gainsthi”
””
”anfeelsaanexpe,hetriestoliveuptoheridealofhi”poirotsighedbuthedidnotarguehehadheardnyhundredsofenprodues,hesupposed,cynically,itghtbetrueherelysaid:
”ishouldliketoetthisfriendofyours”
”idlovetohaveyouethipoirotbutjustatpresentsundayishisonlyfreedayhesaheuntryalltheweek,yousee””ah,ontheneisthejob,bytheway”
”agineorsogoventdepartntiknoosendletterstofrankslondonaddressandtheygetforwarded””thatisalittleodd,isitnot”
”houghtsobutfranksaysitisoftendonenowadays”poirotlookedatherforantorthoutspeaking
thenhesaiddeliberately:
”torroethepleasureoflunchingeatloganserhouseishouldliketodiscussthissadbusinesshyouboth””sureuch”
viii
frankediueighthisappearancearthetalkedreadilyandfluentlyhiseyessidetosidebarrassedheobesuspiciousandslightlyhostile
”idnoideaeanythingaboutit”
heshotheraratherannoyedglanceashespoke
”itiling”ssnevillisveryupsetbytherrleysdeathandiourheadstogether”frankcarterinterruptedhiudely
”rleysdeathiiorleysdeath,gladystherethaticansee””oh,frank,idontthinkyououghttosaythateahundredpoundsigottheletteraboutitlastnight””thatsallright,”adttedfrankgrudgingly”butafterall,heheedallthefatfeeswhy,hedid””eaverygoodsalary”
”notablealtogether,gladys,girl,youletyourselfbeputupon,youknoethechuck””hedidntunderstand”
”heunderstoodallrightthensdeadnoapieynd””youaoingofhisdeath,didyounot”herculepoirotinquiredgentlyfrankcartersaidangrily:
”whosbeensayingso”
”youdideround,didyounot”
”ifididiissnevillhere”
”buttheytoldyoushewasaway”
”yes,andthatdeprettysuspiehadgoneonlongenoughianttotellrleythatinsteadofbeingapooruneloyedrotter,idlandedagoodjobandthatitegladyshandedinheoticeandthoughtabouthertrousseau””butyoudidnotactuallytellhio”
”no,igottiredofausoleuiaway”
”edidyouleave”
”icantreer”
”edidyouarrivethen”
”idontknoagine”
”andyoustayedhalfanhourorlongerorlessthanhalfanhour””idontknonotthesortofchapaclock”
”hereanyoneinthehere”
”thereblokein,buthetherelongafterthatiwasalone””thenyousthaveleftbeforehalfpasttealadyarrived””daresayididtheplaynervesasitellyou”
poiroteyedhihoughtfully
theblusterdidnotringquitetrue
andyetthatghtbeexplainedbyrenervousnesspoirotsnnerpleandfriendlyashesaid:
”ssnevilltellsthatyouhavebeenveryfortunateandhavefoundaverygoodjobindeed””thepaysgood”
”tenpoundsae”
”thatsrightnottoodusty,isitshoyndtoit”
hestle
”yes,indeedandthetooarduous”
frankcartersaidshortly:
”nottoobad”
”andinteresting”
”oh,yes,quiteinterestingtalkingofjobs,ivealuestouchreallystlydivorcenowadays””idonotnceselfhdivorce”
”reallythenidontseehowyoulive”
”inage,friend,inage”
”butyourerightatthetopofthetree,arentyou,poirot”putingladysnevill”rleyusedtosaysoianyourethesortofpersonroyaltyeofficeorduchesses”poirotsleduponher
”youflatter,”hesaid
ix
poirotethroughthedesertedstreetsinathoughtfulfraofndin,herangupjapp
”forgivetroublingyou,friend,butdidyoueverdoanythinginthetteroftracingthattelegrahattogladysnevill””stillharpingonthesubjeersetthetelegraichbayouknohelondonsuburb”herculepoirotsaidappreciatively:
”thathelylikerichbouetocarrynviction”
hepaused
”doyouknoithink,japp”
”well”
”therearesignsofbrainsinthisbusiness”
”herurder”
”ho”
”incidencesoonehegirl”
”hey”
”oh,goodness,poirot,or,thatsall”
”andsobodyfeltlikebeingfunnyjustonthedaythatrleya
