Chapter 8 Chapter Seven Lunch at George's Inn

When we came to the market square again, I said to Poirot: Mr. Gabler is a veritable gambler!Poirot smiled assent. "He'll be very disappointed if you don't go back to see him," I said. "Maybe he thinks he's effectively sold you the house." "It is. I fear he is up to something." "Shall we have lunch here before we go back to London, or shall we find a place to eat on the way back?" "My dear Hastings, did I not tell you to get away from Markt Basing? We haven't done what we came here for." I glared at him and said: "You mean—but, my dear fellow, it's all over. Because the old lady is dead."

"Not bad." The tone in which he said the words made me stare at him even harder.It was evident that he was brooding over the incoherent letter. "But, Poirot, since she's dead," I said softly, "what's the use of a letter? She can't tell you anything now. No matter how hard you try, it's all over, all over." !" "How easy, how easy it is for you to let it go! Let me tell you, I, Hercule Poirot, will never let the matter go down the drain if I take it to heart. .Be sure to get to the bottom of it.” I even know from past experience that it is useless to argue with Poirot.I casually continued:

"But since she's dead..." "Yes, Hastings. Correct—perfectly correct . . . You keep repeating this significant point, and yet be so slow to react to it and ignore it. Don't you see the importance of the point? Miss Arundell is dead." "But, my dear Poirot, her death was a perfectly normal and natural death! There was nothing strange or inexplicable about it. We heard what old Gabler said." "He told us that the Little Green House was negotiated for £2,850. Do you think his bargain is true, too?" "Of course not. I get the impression that Gabler is doing everything he can to sell the house—maybe the house needs a whole renovation and modernization. But I bet he—or rather Said it was his client—willing to sell it for less. This big Georgian house fronting the street seemed like a devil to them, and they must get rid of it."

"Very well," said Poirot, "stop saying 'Gabler said so!' as if he were an inspired prophet who could not lie." I was about to make a further protest when we entered George's Inn and Poirot cut our conversation short with a loud "Hush!" We were ushered into the coffee room, which was fairly neatly arranged, but the windows were closed tightly, and there was a smell of leftovers in the room.An old waiter, slow and labored, attended to us.It appeared we were the only ones having lunch here.We ate delicious lamb, large pieces of soaked cabbage and potatoes which were a disappointment.Then some tasteless diced boiled fruit and custard.After the cheese and biscuits, the old waiter served two cups of what might have been coffee.

At this moment, Poirot took out the certificate to read, and asked the old usher to help him. "Yes, sir, I know almost all these places. Hermiel Down is three miles away--in Much Benham Street--not a big place. Naylor Farm is about a mile from here, and there's a side road Go there, not far behind the house called King's Head. Bisset Grange, you ask? I've never heard the name. The little green house is not far from here, and it takes a few minutes to walk .” "Ah, I saw it out there. I think it must be that one. The house is pretty well kept—isn't it?" "Yes, sir. The house is all right now--roof, drains, and all. Of course, the house is old-fashioned and never modernized. The garden is as beautiful as a picture. Miss Arundell is very fond of her." garden."

"I heard the house belonged to a Miss Lawson." "Yes, sir, it belonged to Miss Lawson, who served Miss Arundell, and everything was left to her when the old lady died--the house and all." "Is that so? I suppose Miss Arundell has no relations to leave her property to." "Well, not quite that, sir. Her niece and nephew are still alive. Of course, Miss Lawson has been with her; of course, Miss Arundell is an old woman—that—that's the way it is." "Anyway, I suppose Miss Arundell left only the estate, and didn't she leave much money?"

I've often seen this happen, where you don't ask someone a question directly where you might not get an answer, but instead come up with the exact opposite question and maybe get an answer right away. "Far from it, sir, far from it! The old lady left a huge sum of money that shocked everyone here. There was a written will, money and all. For many years, The old lady's income does not seem to have been spent very much, so there are about three or four hundred thousand pounds left." "You startle me," exclaimed Poirot. "It's like a fairy tale—is it not? A poor woman in service turns into an unbelievably rich lady. Miss Lawson is very young." Will this new fortune make her happy?"

