Chapter 10 The Little Black Book
Fournier stared hard at her for a moment or two. Then, satisfied that she was speaking the truth, he turned away with a gesture of discouragement.
"It is a pity," he said. "You acted honorably, mademoiselle, but it is a pity."
"I cannot help it, monsieur. I am sorry."
Fournier sat down and drew a notebook from his pocket.
"When I questioned you before, you told me, mademoiselle, that you did not know the names of madame's clients. Yet, just now, you speak of them whining¹ and asking for mercy. You did, therefore, know something about these clients of Madame Giselle's?"
"Let me explain, monsieur. Madame never mentioned a name. She never discussed her business. But all the same, one is human, is one not? There are ejaculations, comments. Madame spoke² to me sometimes as she would to herself."
Poirot leaned forward.
"If you would give us an instance, mademoiselle -" he said.
"Let me see - ah, yes - say a letter comes. Madame opens it. She laughs - a short dry laugh. She says, 'You whine³ and you snivel, my fine lady. All the same, you must pay.' Or she would say to me, 'What fools!
What fools! To think I would lend large sums without proper security. Knowledge is security, ?lise. Knowledge is power.' Something like that she would say."
"Madame's clients who came to the house - did you ever see any of them?"
"No, monsieur - at least hardly ever. They came to the first floor only, you understand. And very often they came after dark."
"Had Madame Giselle been in Paris before her journey to England?"
"She returned to Paris only the afternoon before."
"Where had she been?"
"She had been away for a fortnight - to Deauville, Le Pinet, Paris - Plage and Wimereaux - her usual September round."
"Now think, mademoiselle. Did she say anything - anything at all - that might be of use?"
?lise considered for some moments. Then she shook her head.
"No, monsieur," she said, "I cannot remember anything. Madame was in good spirits. Business was going well, she said. Her tour had been profitable. Then she directed me to ring up Universal Air Lines and book a passage to England for the following day. The early-morning service was booked, but she obtained a seat on the twelve-o'clock service."
"Did she say what took her to England? Was there any urgency about it?"

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