Chapter 29 Chapter 6 Meeting the Colonel Again

Colonel Arbuthnot was obviously very angry that Poirot asked him to go to the dining car for a second interview.The expression on his face was intimidating.He sat down and asked: "You guys asked me to come?" "I'm sorry to disturb you again," said Poirot, "but there are some other circumstances which I think you can offer us." "Really? I had no idea." "First, have you ever seen this pipe cleaner?" "I've seen it." "Is this yours?" "No idea. I didn't put a personal note on it, you know." "Did you know, Colonel Arbuthnot, that you were the only one smoking a pipe among the passengers in the Istanbul-Calais carriage?"

"In that case, it might be mine." "Do you know where this was found?" "Not at all." "It was found next to the victim's body." Colonel Arbuthnot raised his eyebrows. "Can you tell us, Colonel, how it could possibly have gone there?" "If you mean, ask me if I dropped the cleaning rod there myself, then I can tell you, no." "Haven't you been in Ratchett's private room at any time?" "Never even talked to him." "You never spoke to him, so you didn't murder him?" The colonel raised his eyebrows mockingly again.

"In that case I wouldn't give you the facts. But the truth is, I didn't murder the guy." "Well, well," said Poirot vaguely, "that's irrelevant." "What did you say?" "I said, that's irrelevant." "Ah!" Colonel Arbuthnot looked as if taken aback.He looked at Poirot uneasily. "Therefore, you see," continued Poirot, "the cleaning rod itself is of no importance. I can think of eleven other brilliant explanations for the occurrence of the cleaning rod." Colonel Arbuthnot's eyes were fixed on him.

"The real purpose of my meeting you is quite another matter," continued Poirot. "Perhaps Miss Debenham has told you that at Conia Station I happened to hear someone say what happened?" Colonel Arbuthnot made no answer. "She said, 'Not now. When it's all over. When that's over.' Do you know what those words mean?" "But, unfortunately, M. Poirot, I must refuse to answer that question." "why?" The colonel said stiffly: "As for the meaning of those words, I think you should ask Miss Debenham herself." "I've already asked."

"So she refused to tell you Lo?" "yes." "Then, I think, it's quite clear--even to you--that I won't say a word." "You don't want to tell a girl's secret?" "You can think of it that way, if you like." "Miss Debenham told me those words were her private business." "Then why don't you accept that explanation?" "Because Miss Debenham is a very doubtful person, Colonel Arbuthnot." "Nonsense," said the colonel excitedly. "This is not nonsense." "You have no reason to doubt her."

"Miss Debenham happened to be a governess to the Armstrongs when little Daisy was abducted. Is that not a reason to suspect her?" There was a sudden silence in the dining car. Poirot nodded mildly. "You see," said he, "we know more than you think. If Miss Debenham is innocent, why does she conceal the fact? Why does she tell me she never came What about America?" The colonel cleared his throat. "Maybe you're making a mistake?" "That's right. Why are you lying to me?" Colonel Arbuthnot shrugged. "You should ask her yourself. I still think that you are wrong."

Poirot raised his voice calling.A dining-car waiter enters through the far door. "Go and ask the English lady in Shop No. 11 if she would like to come here." "Okay, sir." The dining car waiter is gone.All four sat in silence.The colonel's face seemed to be carved out of clay and wood, stiff and expressionless. The waiter is back. "The lady will be here shortly, sir." "Thank you." A minute or two later, Mary Debenham entered the dining car.