Black Coffee - Agatha Christie [18]
‘I comprehend perfectly,’ said Poirot, ‘but for the moment it is neither my fee nor my expenses which interests me.’
‘No? Then what – er –?’
‘What does interest me, Mr Amory? I will tell you. It is just a little point, of no consequence, of course. But it was your father who sent for me to come. Why is it not he who tells me to go?’
‘Oh, of course. I’m sorry,’ said Richard, turning towards Sir Claud. ‘Father, would you please tell Monsieur Poirot that we no longer have any need of his services?’
Sir Claud did not answer.
‘Father!’ Richard exclaimed, moving quickly to Sir Claud’s arm-chair. He bent over his father, and then turned around wildly. ‘Dr Carelli,’ he called.
Miss Amory rose, white-faced. Carelli swiftly crossed to Sir Claud, and felt his pulse. Frowning, he placed his hand over Sir Claud’s heart, and then shook his head.
Poirot moved slowly to the arm-chair, and stood looking down at the motionless body of the scientist. ‘Ye-es – I fear –,’ he murmured, as though to himself, ‘I very much fear –’
‘What do you fear?’ asked Barbara, moving towards him.
Poirot looked at her. ‘I fear that Sir Claud has sent for me too late, mademoiselle.’
Chapter 6
Stunned silence followed Hercule Poirot’s statement. Dr Carelli continued his examination of Sir Claud for a few moments before straightening himself and turning to the others. Addressing Richard Amory, ‘I am afraid your father is dead,’ he confirmed.
Richard stared at him in disbelief, as though he were unable to take in the Italian doctor’s words. Then, ‘My God – what was it? Heart failure?’ he asked.
‘I – I suppose so,’ replied Carelli somewhat doubtfully.
Barbara moved to her aunt to comfort her, for Miss Amory seemed about to faint. Edward Raynor joined them, helping to support Miss Amory, and whispering to Barbara as he did so, ‘I suppose that fellow is a real doctor?’
‘Yes, but only an Italian one,’ Barbara murmured in reply, as between them they settled Miss Amory into a chair. Overhearing Barbara’s remark, Poirot shook his head energetically. Then, stroking his luxuriant moustache with exquisite care, he smiled as he commented, softly, ‘Me, I am a detective – but only a Belgian one. Nevertheless, mademoiselle, we foreigners do arrive at the correct answer occasionally.’
Barbara had the grace to look at least a trifle embarrassed. She and Raynor remained in conversation for a few moments, but then Lucia approached Poirot, taking his arm and drawing him aside from the others.
‘Monsieur Poirot,’ she urged him breathlessly, ‘you must stay! You must not let them send you away.’
Poirot regarded her steadily. His face remained quite impassive as he asked her, ‘Is it that you wish me to stay, madame?’
‘Yes, yes,’ replied Lucia, glancing anxiously towards the body of Sir Claud still seated in its upright position in the arm-chair. ‘There’s something wrong about all this. My father-in-law’s heart was perfectly all right. Perfectly, I tell you. Please, Monsieur Poirot, you must find out what has happened.’
Dr Carelli and Richard Amory continued to hover near the body of Sir Claud. Richard, in an agony of indecision, appeared to be almost petrified into immobility. ‘I would suggest, Mr Amory,’ Dr Carelli urged him, ‘that you send for your father’s own physician. I assume he had one?’
Richard roused himself with an effort. ‘What? Oh yes,’ he responded. ‘Dr Graham. Young Kenneth Graham. He has a practice in the village. In fact, he’s rather keen on my cousin Barbara. I mean – sorry, that’s irrelevant, isn’t it?’ Glancing across the room at Barbara, he called to her. ‘What’s Kenneth Graham’s phone number?’
‘Market Cleve five,’ Barbara told him. Richard moved to the phone, lifted the receiver and asked for the number. While he was waiting to be connected, Edward Raynor, recalling his secretarial duties, asked Richard, ‘Do you think I should order the car for Monsieur Poirot?’
Poirot spread out his hands apologetically. He was about to speak when Lucia forestalled him. ‘Monsieur Poirot is remaining – at my request,’ she announced to the company in