Taken At The Flood Part 26

"Am I? I wish I knew... That's what I was trying to decide that day - when David burst out of the wood. It was like a great question mark in when David burst out of the wood. It was like a great question mark in my brain. Shall I? Shall I? Even the train in the valley seemed to be my brain. Shall I? Shall I? Even the train in the valley seemed to be asking the same thing. The smoke made a fine question mark in the asking the same thing. The smoke made a fine question mark in the sky." sky."

Poirot's face took on a curious expression. Lynn misunderstood it. She cried out: cried out: "Oh, don't you see, M. Poirot, it's all so difficult. It isn't a question of David at all. It's me! I've changed. I've been away for three - four years. David at all. It's me! I've changed. I've been away for three - four years. Now I've come back I'm not the same person who went away. That's Now I've come back I'm not the same person who went away. That's the tragedy everywhere. People coming home changed, having to the tragedy everywhere. People coming home changed, having to readjust themselves. You can't go away and lead a different kind of life readjust themselves. You can't go away and lead a different kind of life and not change!" and not change!"

"You are wrong," said Poirot. "The tragedy of life is that people do not change." change."

She stared at him, shaking her head. He insisted: "But yes. It is so. Why did you go away in the first place?"

"Why? I went into the Wrens. I went on service."

"Yes, yes, but why did you join the Wrens in the first place? You were engaged to be married. You were in love with Rowley Cloade. You engaged to be married. You were in love with Rowley Cloade. You could have worked, could you not, as a land girl, here in Warmsley could have worked, could you not, as a land girl, here in Warmsley Vale?" Vale?"

"I could have, I suppose, but I wanted -"

"You wanted to get away. You wanted to go abroad, to see life. You wanted, perhaps, to get away from Rowley Cloade... And now you are wanted, perhaps, to get away from Rowley Cloade... And now you are restless, you still want - to get away! Oh, no, Mademoiselle, people do restless, you still want - to get away! Oh, no, Mademoiselle, people do not change!" not change!"

"When I was out East, I longed for home," Lynn cried defensively.

"Yes, yes, where you are not, there you will want to be! That will always be so, perhaps, with you. You make a picture to yourself, you always be so, perhaps, with you. You make a picture to yourself, you see, a picture of Lynn Marchmont coming home... But the picture does see, a picture of Lynn Marchmont coming home... But the picture does not come true, because the Lynn Marchmont whom you imagine is not not come true, because the Lynn Marchmont whom you imagine is not the real Lynn Marchmont. She is the Lynn Marchmont you would like, the real Lynn Marchmont. She is the Lynn Marchmont you would like, to be." to be."

Lynn asked bitterly: "So, according to you, I shall never be satisfied anywhere?"

"I do not say that. But I do say that, when you went away, you were dissatisfied with your engagement, and that now you have come back, dissatisfied with your engagement, and that now you have come back, you are still dissatisfied with your engagement." you are still dissatisfied with your engagement."

Lynn broke off a leaf and chewed it meditatively.

"You're rather a devil at knowing things, aren't you, M. Poirot?"

"It is my metier," said Poirot modestly. "There is a further truth, I think, that you have not yet recognised." that you have not yet recognised."

Lynn said sharply: "You mean David, don't you? You think I am in love with David?"

"That is for you to say," murmured Poirot discreetly.

"And I - don't know! There's something in David that I'm afraid of - but there's something that draws me, too..." there's something that draws me, too..."

She was silent a moment and then went on: "I was talking yesterday to his Brigadier. He came down here when he heard David was arrested his Brigadier. He came down here when he heard David was arrested to see what he could do. He's been telling me about David, how to see what he could do. He's been telling me about David, how incredibly daring he was. He said David was one of the bravest people incredibly daring he was. He said David was one of the bravest people he'd ever had under him. And yet, you know, M. Poirot, in spite of all he he'd ever had under him. And yet, you know, M. Poirot, in spite of all he said and his praise, I had the feeling that he wasn't sure, not absolutely said and his praise, I had the feeling that he wasn't sure, not absolutely sure that David hadn't done this!" sure that David hadn't done this!"

"And are you not sure, either?"

Lynn gave a crooked, rather pathetic smile.

