Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven Motivation

Now I'm in a daze. "That's the answer?" I asked Poirot. "Yes, my friend. I found out this morning." "How did you know? How did you guess it? You said it came to you by yourself." "Yes, my friend, it's on the first page of the paper. I remembered my dinner conversation yesterday, and it dawned on me." Then he turned to Nick again: "You heard the news last night?" "Yes, on the radio. I made an excuse to call, but actually wanted to go and listen to the news on the radio alone. If..." She swallowed the words again, "So I I just heard..."

"I know, I know," he said, taking Nick's little hand. "It was a fatal blow for me, but the guests kept coming. I don't know how to deal with it, it's like a nightmare! But I can see it - as if I have become a third person —my behavior is normal, just a little unnatural.” "Yes, I totally understand." "Then when I went to get Freddie's shawl, I really couldn't help myself for a moment and burst into tears, but I put the tears away right away because Maggie kept fighting for her coat. At last she took my shawl and went out, and I followed with a little powder and rouge, and she was—dead."

"Well, what a blow to you!" "No, you don't understand, I was so mad at the time, I wish I was the one who died! I wanted to die—and I lived, and I don't know how long! Michael Seton was dead, drowned in the Pacific Ocean .” "Unfortunate child!" "What a misfortune. I tell you: I loathe life!" she cried resentfully. "I understand, I understand all, miss. There comes a time in each of us when it feels better to be dead than to be alive. But everything will pass, and sorrow and pain will pass without knowing it." Gone. Of course you don't believe it now, I know. What's the use of an old man like me telling you that? Bottoms—that's what you think—all fluff."

"Do you think I'll forget about my love and marry someone else? Never!" She sat on the bed, her hands were tightly twisted together, her face was flushed, and she was very delicate. Poirot said tenderly: "No, no, I don't mean that at all. You are very fortunate, miss, to have been loved by such a brave hero. How did you meet him?" "That was in Torquay - last September, almost a year ago." "Then you got engaged. When was that?" "Just after Christmas. But we've kept it a secret." "Why keep it a secret?" "Michael's uncle, old Sir Matthew Seton, who regards all birds as treasures and hearts, and women as enemies and sworn enemies."

"Oh, that's really nonsense." "Yes, but I didn't mean that. Old Matthew was a curmudgeon, and thought women were men's killers. But he liked Michael very much, and was very proud of his nephew. Michael depended on his uncle. That The dual-purpose aircraft was built for him by his uncle, and all the expenses of this round-the-world expedition were paid by the old man. This round-the-world flight is Michael’s greatest hope and his uncle’s most eager dream. As long as this flight If it succeeds, Michael will be able to respond to his uncle's request. Even if he finds out about our affairs at that time, it doesn't matter much, because my nephew has become a world-renowned adventure hero, and my uncle has a bright face, and he will definitely change his mind."

"That's right, I see." "Michael said nothing would leak until it was a success, and I kept my mouth shut and told no one - not even Freddie." Poirot groaned and said: "If you'd have told me sooner, miss..." Nick stared at him. "So what? What does this have to do with murdering me? I promised Michael I'd tell no one, and I did. It was painful, of course, with alternate anxieties and relief, despair and hope. , restless all day long, everyone said I was nervous, but I couldn't explain it." "I can imagine that." "He's been missing once before, when he was flying across the desert to India. It was a desperate situation, but then he fixed the machine and saved the day. I kept telling myself it must be the same this time. People Everyone said he was dead, but I buried my head in the sand like an ostrich until last night..."

Her voice became lower and lower, and finally she couldn't hear it. "You've been holding out hope?" "I can't tell, maybe I just don't want to believe it. The most unbearable thing is that I can't tell anyone, so I have to worry about it alone." "Yes, ma'am, I can feel that. Are you going to give a little word to anyone? To Mrs. Rice, for example?" "Sometimes I want to do it, so badly." "Do you think she has guessed your secret?" "No, I don't think so," said Nick thoughtfully. "She hasn't said anything. Of course she's always hinting to me sometimes that we're heart-to-heart friends and ought to talk about everything."

"Didn't you plan to tell her when Michael's uncle died? He's been dead for about a week or so." "I know, he died after the operation. But it's not noble to reveal my relationship with Michael to others when he died. When all the newspapers are taking the news of Michael's disappearance as a hot news. When I say that, the reporters will swarm over, don’t I seem to be taking advantage of others’ danger to make a big splash? Michael will definitely be upset when he finds out.” "That's right, madam, you can't announce it publicly. But I think you can talk privately with a good friend."

"I hinted at a guy," Nick said, "just once, and I don't know if the guy got it." Poirot nodded and changed the subject abruptly. "Are you on good terms with your cousin, Mr. Weiss?" "Charles? Why mention him?" "Just ask." "Charles is a good man," Nick said. "Of course, he's terribly stubborn. He never leaves this Saint-Loup area, and always says I'm neither this nor that." "Oh, miss, miss! I've heard that he bows down under your pomegranate skirt." "We're not alienated from each other. He thinks my way of life is outrageous, he doesn't approve of my cocktail parties, my grooming, my friends and my manner. Still, he's fascinated by me Upside down. He, always trying to reform me."

After a pause, she blinked and asked: "Where did you hear these things?" "I will tell you in a whisper, miss, that I had the honor of having a few words with that Australian lady, Mrs. Croft." "She's a pretty warm person—if you've got time to sit and listen to her. Those damn hot topics—love, family, kids, go on and on and on and on." "I'm a sentimental gentleman of the old fashion, too, miss." "Really? I think Hastings is the more affectionate of the two of you." My face is hot. "Well, he's got his airs," said Poirot, beaming with joy at seeing my embarrassment. "But you're right, ma'am, yes, quite right."

"Totally wrong!" I gasped. "Hastings has that rare purity of nature that sometimes drives me crazy." "Stop fooling around, Poirot." "He was not at peace with all evil. His righteous wrath was so violent, when he came upon any iniquity, that he turned everything upside down for you at once. Ah, rare virtue. No, My friend, I won't let you contradict, that's what you are." "You're both very good to me," Nick said tenderly. "Ah, ah, it's all right, ma'am. We've got a lot to do. First of all, you've got to stay here, you've got to obey orders, you've got to do as I say. I won't budge on that." .” Nick sighed helplessly. "I'll do whatever you tell me to do, I don't care about anything anymore." "You can't see friends at the moment." "I don't want to see anyone." "What was negative to you is positive to us. Now, madam, we are going. We shall not disturb your holy sorrow any more." He walked to the door, held the handle on the door, turned his head and said: "By the way. You said you made a will. Where—the will?" "Oh, somewhere." "Is it at the Cliff Villa?" "yes." "In the safe or locked in a drawer?" "Well, I really don't know. It's always these places anyway." She frowned and said, "My things don't tend to be in a fixed place, you know. This kind of file is probably in the desk in the study, many There's bills and all, and a will might be mixed in with that stuff. Or it's in my bedroom." "Let me look for it, okay?" "Of course you can find them if you want. Just watch whatever you like." "Thank you, miss. Then I will take advantage of the convenience you have given me."