Death in the Clouds - Agatha Christie [65]
‘It gives one a clear classification,’ explained Poirot. ‘In four cases—Mr Clancy, Miss Grey, Mr Ryder, and I think I may say Lady Horbury—there is a result on the credit side. In the cases of Mr Gale and Miss Kerr there is a result on the debit side—in four cases there is no result at all—so far as we know—and in one, Dr Bryant, there is either no result or a distinct gain.’
‘And so?’ asked Japp.
‘And so,’ said Poirot, ‘we must go on seeking.’
‘With precious little to go upon,’ said Japp gloomily. ‘The truth of it is that we’re hung up until we can get what we want from Paris. It’s the Giselle side that wants going into. I bet I could have got more out of that maid than Fournier did.’
‘I doubt it, my friend. The most interesting thing about this case is the personality of the dead woman. A woman without friends—without relations—without, as one might say—any personal life. A woman who was once young, who once loved and suffered and then—with a firm hand pulled down the shutter—all that was over; not a photograph, not a souvenir, not a knick-knack. Marie Morisot became Madame Giselle—moneylender.’
‘Do you think there is a clue in her past?’
‘Perhaps.’
‘Well, we could do with it! There aren’t any clues in this case.’
‘Oh, yes, my friend, there are.’
‘The blowpipe, of course—’
‘No, no, not the blowpipe.’
‘Well, let’s hear your ideas of the clues in the case.’
Poirot smiled.
‘I will give them titles—like the names of Mr Clancy’s stories: The Clue of the Wasp. The Clue in the Passenger’s Baggage. The Clue of the Extra Coffee Spoon.’
‘You’re potty,’ said Japp kindly, and added: ‘What’s this about a coffee spoon?’
‘Madame Giselle had two spoons in her saucer.’
‘That’s supposed to mean a wedding.’
‘In this case,’ said Poirot, ‘it meant a funeral.’
Chapter 22
Jane Takes a New Job
When Norman Gale, Jane and Poirot met for dinner on the night after the ‘blackmailing incident’ Norman was relieved to hear that his services as ‘Mr Robinson’ were no longer required.
‘He is dead, the good Mr Robinson,’ said Poirot. He raised his glass. ‘Let us drink to his memory.’
‘RIP,’ said Norman with a laugh.
‘What happened?’ asked Jane of Poirot.
He smiled at her.
‘I found out what I wanted to know.’
‘Was she mixed up with Giselle?’
‘Yes.’
‘That was pretty clear from my interview with her,’ said Norman.
‘Quite so,’ said Poirot. ‘But I wanted a full and detailed story.’
‘And you got it?’
‘I got it.’
They both looked at him inquiringly, but Poirot, in a provoking manner, began to discuss the relationship between a career and life.
‘There are not so many round pegs in square holes as one might think. Most people, in spite of what they tell you, choose the occupations that they secretly desire. You will hear a man say who works in an office, “I should like to explore—to rough it in far countries.” But you will find that he likes reading the fiction that deals with that subject, but that he himself prefers the safety and moderate comfort of an office stool.’
‘According to you,’ said Jane, ‘my desire for foreign travel isn’t genuine—messing about with women’s heads is my true vocation—well, that isn’t true.’
Poirot smiled at her.
‘You are young still. Naturally one tries this, that and the other, but what one eventually settles down into is the life one prefers.’
‘And suppose I prefer being rich?’
‘Ah, that, it is more difficult!’
‘I don’t agree with you,’ said Gale. ‘I’m a dentist by chance—not choice. My uncle was a dentist—he wanted me to come in with him, but I was all for adventure and seeing the world. I chucked dentistry and went off to farm in South Africa. However, that wasn’t much good—I hadn’t got enough experience. I had to accept the old man’s offer and come and set up business with him.’
‘And now you are thinking of chucking dentistry again and going off to Canada. You have a Dominion complex!’
‘This time I shall be forced to do it.’
‘Ah, but it is incredible how often things force one to