or she may have had an accident. That is less likely. I can assure you that I havemade all inquiries12 in hospitals and other places.”
“You don’t think she is—you don’t think she’s dead?”
“She would be easier to find dead than alive, I can assure you. Please calm yourself, Mr.
Restarick. Remember she may have friends of whom you know nothing. Friends in any part ofEngland, friends whom she has known while living with her mother, or with her aunt, or friendswho were friends of school friends of hers. All these things take time to sort out. It may be—youmust prepare yourself—that she is with a boyfriend of some kind.”
“David Baker13? If I thought that—”
“She is not with David Baker. That,” said Poirot dryly, “I ascertained14 first of all.”
“How do I know what friends she has?” He sighed. “If I find her, when I find her—I’d rather putit that way—I’m going to take her out of all this.”
“Out of all what?”
“Out of this country. I have been miserable15, M. Poirot, miserable ever since I returned here. Ialways hated City life. The boring round of office routine, continual consultations16 with lawyersand financiers. The life I liked was always the same. Travelling, moving about from place to place,going to wild and inaccessible17 places. That’s the life for me. I should never have left it. I shouldhave sent for Norma to come out to me and, as I say, when I find her that’s what I’m going to do.
Already I’m being approached with various takeover bids. Well, they can have the whole caboodleon very advantageous18 terms. I’ll take the cash and go back to a country that means something,that’s real.”
“Aha! And what will your wife say to that?”
“Mary? She’s used to that life. That’s where she comes from.”
“To les femmes with plenty of money,” said Poirot, “London can be very attractive.”
“She’ll see it my way.”
The telephone rang on his desk. He picked it up.
“Yes? Oh. From Manchester? Yes. If it’s Claudia Reece-Holland, put her through.”
He waited a minute.
“Hallo, Claudia. Yes. Speak up—it’s a very bad line, I can’t hear you. They agreed?…Ah,pity…No, I think you did very well…Right…All right then. Take the evening train back. We’lldiscuss it further tomorrow morning.”
He replaced the telephone on its rest.
“That’s a competent girl,” he said.
“Miss Reece-Holland?”
“Yes. Unusually competent. Takes a lot of bother off my shoulders. I gave her pretty well carteblanche to put through this deal in Manchester on her own terms. I really felt I couldn’tconcentrate. And she’s done exceedingly well. She’s as good as a man in some ways.”
He looked at Poirot, suddenly bringing himself back to the present.
“Ah yes, M. Poirot. Well, I’m afraid I’ve rather lost my grip. Do you need more money forexpenses?”
“No, Monsieur. I assure you that I will do my utmost to restore your daughter sound and well. Ihave taken all possible precautions for her safety.”
He went out through the outer office. When he reached the street he looked up at the sky.
“A definite answer to one question,” he said, “that is what I need.”
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1
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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2
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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5
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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6
organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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7
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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8
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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9
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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neurotic
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| adj.神经病的，神经过敏的；n.神经过敏者，神经病患者 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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12
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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13
baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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14
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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16
consultations
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| n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找 | |
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17
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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