Taken At The Flood Part 28

For she had no illusions. Life with David was a gamble - an adventure that was as likely to turn out badly as to turn out well. He himself had that was as likely to turn out badly as to turn out well. He himself had warned her... The night of the murder, over the telephone. warned her... The night of the murder, over the telephone.

And now, a few hours ago, he had said: "I meant to go out of your life. I was a fool - to think I could leave you behind me. We'll go to London and be married by special licence - oh, behind me. We'll go to London and be married by special licence - oh, yes, I'm not going to give you the chance of shilly-shallying about. yes, I'm not going to give you the chance of shilly-shallying about. You've got roots here, roots that hold you down. I've got to pull you up You've got roots here, roots that hold you down. I've got to pull you up by the roots." He had added: "We'll break it to Rowley when you're by the roots." He had added: "We'll break it to Rowley when you're actually Mrs David Hunter. Poor devil, it's the best way to break it to actually Mrs David Hunter. Poor devil, it's the best way to break it to him." him."

But to that she did not agree, though she had not said so at the time. No, she must tell Rowley herself. No, she must tell Rowley herself.

It was to Rowley she was going now!

The storm was just starting as Lynn tapped at the door of Long Willows. Willows.

Rowley opened it and looked astonished to see her.

"Hallo, Lynn, why didn't you ring up and say you were coming? I might have been out." have been out."

"I want to talk to you, Rowley."

He stood aside to let her pa.s.s and followed her into the big kitchen. The remains of his supper were on the table. The remains of his supper were on the table.

"I'm planning to get an Aga or an Esse put in here," he said. "Easier for you. And a new sink - steel -" you. And a new sink - steel -"

She interrupted. "Don't make plans, Rowley."

"You mean because that poor kid isn't buried yet? I suppose it does seem rather heartless. But she never struck me as a particularly seem rather heartless. But she never struck me as a particularly happy person. Sickly, I suppose. Never got over that d.a.m.ned Air Raid. happy person. Sickly, I suppose. Never got over that d.a.m.ned Air Raid. Anyway, there it is. She's dead and in her grave and oh the difference Anyway, there it is. She's dead and in her grave and oh the difference to me - or rather to us -" to me - or rather to us -"

Lynn caught her breath.

"No, Rowley. There isn't any 'us.' That's what I came to tell you."

He stared at her. She said quietly, hating herself, but steadfast in her purpose: purpose: "I'm going to marry David Hunter, Rowley."

She did not know quite what she expected - protests, perhaps an angry outburst - but she certainly did not expect Rowley to take it as he angry outburst - but she certainly did not expect Rowley to take it as he did. did.

He stared at her for a minute or two, then he went across and poked at the stove, turning at last in an almost absent-minded manner. the stove, turning at last in an almost absent-minded manner.

"Well," he said, "let's get it clear? You're going to marry David Hunter. Why?" Why?"

"Because I love him."

"You love me."

"No. I did love you - when I went away. But it's been four years and I've -I've changed. We've both changed."

"You're wrong..." he said quietly. "I haven't changed."

"Well, perhaps you haven't changed so much."

"I haven't changed at all. I haven't had much chance to change. I've just gone plodding on here. I haven't dropped from parachutes or just gone plodding on here. I haven't dropped from parachutes or swarmed up cliffs by night or wound an arm round a man in the swarmed up cliffs by night or wound an arm round a man in the darkness and stabbed him -" darkness and stabbed him -"

"Rowley -"

"I haven't been to the war. I haven't fought. I don't know what war is!

I've led a nice safe life here, down on the farm. Lucky Rowley! But as a husband, you'd be ashamed of me!" husband, you'd be ashamed of me!"

"No, Rowley - oh, no! It isn't that at all."

"But I tell you it is!" He came nearer to her. The blood was welling up in his neck, the veins of his forehead were starting out. That look in his his neck, the veins of his forehead were starting out. That look in his eyes - she had seen it once as she pa.s.sed a bull in a field. Tossing its eyes - she had seen it once as she pa.s.sed a bull in a field. Tossing its head, stamping its foot, slowly lowering its head with the great horns. head, stamping its foot, slowly lowering its head with the great horns. Goaded to a dull fury, a blind rage... Goaded to a dull fury, a blind rage...

