Chapter 10 Chapter Ten Gabriel Stoner

The man was tall and athletic, with a copper-colored face and neck.He was conspicuous as soon as he entered the room, so prominent in the crowd that even Giraud, standing next to him, looked anemic.Later, I got to know him better and knew that he was a very extraordinary person.He was born in England and traveled all over the world.He hunted elephants, lions and other big game in Africa, traveled in North Korea, ran a ranch in California, and did business in the South China Sea Islands. His sharp eyes recognized Mr. Ayut immediately. "The prosecutor in charge of this case? It was a pleasure to meet you, sir. It is a terrible thing. How is Madame Renaud now? Can she stand it? It must have been a terrible blow to her."

"Damn, terrible," said Monsieur Ayut, "permit me to introduce you to Mr. Bex, our police chief, and Mr. Giroud from the Ministry of Justice. This is Mr. Hercule Poirot. Mr. Reynolds please come." Yes, but he came too late to avoid this tragedy. This is M. Poirot's friend, Captain Hastings." Stoner looked at Poirot with interest. "Did he invite you?" "So you didn't know that M. Reynolds was thinking of having a detective?" Mr Bakers broke in. "No, I don't know. But it doesn't surprise me at all." "why?"

"Because the old man is panicking. I don't know what's going on, he didn't tell me. Our friendship is not that far. But he is panicking... very panicky." "Well!" said M. Ayut, "for what reason, you don't know anything about it?" "I have said I do not know, sir." "Excuse me, Mr. Stoner, but we have some formalities to begin with. Your name?" "Gabriel Stoner." "When did you become M. Renault's secretary?" "About two years ago. When he first came from South America. I met him through a mutual acquaintance who offered me the position. He was a very good boss."

"Does he often tell you about his life in South America?" "Yes, I've talked a little bit." "Did you know he had been to San Diego?" "I think he's been here a few times." "He never mentioned anything in particular that happened there--anything that might have given rise to a vendetta against him?" "there has never been." "Did he mention any secrets he had acquired during his sojourn there?" "I don't recall him ever mentioning such a situation. But, having said that, he was a man with dark secrets in his past. Never heard him talk about his teenage years, for example, or anything about him before he arrived in South America. He's French-Canadian, I think, but I've never heard him talk about life in Canada either. When he doesn't want to talk, he keeps his mouth shut like a clam, Keep silent."

"So, as far as you know, he has no enemies, and you can't give us a clue about a secret. But maybe he was murdered just to get one?" "That's right." "Mr. Stoner, have you ever heard the name Duveen in relation to Mr. Reynolds?" "Dwayne, Duveen." He repeated the name thoughtfully. "I don't think I've heard of it. But the name sounds familiar." "Do you know of a lady, a friend of M. Renault's, named Bella?" Mr. Stoner shook his head again. "Bella. Duwes? Is that the full name? Strange, I must know the name, but I can't remember what it has to do with it."

The prosecutor coughed. "You understand, Mr. Stoner... the case is such that there can be no reservations, perhaps out of your concern for Mrs. Reynolds... for her, I think you have great respect and love...you can... ...Tell the truth!" Mr. Ayut paused at this point, "There must be no reservations." Stoner stared at him, a bewildered look in his eyes. "I don't understand you," he said softly. "What does this have to do with Madame Renaud? I have great respect and love for this lady. She is a remarkable person, but I don't understand, my reservations, or vice versa, Will it implicate her?"

"If this Bella Duwes turns out to be more than just her husband's friend, won't she be involved as well?" "Ah!" said Stoner, "now I see. But I'll bet you my last dollar that you're wrong. The old man never looked at other women at all. He was right I adore my own wife. They are the most loving couple I have ever seen." Mr. Ayut shook his head slightly. "Mr. Stoner, we have conclusive evidence—a love letter from this Bella to Mr. Reynolds, accusing him of rejecting her. Besides, we have further evidence. At that time, he had an affair with a French woman, Mrs. Dobler, who rented a villa next door."

The secretary's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute, sir, you've got the wrong guy. I know Paul Reynolds. What you just said is completely impossible.There must be something else going on here. " The DPP shrugged. "What else could there be?" "What made you think it was an affair?" "Mrs. Dobler always comes to see him in the evening. Besides, since M. Renault came to the Villa Geneviève, Mrs. Dobler has deposited several large sums of money in the bank. Four thousand pounds in our currency." "I suppose that's right," said Stoner softly. "I wired her the money at his request. But not for an affair."

