Chapter 16 Section 16

After leaving Mr. Clancy's house, they drove straight to the classic shop, where Norman Gale was waiting for them.Poirot ordered some aspic and stew. "How's it going?" Norman asked. "Miss Gray is a first-class secretary." "He sees everything," said Jane. "Why did you ask me to write down those two addresses?" "There are some questions the police may not have asked, but they should know that the blowpipe found on the plane was bought by an American in Paris." "Paris? Americans? There were no Americans on the plane."

"That's right. Now that there's an American, it's not that simple." "Anyway," said Jane, "it's not Mr. Clancy, who already has a blowpipe, and there's no need to buy another." Poirot nodded, "We have to continue working. First suspect everyone, and then eliminate the innocent one by one. The key is to consider the motive of committing the crime." "Did the woman leave any material?" Norman said. "All the materials were burned. Madame Giselle seems to have been blackmailed about the debt, for example, because she knew that someone was trying to kill her."

"Do you have any reason?" "Yes," said Poirot slowly, "one of the few written materials that can explain the problem. Well, let us look at the problem from another angle, such as the impact of this matter on yours. What impact did life have?" Jane talks about her raise, and Norman talks about his misfortune. After listening carefully, Poirot said: "Fortune and misfortune may last for a week, a month or a year. But being fashionable can't last long, and worries will soon disappear." "You want me to hang on? I really want to start over in Canada or somewhere," Norman said. "But I don't want to leave England."

"If I find the murderer, you don't have to go away," said Poirot briskly. "Are you sure of that?" said Jane. "Treating it in a cautious and orderly manner, it is not difficult to find the answer. If someone is willing to help me, I will solve this mystery earlier." "Whose help?" Jane asked. "Mr. Norman, and then you." "What can I do?" Norman couldn't help raising his voice. "Let me sketch out my plans for you. You write to Mrs. Hobrey--I, to be exact, and you copy her. Say that you wish to see her, and that you remember that you were in the same to fly to England, and to mention that some material concerning Mrs. Giselle's business dealings has fallen into your possession."

"and then?" "Then she will ask you to meet, you go to the meeting as scheduled, and I will tell you what to say to her. You ask her for a price - 10,000 pounds." "You're crazy." "No," said Poirot, "I do do things eccentrically." "What if she calls the police and sends me to jail?" "She's not going to the police." "She'll tell her husband." "No." "I don't think she looks like a murderer." "What? That's your preconception. I want to sort things out."

"I don't want to blackmail a woman." "Oh, my God. It's not about blackmail, it's about producing some sort of effect. I'll step in when there's a clue." "I don't want to go to jail." "No, no, no. I know everybody in Scotland Yard, and I'll take care of it if things go wrong. But I presume there won't be any." Norman sighed and relented. "Well, let's write now. Get a pencil." Poirot began dictating each word. "There. I'll tell you what to say when we meet. Have you ever been to the theater, Miss Gray?"

"Go often," said Jane. "Have you ever seen an American drama starring Raymond Barraclough?" "See, he's good, manly." "I must go to him at once," said Poirot. Jane looked at him puzzled, what a strange little old man, a bird on a branch, going from one subject to another. Poirot seemed to see her thoughts, "My words and deeds are strictly logical. We cannot jump to conclusions, and we should carefully rule out all possibilities." "Excluded?" Jane thought for a moment and said, "You have already excluded Clancy."

"maybe." "You ruled out both of us, and now you're going to rule out Mrs. Hobrey? Is 'attempted murder' correct?" "You are so quick, miss, that is indeed my next target. I watched you carefully, and Mr. Clancy and Mr. Norman, when the 'attempted murder' was mentioned, and neither of you batted an eye. Because you have nothing to do with the 'attempted murder' recorded in the little notebook." "You're really scheming, and your method of investigation is cleverly designed," Jane said. "That's just a very simple solution."

"any solution?" "Let people tell you. Anyone loves to talk about themselves, like your childhood, your parents and your education." "I don't seem to understand," said Jane. "Now, M. Poirot, thank you very much for your dinner. If you go to prison for blackmailing Norman, you will have to invite me again." That last sentence made Norman frown.After saying goodbye to the two young men, Poirot returned home.He took out the list of 11 passengers from the drawer, ticked off the four names with a pencil, and nodded.He said to himself: "It seems that there is an answer, although I'm not 100% sure yet."