Chapter 9

Poirot noted¹ the likeness² between brother and sister as Raymond Boynton came into the room.

His face was stern and set. He did not seem nervous or afraid. He dropped into a chair, staredhard at Poirot, and said: ‘Well?’

Poirot said gently: ‘Your sister has spoken with you?’

Raymond nodded. ‘Yes, when she told me to come here. Of course I realize that your suspicionsare quite justified⁴. If our conversation was overheard that night, the fact that my stepmother diedrather suddenly certainly would seem suspicious! I can only assure you that the conversation was—the madness of an evening! We were, at the time, under an intolerable strain. This fantastic planof killing⁵ my stepmother did—oh, how shall I put it?—it let off steam somehow!’

Hercule Poirot bent⁶ his head slowly.

‘That,’ he said, ‘is possible.’

‘In the morning, of course, it all seemed—rather absurd! I swear to you, M. Poirot, that I neverthought of the matter again!’

Poirot did not answer.

Raymond said quickly:

‘Oh, yes, I know that that is easy enough to say. I cannot expect you to believe me on my bareword. But consider the facts. I spoke³ to my mother just a little before six o’clock. She wascertainly alive and well then. I went to my tent, had a wash and joined the others in the marquee.

From that time onwards neither Carol nor I moved from the place. We were in full sight ofeveryone. You must see, M. Poirot, that my mother’s death was natural—a case of heart failure—it couldn’t be anything else! There were servants about, a lot of coming and going. Any other ideais absurd.’

Poirot said quietly: ‘Do you know, Mr Boynton, that Miss King is of the opinion that when sheexamined the body—at six-thirty—death had occurred at least an hour and a half and probably twohours earlier?’

Raymond stared at him. He looked dumbfounded.

‘Sarah said that?’ he gasped⁷.

Poirot nodded. ‘What have you to say now?’

‘But—it’s impossible!’

‘That is Miss King’s testimony⁸. Now you come and tell me that your mother was alive and wellonly forty minutes before Miss King examined the body.’

Raymond said: ‘But she was!’

‘Be careful, Mr Boynton.’

‘Sarah must be mistaken! There must be some factor she didn’t take into account. Refraction offthe rock—something. I can assure you, M. Poirot, that my mother was alive at just before six andthat I spoke to her.’

Poirot’s face showed nothing.

Raymond leant forward earnestly.

‘M. Poirot, I know how it must seem to you, but look at the thing fairly. You are a biasedperson. You are bound to be by the nature of things. You live in an atmosphere of crime. Everysudden death must seem to you a possible crime! Can’t you realize that your sense of proportion isnot to be relied upon? People die every day—especially people with weak hearts—and there isnothing in the least sinister⁹ about such deaths.’

Poirot sighed. ‘So you would teach me my business, is that it?’

‘No, of course not. But I do think that you are prejudiced — because of that unfortunateconversation. There is nothing really about my mother’s death to awaken¹⁰ suspicion except thatunlucky hysterical¹¹ conversation between Carol and myself.’

Poirot shook his head. ‘You are in error,’ he said. ‘There is something else. There is the poisontaken from Dr Gerard’s medicine chest.’

‘Poison?’ Ray stared at him. ‘Poison?’ He pushed his chair back a little. He looked completelystupefied. ‘Is that what you suspect?’

Poirot gave him a minute or two. Then he said quietly, almost indifferently: ‘Your plan wasdifferent—eh?’

‘Oh, yes.’ Raymond answered mechanically. ‘That’s why—this changes everything…I—I can’tthink clearly.’

‘What was your plan?’

‘Our plan? It was—’

Raymond stopped abruptly¹². His eyes became alert, suddenly watchful¹³.

‘I don’t think,’ he said, ‘that I’ll say any more.’

‘As you please,’ said Poirot.

He watched the young man out of the room.

He drew his pad towards him and in small, neat characters made a final entry. R.B. 5.55?

Then, taking a large sheet of paper, he proceeded to write. His task completed, he sat back withhis head on one side contemplating¹⁴ the result. It ran as follows:

Boyntons and Jefferson Cope leave the camp 3.5 (approx.)Dr Gerard and Sarah King leave the camp 3.15 (approx.)Lady Westholme and Miss Pierce leave the

camp

4.15

Dr Gerard returns to camp 4.20 (approx.)

Lennox Boynton returns to camp 4.35

Nadine Boynton returns to camp and talks to

Mrs Boynton

4.40

Nadine Boynton leaves her mother-in-law and

goes to marquee

4.50 (approx.)

Carol Boynton returns to camp 5.10

Lady Westholme, Miss Pierce and Mr Jefferson

Cope

return to camp

5.40

Raymond Boynton returns to camp 5.50

Sarah King returns to camp 6.0

Body discovered 6.30

 

点击收听单词发音