Chapter 19 Chapter 18 The Incident Clarified

We were having lunch in a little restaurant not far from the Durham Hotel, and I was anxious to know what Poirot thought of the Arundells. "Hey, how's it going, Poirot?" I asked impatiently. Poirot gave me a reproachful look, then turned his full attention to the menu.When he had finished ordering, he leaned back in his chair, broke a loaf of bread in half, and said in a slightly mocking tone: "Hey, how's it going, Hastings?" "Now that you have seen all the members of the Arundell family, what do you think of them?" Poirot answered slowly: "Ma foi (French: my friends), I think they're an interesting bunch! This case is fascinating! It's really an amazing magic box, don't you say? Look, every time I As soon as I said: 'I have a letter from Miss Arundell to me before she died,' something happened. From Miss Lawson I learned about the loss of money. Mrs. Tanios heard me Immediately after saying this: Is it about my husband? What has it got to do with her husband? Why is Miss Arundell writing to me, Hercule Poirot, about Dr. Tanios? What's the situation?"

"That woman has something on her mind," I said. "Yes, she knew some things. But what did she know? Miss Peabody told us that Charles Arundell would have killed his grandmother for twopence. Miss Lawson said that if her husband called She kills, and Mrs. Tanios will do the killing. Dr. Tanios said: "Charles and Theresa are bad to the bone, and he also implied that their mother was a murderer. And obviously casually Speaking of Theresa would kill." "They've said a lot of bad things about each other, too, fellows! Dr. Tanios thinks, or he says he thinks, that Miss Arundell was threatened with writing this will. His wife certainly doesn't think so, but She didn't change until he came in. At first she didn't want to argue about the will. But then she changed her attitude. You see, Hastings—it's like a pot of water boiling, and every now and then a Significant facts rise to the surface to be seen. And at the bottom of the jug, something important hides—yes, there must be circumstances! I swear by Hercule Poirot, I guarantee there is a reason !"

I couldn't help being moved by his sincere emotion. After a while, I said: "Perhaps you're right, but it doesn't look clear—it's a blur." "But you agree with me that there must be circumstances. Do you?" "Yes," I said hesitantly, "I think I agree with you." Poirot leaned across the table, his eyes fixed on mine. "Yeah—you've changed your mind. You've stopped being so haughty and making fun of me—saying I'm enjoying my academic pleasures. But what's convinced you of my opinion? I don't think it's my excellence. reasoning - non, cen'est pas ca (French: no, not for this reason.) but something specific - something obvious - that has affected you. Tell me, my friend, yes What suddenly caused you to take this matter seriously?"

"I think," I said slowly, "that Mrs. Tanios has changed my mind. She looks—she looks—afraid..." "fear me?" "No--no, not afraid of you. It's something else. She began the conversation in such a quiet and reasonable manner--her resentment was natural when it came to wills. But on the other hand, she seemed not to want to Argue again, willing to submit to the fact. This seems to be the attitude of a cultivated, but rather unfeeling woman. Then her attitude suddenly changed—she agreed with Tanio with special eagerness. Dr. Stanley's point of view. Finally, she followed us into the lobby. The way she was—almost furtive..."

Poirot nodded and encouraged me to continue. "There is one more little thing that you may not have noticed..." "I noticed it all!" "I mean her husband's visit to Little Green House on the Sunday before Miss Arundell's death. I swear Mrs. Tanios didn't know about it--because it took her by surprise--but she soon Got the hint to her—agreed with what her husband said; he told her about it, and she forgot. I—I don't like her attitude, Poirot." "You're quite right, Hastings—it's important—it's interesting." "She did this and left a bad impression on me - scared."

Poirot nodded slowly. "Do you feel the same way?" I asked. "Yes—her demeanor certainly gave that impression." He paused, then continued, "You like Tanios, don't you? You find him a pleasant fellow, outspoken, Good-natured and genial. Despite your conservative prejudices against the Argentines, Portuguese and Greeks, he's charming—like you, isn't he?" "Yes," I admitted, "that's how I see it." Then there was a silence, and I looked at Poirot.After a while, I said: "What are you thinking, Poirot?" "I'm remembering all sorts of people, the pretty young Norman Gale, the frank and hearty Evelyn Howard, the cheerful Dr Sheppard, the quiet and dependable Knighton."

At the time I didn't understand why he mentioned people from some past cases. "What do you recall about them?" I asked. "They were all delightful people..." "My God, Poirot, do you really think Tanios..." "No, no, don't jump to conclusions, Hastings. I want to point out that it is very unreliable to draw conclusions from people's personal opinions about some people. One can't draw conclusions from feelings, but from facts. .” "Well," said I, "the facts we have are not sufficient. No, no, Poirot, don't start over all these things again!"

"I say briefly, my friend, don't be afraid. First, we must have had an attempted murder. You admit that, don't you?" "Yes," I said slowly, "I admit it." So far I have thought that Poirot's (so I thought) reenvisioning of the events of Easter Tuesday night was somewhat chimerical.Yet I am forced to admit that his reasoning is perfectly logical. "Tres bien (French: very good.). But murder can't be attempted without a murderer. Someone who was there that night was a murderer—premeditated murder. If in fact the murder was unsuccessful."

