Chapter 20 Section 8

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Lee entered the little study, where Poirot, Sugden, and the Chief Constable stood waiting for them.Colonel Johnson comes forward first." "Hello, Mr. Lee. We have not met formally, but as you know, I am the Chief of Police for this county and my name is Johnson. I can't express how upset I am that this has happened." Alfred's brown eyes showed deep pain, and he said hoarsely, "Thank you. It's horrible—very horrible.—This is my wife." Lydia said calmly: "It was a terrible blow to my husband - for all of us - but especially for him."

Her hands are on her husband's shoulders. Colonel Johnson said: "Would you please sit down, Mrs. Lee? Let me introduce you, Mr. Hercule Poirot." Hercule Poirot nodded and turned his eyes from husband to wife with interest. Lydia put her hand gently on Alfred's shoulder. "Sit down, Alfred." Alfred sat down.He murmured: "Hercule Poirot. Oh, who—who is it?" He touched his forehead with his hand, looking very dazed. Lydia Lee said, "Colonel Johnson will ask you a lot of questions, Alfred." The chief of police looked at her approvingly. He was pleased that Mrs. Alfred Lee would be such a sensible and capable woman.

Alfred said, "Of course, of course..." Johnson said to himself in his heart: "This blow seems to have completely broken him. I hope he can control his emotions to some extent." He said, "I have a list with the names of all the people who are in this house tonight, and maybe you can tell me if it's correct." He made a small gesture to Sugden, who took out his notebook and read the names again. This formulaic procedure seemed to bring Alfred Lee back to normal. He regained control and was no longer staring and dreamy.When Sugden finished, he nodded. "Quite right," he said.

"Would you mind telling us a little more about your guests? Mr. and Mrs. George and Mr. and Mrs. Davy are your relations, I suppose?" "It's my brother and sister-in-law." "Are they just here to hang around?" "Yes, they're coming to us for Christmas." "Mr. Harry Lee is also your brother?" "right." "Where are the other two guests? Miss Estelvados and Mr. Farr?" "Miss Estravados is my niece, and Mr. Fall is the son of my father's partner in South Africa." "Ah, an old friend." Lydia chimed in: "No, actually we've never seen him before this."

"I see, but are you asking him to stay with you for Christmas?" Alfred hesitated, looking at his wife.She replied clearly: "Mr. Farr unexpectedly appeared here yesterday. He happened to be nearby, so he came to visit my father-in-law. When my father-in-law learned that he was the son of his old friend and partner, he Insist that he stay here with us for Christmas." Colonel Johnson said: "I see, the family knows. As for the servants, Mrs. Lee, do you think they are all credible?" Lydia considered for a moment before answering.Then she said: "Yes, I'm pretty sure they're all totally reliable, most of them have been with us for years. Tracylian, he's the housekeeper and has been here since my husband was a kid .The only newcomers were Joan, the handyman, and my father-in-law's nurse."

"How are they?" "Joan's a pretty silly little thing, and she can't be much worse than that. I don't know much about Holbury, he's only been here a year, he's a good job, and my father-in-law sees Looks very pleased with him, too.” Poirot was very sensitive. He said: "But you, Madame, are you not satisfied?" Lydia shrugged slightly. "It has nothing to do with me." "But you are the hostess of this house, ma'am, shouldn't you take care of the servants' affairs?" "Oh, yes, of course. But Holbury is my father-in-law's personal valet, and he's not in my authority."

"I see." Colonel Johnson said: "Now let's talk about what happened tonight. I'm afraid it will be very painful for you, Mr. Lee, but I want you to talk about what happened." Alfred said in a low voice, "Of course." Colonel Johnson prompted him, "Say, when was the last time you saw your father?" An imperceptible twitch passed across Alfred's face when he answered in a low voice, "It was after tea, I stayed with him for a little while, and finally I said goodnight to him and then left him, at - let me see - about a quarter to six."