"Oh, no, sir. She's a middle-aged person." He made the word "human" very clear, which is completely artificial.This clearly shows that Miss Lawson, who has been a servant, is not a big person in the eyes of the people of Market Basing. "Her nephews and nieces must be very disappointed," said Poirot thoughtfully. "Yes, sir. I believe the news came as a surprise to them. It was unexpected. People in Market Basing have always had an opinion on the matter. There are some here who think that when you die you don't keep things to yourself." Flesh and blood is wrong. But there are others who believe that anyone has the right to do what they like. Of course, both views have their own merits.

"Miss Arundell has lived here for many years, hasn't she?" "Yes, sir. She and her sisters lived here, and old General Arundell, their father, died before them. I don't think of him automatically because he was mentioned, but I believe he was a man of character. He took part in the Mutiny in India." "Has he had several daughters?" "I remember three. There may have been another married. Yes, the three daughters were Miss Mathilda, Miss Agnes, and Miss Emily. Miss Mathilda died first, and then Iger Miss Nice is dead, and Miss Emily is the last."

"Did recently?" "Early May—perhaps late April." "Has she been ill for some time?" "There were good days and bad days. I was often ill. Almost died of jaundice a year ago. Since then, her face has been as yellow as a mandarin orange. She has been in poor health for the last five years of her life." "I suppose you still have good doctors here?" "Well, there's a Dr. Granger, who's lived here for forty years, and most people here see him. He's a bit eccentric and fanciful, but he's still a damn good doctor. He's got a young companion now, a doctor named Donaldson. He's a doctor of the newer kind. Some folks like to see him. And, of course, Dr. Harding, but he doesn't practice much anymore."

"I suppose Dr. Granger was the doctor who saw Miss Arundell?" "Oh, yes. He's saved her from danger many times. He's the kind of guy who makes you live whether you want to or not." Poirot nodded and said jokingly: "Before people go to the Nine Springs to rest in peace, they should first understand the situation there. A good doctor is such the most important person." "You speak the truth, sir." Poirot told him to settle the accounts, and gave him a tip when he paid. "Thank you, sir, thank you very much, sir. I do hope you will settle here soon, sir." "I hope so too," said Poirot, with mock gravity. We came out of George's Inn. "Satisfied, Poirot?" I asked, as we reached the street. "Not at all, my friend." He turned around and walked in an unexpected direction. "Where are you going now, Poirot?" "Go to the church, my friend. There may be something interesting there. Some brass vessels—an ancient monument." I shook my head in disbelief. Poirot made a quick survey of the interior of the church.Although guidebooks call it a fascinating glimpse, it was reconstructed in conscience during the barbaric Victorian era, so there is nothing attractive left of it. Then Poirot wandered aimlessly up and down the churchyard, reading the inscriptions on the tombstones, commenting on how many people had died in which family, and exclamating from time to time at the dead with strange names. I'm not surprised he stopped at the end, I'm sure he found what he was looking for from the start. There was an inscription engraved on a marble tombstone, but he couldn't see it clearly because of the wind and rain. General John Lefton Arundel's Tomb Died on May 19, 1888 AD aged sixty-nine "Fight for God with all your strength" Tomb of Matilda Ann Arundel Died on March 10, 1912 AD "I would like to be reborn to find my father" Grave of Agnes Georgina Marie Arundell Implemented on November 20, 1921 "Ask for everything you can" Then, there is a row of characters that are clearly newly engraved: Grave of Emily Harriet Leverton Arundel Died on May 1, 1936 AD "Your wish will come true" Bo Luo stood there and watched for a while. He muttered softly: "May 1st . . . and today is June 28th. I have a letter from her. You did not see it, Hastings. Must the fact be explained?" I realized that this had to be explained. That is to say, I saw that Poirot was determined to solve the mystery.