"No - you see, I've never trusted David. Can you love someone you don't trust?" don't trust?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"I've always been unfair to David - because I didn't trust him. I've believed quite a lot of the beastly local gossip - hints that David wasn't believed quite a lot of the beastly local gossip - hints that David wasn't David Hunter at all - but just a boy friend of Rosaleen's. I was ashamed David Hunter at all - but just a boy friend of Rosaleen's. I was ashamed when I met the Brigadier and he talked to me about having known when I met the Brigadier and he talked to me about having known David as a boy in Ireland." David as a boy in Ireland."

"C'est epatant," murmured Poirot, "how people can get hold of the wrong end of a stick!" wrong end of a stick!"

"What do you mean?"

"Just what I say. Tell me, did Mrs Cloade - the doctor's wife, I mean - did she ring up on the night of the murder?" did she ring up on the night of the murder?"

"Aunt Kathie? Yes, she did."

"What about?"

"Some incredible muddle she had got into over some accounts."

"Did she speak from her own house?"

"Why no, actually her telephone was out of order. She had to go out to a callbox." a callbox."

"At ten minutes past ten?"

"Thereabouts. Our clocks never keep particularly good time."

"Thereabouts," said Poirot thoughtfully.

He went on delicately: "That was not the only telephone call you had that evening?"

"No." Lynn spoke shortly.

"David Hunter rang you up from London?"

"Yes." She flared out suddenly, "I suppose you want to know what he said?" said?"

"Oh, indeed I should not presume -"

"You're welcome to know! He said he was going away - clearing out of my life. He said he was no good to me and that he never would run my life. He said he was no good to me and that he never would run straight - not even for my sake." straight - not even for my sake."

"And since that was probably true you did not like it," said Poirot.

"I hope he will go away - that is, if he gets acquitted all right... I hope they'll both go away to America or somewhere. Then, perhaps, we they'll both go away to America or somewhere. Then, perhaps, we shall be able to stop thinking about them - we'll learn to stand on our shall be able to stop thinking about them - we'll learn to stand on our own feet. We'll stop feeling ill will." own feet. We'll stop feeling ill will."

"Ill will?"

"Yes. I felt it first one night at Aunt Kathie's. She gave a sort of party. Perhaps it was because I was just back from abroad and rather on Perhaps it was because I was just back from abroad and rather on edge - but I seemed to feel it in the air eddying all round us. Ill will to edge - but I seemed to feel it in the air eddying all round us. Ill will to her - to Rosaleen. Don't you see, we were wishing her dead - all of us! her - to Rosaleen. Don't you see, we were wishing her dead - all of us!

Wishing her dead... And that's awful, to wish that someone who's never done you any harm - may die -" done you any harm - may die -"

"Her death, of course, is the only thing that can do you any practical good." good."

Poirot spoke in a brisk and practical tone.

"You mean do us good financially? Her mere being here has done us harm in all the ways that matter! Envying a person, resenting them, harm in all the ways that matter! Envying a person, resenting them, cadging off them - it isn't good for one. Now, there she is, at cadging off them - it isn't good for one. Now, there she is, at Furrowbank, all alone. She looks like a ghost - she looks scared to Furrowbank, all alone. She looks like a ghost - she looks scared to death - she looks - oh! she looks as though she's going off her head. death - she looks - oh! she looks as though she's going off her head. And she won't let us help! Not one of us. We've all tried. Mums asked And she won't let us help! Not one of us. We've all tried. Mums asked her to come and stay with us. Aunt Frances asked her there. Even Aunt her to come and stay with us. Aunt Frances asked her there. Even Aunt Kathie went along and offered to be with her at Furrowbank. But she Kathie went along and offered to be with her at Furrowbank. But she won't have anything to do with us now and I don't blame her. She won't have anything to do with us now and I don't blame her. She wouldn't even see Brigadier Conroy. I think she's ill, ill with worry and wouldn't even see Brigadier Conroy. I think she's ill, ill with worry and fright and misery. And we're doing nothing about it because she won't fright and misery. And we're doing nothing about it because she won't let us." let us."

"Have you tried? You, yourself?"

"Yes," said Lynn. "I went up there yesterday. I said, was there anything I could do? She looked at me -" I could do? She looked at me -"

Suddenly she broke off and shivered. "I think she hates me. She said, 'You, least of all.' David told her, I think, to stop on at Furrowbank, and she always does what David tells her. Rowley took her up eggs and she always does what David tells her. Rowley took her up eggs and b.u.t.ter from Long Willows. I think he's the only one of us she likes. She b.u.t.ter from Long Willows. I think he's the only one of us she likes. She thanked him and said he'd always been kind. Rowley, of course, is thanked him and said he'd always been kind. Rowley, of course, is kind." kind."

