PART SIX DECEMBER 27TH IV
Pilar marched into the drawing room, her head held high.
She went straight up to Lydia, who was sitting in the window with some knitting.
Pilar said
Lydia, I have come to tell you that I will not take that money. I am going away—at once.
Lydia looked astonished. She laid down her knitting. She said
My dear child, Alfred must have explained very badly! It is not in the least a matter of
charity, if that is what you feel. Really, it is not a question of kindness or generosity on our part. It
is a plain matter of right and wrong. In the ordinary course of events your mother would have
inherited this money, and you would have come into it from her. It is your right—your blood right.
It is a matter, not of charity, but of justice
Pilar said fiercely
And that is why I cannot do it—not when you speak like that—not when you are like that! I
enjoyed coming here. It was fun! It was an adventure, but now you have spoilt it all! I am going
away now, at once—you will never be bothered by me again. . . .
Tears choked her voice. She turned and ran blindly out of the room.
Lydia stared. She said helplessly
I’d no idea she would take it like that
Hilda said
The child seems quite upset.
George cleared his throat and said portentously
Er—as I pointed out this morning—the principle involved is wrong. Pilar has the wit to see
that for herself. She refuses to accept charity
Lydia said sharply
It is not charity. It is her right
George said
She does not seem to think so
Superintendent Sugden and Hercule Poirot came in. The former looked round and asked
Where’s Mr. Farr? I want a word with him.
Before anyone had time to answer, Hercule Poirot said sharply
Where is the Señorita Estravados
George Lee said with a trace of malicious satisfaction
Going to clear out, so she says. Apparently she has had enough of her English relations.
Poirot wheeled round.
He said to Sugden
Come
As the two men emerged into the hall, there was the sound of a heavy crash and a faraway
shriek.
Poirot cried
Quick . . . Come. . . .
They raced along the hall and up the far staircase. The door of Pilar’s room was open and a
man stood in the doorway. He turned his head as they ran up. It was Stephen Farr.
He said
She’s alive. . . .
Pilar stood crouched against the wall of her room. She was staring at the floor where a big
stone cannon ball was lying.
She said breathlessly
It was on top of my door, balanced there. It would have crashed down on my head when I
came in, but my skirt caught on a nail and jerked me back just as I was coming in.
Poirot knelt down and examined the nail. On it was a thread of purple tweed. He looked up
and nodded gravely.
That nail, mademoiselle,” he said, “saved your life.
The superintendent said, bewildered
Look here, what’s the meaning of all this
Pilar said
Someone tried to kill me
She nodded her head several times.
Superintendent Sugden glanced up at the door.
Booby trap,” he said. “An old-fashioned booby trap—and its purpose was murder! That’s
the second murder planned in this house. But this time it didn’t come off
Stephen Farr said huskily
Thank God you’re safe.
Pilar flung out her hands in a wide, appealing gesture.
Madre de Dios,” she cried. “Why should anyone wish to kill me? What have I done
Hercule Poirot said slowly
You should rather ask, mademoiselle, what do I know
She stared.
Know? I do not know anything.
Hercule Poirot said
That is where you are wrong. Tell me, Mademoiselle Pilar, where were you at the time of
the murder? You were not in this room.
I was. I have told you so
Superintendent Sugden said with deceptive mildness
Yes, but you weren’t speaking the truth when you said that, you know. You told us you
heard your grandfather scream—you couldn’t have heard that if you were in here—Mr. Poirot and
I tested that yesterday.
Oh!” Pilar caught her breath.
Poirot said
You were somewhere very much nearer his room. I will tell you where I think you were
mademoiselle. You were in the recess with the statues quite close to your grandfather’s door.
Pilar said, startled
Oh . . . How did you know
Poirot said with a faint smile
Mr. Farr saw you there.
Stephen said sharply
I did not. That’s an absolute lie
Poirot said
I ask your pardon, Mr. Farr, but you did see her. Remember your impression that there were
three statues in that recess, not two. Only one person wore a white dress that night, Mademoiselle
Estravados. She was the third white figure you saw. That is so, is it not, mademoiselle
Pilar said, after a moment’s hesitation: “Yes, it is true.
Poirot said gently: “Now tell us, mademoiselle, the whole truth. Why were you there
Pilar said
I left the drawing room after dinner and I thought I would go and see my grandfather. I
thought he would be pleased. But when I turned into the passage I saw someone else was there at
his door. I did not want to be seen because I knew my grandfather had said he did not want to see
anyone that night. I slipped into the recess in case the person at the door turned round.
Then, all at once, I heard the most horrible sounds, tables—chairs”—she waved her hands
everything falling and crashing. I did not move. I do not know why. I was frightened. And then
there was a terrible scream”—she crossed herself—“and my heart it stopped beating, and I said
Someone is dead. . . .
And then
And then people began coming running along the passage and I came out at the end and
joined them.
Superintendent Sugden said sharply
You said nothing of all this when we first questioned you. Why not
Pilar shook her head. She said, with an air of wisdom
It is not good to tell too much to the police. I thought, you see, that if I said I was near there
you might think that I had killed him. So I said I was in my room.
Sugden said sharply
If you tell deliberate lies all that it ends in is that you’re bound to come under suspicion.
Stephen Farr said: “Pilar
Yes
Who did you see standing at the door when you turned into the passage? Tell us.
Sugden said: “Yes, tell us.
For a moment the girl hesitated. Her eyes opened, then narrowed. She said slowly
I don’t know who it was. It was too dimly lit to see. But it was a woman. . . .
