Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three

Eva Carpenter entered the Summerhays house very casually, as most people do, by whichever door and window was convenient. She had come to see Hercule Poirot.When she found him, she said straight to the point: "Listen," she began, "you're a detective, and everybody agrees you're a good one. Well, I'll hire you." "What if I don't take employment, dear lady, I'm not a cab!" "You're a private detective, and private detectives charge commission, right?" "It's customary." "Well, that's what I mean. I'll pay you. I'll pay you a lot."

"Why? What do you want from me?" Eva Carpenter snapped: "Protect me from the police. They're so stupid. They seem to think I killed the Upward woman. They poke around and ask me all kinds of questions -- rummaging around. I don't like it. It would overwhelm my brain." Poirot looked her over.Some of what she said was true.She looked much older than when he'd first met her a few weeks ago.The circles under her eyes showed that she had had many sleepless nights.Wrinkles appeared from lips to chin, as well as her hands, which shook violently when she lit a cigarette.

"You've got to stop this," she said, "You've got to do it." "Ma'am, what can I do?" "Whatever it takes, get them out of here. Damn it! If Guy was a man, he'd stop this. He won't let them persecute me." "Oh—he doesn't do anything?" She said sullenly: "I haven't told him yet. He's just talking about helping the police as much as possible. He's fine. He was at a nasty political rally that night." "and you?" "I'm just sitting at home. I'm actually listening to the radio."

"But if you can prove—" "How can I prove it? I offered to pay Mr. and Mrs. Croft a large sum of money to say that they had been in and out of my house and saw me standing there—the damned scum refused." "That would be a very unwise move on your part." "I don't see why. That would have closed the matter." "By doing so, you may very well be convincing your servant that you really committed the murder." "Er--I gave Croft money, anyway, for--" "for what?" "Nothing." "Remember—you need my help."

"Oh! Nothing really. But Croft delivered her message." "Mrs. Upward's?" "Yes. Ask me to go and see her that night." "You just said you're not going?" "Why should I go? Damn boring old woman. Why should I shake her hand? I never once thought of going." "What time did the message come to you?" "While I was away. I don't know the exact time—I think it was about five or six o'clock. A message from Croft." "You paid him to forget that he had a message. Why?" "Don't play dumb. I don't want anything to do with that at all."

"And you pay him to prove your alibi? What do you think he and his wife think?" "Who cares what they think?" "The jury will be in charge," said Poirot gravely. She glared at him. "You're not serious, are you?" "I'm extremely serious." "They will listen to the servants—and not to me?" Poirot looked at her. How rude and stupid!Turned out to be an enemy of someone who might be helpful to her.Myopic, downright stupid thinking.short-sighted -- Such lovely blue eyes. He said calmly: "Why don't you wear glasses, ma'am? You need glasses."

"What? Oh, I wear it sometimes. I wore it when I was a kid." "You were still wearing braces back then." Her eyes widened. "I am, actually. Why do you say that?" "The ugly duckling turned into a swan?" "Of course I used to be ugly." "Does your mother think so too?" She said angrily: "I don't remember my mother. What the hell are we talking about? Would you take the job?" "Unfortunately I can't." "Why can't you?" "Because in this case, I work for James Bentley."

"James Bentley? Oh, you mean the bastard who killed the cleaning lady. What has he got to do with the Upwards?" "Maybe—nothing." "Well, then! Is it a matter of money? How much do you want?" "That is a great mistake of yours, ma'am. You always think of money. You have money, and you think only money is important." "I wasn't always rich," Eva Carpenter said. "Yes," said Poirot, "I don't think so," he nodded slightly. "That says a lot. It excuses some..." Eva Carpenter returned the same way she had come, only stumbling a bit because Poirot remembered her past.

Poirot said softly to himself: "Evelyn Hope..." So, Mrs. Upward called both Deirdre Henderson and Eva Carpenter. Maybe she called someone else too.Maybe-- With a bang on the door, Maureen entered. "It's my scissors this time. I'm sorry for the late lunch. I have three pairs of scissors, but I can't find any." She rushed towards the cupboard, repeating her routine so familiar to Poirot.This time, things were flipped out quickly.With a cheer of joy, Maureen left. Almost involuntarily, Poirot stepped forward and began to put things back into the drawer.Sealing wax, blotters, photographs—

photo…… He stood there, staring at the photo in his hand. There was the sound of hurried footsteps in the corridor. Despite his age, Poirot was able to move quickly.He threw the photo on the sofa, put another cushion on it, and sat on it himself, and Maureen came in again just after he sat down. "Where the hell did I put my colander full of spinach?" "Over there, ma'am." He pointed to the colander as it sat on the couch next to him. "So I put it here." She grabbed it. "Everything is delayed today..." Her eyes rested on Hercule Poirot, who sat upright and motionless on the sofa.

"What the hell are you trying to do sitting there? Add a cushion, the most uncomfortable seat in the room. All the springs are broken." "I know, ma'am. But I—I'm looking at that picture on the wall." Maureen glanced up at the oil painting, which showed a naval officer holding a telescope. "Ah—it's pretty. It's probably the only good thing in the house. We don't know if it's by Gainsborough, the famous portrait painter," she sighed. "Johnny wouldn't sell it anyway." .It's his grandfather's grandfather, I think for many generations, who went down with his ship, or did something particularly heroic. Johnny couldn't be more proud of that." "Yes," said Poirot softly, "yes, he has something to be proud of. I mean your husband!" At three o'clock Poirot arrived at Dr. Rendell's. He ate rabbit stew, spinach, and very firm potatoes, and a very special kind of pudding, which this time was not burnt, but instead, "used too much water," Maureen explained.He also drank half a cup of mushy coffee.He doesn't feel well. The door was opened by Mrs. Scott, the elderly housekeeper, who asked her to introduce Mrs. Rendell.She was listening to the radio in the living room, and was startled when she heard of his visit. His impression of her was the same as when they first met.She is wary, wary, afraid of him, or of something he represents. She seemed paler and more melancholy than ever.He was almost certainly thinner than before. "I want to ask you a question, ma'am." "A question? Oh, go ahead." "Did Mrs. Upward call you the day she died?" She stared at him.She nodded. "What time?" "A message from Mrs. Scott. About six o'clock, I think." "What's the content? Are you invited to come over that night?" "Yes. She said that Mrs. Oliver and Robin were going to Gilchester, and that she would be home alone, because Janet was supposed to be away that evening as a rule. Asked if I could come and keep her company." "What time has it been set?" "Nine o'clock or a little later." "You went?" "I was going. I was really going. But I don't know what happened. I fell asleep after dinner that night. When I woke up, it was past ten o'clock. I thought it was too late." .” "You didn't tell the police Mrs. Upward called you?" Her eyes widened and gazed at Poirot with childlike innocence. "Should I have done that? Since I didn't go, I think it's okay. Maybe, even so, I feel quite guilty. If I did go, she might still be alive now." She said, holding her breath suddenly, "Oh, I wish it wasn't like that." "Not quite like that," said Poirot. He paused for a moment, then said again: "What are you afraid of, madam?" She took a sharp breath: "Afraid? I'm not afraid." "But you are afraid." "Nonsense. What—what should I have to fear?" Poirot paused for a moment before speaking: "I thought maybe you were afraid of me..." She didn't answer.But her eyes were wide open.She shook her head slowly and unconvinced.