Chapter 19 Chapter 19 I use my gray cells

I was literally dumbfounded.Up until a moment ago, I still could not bring myself to believe that Jack Raynor was guilty.When Poirot provoked him to answer, I had expected a resounding declaration of innocence.But now, seeing him standing there, leaning against the wall feebly, his face pale, and listening to his own confession, I can no longer be skeptical. But Poirot had turned to Gilot. "What evidence do you have to arrest him?" "Do you expect me to give you the evidence?" "Yes, as a courtesy." Giraud looked at him suspiciously, hesitating to refuse roughly, and to impress his opponent.

"You think I made a mistake, I suppose?" he sneered. "That doesn't surprise me," said Poirot, with some malice. Jiro blushed. "Eh bien, come up here, and judge for yourself." He pushed open the living room door, and we went in, leaving Jack Raynor and two guards outside. "And now, Monsieur Poirot," said Giraud, putting his hat on the table, in a tone of extreme sarcasm, "I want to give you a little advice on investigative work. You'll see how we moderns work. " "Eh bien②!" Poirot calmed himself down and listened. "You will see that the older generation listens patiently." So he leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and opened them again for a while, saying He said: "Don't worry I'll fall asleep, I'll be all ears."

"Of course," Giraud began, "I saw through all the Chilean nonsense pretty quickly. There were a couple of them, but they weren't some mysterious foreigner. It was all a smokescreen." "Excellent, my dear Giraud," murmured Poirot, "and especially with their clever trick of matches and cigarette butts." Jiro glared, and went on: "There's always a man involved in the case for the digging of the grave. No one actually benefits from that crime, but there is one man who thinks he will. I heard that Jack Raynor and his father There had been quarrels, and the threats he had used were heard. The motives were proven. As for the tactics, Jack Raynor was at Melanville that night. .

②French: Wow. ——Annotation. This turned doubt into a definite fact.Then we found the second victim, who was stabbed to death by the same Bishou.We know when the dagger was stolen.From here Captain Hastings could tell when the skull was stolen.Jack Raynor, from Cherbourg, was the only one who could get hold of the dagger.I have ruled out the rest of the family. " Poirot interrupted: "You are wrong. There is another man who may have the dagger." "You mean Mr. Stoner? He came by the front door, directly from Calais by car. Ah! Believe me, I've looked into everything. Mr. Jack Reynolds came by train. In his An hour passed between his arrival at Melanville and his appearance in the house. No doubt he saw Captain Hastings leave the shed with his companions, slipped in himself, took the head, and assassinated his accomplice. Died in the shed..."

"This man is already dead!" Jiro shrugged. "Perhaps he didn't notice it. He probably thought he was asleep. They must have been dating. Anyway, he knew that this second murder would greatly complicate the case. And it was." "But that won't fool M. Giraud," said Poirot in a low voice. "You mock me! But I will give you one last irrefutable proof. What Madame Reynolds was telling was a lie—a fabrication from beginning to end.We believe Madame Reynolds loved her husband.But she lied to cover up her husband's murderer.For whom would a woman lie? Sometimes for herself, usually for someone she loved, often for her own children.This is the last - irrefutable proof.You can't overthrow it. "

Jiro stopped talking, blushing and looking triumphant.Poirot watched him calmly. "That's my case," said Giroux, "what do you say?" "There's only one thing you haven't considered." "What's up?" "Jack Reynolds was supposed to know about the design of the golf course. He knew that when someone dug a hole the body would be found almost immediately." Jiro laughed out loud. "But you are an idiot for saying that! He wants the body to be found: until it is found, he can't think his father is dead, otherwise he can't inherit."

When Poirot rose to his feet, I saw his eyes glow green. "Then why was the body buried again?" he asked quietly. "Think about it, Jiro. Why dig another grave when it would be good for Jack Raynor if the body was found immediately?" Jiro was silent.The question caught him off guard.He shrugged, as if to imply that this was irrelevant. Poirot went towards the door, and I followed him. "There's one more thing you haven't considered." He turned his head and said. "what is that?" "The lead pipe," said Poirot, and left the room. Jack Reynolds was pale and stood in the porch in a daze.But when we were about to walk out of the living room, he suddenly looked up.At this moment, footsteps sounded on the stairs.Madame Reynolds was coming down the stairs, and when she saw her son standing between two blind enforcers of the law, she paused in horror.

"Jack," she asked tremblingly, "Jack, what is this for?" He looked up at her with a straight face. "They've got me under arrest, Mother." "what?" She let out a piercing scream, and with no one to help her, she staggered and fell hard.We both ran to her and helped her up. In a moment Poirot stood up again. "Her head was smashed badly against the corner of the stairs. My uncle's got a mild concussion. If Giraud wants to get a statement from her, he'll have to wait. She'll probably be out for at least a week." What about personnel!"

Denis and François had run to the mistress.Poirot left the villa after leaving Madame Renaud in the care of two maids.He walked with his head down, frowning thoughtfully.I didn't speak for a while, but finally I dared to ask him a question: "Despite all appearances against him, do you think Jack Raynor is guilty?" Poirot did not answer immediately, but after a long pause he said solemnly: "I don't know, Hastings. There's still a chance. Of course, Giroux is all wrong-wrong all the way. Even if Jack Raynor is guilty, it's not on Giroux's arguments, not because of his. Argument. The worst accusation against him is known only to me."

"What's that?" I asked curiously. "If you use your gray cells and look at the whole case as well as I do, you'll see it too, my friend." This was what I called Poirot's most exasperating reply.He didn't wait for me to speak and went on: "We went down this road to the seashore. We sat there on the knoll, looking out over the seashore, and reviewed the case. What I know, you shall know all, but I would rather you by your own effort. Come to find out the truth, not let me help you go." We sat on a grassy knoll looking out to sea, as Poirot suggested.

"Think, my friend," encouraged Poirot, "to organize your thoughts. To be in order is the secret of success." I listened to him as best I could, recalling all the details of the case.A thought came to my mind with unusual clarity.I was taken aback, and tremblingly built up my assumptions. "I see you have some clues, monami. Great! Let's move on." I sat up straight and lit my pipe. "Poirot," said I, "it seems that we have been terribly careless. I say we, though I dare say I have been almost terribly careless, are punished for keeping a secret. So I repeat, we are astonishingly careless." .There's one man we can forget about." "Who is that?" asked Poirot, blinking. "George Connor!" ①French: my friend. ——Annotation.