Chapter 15 Chapter Fourteen Charles Arundel

I must confess that I felt an indelible affection for Charles Arundell at first sight.He is so happy.So carefree.His eyes twinkled in this endearing and humorous look, and his giggle was the most disarming sound I've ever heard. He crossed the room and sat on the arm of a wide sofa. "What's the matter, sister?" he asked. "Charles, this is M. Hercule Poirot. He's going to, er, do some shady things for us in exchange for some payment." "I protest," cried Poirot, "that it is unjust—we should say some kind of innocent deceit—that the will of the testator should be carried out, and is it not right? ? Please let us put it this way."

"You can say what you like," said Charles without objection. "I don't know how Teresa thought of you?" "She didn't think of me," said Poirot hastily. "I came voluntarily." "Come to help us?" "Not exactly. I came to inquire about you. Your sister told me that you had gone abroad." Charles said: "My sister Theresa is a very careful person. She almost never makes mistakes. In fact, she is as paranoid as a ghost." He smiled affectionately at her.But she ignored him.She looked thoughtful and worried. Charles said: "Have we got it wrong? Isn't M. Poirot famous for tracking down criminals? Surely he doesn't support and abet crime?"

"We're not criminals," Theresa snapped. "But I'd like to be a criminal," said Charles amiably. "I've cheated in scandalous things myself—that's my hobby. I once got kicked out of Oxford for doing some tricks on a cheque. It's very naive, very simple - just a zero to the amount of the check. I later argued with Aunt Emily and a local bank about the money. Of course, I was too stupid I should have known this old woman was sharp as a needle. But it was only for a little money these times - five pounds, ten pounds - that's all. But who wants to make a fuss about a dying will? Admitting it is a very dangerous thing. If you want to succeed, you must first control the stubborn and rigid Ellen in your own hands, and you must induce her no matter what. The word "instigating" is more appropriate? ——let her give false testimony .I'm afraid there's something to be done, perhaps I'll have to marry her, so she won't be able to testify against me afterwards."

He smiled cordially at Poirot. "I'm sure you've secretly installed a bug and Scotland Yard is listening," he said. "What you say interests me," said Poirot, with a hint of reproach in his air. "Of course, I can't condone anything illegal. But there is more than one way to invalidate a will..." He stopped talking meaningfully. Charles Arundell shrugged his shoulders agreeably. "I have no doubt that it is also possible to choose unjust methods within the scope of the law," he said cheerfully. "You know that too." "Who is the witness to that will? I mean the will written by your aunt on the 21st of April."

"Purvis brought his secretary as a witness. The other witness was the gardener." "Was Mr. Purvis present when the will was signed?" "Present." "I suppose Mr. Purvis is respected?" "Purvis Charlesworth Solicitors is as respected as the Bank of England, through no fault of its own," Charles said. "He didn't want to write that will for Aunt Emily," Theresa said. "He even tried to dissuade Aunt Emily from writing it, and he was absolutely right to do so." Charles snapped: "He told you, Theresa?" "Yes, I went to him yesterday and he told me so."

"You shouldn't have gone to him, my dear—you should realize that. It's a waste of six shillings and eightpence, and it's no use at all." Theresa shrugged. Poirot said: "I ask you to tell me as much as you can about the last weeks of Miss Arundell's life. Now that I know that you and your brother, and Dr. Tanios and Mrs. Tanios, spent Easter there, right?" "Yes, we spent the festival there." "Did anything of significance happen that weekend?" "I don't think that happened." "Nothing happened? But I think-"

At this point Charles interjected: "You are completely centered on me, Theresa. Nothing of significance has happened to you! You are in the dream of youthful love! I tell you, Monsieur Poirot, Theresa was at Market Basingtown had a blue-eyed boyfriend. He was the local doctor. Because she let the love get entangled, so she got the wrong perception. Not that something important happened, in fact, my esteemed aunt turned her head The former fell down the stairs and nearly died. I wish she had fallen to her death. It wouldn't have been so much trouble." "She fell down the stairs?"