"What else could it be?" "Blackmail," snapped Stoner, slamming his hand on the table, "that's blackmail!" "Ah!" the prosecutor shouted, his body trembling involuntarily. "Racketeering," repeated Stoner, "the old man is being robbed of money, and time is running out. He's been robbed of four thousand pounds in two months. Yo! I told you Mr. Reynolds just now." There are dark secrets. Obviously, this Mrs. Dobler knows enough, so she blackmails him." "It is possible," cried the prosecutor excitedly, "it is entirely possible."

"Possibly?" Stoner cried harshly. "There is no doubt about it. Excuse me, have you ever told Madame Reynolds about the affair you speak of?" "No, sir. We don't want to cause her pain, so long as it is reasonable and avoidable." "Painful? Well, she's going to laugh at you to your face. Let me tell you, she and Reynolds are one of the best couples in a hundred." "Ah, this brings me to another question," said M. Ayut. "Did M. Renaud trust you with the contents of his will?" "I know that. I sent it to the lawyer after he made his will. I can give you the name of his lawyer if you want to see it. The will is still with the lawyer. It is very simple: half of his fortune to his wife for life, and the other half to his son; and a few bequests, and I think he left me a thousand pounds too."

"When was this will made?" "Well, about a year and a half ago." "Would you be surprised, Mr. Stoner, if you heard that Mr. Renault made another will less than a fortnight ago?" Stoner was clearly taken aback. "I don't know a thing. What does the will say?" "His large fortune went to his wife without reservation, and no mention was made of his son at all." Stoner let out a long whistle. "I say that's a little too much for the boy. His mother loves him, of course, but his father doesn't seem to have much confidence in him in general. It's going to hurt his pride. Still, it confirms what I said. : The relationship between Renault and his wife is excellent." "It doesn't look bad, it doesn't look bad," said Mr. Ayut. "On a few points, it seems that we have to revise our views. Of course, we have sent a telegram to Santiago and are waiting there at any time. Call back. It is likely that all will be cleared up by then. On the other hand, if your blackmail scheme is true, Mrs. Dobler should be able to provide us with valuable information." Suddenly Poirot said something: "Mr. Stoner, the British car driver Master has been with Mr. Renault for a long time, right?" "Over a year." "Did you know he's been to South America?" "I'm sure he hasn't. He drove for a family in Gloucestershire for several years before he drove for Mr. Reynolds. I know that family quite well." "Honestly, can you vouch for him beyond doubt?" "Absolutely beyond doubt." Poirot looked despondent. Meanwhile the prosecutor had summoned Malshaw. "Give Madame Renaud my regards, and tell her what I want to say to her for a few minutes. Please don't worry her, we will go upstairs and see her." Malshaw saluted and walked away. We waited for a few minutes.Suddenly the door opened, and Madame Reynolds, dressed in black mourning, with a deathly pale face, entered the room.This took us by surprise. Mr. Ayut stepped forward with a chair, expressing his strong disapproval of her coming downstairs.Madame Renaud thanked him with a smile.Stoner shook her hand in deep sympathy, but was apparently at a loss for words for a moment. Madame Renault turned to Mr. Ayut. "You want to ask me something?" "With your permission, ma'am. I understand that your husband is of French-Canadian origin. Can you tell me anything about his youth or his parentage?" she shook her head" "My husband seldom talks about himself, sir. I know, he's from the North West, but I imagine he had an unhappy childhood, because he never wanted to talk about that time. Our lives are all about the present and the future .” ① County name.in the west of England. — Annotation. "Is there any dark secret in his past life?" Madame Reynolds smiled slightly, and shook her head again. "I'm sure there's no such thing as romance, sir." Mr. Ayut laughed too. "To be honest, we must not act like a play. There is one more thing..." He hesitated to speak. Stoner cut in excitedly and said: "A curious notion has come into their minds, Madame Reynolds. They think that Mr. Reynolds has an affair with a Mrs. Dobler. It seems she lives next door." Madame Renaud's cheeks were burned with color.She raised her head, bit her lip, her face convulsed.Stoner stood still, looking at her in astonishment.Mr. Bakers leaned forward and said softly: "I am sorry to cause you pain, ma'am. But have you any reason to think that Mrs. Dobler was your husband's mistress?" Madame Reynaud uttered a painful sob, covered her face with her hands, and twitched her shoulders.At last she raised her head, and said brokenly: "She might be." Stoner's face had a blank, amazed expression such as I had never seen in my life.He had absolutely no idea what to do.