After the Funeral - Agatha Christie [31]
“But you have no doubts about the wife?”
“No—no—there is a certain rather startling callousness…but no, I really cannot envisage the hatchet. She is a fragile-looking creature.”
“And beautiful!” said Poirot with a faint cynical smile. “And the other niece?”
“Susan? She is a very different type from Rosamund—a girl of remarkable ability, I should say. She and her husband were at home together that day. I said (falsely) that I had tried to get them on the telephone on the afternoon in question. Greg said very quickly that the telephone had been out of order all day. He had tried to get someone and failed.”
“So again it is not conclusive… You cannot eliminate as you hoped to do… What is the husband like?”
“I find him hard to make out. He has a somewhat unpleasing personality though one cannot say exactly why he makes this impression. As for Susan—”
“Yes?”
“Susan reminds me of her uncle. She has the vigour, the drive, the mental capacity of Richard Abernethie. It may be my fancy that she lacks some of the kindliness and the warmth of my old friend.”
“Women are never kind,” remarked Poirot. “Though they can sometimes be tender. She loves her husband?”
“Devotedly, I should say. But really, Poirot, I can’t believe— I won’t believe for one moment that Susan—”
“You prefer George?” said Poirot. “It is natural! As for me, I am not so sentimental about beautiful young ladies. Now tell me about your visit to the older generation?”
Mr. Entwhistle described his visit to Timothy and Maude at some length. Poirot summarized the result.
“So Mrs. Abernethie is a good mechanic. She knows all about the inside of a car. And Mr. Abernethie is not the invalid he likes to think himself. He goes out for walks and is, according to you, capable of vigorous action. He is also a bit of an egomaniac and he resented his brother’s success and superior character.”
“He spoke very affectionately of Cora.”
“And ridiculed her silly remark after the funeral. What of the sixth beneficiary?”
“Helen? Mrs. Leo? I do not suspect her for a moment. In any case, her innocence will be easy to prove. She was at Enderby. With three servants in the house.”
“Eh bien, my friend,” said Poirot. “Let us be practical. What do you want me to do?”
“I want to know the truth, Poirot.”
“Yes. Yes, I should feel the same in your place.”
“And you’re the man to find it out for me. I know you don’t take cases anymore, but I ask you to take this one. This is a matter of business. I will be responsible for your fees. Come now, money is always useful.”
Poirot grinned.
“Not if it all goes in the taxes! But I will admit, your problem interests me! Because it is not easy… It is all so nebulous… One thing, my friend, had better be done by you. After that, I will occupy myself of everything. But I think it will be best if you yourself seek out the doctor who attended Mr. Richard Abernethie. You know him?”
“Slightly.”
“What is he like?”
“Middle-aged G.P. Quite competent. On very friendly terms with Richard. A thoroughly good fellow.”
“Then seek him out. He will speak more freely to you than to me. Ask him about Mr. Abernethie’s illness. Find out what medicines Mr. Abernethie was taking at the time of his death and before. Find out if Richard Abernethie ever said anything to his doctor about fancying himself being poisoned. By the way, this Miss Gilchrist is sure that he used the term poisoned in talking to his sister?”
Mr. Entwhistle reflected.
“It was the word she used—but she is the type of witness who often changes the actual words used, because she is convinced she is keeping to the sense of them. If Richard had said he was afraid someone wanted to kill him, Miss Gilchrist might have assumed