Chapter 21 Description of a Murderer

It was at this moment, I think, that what Poirot called the human element began to fade out of the picture again. It was as though, the mind being unable to stand unadulterated horror, we had had an interval¹ of normal human interests.
We had, one and all, felt the impossibility of doing anything until the fourth letter should come revealing the projected scene of the D murder. That atmosphere of waiting had brought a release of tension.
But now, with the printed words jeering² from the white stiff paper, the hunt was up once more.
Inspector³ Crome had come round from the Yard, and while he was still there, Franklin Clarke and Megan Barnard came in.
The girl explained that she, too, had come up from Bexhill.
‘I wanted to ask Mr Clarke something.’
She seemed rather anxious to excuse and explain her procedure. I just noted⁴ the fact without attaching much importance to it.
The letter naturally filled my mind to the exclusion⁵ of all else.
Crome was not, I think, any too pleased to see the various participants in the drama. He became extremely official and non-committal.
‘I’ll take this with me, M. Poirot. If you care to take a copy of it—’
‘No, no, it is not necessary.’
‘What are your plans, inspector?’ asked Clarke.
‘Fairly comprehensive ones, Mr Clarke.’
‘This time we’ve got to get him,’ said Clarke. ‘I may tell you, inspector, that we’ve formed an association of our own to deal with the matter. A legion of interested parties.’
Inspector Crome said in his best manner:
‘Oh, yes?’
‘I gather you don’t think much of amateurs, inspector?’
‘You’ve hardly the same resources at your command, have you, Mr Clarke?’
‘We’ve got a personal axe⁶ to grind—and that’s something.’
‘Oh, yes?’
‘I fancy your own task isn’t going to be too easy,inspector. In fact, I rather fancy old A B C has done you again.’

分享到：