"There are people," said Poirot, "for whom one has great sympathy - great pity, people who have too heavy a burden to bear. For Rosaleen great pity, people who have too heavy a burden to bear. For Rosaleen Cloade I have great pity. If I could, I would help her. Even now, if she Cloade I have great pity. If I could, I would help her. Even now, if she would listen -" would listen -"

With sudden resolution he got to his feet.

"Come, Mademoiselle," he said, "let us go up to Furrowbank."

"You want me to come with you?"

"If you are prepared to be generous and understanding -"

Lynn cried: "I am - indeed I am -"

Chapter 13.

It took them only about five minutes to reach Furrowbank. The drive wound wound up an incline through carefully ma.s.sed banks of rhododendrons. No trouble or expense had been spared by Gordon Cloade to make Furrowbank a showplace. Cloade to make Furrowbank a showplace.

The parlourmaid who answered the front door looked surprised to see them and a little doubtful as to whether they could see Mrs Cloade. them and a little doubtful as to whether they could see Mrs Cloade. Madam, she said, wasn't up yet. However, she ushered them into the Madam, she said, wasn't up yet. However, she ushered them into the drawing-room and went upstairs with Poirot's message. drawing-room and went upstairs with Poirot's message.

Poirot looked round him. He was contrasting this room with Frances Cloade's drawing-room - the latter such an intimate room, so Cloade's drawing-room - the latter such an intimate room, so characteristic of its mistress. characteristic of its mistress.

The drawing-room at Furrowbank was strictly impersonal - speaking only of wealth tempered by good taste. Gordon Cloade had seen to the only of wealth tempered by good taste. Gordon Cloade had seen to the latter - everything in the room was of good quality and of artistic merit, latter - everything in the room was of good quality and of artistic merit, but there was no sign of any selectiveness, no clue to the personal but there was no sign of any selectiveness, no clue to the personal tastes of the room's mistress. Rosaleen, it seemed, had not stamped tastes of the room's mistress. Rosaleen, it seemed, had not stamped upon the place any individuality of her own. She had lived in upon the place any individuality of her own. She had lived in Furrowbank as a foreign visitor might live at the Ritz or at the Savoy. Furrowbank as a foreign visitor might live at the Ritz or at the Savoy.

"I wonder," thought Poirot, "if the other -"

Lynn broke the chain of his thought by asking him of what he was thinking, and why he looked so grim. thinking, and why he looked so grim.

"The wages of sin, Mademoiselle, are said to be death. But sometimes the wages of sin seem to be luxury. Is that any more endurable, I the wages of sin seem to be luxury. Is that any more endurable, I wonder? To be cut off from one's own home life. To catch, perhaps, a wonder? To be cut off from one's own home life. To catch, perhaps, a single glimpse of it when the way back to it is barred -" single glimpse of it when the way back to it is barred -"

He broke off. The parlourmaid, her superior manner laid aside, a mere frightened middle-aged woman, came running into the room, frightened middle-aged woman, came running into the room, stammering and choking with words she could hardly get out.

"Oh, Miss Marchmont! Oh, sir, the mistress - upstairs - she's very bad - she doesn't speak and I can't rouse her and her hand's so cold." she doesn't speak and I can't rouse her and her hand's so cold."

Sharply, Poirot turned and ran out of the room. Lynn and the maid came behind him. He raced up to the first floor. The parlourmaid came behind him. He raced up to the first floor. The parlourmaid indicated the open door facing the head of the stairs. indicated the open door facing the head of the stairs.

It was a large beautiful bedroom, the sun pouring in through the open windows on to pale beautiful rugs. windows on to pale beautiful rugs.

In the big carved bedstead Rosaleen was lying - apparently asleep. Her long dark lashes lay on her cheeks, her head turned naturally into Her long dark lashes lay on her cheeks, her head turned naturally into the pillow. There was a crumpled-up handkerchief in one hand. She the pillow. There was a crumpled-up handkerchief in one hand. She looked like a sad child who had cried itself to sleep. looked like a sad child who had cried itself to sleep.

Poirot picked up her hand and felt for the pulse. The hand was ice-cold and told him what he already guessed. and told him what he already guessed.

He said quietly to Lynn: "She has been dead some time. She died in her sleep."

"Oh, sir - oh - what shall we do?" The parlourmaid burst out crying.

"Who was her doctor?"

"Uncle Lionel," said Lynn.

Poirot said to the parlourmaid: "Go and telephone to Dr Cloade." She went out of the room, still sobbing. Poirot moved here and there about went out of the room, still sobbing. Poirot moved here and there about the room. the room.

A small white cardboard box beside the bed bore a label, "One powder to be taken at bedtime." Using his handkerchief, he pushed the box to be taken at bedtime." Using his handkerchief, he pushed the box open. There were three powders left. He moved across to the open. There were three powders left. He moved across to the mantelpiece, then to the writing-table. mantelpiece, then to the writing-table.

The chair in front of it was pushed aside, the blotter was open. A sheet of paper was there, with words scrawled in an unformed childish hand. of paper was there, with words scrawled in an unformed childish hand.

"I don't know what to do... I can't go on... I've been so wicked. I must tell someone and get peace... I didn't mean to he so wicked to begin tell someone and get peace... I didn't mean to he so wicked to begin with. I didn't know all that was going to come of it. I must write down -" with. I didn't know all that was going to come of it. I must write down -"

The words sprawled off in a dash. The pen lay where it had been flung down. down.

Poirot stood looking down at those written words. Lynn still stood by the bed looking down at the dead girl. the bed looking down at the dead girl.

Then the door was pushed violently open and David Hunter strode breathlessly into the room. breathlessly into the room.

"David," Lynn started forward. "Have they released you? I'm so glad -"

He brushed her words aside, as he brushed her aside, thrusting her almost roughly out of the way as he bent over the still white figure. almost roughly out of the way as he bent over the still white figure.

"Rosa! Rosaleen..." He touched her hand, then he swung round on Lynn, his face blazing with anger. His words came high and deliberate! Lynn, his face blazing with anger. His words came high and deliberate!

"So you've killed her, have you? You've got rid of her at last! You got rid of me, sent me to gaol on a trumped-up charge, and then, amongst rid of me, sent me to gaol on a trumped-up charge, and then, amongst you all, you put her out of the way! All of you? Or just one of you? I you all, you put her out of the way! All of you? Or just one of you? I don't care which it is! You killed her! You wanted the d.a.m.ned money - don't care which it is! You killed her! You wanted the d.a.m.ned money - now you've got it! Her death gives it to you! You'll all be out of Queer now you've got it! Her death gives it to you! You'll all be out of Queer Street now. You'll all be rich - a lot of dirty murdering thieves, that's Street now. You'll all be rich - a lot of dirty murdering thieves, that's what you are! You weren't able to touch her so long as I was by. I knew what you are! You weren't able to touch her so long as I was by. I knew how to protect my sister - she was never one to be able to protect how to protect my sister - she was never one to be able to protect herself. But when she was alone here, you saw your chance and you herself. But when she was alone here, you saw your chance and you took it." He paused, swayed slightly, and said in a low quivering voice took it." He paused, swayed slightly, and said in a low quivering voice "Murderers."

Lynn cried out: "No, David. No, you're wrong. None of us would kill her. We wouldn't do such a thing." do such a thing."

"One of you killed her, Lynn Marchmont. And you know that as well as I do!" do!"

"I swear we didn't, David. I swear we did nothing of the kind."

The wildness of his gaze softened a little.

"Maybe it wasn't you, Lynn -"

"It wasn't, David, I swear it wasn't -"

Hercule Poirot moved forward a step and coughed. David swung round on him. round on him.

"I think," said Poirot, "that your a.s.sumptions are a little over-dramatic. Why jump to the conclusion that your sister was murdered?" Why jump to the conclusion that your sister was murdered?"

"You say she wasn't murdered? Do you call this -" he indicated the figure on the bed - "a natural death? Rosaleen suffered from nerves, figure on the bed - "a natural death? Rosaleen suffered from nerves, yes, but she had no organic weakness. Her heart was sound enough." yes, but she had no organic weakness. Her heart was sound enough."

"Last night," said Poirot, "before she went to bed, she sat writing here -".