Chapter 8 Chapter Eight: An Unexpected Meeting

Early the next morning we arrived at Villa Geneviève.The guard at the gate no longer blocked our way this time, instead, he saluted us respectfully.We go to the mansion.Leonie, the maid, was coming down the stairs, and she didn't seem to dislike a short conversation. Poirot asks her about Madame Renaud's health. Leoni shook his head. "Poor lady, she's very sick, and won't eat...nothing. She's as pale as a ghost, and it's a pain to watch! If any man cheats on me with another woman , I won't be as sad as she is." Poirot nodded sympathetically. "Your words are fair, but what can be done? A woman who has love in her heart will forgive many blows. But surely there have been quarrels between husband and wife during the last few months?"

Leoni shook his head again. "Never, sir. I never heard the lady say a word of protest or reproach. Her temper, her disposition, was almost angelic. Nothing could be better. Not at all like your master." "Master Renault doesn't have the temper of an angel?" "Not far. The whole house knows when he's angry. He had a quarrel with Master Jack that day... ma foi, they yelled so loud they could be heard in the market." "Really," said Poirot, "when did they quarrel?" "Well, just before Master Jack went to Paris. He almost missed the train, and he ran out of the study, picked up the traveling bag which was lying on the porch, and left. The car was being repaired that day, and he had to run to the station. Then I was sweeping the parlour, and I watched him go by, pale--pale--with red-flame cheeks. Oh, he's so mad!"

Leoni was very proud of what he had said. "Arguing, why?" "Oh, then I don't know," Leonie had to admit. "Really, they shouted, and the voices of both were high, loud, and fast. Only a person who is fluent in English can understand. Sir His face is gloomy all day, and no one can cheer him up." The slamming door upstairs interrupted Leoni's chatter. "François is waiting for me!" she exclaimed, suddenly remembering that she was still ①French: to tell the truth. ——Annotation There is a lot of work to do, "That old woman, she often curses."

"One more minute, miss, where is the prosecutor?" "They've gone to the garage to look at the car. His Excellency has some ideas. He thinks maybe someone used the car the night it happened." "Quelle idee," murmured Poirot.The maid went away. "Are you going to go to them?" "No, I'll wait for them in the living room. It's so cool in here on a hot morning" Poirot's slow, methodical way of doing things confuses me. "If you don't mind..." I stammered. "Not at all. You're going to do your own research, eh?"

"Well, I should like to see Jiro; and see what he finds, if he's anywhere near." "The human hound," muttered Poirot, lying down in a comfortable chair and closing his eyes. "Please, my friend. Goodbye." I walked out the front door slowly.Hot weather.I followed the same path we walked yesterday.I'd love to research the scene myself.However, instead of walking straight up to the field, I turned sideways into the bushes so that a few hundred yards or so to the right would lead me to the golf course.The undergrowth was so dense here that I had difficulty getting through.When I finally got to the field, I unexpectedly bumped hard with a young girl who was standing with her back to the bushes.

She let out a naturally suppressed scream, and I let out an exclamation too. ①French: what idea. ——Annotation. It turned out to be my traveling companion Cinderella on the train: Both of them were taken aback, and shouted in unison: "It's you!" The young girl was the first to calm down. "Ouch!" she exclaimed, "what are you doing here?" "Speaking of which, what are you doing here again?" I asked back. "The last time I saw you was the day before yesterday, and you were going back to England like a good little boy." "The last time I saw you," I said, "you were coming home with your sister, like a good girl. By the way, where's your sister?"

She smiled at me, her white teeth gleaming. "Thank you for the greeting. My sister is fine, thank you." "Is she here with you?" "She's still in town," replied the naughty girl with air. "I don't believe you have a sister," I laughed. "If you had one, her name would be Harris!" "Do you remember my name?" she asked with a smile. "Cinderella. But this time you have to tell me your real name?" She shook her head mischievously. "You won't even tell me why you came here?" "Well, this! I suppose you've heard that people in my trade are going to take a 'break'."

①Harris is a male name, and the female here uses a male name.It means that there will never be anything.Annotation one by one. "On the expensive French Riviera?" "It's always cheap to go somewhere." I watched her sharply. "Anyway, when I met you two days ago, you had no intention of coming here." "We all have times when we are frustrated." Cinderella said pretending to be solemn, "Nuan, I have told you enough. Children don't like to ask questions. You haven't told me what are you doing here? " "You remember when I told you that a good friend of mine was a detective?"

"yes?" "Perhaps you have heard of the... murder... at the Villa Genevienne?" She stared straight at me, her chest heaving, her eyes wide and round. "You don't mean... you're investigating the case?" I nod.Undoubtedly, this time I was victorious.When the local looked at me. Her agitation couldn't have been more palpable.For a few seconds she was silent and stared at me, then she nodded solemnly. "Well, as long as it's not too conspicuous, show me around. I'm a sucker for horror scenes." "What did you say?" "That's what I just said. My goodness, didn't I tell you my favorite crime story? I've been sniffing around for hours. I'm so lucky to have you. Come on, lead I'll get to know you."

"But wait a minute...I can't. Nobody can get in. They're very strict." "Aren't you and your friend big shots?" I would not give up my eminence. "Why are you so interested?" I asked weakly. "What exactly do you want to see?" "Ah, anything. The location, the weapon, the body, the footprints, or something interesting like that. I've never been in a murder like this before. To have the chance, I'd This life is not in vain.” I turned away feeling sick.Women nowadays are becoming more and more unreasonable.The girl's ghoul-like excitement disgusted me.

