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a bit of hero-worship. Anyway, don’t you believe any stories you hear about scandals in the family or her having an affair with anyone or General Ravenscroft with that rather po-faced girl who did filing work for him and all that sort of thing. No. Whoever that wicked murderer was, it’s one who came from outside. The police never got on to anyone, a car was seen near there but there was nothing to it and they never got any further. But all the same I think one ought to look about for somebody perhaps who’d known them in Malaya or abroad or somewhere else, or even when they were first living at Bournemouth. One never knows.’

‘What did your husband think about it?’ said Mrs Oliver. ‘He wouldn’t have known as much about them as you would, of course, but still he might have heard a lot.’

‘Oh, he heard a lot of talk, of course. In the George and Flag, of an evening, you know. People saying all sorts of things. Said as she drank and that cases of empty bottles had been taken out of the house. Absolutely untrue, that was, I know for a fact. And there was a nephew as used to come and see them sometimes. Got into trouble with the police in some way, he did, but I don’t think there was anything in that. The police didn’t, either. Anyway, it wasn’t at that time.’

‘There was no one else really living in the house, was there, except the General and Lady Ravenscroft?’

‘Well, she had a sister as used to come sometimes, Lady Ravenscroft did. She was a half-sister, I think. Something like that. Looked rather like Lady Ravenscroft. She made a bit of trouble between them, I always used to think, when she came for a visit. She was one of those who likes stirring things up, if you know what I mean. Just said things to annoy people.’

‘Was Lady Ravenscroft fond of her?’

‘Well, if you ask me, I don’t think she was really. I think the sister more or less wished herself on to them sometimes and she didn’t like not to have her, but I think she found it pretty trying to have her there. The General quite liked her because she played cards well. Played chess and things with him and he enjoyed that. And she was an amusing woman in a way. Mrs Jerryboy or something like that, her name was. She was a widow, I think. Used to borrow money from them, I think, too.’

‘Did you like her?’

‘Well, if you don’t mind my saying so, ma’am, no, I didn’t like her. I disliked her very much. I thought she was one of those trouble-makers, you know. But she hadn’t been down for some time before the tragedy happened. I don’t really remember very much what she was like. She had a son as came with her once or twice. Didn’t like him very much. Shifty, I thought.’

‘Well,’ said Mrs Oliver. ‘I suppose nobody will really ever know the truth. Not now. Not after all this time. I saw my goddaughter the other day.’

‘Did you now, ma’am. I’d be interested to hear about Miss Celia. How is she? All right?’

‘Yes. She seems quite all right. I think she’s thinking perhaps of getting married. At any rate she’s got a –’

‘Got a steady boy-friend, has she?’ said Mrs Buckle. ‘Ah well, we’ve all got that. Not that we all marry the first one we settle on. Just as well if you don’t, nine times out of ten.’

‘You don’t know a Mrs Burton-Cox, do you?’ asked Mrs Oliver.

‘Burton-Cox? I seem to know that name. No, I don’t think so. Wasn’t living down here or come to stay with them or anything? No, not that I remember. Yet I did hear something. Some old friend of General Ravenscroft, I think, which he’d known in Malaya. But I don’t know.’ She shook her head.

‘Well,’ said Mrs Oliver, ‘I mustn’t stay gossiping with you any longer. It’s been so nice to see you and Marlene.’

Chapter 9

Results of Elephantine Research

‘A telephone call for you,’ said Hercule Poirot’s man-servant, George. ‘From Mrs Oliver.’

‘Ah yes, George. And what had she to say?’

‘She wondered if she could come and see you this evening, sir, after dinner.’

‘That would be admirable,’ said Poirot. ‘Admirable. I have had a tiring day. It will be a stimulating experience to see Mrs Oliver. She is always entertaining as well