Chapter 27 Chapter 26 The next one is me

It's pretty scary.Dr. Leidner looked as if he was going to faint, and I felt a little uncomfortable myself. Dr. Rayleigh examined the thing with the interest of a physician examining a patient. "No fingerprints, I suppose?" he expressed his opinion. "No fingerprints." Dr. Rayleigh took out a pair of tweezers and examined it very carefully. "Well—a bit of human tissue—and hair—blond hair, that's just an informal judgment. Of course, I'd have to do a formal test, blood type, etc. But, it's Not much doubt. Was it found under Miss Johnson's bed? Oh, oh--wrong intentions. She murdered. Afterwards--ah, peace be upon her--she regretted it, and it turned out Suicide. It's an idea — a reasonable idea."

Dr. Leidner could only shake his head pitifully. "It won't be Anno—it won't be Anna," he murmured. "First of all, I don't know where she hid it," said Captain Maitland. "After the first murder, every room was searched." I suddenly had an idea.Hide it in that stationery cupboard, but I didn't say anything. "Wherever it was, she felt dissatisfied with the hiding place, and took it back to her room. But that room was searched, as were the rest. Or, perhaps, she did so after she decided to kill herself." "I don't believe that statement," I said out loud.

I don't know why, but I can't believe that kind and kind Miss Johnson would smash Mrs. Leidner's head off.I simply can't imagine something like that happening.However, this idea is consistent with one thing-for example, she burst into tears that night.Moreover, after all, I have said the word "annoyed" myself - but I think that the reason for her annoyance is that there is no other reason than that relatively trivial guilt psychology. "I don't know what to believe," said Captain Maitland. "The French priest's disappearance must also be found out. My men are searching everywhere. I'm afraid he will be shot in the head and his body taken away." Push it into the ditch."

"Ah, I remembered—" I began. So, everyone cast doubtful eyes on me. "That was yesterday afternoon," I said, "and he kept asking me what happened to the squinting man who was peeping out the window that day. He asked me where he was standing on that path, and Said he was going out to see. He said that in detective novels you always see the murderer leave some clues." "That's the way the murderers I've met," said Captain Maitland. "So that's what he went out to look up, didn't he? My God! Don't know if he actually found anything. If he and Jason It's a bit of a coincidence that Miss also found clues that could identify the murderer."

He continued irritably: "A man with squinted eyes? A man with squinted eyes? There is too much said in this story about the man with squinted eyes. Maybe what he actually sees is not like that. I don't understand why my subordinates are looking for Not to him." "Perhaps it's because he doesn't squint," said Poirot calmly. "Are you saying he's faking squint? I didn't know that squint could be faked." Poirot simply said: "A cross-eyed eye might be useful." "If you want to do this, you really deserve to be killed! Regardless of whether he squints or not, I will find out where that guy is now at any cost!"

"I suppose," said Poirot, "that he has escaped across the Syrian border." "We have warned Kechik Guchu and Abu Kemal -- in fact, all the guard posts on the border." "I think he took the route through the mountains, the route that smuggler's vans usually take." Captain Maitland snorted. "Then, shall we give notice?" "I informed them yesterday - I warned them of a car with two people in it with impeccable passports." Captain Maitland gave him a look. "You informed, didn't you? Two people—huh?" Poirot nodded.

"There are two people in here." "Mr. Poirot, I think you have a lot of secrets in your sleeve." Poirot shook his head. "No," he said, "it's not true. I only found out when I watched the sunrise this morning. What a beautiful sunrise!" I don't think any of us noticed that Mrs. McGado was already in the room.Everyone was taken aback when Captain Maitland brought out that terrible, blood-stained hand-mill.She must have slipped in at that time. But now, unexpectedly, she made a sound like butchering a pig. "Oh, Lord," she cried, "I get it all. I get it all now. It was Father Lavigne. He's crazy. That's religious. He thinks women are sinful. He's going to They all got killed. First Mrs. Leidner--then Miss Johnson--and then my turn!"