"Be quiet, Lynn, you'll listen to me for a change. I've missed what I ought to have had. I've missed my chance of fighting for my country. ought to have had. I've missed my chance of fighting for my country. I've seen my best friend go and be killed. I've seen my girl - my girl - I've seen my best friend go and be killed. I've seen my girl - my girl - dress up in uniform and go overseas. I've been Just the Man She Left dress up in uniform and go overseas. I've been Just the Man She Left Behind Her. My life's been h.e.l.l - don't you understand, Lynn? It's been Behind Her. My life's been h.e.l.l - don't you understand, Lynn? It's been h.e.l.l. And then you came back - and since then it's been worse h.e.l.l. h.e.l.l. And then you came back - and since then it's been worse h.e.l.l. Ever since that night at Aunt Kathie's when I saw you looking at David Ever since that night at Aunt Kathie's when I saw you looking at David Hunter across the table. But he's not going to have you, do you hear? If Hunter across the table. But he's not going to have you, do you hear? If you're not for me, then no one shall have you. What do you think I am?" you're not for me, then no one shall have you. What do you think I am?"

"Rowley -"

She had risen, was retreating a step at a time. She was terrified. This man was not a man any longer, he was a brute beast. man was not a man any longer, he was a brute beast.

"I've killed two people," said Rowley Cloade. "Do you think I shall stick at killing a third?" at killing a third?"

"Rowley -"

He was upon her now, his hands round her throat...

"I can't bear any more, Lynn -"

The hands tightened round her neck, the room whirled, blackness, spinning blackness, suffocation - everything going dark... spinning blackness, suffocation - everything going dark...

And then, suddenly, a cough. A prim, slightly artificial cough.

Rowley paused, his hands relaxed, fell to his sides. Lynn, released, sank in a crumpled heap on the floor. sank in a crumpled heap on the floor.

Just inside the door, Hercule Poirot stood apologetically coughing.

"I hope," he said, "that I do not intrude? I knocked. Yes, indeed, I knocked, but no one answered... I suppose you were busy?" knocked, but no one answered... I suppose you were busy?"

For a moment the air was tense, electric.

Rowley stared. It looked for a moment as though he might fling himself on Hercule Poirot, but finally he turned away. on Hercule Poirot, but finally he turned away.

He said in a flat empty voice: "You turned up - just in the nick of time."

Chapter 16.

Into an atmosphere quivering with danger Hercule Poirot brought his own atmosphere of deliberate anticlimax. own atmosphere of deliberate anticlimax.

"The kettle, it is boiling?" he inquired.

Rowley said heavily - stupidly - "Yes, it's boiling."

"Then you will, perhaps, make some coffee? Or some tea if it is easier." easier."

Like an automaton Rowley obeyed.

Hercule Poirot took a large clean handkerchief from his pocket, he soaked it in cold water, wrung it out and came to Lynn. soaked it in cold water, wrung it out and came to Lynn.

"There, Mademoiselle, if you fasten that round your throat - so. Yes, I have the safety-pin. There, that will at once ease the pain." have the safety-pin. There, that will at once ease the pain."

Croaking hoa.r.s.ely, Lynn thanked him.

The kitchen of Long Willows, Poirot fussing about - it all had for her the quality of a nightmare. She felt horribly ill, and her throat was paining quality of a nightmare. She felt horribly ill, and her throat was paining her badly. She staggered to her feet and Poirot guided her gently to a her badly. She staggered to her feet and Poirot guided her gently to a chair and put her into it. chair and put her into it.

"There," he said, and over his shoulder: "The coffee?" he demanded.

"It's ready," said Rowley.

He brought it. Poirot poured out a cup and took it to Lynn.

"Look here," said Rowley, "I don't think you understand. I tried to strangle Lynn." strangle Lynn."

"Tscha, tscha," said Poirot in a vexed voice. He seemed to be deploring a lapse of bad taste on Rowley's part. deploring a lapse of bad taste on Rowley's part.

"Two deaths I've got on my conscience," said Rowley. "Hers would have been the third - if you hadn't arrived." have been the third - if you hadn't arrived."

"Let us drink up our coffee," said Poirot, "and not talk of deaths. It is not agreeable for Mademoiselle Lynn." not agreeable for Mademoiselle Lynn."

"My G.o.d!" said Rowley. He stared at Poirot.

Lynn sipped her coffee with difficulty. It was hot and strong. Presently she felt her throat less painful, and the stimulant began to act. she felt her throat less painful, and the stimulant began to act.

"There, that is better, yes?" said Poirot.

She nodded.

"Now we can talk," said Poirot. "When I say that, I mean, really, that I shall talk." shall talk."

"How much do you know?" said Rowley heavily. "Do you know that I killed Charles Trenton?" killed Charles Trenton?"