"Yes, tripping over the puppy's ball. That clever little brute left the ball on the top of the stairs, and she fell headfirst in the night." "What time is this-?" "Let me figure—Tuesday—was the night before we left." "Is your aunt badly hurt?" "Unfortunately she didn't fall on her head. If she had, we could have argued that she was delirious, whatever the science calls it. Instead, she was hardly hurt at all." Poirot said indifferently: "You feel very disappointed!" "Huh? Oh, I see what you mean. As you say, I'm very disappointed. The old lady is a tough one."

"You left on Wednesday morning?" "Completely correct." "It was Wednesday, the fifteenth. When did you see your aunt again?" "This, not that weekend, but another weekend after that." "That's--let me do the math--the twenty-fifth, isn't it?" "Yes, I think it was that day." "And your aunt died when—when?" "Another Friday." "Did she start getting sick on Monday night?" "yes." "You didn't come back to see her during her illness?" "No, we didn't see her until Friday. We didn't expect her to be so ill."

"When you come back, will she still be alive?" "No, she died before we got there." Poirot turned his eyes to Theresa Arundell. "Did you go with your brother these two times?" "yes." "While you were there that weekend, no one talked about writing a new will?" "No," Theresa said. Charles, however, answered Poirot's question at the same time as Theresa. "Oh, yes," he said, "about the new will." He spoke with ease, as usual, but with a little awkwardness. "About the new will?" asked Poirot.

