Chapter 18

Interlude

Hercule Poirot passed through the gate of the churchyard. He walked upone of the paths, and presently, against a moss-grown wall he stopped,looking down on a grave. He stood there for some minutes looking first atthe grave, then at the view of the Downs and sea beyond. Then his eyescame back again. Flowers had been put recently on the grave. A smallbunch of assorted wild flowers, the kind of bunch that might have beenleft by a child, but Poirot did not think that it was a child who had leftthem. He read the lettering on the grave.

To the memory of

DOROTHEA JARROW

Died Sept 15th 1960

Also of

MARGARET RAVENSCROFT

Died Oct 3rd 1960

Sister of above

Also of

ALISTAIR RAVENSCROFT

Died Oct 3rd 1960

Her husband

In their Death they were not divided

Forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive those that trespass against us

Lord, have Mercy upon us

Christ, have Mercy upon us

Lord, have Mercy upon us

Poirot stood there a moment or two. He nodded his head once or twice.

Then he left the churchyard and walked by a footpath that led out on tothe cliff and along the cliff. Presently he stood still again looking out to thesea. He spoke to himself.

‘I am sure now that I know what happened and why. I understand thepity of it and the tragedy. One has to go back such a long way. In my end ismy beginning, or should one put it differently? “In my beginning was mytragic end”? The Swiss girl must have known – but will she tell me? Theboy believes she will. For their sakes – the girl and the boy. They cannotaccept life unless they know.’