Poirot noticed his words: "You said good night to him? Did you expect to see him that night then?" "Yes. My father eats very little supper, usually at seven o'clock. Sometimes he goes to bed very early after dinner, and sometimes he just sits in his chair, but unless he sends someone special, usually He's not going to meet any of us." "Does he call you often?" "Only sometimes, if he likes it." "But it's not a routine procedure?" "right." "Please continue, Mr. Li." Alfred continued: "We had dinner at eight o'clock. After dinner my wife and the other ladies went to the living room." His voice began to tremble, and his eyes began to straighten. "We sat There—sitting at the table...suddenly there was an appalling noise overhead. Chairs fell, furniture turned over, glass and china shattered, and just then—oh my God,’” He shivered—"I can still hear the sound—my father screamed—a terrible, drawn-out scream—the scream of a man in mortal agony. . . ”

He covered his face with trembling hands.Lydia reached out and touched his sleeve.Colonel Johnson said mildly: "And then?" Alfred said brokenly: "I think--for a moment we froze, and then we jumped up and ran out the door and ran upstairs to my father's room. The door was locked and we couldn't get in." Go, had to break open the door, and then, when we got in, we saw—” He fell silent. Johnson hurriedly said: "I don't need to talk about that part, Mr. Li, push back the time a little bit, when you were still in the restaurant, when you heard that shout, who was with you?"

"Who's there? Why, we're all—no, let me see, my brother's there—my brother Harry." "Is there no one else?" "No." "Where are the other gentlemen?" Alfred sighed, trying to remember. "Let me see - it seemed like a long time ago - yes, like years - what happened? Oh, of course, George went on the phone. And then we started talking about family matters, Stephen Farr said he saw we wanted to discuss something and left. He did it very decently, very smartly." "Where's your brother David?" Alfred frowned. "David, isn't he there? Yes, of course he isn't. I don't know when he slipped out."

