PART SIX DECEMBER 27TH III
Lunch was over.
As they came out of the dining room, Alfred said to Pilar
Will you come into my room? There is something I want to talk over with you.
He led her across the hall and into his study, shutting the door after him. The others went on
into the drawing room. Only Hercule Poirot remained in the hall looking thoughtfully at the closed
study door.
He was aware suddenly of the old butler hovering uneasily near him.
Poirot said: “Yes, Tressilian, what is it
The old man seemed troubled. He said
I wanted to speak to Mr. Lee. But I don’t like to disturb him now.
Poirot said: “Something has occurred
Tressilian said slowly
It’s such a queer thing. It doesn’t make sense.
Tell me,” said Hercule Poirot.
Tressilian hesitated. Then he said
Well, it’s this, sir. You may have noticed that each side of the front door there was a cannon
ball. Big heavy stone things. Well, sir, one of them’s gone.
Hercule Poirot’s eyebrows rose. He said; “Since when
They were both there this morning, sir. I’ll take my oath on that.
Let me see.
Together they went outside the front door. Poirot bent and examined the remaining cannon
ball. When he straightened himself, his face was very grave.
Tressilian quavered
Who’d want to steal a thing like that, sir? It doesn’t make sense.
Poirot said: “I do not like it. I do not like it at all. . . .
Tressilian was watching him anxiously. He said slowly
What’s come to the house, sir? Ever since the master was murdered it doesn’t seem like the
same place. I feel the whole time as though I was going about in a dream. I mix things up, and I
sometimes feel I can’t trust my own eyes.
Hercule Poirot shook his head. He said
You are wrong. Your own eyes are just what you must trust.
Tressilian said, shaking his head
My sight’s bad—I can’t see like I used to do. I get things mixed up—and people. I’m getting
too old for my work.
Hercule Poirot clapped him on the shoulder and said
Courage.
Thank you, sir. You mean it kindly, I know. But there it is, I am too old. I’m always going
back to the old days and the old faces. Miss Jenny and Master David and Master Alfred. I’m
always seeing them as young gentlemen and ladies. Ever since that night when Mr. Harry came
home
Poirot nodded.
Yes,” he said, “that is what I thought. You said just now ‘Ever since the master was
murdered’—but it began before that. It is ever since Mr. Harry came home, is it not, that things
have altered and seemed unreal
The butler said
You’re quite right, sir. It was then. Mr. Harry always brought trouble into the house, even in
the old days.
His eyes wandered back to the empty stone base.
Who can have taken it, sir?” he whispered. “And why? It’s—it’s like a madhouse.
Hercule Poirot said
It is not madness I am afraid of. It is sanity! Somebody, Tressilian, is in great danger.
He turned and reentered the house.
At that moment Pilar came out from the study. A red spot shone on either cheek. She held her
head high and her eyes glittered.
As Poirot came up to her, she suddenly stamped her foot and said: “I will not take it.
Poirot raised his eyebrows. He said
What is it that you will not take, mademoiselle
Pilar said
Alfred has just told me that I am to have my mother’s share of the money my grandfather
left.
Well
I could not get it by law, he said. But he and Lydia and the others consider it should be
mine. They say it is a matter of justice. And so they will hand it over to me.
Poirot said again
Well
Pilar stamped once more with her foot.
Do you not understand? They are giving it to me—giving it to me.
Need that hurt your pride? Since what they say is true—that it should in justice be yours
Pilar said
You do not understand. . . .
Poirot said
On the contrary—I understand very well.
Oh! . . .” She turned away pettishly.
There was a ring at the bell. Poirot glanced over his shoulder. He saw the silhouette of
Superintendent Sugden outside the door. He said hurriedly to Pilar
Where are you going
She said sulkily
To the drawing room. To the others.
Poirot said quickly
Good. Stay with them there. Do not wander about the house alone, especially after dark. Be
on your guard. You are in great danger, mademoiselle. You will never be in greater danger than
you are today.
He turned away from her and went to meet Sugden.
The latter waited till Tressilian had gone back into his pantry.
Then he shoved a cable form under Poirot’s nose.
Now we’ve got it!” he said. “Read that. It’s from the South African Police.
The cable said
Ebenezer Farr’s only son died two years ago.
Sugden said
So now we know! Funny—I was on a different tack altogether. . . .