"Put your airs down," said the girl suddenly. "Don't be arrogant. When you were invited to investigate this case, didn't you also raise your head and say that this matter is too dirty, and you don't want to get involved?" "No, but..." "If you were here on holiday, wouldn't you sniff like I do? Of course you would, too." "I am a man. You are a woman." "When you see a mouse and stand on a chair and scream, that's what you think of a woman. But that's old school. But you'll show me, won't you?" You see, this is a big deal to me. " "Where does this come from?" "They keep everything from the journalists. I might make a lot of money from one of the papers. You don't know what they'll pay for a little tip." I hesitated.She gently put a soft little hand into mine. "Please... this is a good person." I surrender.In fact, I'm happy to act as a guide. We go first to where the body was found.There was a man on guard who, upon seeing me, saluted me respectfully, and made no question to my companion, presumably he thought she was my surety.I told Cinderella how the murder was discovered.She listened carefully, sometimes asking a rational question.Then, we walked towards the villa.I'm pretty careful because, to be honest, I'd rather not run into anyone.I led the girl through the bushes to the shed at the back of the Kew House.I remember Mr. Bakers saying last night when he relocked the door and handed Malshaw the key: "Mr. Giraud will use the key in case we are upstairs." Returned the key to Malshaw. I made the girl stand in the bushes so that no one could see me, and went into the house by myself.Malshaw stood outside the drawing-room door, and murmured voices came from inside. "Does Monsieur want to see Monsieur Ayut? He's inside, questioning François." "No," I said hastily, "I don't need to see him. But I want the key to the shed outside, if it doesn't violate the rules." "Of course, sir." He took out the key. "This is it. Mr. Ayut has ordered you to provide all conveniences for him. After you finish your work, just return it to me." "certainly." I felt a moment of satisfaction in realizing that, at least in Malshaw's eyes, I was as important as Poirot.The girl was waiting for me, and she cried with joy when she saw the key in my hand. "Have you got it?" "Of course," I said coldly, "at any rate, you know, I'm doing it out of the ordinary." "You're such a nice guy, and I won't forget you. Come on. They can't see us in the house, can they?" "Wait." She hurried forward, I stopped her, "If you really want to go in, I won't stop you. But you really want to go in? You have seen the tomb, the venue, and you have heard the details Is that enough? You see, the sight inside is ghastly... unpleasant." She looked at me for a while with an elusive expression, then said with a smile: "I'm here just for the horror. Come on." We walked up to the shed door without saying a word.I opened the door and the two walked in.I walked over to the body, and gently pulled back the veil as Bex had done yesterday afternoon.The girl let out a low gasp.I look back at her.A look of terror took over her face, and her former light-hearted gaiety was gone.She insisted on disobeying my advice, and now she will suffer.Oddly, I have no sympathy for her.Now she has to get through this.I gently turned the body over. "Look," I said, "he's been stabbed in the back." She could hardly make a sound. "What did you use to poke it?" I nodded towards the glass jar. "That dagger." The girl suddenly swayed from side to side, then collapsed into a ball and collapsed on the ground.I jumped over and held her up. "You're passed out. Get out of here. You can't stand it." "Water," she whispered, "quick! Water!" I left her and rushed into the house.Fortunately none of the servants were there, and I managed to get a glass of water unnoticed, and took a bottle from my pocket and mixed a few drops of brandy.A few minutes later, I was back in the shed.The girl was still lying on the ground as I had left her, but a few sips of brandy and water soon brought her back to life. "Get me out of here... oh, quick, quick!" she cried, trembling. I put her on my arm and walked outside the shed.She closed the door behind her, and then she took a deep breath. "Better. Oh, it's terrible! Why did you let me in?" I thought it was so effeminate that I couldn't help laughing.In fact, I felt a burst of relief that she couldn't hold on.This proves that she is not as callous as I thought.She was still a child after all, and her curiosity might be unthinking. "You know, I'm trying to stop you," I said softly. "I think you stopped it. Well, goodbye." "Look at you, you can't go away alone. Your body can't support it. I must accompany you back to Melanville." "Nonsense. I'm totally fine." "What if you feel faint again? No, I'll go with you." But she vehemently opposed it.Finally, I persuaded her to allow me to accompany her to the suburbs of Melanville.We walked back the way we had come, passed the tomb again, and made a detour to the road.When she reached a place where there were few shops, she stopped and held out her hand to me. "Goodbye. Thank you very much for walking with me." "Are you sure you're all right?" "Well, thanks. Hope you don't get in trouble for showing me these things." I easily say there will be no such thing. "Okay. Goodbye." "Goodbye." I corrected, "If you stay here, we will meet again." She smiled at me. "Yes. Good-bye, then." "Wait, you haven't told me your address yet." "Well, I'm staying at the Lighthouse Hotel. It's a small place, but all right. Come and see me tomorrow." "I'll be there," I said, perhaps being overly courteous. I watched her until I could no longer see her.Then turn back to the villa.I remember I didn't relock the shed door, luckily no one noticed my neglect.I put on the deadbolt, took out the key, and handed it back to the officer.At this time, I suddenly remembered that although Cinderella told me her address, I still don't know her name.