"Charles!" Teresa cried. Charles hastily avoided his sister's gaze. He spoke to her, but looked away: "Can't you remember, honey? I told you. Aunt Emily gave me an ultimatum talk once. She sat there like a judge in a court. Here's what she said: She Dissatisfied with all her own relatives - that is, with me and Theresa. She admits she has nothing against Bella, but on the other hand she doesn't like or trust Bella's husband. Buy British People, is Aunt Emily's motto. She said that if Bella inherited a large sum of money, she believed that Tanios would find a way to keep it for himself. She believed that the Greeks would do it 'It would be better if she didn't inherit the money,' she said. She also said that it would not be right to leave the money to me or Theresa. made a new will, leaving the whole estate to Miss Lawson. 'She's a fool,' said Aunt Emily, 'but she's a faithful and reliable person. I'm sure she's loyal to me. My head can't help it. I think it's better to tell you, Charles, because then you'll realize that you can't expect money from me.' It's unpleasant. You know, I've been Going to get some money from her." "Why didn't you tell me about it, Charles?" Teresa demanded forcefully. "I thought I told you," Charles said, avoiding her gaze again. Poirot asked: "Mr. Arundell, what did you say after your aunt finished?" "Me?" said Charles cheerfully. "Oh, I just laughed it off. It wasn't good to lose your temper. It wasn't the way to solve the problem." 'Do as you please, Aunt Emily,' I told her Say, it may be a shock to me, but after all the money is yours. You can do what you want." "How did your aunt react to that?" "Oh, we're all satisfied—she's happy, actually. She said: 'You're a man of sportsmanship, Charles.' I said: 'I can have fun and I can suffer. Now since I don't inherit The hope of your estate, will you give me a ten-pound note?' She said I was a cheeky fellow, and then she gave me a five-pound note, and I went away." "You're hiding your true feelings, and you're being smart about it." "This, actually, I'm not serious about it." "You're not serious?" "Not seriously. I think it's just a gesture made by the old man, or maybe you could say the same. She's trying to scare us. I think I'm shrewd, and I think in a few weeks or months, she'll take this The suicide note was torn up. My Aunt Emily was very kind to the family. I have no doubt that she would have done so had she not died so suddenly." "Oh!" said Poirot, "that's an interesting idea." He was silent for a while, then went on: "Did anyone, like Miss Lawson, hear your conversation?" "Of course. We were talking a lot. In fact, when I went out, I found the bird Lawson circling outside the door. I thought she was eavesdropping." Poirot cast a thoughtful glance at Theresa and said: "You don't know anything about what he said?" Before she could answer, Charles interjected: "Theresa, dear, I must have told you—or hinted at you, didn't I?" There was a strange pause.Charles stared intently at Theresa.There was anxiety and stubbornness in his eyes, which seemed a little abnormal. Teresa said slowly: "If you had told me—I think—I would not have forgotten it, what do you say, M. Poirot?" Her dark eyes turned to him. Poirot also said slowly: "Yes, I don't think you will forget." Then he turned abruptly to Charles: "Let me be clear. Did Miss Arundell tell you that she was going to amend her will, or did she expressly tell you that she had already done so?" Charles said quickly: "Oh, she's pretty sure of it, and the fact is, she showed me the will." Poirot leaned forward, his eyes wide open. "It's very important. Did Miss Arundell really show you the will, you say?" Charles squirmed suddenly like a schoolboy—a deflated gesture.Poirot's seriousness disturbed him. "Yes," he said, "she showed me the will." "Can you swear that you have seen the will?" "Of course I can swear it," said Charles, looking timidly at Poirot. "I don't see how it can be so important." Teresa made a sudden, reckless movement, and she stood up, leaning against the fireplace.She quickly lit another cigarette. "Miss, you?" Poirot turned suddenly to look at her. "Didn't your aunt say anything important to you that weekend?" "I don't think so. She--was kind to me, kind as usual. She gave me a lesson in the way I lived and things. But she always was. She looked maybe a little more neurotic than usual." .” Poirot laughed as he walked: "Miss, I think you are more interested in your boyfriend." Theresa snapped: "He's not there. He's gone elsewhere. He's gone to a medical conference." "You haven't seen him since the Easter weekend? Was that the last time you saw him?" "Yes—he dined with us the night before we parted." "Didn't you—forgive me—didn't you quarrel with him then?" "of course not." "I'm saying that because he didn't plan to go the second time you went to the Little Green House. We went on a whim." "is that true?" "Oh, to tell you the truth," Theresa said impatiently, "you know, Bella and her husband went the weekend before—they were taking advantage of what happened to Aunt Emily and trying to make a big fuss about it. We thought They might sneak ahead of us..." "At the time, we thought," said Charles, grinning, "that we'd better take care of Aunt Millie's health as well. Although we knew the old lady was too sensitive to be deceived by such filial and caring artifices. She Knows exactly how much such attention is worth. Aunt Millie is no fool." Theresa suddenly laughed. "It's an interesting story, isn't it? We're all salivating over her money." "Is it the same with your cousin and her husband?" "Oh, yes. Bella has always been short of money. It's pathetic for her to try to imitate my dress for so little money. I believe Tanios has counted her money, and they've had a hard time taking They can’t balance their expenses. They want to educate their two children in the UK, which also requires a lot of money.” "Can you tell me where they live?" said Poirot. "The Durham Hotel where they are staying now." "What kind of person is your cousin?" "Did you ask about being pulled? Uh, she's a gloomy type of woman. Well, Charles, you say that?" "Well, that's it. A gloomy type of woman. Much like an earwig. She's a good mother. I'm sure the earwig is the same, loving her children." "Where's her husband?" "Tanios? Oh, he looks kind of weird, but he's a nice guy, smart, funny, and likable." "Do you agree with that, miss?" "Well, I should admit, I think he's better than Bella. I believe he's a very clever doctor. Still, I don't trust him very much." "Theresa doesn't trust anyone," Charles said. He put an arm around her. "She doesn't trust me." "Anyone who trusts you, my dear, is insane," said Theresa gently. The brother and sister parted, both looking at Poirot. Poirot bowed and went to the door. "I'm--as you say--busy! It's a difficult matter, but Miss is right, there's always a way. Oh, by the way, if this Miss Lawson were to be cross-examined in court, would she Are you overwhelmed with panic?" Charles and Theresa exchanged glances. "I dare say," said Charles, "that only a really first-rate Counsel to the Crown could make her say black is white!" "That," said Poirot, "might be useful." He hurried out of the house and I followed him.In the drawing room, he took his hat and went to the door, which he opened and then slammed shut quickly.Then he tiptoed back to the door of the living room, and put his ear to the crack of the door without any shame.Whatever school Poirot had been educated in, it was obvious that there must have been rules against eavesdropping.Terrified but powerless, I gestured eagerly to Poirot, but he paid no attention. Then we hear Theresa Arundell utter a few words in a deep, trembling voice: "You fool!" Footsteps were heard in the passage, and Poirot hastily seized my arm, opened the front door, went out, and shut it behind him without a sound.

---

Notes: