Chapter 27 Chapter XXVI Mrs. Tanios Refuses to Tell the Truth

The next morning, after breakfast, I went to Poirot's room and found him bent over his desk busy writing something. He raised a hand, greeted me, and went on with his work.He quickly gathered up the written papers, put them in an envelope, and sealed it carefully. "Hey, old friend, what are you doing?" I asked him jokingly. "Writing about this case and putting it under wraps in case someone kills you in broad daylight?" "You know, Hastings, you're right this time." His expression was very serious. "Is our murderer really dangerous now?"

"A murderer is always dangerous," said Poirot solemnly, "a fact that is strangely overlooked so often." "Any news?" "Dr. Tanios is calling." "Does he not know where his wife is?" "have no idea." "that's OK." "It's hard to say." "Damn it, Poirot, do you think she's going to be murdered?" Poirot shook his head suspiciously. "I admit," he whispered, "I wonder where she is, too." "Oh, all right," I said. "She'll show up." "Your delightful optimism always delights me, Hastings!"

"My God, Poirot, you don't think she'll be found in a big package, or brought here dismembered in a big suitcase?" Poirot said slowly: "I think Dr. Tanios' anxiety is a little too much—but only too much. The first thing we need to do now is to see Miss Lawson." "Are you going to point out a little misunderstanding about the brooch?" "Of course not. The time to talk about this trivial matter has not yet come, and we have to keep it secret for the time being." "Then what are you going to say to her?" "Mon ami, just listen when the time comes."

"Are you still going to lie?" "You're a real nuisance sometimes, Hastings. You'd think I'd be a liar if you said that." "I think you just like lying. In fact, there is nothing wrong with that." "Yes, I sometimes have to make up for my ingenuity by my resourcefulness," admitted Poirot naively. I couldn't help laughing out loud.Poirot looked at me reproachfully.Then we set off for Cranno Eaton Apartments. We were shown into the crowded sitting-room, and Miss Lawson hurried in, talking more incoherently than ever. "Oh, my dear, M. Poirot, good morning. You see, there's so much to do—I think the house is so untidy. It's been done at six or seven in the morning. Ever since Bella came here . . . ..."

"What did you say, Bella?" "Yes, Bella Tanios is here. She got here half an hour ago--and the kids--tired out, poor thing! I really don't know what to do. You know , she left her husband." "Leave him?" "She said so. Of course, I think she's perfectly justified in doing it. Poor thing!" "Does she trust you?" "Er—can't quite say that. As a matter of fact, she didn't want to talk about anything at all. She just kept saying that she left him, and she didn't say anything about going back to him!" "Did she take this step very seriously?"

"Of course it is! As a matter of fact, if he'd been English, I'd have advised her—but he's not English...and she looks so queer, it's poor—well, she's frightened. What did she do? I believe the Turks can be very cruel sometimes." "Doctor Kotanios is Greek." "Yes, he's a Greek, I mean the other way around--I mean, they're often killed by the Turks--or the Armenians are often killed? But it's all the same, I don't know. Willing to think about these things. I don't think she should go back to him, don't you, Poirot? I mean, anyway, she said she didn't want to go back... She didn't even want him to know that she Where."

"Is it that bad?" "Yes, you understand she's thinking about the children. She's very afraid he's going to take them back to Smyrna. Poor thing, she's in a terrible place. You see, she has no money--no money at all. She Don't know where to go or what to do. She wants to try to make a living for herself, but really, you know, M. Poirot, it's not as easy as it sounds. I know it's not. Specialized training would be better." "When did she leave her husband?" "Yesterday. She spent last night at a small hotel near Paddington. She couldn't think of anyone else to go to, so she came to me. Poor thing!"

"Are you going to help her? That's very kind of you." "Oh, look, Monsieur Poirot. I really feel it is my duty to help her. But, of course, it's all very difficult. The unit is small and there is no housing - difficult at the moment for a variety of reasons." .” "Can you let her live in the Little Green House?" "I suppose so—but you see her husband might have thought of that place. For the time being I've hired her a room at the Wellington Hotel, Queen's Road. She lives there under the name of Mrs. Peter." "I see," said Poirot.After a short pause, he said again:

"I wanted to see Mrs. Tanios. You see, she came to see me at my place yesterday, and I happened to be out." "Oh, did she go to you? She didn't tell me. I'll tell her, okay?" "Then thank you." Miss Lawson hurried out of the room.We hear her voice. "Bella—Bella—my dear. Will you come and see M. Poirot?" We heard no answer from Mrs. Tanios, but we saw her enter the room after a while. Seeing her looks really surprised me.Dark circles appeared under her eyes.There was absolutely no color in her cheeks, and what struck me most was her apparent terror.She was surprised at the slightest movement, and seemed to be listening.

Poirot greeted her in the most comforting manner.He came forward, shook hands with her, found her a chair, and handed her the cushions.He treated the pale, terrified woman like a queen. "Now, ma'am, let's talk. I suppose you came to see me yesterday?" She nodded. "Unfortunately, I'm not home." "Yes—you are not at home, and I hope you are." "Did you come to me because you wanted to tell me something?" "Yes, I—I'm going to..." "Well, now, I'm here, at your command." Mrs. Tanios did not answer.She sat there in silence, turning the ring on her finger.

"How is it, ma'am?" She shook her head slowly, almost reluctantly. "No," she said, "I dare not." "Don't you dare, ma'am?" "Didn't. I—if he knew—he'd—oh, I'm going to be in trouble!" "Come, come, ma'am—it's a little absurd of you to say that." "Oh, not absurd—not absurd at all. You don't know him..." "He, do you mean your husband, ma'am?" "Yes, of course he." Poirot paused for a moment, then said: "Your husband came to see me yesterday, madam." A look of horror suddenly and quickly came over her face. "Oh no! You didn't tell him—of course you didn't! You couldn't tell! Because you didn't know where I was. He—did he say I was crazy?" Poirot answered cautiously: "He said you were—highly nervous." But she shook her head, not deceived. "No, he says I'm crazy—or I'm going crazy! He wants to lock me up so I can't tell anyone else." "Tell someone—tell what?" She shook her head.Twirling her fingers nervously, she muttered: "I'm afraid..." "But, madam, once you tell me—you're safe! Tell it in secret! That's how nature actually protects you." But she didn't answer.She went on twisting—twirling her ring. "You should see it yourself," said Poirot in a low voice. She took a breath and said: "How do I know... oh my god it's horrible. What a smooth talker he is! And he's a doctor! People will believe him and not me. I know they will believe him. I should speak out but no one will believe it Me. How could they trust me?" "Are you even going to give me a chance to see who to trust?" She glanced uneasily at Poirot. "How should I know? Maybe you're on his side." "I take no one's side, ma'am, I—always—are on the side of truth." "I don't know," said Mrs. Tanios desperately, "oh, I don't know." she continued.She went on and on, saying over and over again: "What a horror—after all these years. I've seen it happen again and again. I can't say anything, I can't do anything. I have to think about the children. It's been like one long nightmare. Now... I'm never going back There he goes. I won't let the children follow him! I'm going somewhere where he can't find me. Minnie Lawson is willing to help me. She's such a nice person--very nice. She's all right." She said no more, but cast a quick glance at Poirot, and asked: "What did he say about me? Did he say I was crazy?" "He said—madame, he said you—had changed his attitude toward him." She nodded and said: "And he said I was crazy, he did, didn't he?" "Frankly, ma'am, that's what he said." "That's what it is, you see, that's what it sounds like. I have no proof—no hard evidence." Poirot leaned back in his chair, and when he began to speak again his appearance changed completely. Poirot spoke narratively, unemotionally, businesslike, as if discussing some dull business. "Do you suspect that your husband killed Miss Emily Arundell?" She answered quickly—like lightning: "I say without doubt—I know." "Then, madam—it is your duty to tell everything." "Oh, it's not that easy--it's not that easy." "How did he kill her?" "I don't know exactly—but he did kill her." "Don't you know what method he used?" "Don't know--but used a thing--he did it the last Sunday." "Is that the Sunday he went to see her?" "yes." "Don't you know what it is?" "have no idea." "So, excuse me, madam, how can you be so sure?" "Because he..." She paused, then said slowly, "I'm sure it is!" "I'm sorry, miss, you've been hiding something. There's something else you haven't told me?" "yes." "Then tell me." Bella Tanios stood up suddenly. "No, no. I can't do that. Think about the children, he's their father. I can't say. I can't..." "But ma'am..." "I tell you I can't!" She raised her voice, almost screaming.The door opened, and Miss Lawson came in, tilting her head in an air of excitement. "May I come in? Are you done talking? Bella, my dear, would you like a cup of tea, or some soup, or a brandy?" Mrs. Tanios shook her head. "I'm fine." She smiled a little. "I should go back to the kids. I haven't opened the package yet?" "Those two lovely little ones," said Miss Lawson, "I am very fond of children." Mrs. Tanios turned