Poirot said mildly: "So you have family matters to discuss?" "Well—yes." "That is to say, you have something that you can only discuss with one person in your family?" Lydia said: "I don't understand what you mean by that, M. Poirot?" He turned quickly to her. "Ma'am, your husband Mr. Fare left because they had family matters to discuss, but since Mr. David and Mr. Georges were not there, it was not a conseil de famille (French: a family meeting). Well, it was a The field is limited to discussions between two family members." Lydia said: "My brother-in-law Harry, he's been abroad for many years. It's only natural that he and my husband have something to talk about." "Ah, I see. Here's the thing." She glanced at him quickly, then looked away. Johnson said: "Well, it seems that you have made your statement very clear. When you rushed upstairs to your father's room, did you notice anyone else?" "I—really don't know, I think so. We came from different directions, but I'm afraid I didn't notice—I was so panicked, that horrible screaming..." Colonel Johnson immediately changed the subject. "Thank you, Mr. Li. Now, there is another question. I learned that your father has some very valuable diamonds." Alfred looked rather surprised. "Yes," he said, "it is." "Where did he put them?" "In the safe in his room." "Can you describe what they look like?" "They're rough diamonds—that is, uncut diamonds." "Why did your father put them there?" “That was a quirk of his. He brought them back from South Africa, he never processed them, he just liked having them as part of his estate, and like I said, it was a quirk of his. " "I see," said the police chief. It was clear from his tone that he didn't understand at all.He continued: "Are they worth a lot?" "My father estimated their value at around £10,000." "Actually, they are very valuable diamonds?" "yes." "It seems like an outlandish idea to keep a diamond like this in a bedroom safe." Lydia cuts in. "Colonel Johnson, my father-in-law is a bit of an eccentric man. His ideas are unusual. Playing with those diamonds undoubtedly gave him great pleasure." "Perhaps they will awaken his memory of the past," said Poirot. She shot him a grateful glance. "Yes," she said, "I think so." "Are they insured?" asked the Chief of Police. "I don't think so." Johnson leaned forward, and he asked calmly, "Did you know, Mr. Lee, those diamonds were stolen." "What?" Alfred Lee glared at him. "Didn't your father tell you about the disappearance of the diamond?" "Not at all." "Don't you know he called Superintendent Sugden here and reported the theft to him?" "I had no idea there was such a thing!" The Chief of Police turned his attention to Lydia again. "What about you, Mrs. Li?" Lydia shook her head. "I haven't heard of it at all." "For all you know, the diamond should still be in the safe?" "yes." She hesitated and asked again: "Is that why he was killed? For those diamonds?" Colonel Johnson said: "That's exactly what we want to find out!" He went on: "Do you have any idea, Mrs. Lee? Who could have orchestrated such a robbery?" She shook her head. "No, I really don't know. I'm sure the servants are honest and trustworthy, and in any case it's hard for them to get to the safe. My father-in-law is always in his room and he never comes downstairs. " "Who looks after that room?" "Hawbury makes the beds and cleans. The second maid goes in every morning to clear the fireplace and light the fire, otherwise it's all done by Horbury." Poirot said: "Then Holberry is the man with the best chance?" "right." "Then you think he stole the diamond?" "I think, that's possible...he has a very good chance. Sniff, I don't know what to say." Colonel Johnson said: "Your husband told us about his actions tonight, and please do the same, Mrs. Lee? When was the last time you saw your father-in-law?" "We were all in his room this afternoon - before tea. That was the last time I saw him." "Didn't you see him afterwards and say good night to him?" "No." Poirot said: "Do you usually go to say good night to him?" Lydia said sharply, "No." The Chief of Police continued: "Where were you at the time?" "In the living room." "Did you hear the struggle?" "I think I heard something heavy fall. My father-in-law's room is over the dining room, not the living room, so I can't hear very well." "Did you hear the cry?" Lydia trembled: "Yes, I heard it...it was horrible-like-sent from a soul in hell, and I knew immediately that something terrible was happening, and I hurried away came out and rushed upstairs with my husband and Harry." "Who else was in the living room at that time?" Lydia frowned. "Actually—I don't remember. David was in the music room next door, playing Mendelssohn. I think Hilda went to join him." "Where are the other two women?" Lydia said slowly, "Magdalen went to call. I don't remember if she came back. I don't know where Pilar is." Poirot said gently: "Actually, you are alone in the drawing room?" "Yes—yes—in fact, I believe I am alone." Colonel Johnson said: "About these diamonds, I think, we should make sure, do you know the combination of your father's safe, Mr. Lee? I think it looks more old-fashioned." "You'll find a little notebook in the pocket of his nightgown with the password written on it." "Okay, we'll check it out in a minute. It might be better if we meet the rest of the family first, and the ladies may be going to bed." Lydia stood up. "Come on, Alfred." She turned to them. "Shall I call them?" "Come one by one, if you don't mind, Mrs. Lee." "of course can." She walked to the door.Alfred followed her. Suddenly, at the last moment, he turned around. "That's right," he said.He came quickly to Poirot. "You are Hercule Poirot! I don't know how I was so stupid. I should have thought of it right away." He spoke quickly, his voice low and excited. "It is God's will that you are here! You must find out the truth, M. Poirot, at any cost! I will pay you what you want, if you can find out. . . My poor father - was murdered." —by the cruelest means, you must find out, M. Poirot. My father must be avenged." Poirot replied calmly: "I assure you, Mr. Lee, that I will do my best to assist Colonel Johnson and Superintendent Sugden." Alfred Lee said: "I want you to work for me, and my father must be avenged." He started shaking violently, and Lydia came back.She walked towards him and took his arm. "Come on, Alfred," she said, "we've got to get someone else." Her eyes met Poirot's, and those eyes had their own secrets, but they did not flinch. Poirot said softly: "Who would have thought that old man Dar—" She interrupted him: "No, don't say it!" Poirot murmured: "You said it, Madame." She uttered a few words softly: "I know...I remember...it—it was horrible." Then she hurried out of the room, walking beside her husband.