After The Funeral Part 53

cogi e to him. h.u af train.

There was still ha) '

r p someone to make up theft more than one person...

The summer-house was clearly visible from most of the windows of the house. Surely, soon, someone would come ?

If not, his knowledge of human nature was deficient, and his main premises incorrect. He waited--and above his head a spider in its web waited for a fly.

It was Miss Gilchrist who came first. She was fl.u.s.tered an,d, upset and rather incohere,n,t.

Oh, Mr. Pontarlier--I can t remember your other name,"

she said. "I had to come and speak to you although I don't like doing it--but really I feel I ought to. I mean, after what happened to poor Mrs. Leo this morning--and I think myself Mrs. Shane was quits right--and not coincidence, and certainly not a stroke--as Mrs. Timothy suggested, because my own father had a stroke and it was quite a different appearance, and anyway the doctor said concussion quite clearly I"

She paused, took breath and looked at Poirot with appealing eyes.

"Yes," said Poirot gently and encouragingly. "You want to tell me something ?

"As I say, I don't like doing it--because she's been so kind. She found me the position with Mrs. ,Timothy and everything. She's been really very kind. That s why I feel so ungrateful. And even gave me Mrs. Lansquenet's musquash jacket which is really most handsome and fits beautifully because it never matters if fur is a little on the large side.

And when I wanted to return her the amethyst brooch she wouldn't hsar of it "

" You are referring,"said Poirot gently, "to Mrs. Banks ?"

"Yes, you see ..." Miss Gilchrist looked down, twisting her fingers unhappily. She looked up and said with a sudden see, "You mean you happened to overhear a conversation "

"No." Miss Gilchrist shook her head with an air of heroic determination. "I'd rher speak the truth. And it's not so bad telling you because you're not English."

Hercule Poirot understood her without taking offence. "You mean that to a foreigner it is natural that people should listen at doors and open letters, or read letters that are left about ?"

"Oh, I'd never open anybody else's letters," said Miss Gflchrist in a shocked tone. "Not that. But I did listen that day--the day that Mr. Richard Abernethie came down to see his sister. I was curious, you know, about his turning up x66

snddenl after .all those ,years., And I did wonder why--and--

u see wlen yon haven t much life of youi own or very

,,to get interested--when you reand--Y

many friends, you do tend

hying with anybody, I .mea.n. ,

"Most natural," saia t'olror.

"Yes, I do think it was natural... Though not, of course,

at all right. But I did it I And I heard what he said I"

"You heard what lr. Abernethie said to Mrs. Lansquenet?"

"Yes. He said something like--' It's no good talking to

Timothy lie pooh-poohs everything. Simply won't listen.

But I ought I'd like to get it off my chest to you, Cora.

We three are the only. ones left,. And though you we always

liked to play the simpleton you we got a lot of co,m, mon sense.

So what wou!d you do about it, if yon were me ?

"I couldn t quite hear what Mrs. Lansquenet said, but

I caught the word police--,a, nd then Mr. Abernet,h, ie burst out

ouite loud, and said,' 1 can t do that. Not when it s a question (;! ray own niece.' And then I had to run in the kitchen for

something b,oiling over and when I got back Mr. Abernethie

WaS saying, Even if I die an unnatural death I don't want

the police called in, if it can possibly be avoided. You under ...... --t -ou my dear girl But don't worry. Now

that I know, I shall take all possible precantons. And he

a new will, and that she, Cora, would be quite all right. Aha then ne sola aoou her having

been happy with her husband and how perhaps he'd made

a mistake over that in the past."

Miss Gilchrist stopped.

Pozrotsad: Ise see...

"But I never wanted to say--to tell I didn't think Mrs. Lansquenet would have wanted me to... But now

after Mrs. Leo being attacked this morning--and then you

saying so calmly it was coincidence. But, oh, M. Pontarlier,

t wash t comctdence I

Poirot smiled. He said: "No, it wasn't coincidence Thank you, Miss Gilchrist, for coming to me. It was very necessary that you should."

He had a little difficulty in getting rid of Miss Gilchrist, and it was urgent that he should, for he hoped for further confidences.

His instinct was right. Miss Gilchrist had hardly.gone

before Gregory Banks, striding across the lawn, came nnpe tuously into the summer-house. His face was pale and there

were beads of perspiration on his forehead. His eyes were curiously excited.

"At last I "he said. "I thought that stupid woman would

never go. You' re all wrong in what you said this morning.