"I agree with your reasoning." "Then that's where we started analyzing the matter - there was a murderer. We asked a few people - we, as you say - poked a hornet's nest - what did we get - we heard a few very Interesting allegations, which were apparently made casually during the course of the conversation." "You think they just said it casually?" "Couldn't tell just yet! Miss Lawson, being superficially stupid, told Charles about threatening his aunt. She might be really stupid, but maybe she wasn't." Dr. Tanios of Theresa Arlen Del's words may not be malicious at all, but just a doctor's opinion. You Brits have a saying: in a white crowd, a black person stands out, don't you? Eh bien, that's exactly what I found here. Now it's not A black man, but a murderer has clearly existed."

"What I want to know, Poirot, is what you think of yourself?" "Hastings--Hastings--I don't allow myself to 'think,' I don't mean to think that's the word you use. I'm thinking at the moment." "Can you give me an example?" "I have considered the question of motive. What was the motive for the murder of Miss Arundell? It is clear that the most obvious motive was gain. Who would gain by Miss Arundell's death--if she was on Easter Tuesday? If you die?" "Everyone profited—except Miss Lawson." "correct."

"In this way, one person is excluded from suspicion." "Yes," said Poirot thoughtfully, "it seems so. And yet, if Miss Arundell dies on Easter Tuesday, the man who gets nothing should be rewarded when she dies a fortnight later. It's fun to buy all the property." "What do you mean by that?" I asked, a little bewildered. "Motive and effect, my friend. Motive and effect." I looked at him suspiciously. He continued: "Go on logically! After that accident, what happened again?" I hated Poirot for speaking in that tone.No matter what others say, it seems that it must be wrong!I say cautiously: "Miss Arundell was ill in bed after the accident." "Exactly. That gives her a lot of time to think. What's next?" "She wrote you a letter." Poirot nodded. "Yes, she wrote to me. But it didn't go out. It's a pity." "Do you suspect that there is something wrong with the fact that the letter was not sent?" Poirot frowned. "Well, Hastings, I must confess that I don't know that. In the general order of things, I'm sure—the letter is really misplaced. I believe—but I can't be sure— —nobody saw her write the letter. Then come on—what happened afterward?” I thought. "A lawyer is here," I replied. "Yes—she sent for a lawyer, and he came just in time." "Then she wrote a new will," I went on. "Exactly. She wrote a new and unexpected will. Now, in light of this will, we have to consider Ellen's statement very carefully. If you remember Ellen once said: Miss Lawson was particularly worried about Bob. Miss Arundell's hearing of the night's absence reached Miss Arundell." "But—oh, I see—no, I don't. Can I say I'm starting to see what you're implying...?" "I doubt you really understand!" said Poirot. "But if you do, I hope you will realize that what Ellen said is extremely important." He stared at me with stern eyes. "Of course. Of course it's important," I said hastily. "Then," continued Poirot, "all sorts of things happened. Charles and Theresa came for the weekend, and Miss Arundell showed Charles the new will—that's what he said." "You don't believe what he said?" "I only believe what has been tested. Miss Arundell did not show Theresa the new will." "Because she thought Charles would tell her." "But Charles didn't tell her. Why didn't he tell her?" "But Charles himself said he did tell her." "Theresa made it clear he didn't tell her - the disagreement was hilarious and revealing. When we left her house, she called him a fool." "I am getting more and more confused, Poirot," I said in a hesitant tone. "Let's go back in chronological order. Then Dr. Tanios came on Sunday—maybe his wife didn't know." "I'd say she sure doesn't know." "Let's say it's possible. Let's go on! Charles and Theresa left on Sunday. Miss Arundell was in good health and spirits. She had a good supper, and after that she was with Sisters Tripp and Law." Sen sat together in the dark for a party. Towards the end of the party she fell ill. Then she went to bed and died four days later. Miss Lawson inherited all her money, but Captain Hastings said she died of natural causes! " "But Hercule Poirot says without proof that poison was in the meal." "I have evidence, Hastings. Think carefully of our conversation with the Tripp sisters. Recall again what Miss Lawson's broken conversation said." "You mean the thing about her having curry for dinner? Curry would cover up the smell of medicine. Is that what you mean?" Poirot said slowly: "Yeah, maybe eating curry is the key." "But," said I, "if what you say is true (regardless of the doctor's certificate), only Miss Lawson or one of the maids would have murdered her." "I have no idea." "Or did the Tripp woman murder her? But that's all nonsense. I don't believe it! These people are innocent." Poirot shrugged his shoulders. "Hastings, you remember: stupidity - even stupidity can often be associated with a high degree of cunning. Don't forget the original murder attempt. It wasn't done by a particularly bright or sophisticated person. It was very simple from Bob's habit of leaving his ball on the top of the stairs. The idea of ​​pulling a string across the stairs is simple and easy--a child would have thought of it!" I frowned and said: "what do you mean……" "I mean there's only one thing we've found here now - that a man wants to commit murder, and that's all." "But the poisoning must have been done very well without leaving a trace," I argued, "which was very difficult for the man who attempted the murder in the first place, oh, damn it, Poirot, Now I can't believe it. You can't know anything! It's all a mystery." "You are mistaken, my friend. Our conversation this morning has given me now some solid evidence. The signs are, of course, faint, but they can't be wrong. Only one thing--makes me Fear." "Afraid? Afraid of what?" He said seriously: "I'm afraid to disturb the sleeping dog. That's one of your mottos, isn't it? Let the sleeping dog lie there! That's what our murderer is doing at present--the murderer is lying in the sun and rejoicing." When the murderer's confidence is disturbed, Hastings, he often jumps over the wall to kill a second person—or commit a third murder, which we cannot predict!" "Are you afraid of this happening?" He nodded. "Yes. If the murderer was among these people—I think, Hastings, it's possible—"