With that yelp she ran across the house and grabbed Dr. Rayleigh's coat. "I don't want to stay here. I tell you, I can't stay here another day! There is danger! There is danger everywhere. He is hiding in one place now - waiting for his chance. He will come out suddenly and kill me !" She opened her mouth and started screaming again. Dr. Rayleigh grabbed her by the wrist; and I ran over, and slapped her twice, right and left.Then Dr. Rayleigh helped me put her in a chair and sit her down. "Nobody's going to kill you," I said, "We'll make sure. Sit down and rest."

She stopped barking.Her mouth was closed.She sat there looking at me in astonishment and stupidity. Then, someone interrupted our conversation.The door opened and in came Sheila Riley. Her face was pale and serious.She walked up to Poirot. "Mr. Poirot, I was at the post office early today," said she, "and there is a telegram from you—I brought it back." He took the telegram from her hand and opened it to read.Only then did she pay attention to the expression on his face. There was no change in his face. He read the telegram, smoothed the paper, folded it neatly, and put it in his pocket.

Mrs. McGado was watching him.She asked in a voice she had managed to get out, "Is that - America - filmed?" He shook his head: "No, ma'am," he said, "it's from Tunisia." She looked at Poirot for a moment, as if she did not understand him, and then sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Father Lavigne," she said, "I guessed right. I always thought there was something queer about him. He said something to me once—I think he was crazy—" She paused, and then Say, "I'd better keep quiet. But, I have to get out of this place. Joseph and I can go into town and stay at a guest house."

"Be patient, madam," said Poirot, "I will explain everything." Captain Maitland was watching him curiously. "Do you think you have any real knowledge of the case?" Poirot bowed deeply to him.That was a very dramatic bow. I am sure this will make Captain Maitland very unhappy. "Well then," he growled, "speak up, man!" But that was not Hercule Poirot's way of doing things.I can see very clearly that he will talk wildly.Not sure if he really knew the truth, or was just showing off. He turned to Dr. Rayleigh and said: "Doctor Rayleigh, would you please call the others together?" Dr. Rayleigh immediately jumped up, and obediently went out to call.After a minute or two, the rest of the regiment filed in.First Rhett and Emmott.Then there's Bill Coleman.Then there was Richard Jaley.And finally Mr. McGado. Poor Mecca.He looked almost dead.I think he must have been terrified - being scolded for misplacing dangerous chemicals. Everyone sat down round the table, much as they had on the day M. Poirot came.Both Bill Coleman and David Emmott looked in Seira Riley's direction, hesitated for a moment, and then sat down.She was standing with her back to them, looking out of the window. "Want a chair, Sheila?" Bill said. David Emmott said in his low, pleasant drawl, "Sit down, please." So she turned back and stood there looking at them.They all point to a chair and push it over.Not sure who she would accept a chair pushed past. In the end, she accepted no one. "I'm going to sit here," she said rudely, and sat down at a table near the window. "That is," she added, "if Captain Maitland doesn't mind, I'll stay. Will you?" I'm not sure what Captain Maitland would say.Poirot was the first to say: "Certainly, stay, miss," he said. "As a matter of fact, you must stay." "must?" "That's the word I use, miss. I have to ask you a few questions." Her eyebrows were raised again, and she didn't speak again.She turned her face to the window, as if determined to ignore what was going on in the room behind her. "Now, then," said Captain Maitland, "perhaps we should get to the truth!" He seemed impatient when he spoke.He is a man of action at heart.At this moment, I believe, he must have been anxious to go out on business—to command his subordinates to search for Father Lavigny's body, or to send someone to arrest him. The way he looked at Poirot; it seemed very disgusted. "If this guy has something to say, why doesn't he say it?" I could tell this kind of post had come to the lips. Poirot looked at us all slowly and critically, and rose to his feet. I don't know what he's going to say - it must be something dramatic.He is that kind of person. But; I did not expect him to start with an Arabic sentence. However, this is the case.He uttered every word slowly and solemnly--and with full reverence, really--don't know if you know what I mean. "Bismilahi al Raman al Rahim." Then, he translated it in English: "Please be kind and merciful!"

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