"Yes," said Poirot. "I have known that for some time."

The door burst open. It was David Hunter.

"Lynn," he cried. "You never told me -"

He stopped, puzzled, his eyes going from one to the other.

"What's the matter with your throat?"

"Another cup," said Poirot. Rowley took one from the dresser. Poirot received it, filled it with coffee and handed it to David. Once more, received it, filled it with coffee and handed it to David. Once more, Poirot dominated the situation. Poirot dominated the situation.

"Sit down," he said to David. "We will sit here and drink coffee, and you shall all three listen to Hercule Poirot while he gives you a lecture on shall all three listen to Hercule Poirot while he gives you a lecture on crime." crime."

He looked round on them and nodded his head.

Lynn thought: "This is some fantastic nightmare. It isn't real!"

They were all, it seemed, under the sway of this absurd little man with the big moustaches. They sat there, obediently - Rowley the killer; she, the big moustaches. They sat there, obediently - Rowley the killer; she, his victim; David, the man who loved her - all holding cups of coffee, his victim; David, the man who loved her - all holding cups of coffee, listening to this little man who in some strange way dominated them listening to this little man who in some strange way dominated them all. all.

"What causes crime?" Hercule Poirot demanded rhetorically. "It is a question, that. What stimulus is needed? What inbred predisposition question, that. What stimulus is needed? What inbred predisposition does there have to be? Is every one capable of crime - of some crime? does there have to be? Is every one capable of crime - of some crime?

And what happens - that is what I have asked myself from the beginning, what happens when people who have been protected from beginning, what happens when people who have been protected from real life - from its a.s.saults and ravages - are suddenly deprived of that protection? protection?

"I am speaking, you see, of the Cloades. There is only one Cloade here, and so I can speak very freely. From the beginning the problem here, and so I can speak very freely. From the beginning the problem has fascinated me. Here is a whole family whose circ.u.mstances have has fascinated me. Here is a whole family whose circ.u.mstances have prevented from ever having to stand on their own feet. Though each prevented from ever having to stand on their own feet. Though each one of the family had a life of his or her own, a profession, yet really one of the family had a life of his or her own, a profession, yet really they have never escaped from the shadow of a beneficent protection. they have never escaped from the shadow of a beneficent protection. They have had, always, freedom from fear. They have lived in security - They have had, always, freedom from fear. They have lived in security - and a security which was unnatural and artificial. Gordon Cloade was and a security which was unnatural and artificial. Gordon Cloade was always there behind them. always there behind them.

"What I say to you is this, there is no telling what a human character is, until the test comes. To most of us the test comes early in life. A man is until the test comes. To most of us the test comes early in life. A man is confronted quite soon with the necessity to stand on his own feet, to confronted quite soon with the necessity to stand on his own feet, to face dangers and difficulties and to take his own line of dealing with face dangers and difficulties and to take his own line of dealing with them. It may be the straight way, it may be the crooked way - them. It may be the straight way, it may be the crooked way - whichever it is, a man usually learns early just what he is made of. whichever it is, a man usually learns early just what he is made of.

"But the Cloades had no opportunity of knowing their own weaknesses until the time when they were suddenly shorn of protection and were until the time when they were suddenly shorn of protection and were forced, quite unprepared, to face difficulty. One thing, and one thing forced, quite unprepared, to face difficulty. One thing, and one thing only, stood between them and the resumption of security, the life of only, stood between them and the resumption of security, the life of Rosaleen Cloade. I am quite certain in my own mind that every single Rosaleen Cloade. I am quite certain in my own mind that every single one of the Cloades thought at one time or another, 'If Rosaleen was to one of the Cloades thought at one time or another, 'If Rosaleen was to die -'" die -'"

Lynn shivered. Poirot paused, letting the words sink in, then went on: "The thought of death, her death, pa.s.sed through every mind - of that I am certain. Did the further thought of murder pa.s.s through also? And am certain. Did the further thought of murder pa.s.s through also? And did the thought, in one particular instance, go beyond thinking and did the thought, in one particular instance, go beyond thinking and became action." became action."

Without a change of voice he turned to Rowley: "Did you think of killing her?"

"Yes," said Rowley. "It was the day she came to the farm. There was no one else there. I thought then - I could kill her quite easily. She no one else there. I thought then - I could kill her quite easily. She looked pathetic - and very pretty - like the calves I'd sent to market. looked pathetic - and very pretty - like the calves I'd sent to market. You can see how pathetic they are - but you send them off just the You can see how pathetic they are - but you send them off just the same. I wondered, really, that she wasn't afraid... She would have same. I wondered, really, that she wasn't afraid... She would have been, if she'd known what was in my mind... Yes, it was in my mind been, if she'd known what was in my mind... Yes, it was in my mind when I took the lighter from her to light her cigarette." when I took the lighter from her to light her cigarette."

