Twelve

Dr. Lord met the train at the station as requested.

Hercule Poirot alighted from it. He looked very Londonified and was wearing pointed¹ patentleather shoes.

Peter Lord scrutinized² his face anxiously, but Hercule Poirot was giving nothing away.

Peter Lord said:

“I’ve done my best to get answers to your questions. First, Mary Gerrard left here for Londonon July 10th. Second, I haven’t got a housekeeper³—a couple of giggling⁴ girls run my house. Ithink you must mean Mrs. Slattery, who was Ransome’s (my predecessor’s) housekeeper. I cantake you to her this morning if you like. I’ve arranged that she shall be in.”

Poirot said:

“Yes, I think it would be as well if I saw her first.”

“Then you said you wanted to go to Hunterbury, I could come with you there. It beats me whyyou haven’t been there already. I can’t think why you wouldn’t go when you were down herebefore. I should have thought the first thing to be done in a case like this was to visit the placewhere the crime took place.”

Holding his head a little on one side, Hercule Poirot inquired:

“Why?”

“Why?” Peter Lord was rather disconcerted by the question. “Isn’t it the usual thing to do?”

Hercule Poirot said:

“One does not practise detection with a textbook! One uses one’s natural intelligence.”

Peter Lord said:

“You might find a clue of some sort there.”

Poirot sighed:

“You read too much detective fiction. Your police force in this country is quite admirable. Ihave no doubt that they searched the house and grounds most carefully.”

“For evidence against Elinor Carlisle—not for evidence in her favour.”

Poirot sighed:

“My dear friend, it is not a monster—this police force! Elinor Carlisle was arrested becausesufficient evidence was found to make out a case against her—a very strong case, I may say. Itwas useless for me to go over ground when the police had gone over it already.”

“But you do want to go there now?” objected Peter.

Hercule Poirot nodded his head. He said:

“Yes—now it is necessary. Because now I know exactly what I am looking for. One mustunderstand with the cells of one’s brain before one uses one’s eyes.”

“Then you do think there might be—something—there still?”

Poirot said gently:

“I have a little idea we shall find something—yes.”

“Something to prove Elinor’s innocence⁵?”

“Ah, I did not say that.”

Peter Lord stopped dead.

“You don’t mean you still think she’s guilty?”

Poirot said gravely:

“You must wait, my friend, before you get an answer to that question.”

 

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