Chapter 15 Chapter 15. Major Despar

Major Despard turned out of Albany, turned sharply into Regent Street, and jumped into a bus. It's a quieter time of day; the top deck of the bus is rarely occupied.Despar stepped forward and took a front seat. He jumped into the car while it was moving.Now the car stopped, a few passengers got on, and the car continued down Regent Street. Another passenger walked up the steps and sat on the other side of the front seat. Desper paid no attention to the newcomer, and a few minutes later a voice muttered tentatively: "It's a nice view of London from the roof of a car, isn't it?"

Despar turned his head, showing doubts for a moment, and then his expression suddenly brightened. "Excuse me, Mr. Poirot, I didn't see it was you. Yes, you're right. You can have a good bird's-eye view of the world from this side. It used to be better without the glass frame." Poirot sighed. "However, rainy days are not necessarily comfortable when the hotel is full. There are quite a lot of rainy days in this country." Despar smiled. "Mr. Poirot, I think you belong to the tight-fitting school." Poirot was indeed well wrapped up against the changes of autumn.He wears a big coat and a scarf.

Despar said, "It's strange to meet you like this." He didn't notice the smile hidden under the scarf.This encounter was not surprising at all.Poirot knew exactly the approximate moment when Despar would leave the house, and had been waiting for him.He was careful not to risk jumping into the car, but followed the car until the next stop before getting on. He replied, "Yes, we haven't seen each other since that night at Mr. Shaitana's." "Aren't you involved in the case?" Despar asked. Poirot scratched his ears lightly. "I think, I keep thinking. As for running around investigating, I don't. It's not my age, my temper or my shape," he said.

Unexpectedly, Despar actually said: "Thinking, eh? You're not bad. There are too many people rushing around now. If everyone sits down and thinks about the situation before proceeding, then there must be fewer problems than now." "Major Desper, is this the program of your life?" The other said, "Usually. Find your bearings, work out your route, weigh the pros and cons, make up your mind -- and stick to it." His mouth closed coldly. "Then nothing can make you change course, eh?" Poirot asked him. "Oh! I didn't say that. It's no use being stubborn. If you make a mistake, you have to admit it."

"I suppose you don't make mistakes often, Major Desper." "Mr. Poirot, we all make mistakes." Probably because the other party used the pronoun "we", Poirot said coldly: "Some people make fewer mistakes than others." Despar looked at him and said with a slight smile: "Mr. Poirot, have you never failed?" Poirot said solemnly: "The last time I failed was twenty-eight years ago. Even that time there was something hidden—but it doesn't matter." "The record seems to be pretty good," Despar said. "What about Shaitana's murder? I don't think so, because it's not your job."

"It's out of my hands—yes. But it offends my pride anyway. You know, a murder was committed right before my eyes—and I think it's very disrespectful for someone to make fun of my ability to solve a crime!" Despar said indifferently: "Not only in front of you, but also in front of the criminal investigation department personnel." Poirot said solemnly: "That may be the most serious mistake. The well-behaved Inspector Bart is as wooden as he is, but he is not stupid--he is not." "I feel the same way," Desper said. "He's putting on the look, but he's a very capable police officer."

"I think he's been very active in the case." "Oh, he's positive enough. See that military-looking guy in the back seat?" Poirot looked back. "It's just the two of us here." "Oh, well, he's probably on the inside, then. He never lets me go. He's so efficient. And he changes his shape from time to time. Good technique." "Oh, but I can't fool you. Your eyesight is quick and accurate." "I never forget a face I've seen -- even a black face, more than most." Poirot said: "You are exactly the man I need. What a coincidence to meet you today! I need a man with good eyesight and a good memory. Unfortunately it is difficult to have both. I asked Dr. Roberts a question and there was no In the end, it's the same for Mrs. Lorrimer. Now I'll try to see if I can get the information I want. Please think back to the room where you played cards at the Shaitana's house, and tell me what you remember."