"She left it behind, I suppose. That's how you got hold of it."

Rowley nodded.

"I don't know why I didn't kill her," he said wonderingly. "I thought of it. One could have faked it up as an accident, or something." One could have faked it up as an accident, or something."

"It was not your type of crime," said Poirot. "That is the answer. The man you did kill, you killed in a rage - and you did not really mean to kill man you did kill, you killed in a rage - and you did not really mean to kill him, I fancy?" him, I fancy?"

"Good Lord, no. I hit him on the jaw. He went over backwards and hit his head on that marble fender. I couldn't believe it when I found he his head on that marble fender. I couldn't believe it when I found he was dead." was dead."

Then suddenly he shot a startled glance at Poirot: "How did you know that?"

"I think," said Poirot, "that I have reconstructed your actions fairly accurately. You shall tell me if I am wrong. You went to the Stag, did accurately. You shall tell me if I am wrong. You went to the Stag, did you not, and Beatrice Lippincott told you about the conversation she you not, and Beatrice Lippincott told you about the conversation she had overheard? Thereupon you went, as you have said, to your had overheard? Thereupon you went, as you have said, to your uncle's, Jeremy Cloade, to get his opinion as a solicitor upon the uncle's, Jeremy Cloade, to get his opinion as a solicitor upon the position. Now something happened there, something that made you position. Now something happened there, something that made you change your mind about consulting him. I think I know what that change your mind about consulting him. I think I know what that something was. You saw a photograph -" something was. You saw a photograph -"

Rowley nodded.

"Yes, it was on the desk. I suddenly realised the likeness. I realised too why the fellow's face had seemed so familiar. I tumbled to it that why the fellow's face had seemed so familiar. I tumbled to it that Jeremy and Frances were getting some relation of hers to put up a Jeremy and Frances were getting some relation of hers to put up a stunt and get money out of Rosaleen. It made me see red. I went stunt and get money out of Rosaleen. It made me see red. I went headlong back to the Stag and up to No. 5 and accused the fellow of headlong back to the Stag and up to No. 5 and accused the fellow of being a fraud. He laughed and admitted it - said David Hunter was being a fraud. He laughed and admitted it - said David Hunter was going to come across all right with the money that very evening. I just going to come across all right with the money that very evening. I just saw red when I realised that my own family was, as I saw it, double- saw red when I realised that my own family was, as I saw it, double- crossing me. I called him a swine and hit him. He went down as I said." crossing me. I called him a swine and hit him. He went down as I said."

There was a pause. Poirot said: "And then?"

"It was the lighter," said Rowley slowly. "It fell out of my pocket. I'd been carrying it about meaning to give it back to Rosaleen when I saw been carrying it about meaning to give it back to Rosaleen when I saw her. It fell down on the body, and I saw the initials, D.H. It was David's, her. It fell down on the body, and I saw the initials, D.H. It was David's, not hers. not hers.

"Ever since that party at Aunt Kathie's I'd realised - well, never mind all that. I've sometimes thought I'm going mad - perhaps I am a bit mad. that. I've sometimes thought I'm going mad - perhaps I am a bit mad. First Johnny going - and then the war - I - I can't talk about things but First Johnny going - and then the war - I - I can't talk about things but sometimes I'd feel blind with rage - and now Lynn - and this fellow. I sometimes I'd feel blind with rage - and now Lynn - and this fellow. I dragged the dead man into the middle of the room and turned him over dragged the dead man into the middle of the room and turned him over on his face. Then I picked up those heavy steel tongs - well, I won't go on his face. Then I picked up those heavy steel tongs - well, I won't go into details. I wiped off fingerprints, cleaned up the marble curb - then into details. I wiped off fingerprints, cleaned up the marble curb - then I deliberately put the hands of the wrist-watch at ten minutes past nine I deliberately put the hands of the wrist-watch at ten minutes past nine and smashed it. I took away his ration book and his papers - I thought and smashed it. I took away his ration book and his papers - I thought his ident.i.ty might be traced through them. Then I got out. It seemed to his ident.i.ty might be traced through them. Then I got out. It seemed to me that with Beatrice's story of what she'd overheard, David would be me that with Beatrice's story of what she'd overheard, David would be for it all right." for it all right."