suddenly to her and said: "I don't know how I live without you. You—you're so nice." "Well, well, honey, don't cry. It's going to be all right. You come and see my lawyer - he's a nice guy, very compassionate, and he'll show you the best way to get a divorce. Everyone That's what it's all about, divorce is easy now, isn't it? Oh my god, the doorbell rang. I don't know who's here." She hurried out of the house.There were whispers in the living room.After a while Miss Lawson returned.She tiptoed in and closed the door carefully behind her.She whispered to us excitedly and exaggeratedly: "Oh, dear, Bella, it's your husband. I didn't know--" Mrs. Tanios fled toward a door at the other end of the room.Miss Lawson nodded vigorously. "Yes, dear, you go over there first, and then you slip out when I bring him in." Mrs. Tanios whispered: "Don't tell him I'm here. Don't tell him you saw me." "No, no, of course I won't." Mrs. Tanios slipped out the door.Poirot and I hastened to follow suit.We found ourselves in a small dining room. Poirot crossed the room to a door leading into the drawing-room, pushed it open a little, and listened.Then he waved his hand and said softly to me: "All clear. Miss Lawson took him into another room." We tiptoed across the living room and out the front door.Poirot closed the door behind him as quietly as possible. Mrs. Tanios started running down the steps, nearly tripped, and managed to grab the handrail.Poirot put one hand on her arm to steady her. "Calm down—calm down. It's all right." We got to the front foyer. "Come with me," said Mrs. Tanios pitifully.It looked as if she was about to faint. "Of course, I will go with you," Poirot assured her. We crossed the road and turned a corner into Queens Road.Wellington is a small, unassuming apartment hotel. As soon as we entered the hotel, Madame Taniosi sat down on a luxurious sofa.Her hand rested on the beating heart. Poirot patted her on the shoulder to reassure her, saying: "A near-death--yes. Now, madam, listen to me." "I can't tell you more, M. Poirot. It would be wrong to say any more. You—you know what I'm thinking—what I believe. You should be satisfied with that." "I beg you to listen, ma'am. Suppose—and this is only a hypothesis—that I already knew the truth of the case. Suppose you could tell me that I already guessed—that makes a difference, doesn't it?" She looked at him suspiciously.There was pain in the intense gaze. "Oh, believe me, ma'am, I'm not trying to trick you into saying something you don't want to say. But then it might be different—is it not?" "I—I think it might be different." "Okay. Let me tell you, then. I, Hercule Poirot, know the truth. I am not going to ask you to admit that I am telling the truth. Please take this." He sealed it up when I saw him in the morning. The big envelope she had slipped into her. "After you read it, if you are satisfied with what is written in the letter, you can call me. My phone number is written on the letter." She accepted the letter almost with great reluctance. Poirot went on briskly: "Now, one more thing, you should leave this hotel immediately." "why?" "You go to the Coniston Hotel near Euston. Don't tell anyone where you've been." "But sure—here—Minnie Lawson won't tell my husband I'm here." "You don't think so?" "Oh, no—she's all on my side." "Yes, but miss, your husband is a very clever man. He can easily play out what's on a middle-aged woman's mind. You know, the bottom line--the bottom line is that your husband shouldn't know you're hiding where." She nodded and said nothing. Poirot produced a note. "Here's the address. Pack your things as soon as possible and take the kids there in the car. Do you understand?" She nodded. "I know." "You should think of the children, madam, and not of yourself. You love children." He hit the spot. A slight blush appeared on her cheeks, and she lifted her head.She no longer looked like the terrified, suffering woman, but a haughty, pompous woman. "Then it is so arranged," said Poirot. He shook her hand, and Poirot and I left together.But we didn't get far.From the kiosk of a cafe with an easy lookout, we sip our coffee and watch the entrance of the hotel.About five minutes later we see Dr. Tanios walking down the street.He didn't even look up at Wellington.He walked past the hotel, head bowed in thought, and then he turned into the subway station. Ten minutes later, we saw Mrs. Tanios and the children get into a taxi with their luggage and drive away. "Good!" said Poirot.He stood up, as if he was still thinking. "We have done our part. But the matter is not yet finalized."