Despar looked confused. "I don't quite understand." "Describe the room—furniture, objects." Despar said slowly: "I don't know if I'm good at remembering things like this. In my impression, that room is quite corrupt. It doesn't look like a room for people to live in. There are a lot of brocades and silks and the like. That's what a room like Shaitana's would be." "Please explain the details—" Despar shook his head. "I don't seem to notice. He's got some good rugs. Two from Pokhara, and three or four good Persian rugs, one from Hamadan and one from Tablis. There's a wonderful eland head--no, that's in the hall. I think it's from Roland-Ward."

"You think it's impossible for the late Mr. Shaitana to go hunting wild animals?" "He won't. I bet he hasn't shot anything but nesting prey. What else? Sorry to disappoint you, I can't really help. Trinkets everywhere, end table It's full. I only noticed one very interesting doll. From East Isle, I think; fine woodwork, not common. And some Malay stuff. No, I'm afraid I can't help." Poirot looked a little discouraged and said: "That's all right." He added: "Did you know how good Mrs. Lorrimer's cards are! She can tell almost every round called and played. It's astonishing."

Desper shrugged. "Some women are like that. I think it's because they're good at poker and they play all day." "You can't, eh?" The other party shook his head. "I only remember two laps. One lap I could have won with diamonds - screwed by Roberts. He lost himself, but we didn't bid double, bad luck. I also remember one lap with no aces. - Everything was wrong. We lost two tricks -- thankfully we didn't lose more." "Major Despar, do you often play bridge?" "No, I don't play much. But bridge is a good game." "You think it's better than poker?"

"Personally, I think so. Poker is too gambling." Poirot said thoughtfully: "I think Mr. Shaitana plays all kinds of games—I mean card games." Desper said sternly: "Shaitana only likes to play one trick, and he won't stop." "what?" "A nasty trick." Poirot was silent for a minute before he said: "Do you really know, or do you just think so?" Desper's face turned brick red. "You mean you can't speak without evidence? I think it's true. It's pretty accurate. I happen to know it. But I'm not going to prove it. The information I have is secret." "You mean a woman or women are involved?" Yes, Shaitana is a dirty dog ​​who likes to deal with women. " "You think he's blackmailing? That's funny." Despar shook his head: "No, no, you misunderstood. From a certain point of view, Shaitana is also considered blackmail, but it is not the ordinary type or the garden type. It is not money. If the spiritual blackmail is established, He's exactly that kind of guy." "He gets out of it—what?" "Great pleasure. That's all I can say. He loves to see people cringe. I think he doesn't feel like a flea and feels like a man. This gesture works well with women. He just has to suggest that He knows everything and they'll tell him a ton of stuff he probably doesn't know. It just kicks up his sense of humor. So he's like I know it all! I'm the great Shaitana! , cocky. That man looks like an orangutan!" Poirot said slowly: "You think he frightens Miss Meredith in this way." Desper glared. "Miss Meredith? I don't think of her. She's not afraid of someone like Shaitana." "I'm sorry. You mean Mrs. Lorrimer." "No, no, no, you misunderstood. I was just talking about everything. Mrs. Lorrimer is not easy to scare. Besides, she doesn't look like a woman with a sinful privacy. No, I don't think of anyone in particular." "You mean the general method?" "exactly." Poirot said slowly: "A man of that kind must have a pretty penetrating understanding of women. He's working out their secrets step by step—" He stopped, and Despar interrupted anxiously. "Ridiculous. That man's a bullshit--not dangerous at all. But women are afraid of him. How ridiculous." He jumped up suddenly. "Hey, I stopped. Too much interest in what we're discussing. Good-bye, Mr. Poirot. Look down. When I get off, the follower gets off too." He hurried to the back and down the stairs.The car's bell rang.Before the bell rang, someone rang the bell again. Looking down at the street below, Poirot saw Despar striding back along the sidewalk.He didn't bother to recognize the figure behind him.He had other things on his mind.He murmured, "No one is special. Now I can't figure it out."