Sad cypress - Agatha Christie [48]
Roddy said slowly:
‘No, but somebody could have got it for her.’
‘Who?’
‘Well, one of the nurses.’
‘No, neither of the nurses. They would understand the danger to themselves far too well! The nurses are the last people to suspect.’
‘Then – somebody else…’
He started, opened his mouth, shut it again.
Poirot said quietly:
‘You have remembered something, have you not?’
Roddy said doubtfully:
‘Yes – but –’
‘You wonder if you ought to tell me?’
‘Well, yes…’
Poirot said, a curious smile tilting the corners of his mouth:
‘When did Miss Carlisle say it?’
Roddy drew a deep breath.
‘By Jove, you are a wizard! It was in the train coming down. We’d had the telegram, you know, saying Aunt Laura had had another stroke. Elinor said how terribly sorry she was for her, how the poor dear hated being ill, and that now she would be more helpless still and that it would be absolute hell for her. Elinor said, “One does feel that people ought to be set free if they themselves really want it.”’
‘And you said – what?’
‘I agreed.’
Poirot spoke very gravely:
‘Just now, Mr Welman, you scouted the possibility of Miss Carlisle having killed your aunt for monetary gain. Do you also scout the possibility that she may have killed Mrs Welman out of compassion?’
Roddy said:
‘I – I – no, I can’t…’
Hercule Poirot bowed his head.
He said:
‘Yes, I thought – I was sure – that you would say that…’
Chapter 7
In the offices of Messrs Seddon, Blatherwick & Seddon, Hercule Poirot was received with extreme caution, not to say distrust.
Mr Seddon, a forefinger stroking his closely shaven chin, was non-committal and his shrewd grey eyes appraised the detective thoughtfully.
‘Your name is familiar to me, M. Poirot, of course. But I am at a loss to understand your position in this case.’
Hercule Poirot said:
‘I am acting, Monsieur, in the interests of your client.’
‘Ah – indeed? And who – er – engaged you in that capacity?’
‘I am here at the request of Dr Lord.’
Mr Seddon’s eyebrows rose very high.
‘Indeed! That seems to me very irregular – very irregular. Dr Lord, I understand, has been subpœnaed as a witness for the prosecution.’
Hercule Poirot shrugged his shoulders.
‘Does that matter?’
Mr Seddon said:
‘The arrangements for Miss Carlisle’s defence are entirely in our hands. I really do not think we need any outside assistance in this case.’
Poirot asked:
‘Is that because your client’s innocence will be so easily proved?’
Mr Seddon winced. Then he became wrathful in a dry legal fashion.
‘That,’ he said, ‘is a most improper question. Most improper.’
Hercule Poirot said:
‘The case against your client is a very strong one…’
‘I really fail to see, M. Poirot, how you know anything about it.’
Poirot said:
‘Although I am actually retained by Dr Lord, I have here a note from Mr Roderick Welman.’
He handed it over with a bow.
Mr Seddon perused the few lines it contained and remarked grudgingly:
‘That, of course, throws a new complexion on the matter. Mr Welman has made himself responsible for Miss Carlisle’s defence. We are acting at his request.’
He added with visible distaste:
‘Our firm does very little in – er – criminal procedure, but I felt it my duty to my – er – late client – to undertake the defence of her niece. I may say we have already briefed Sir Edwin Bulmer, K.C.’
Poirot said, and his smile was suddenly ironic:
‘No expense will be spared. Very right and proper!’
Looking over his glasses, Mr Seddon said:
‘Really, M. Poirot –’
Poirot cut into his protest.
‘Eloquence and emotional appeal will not save your client. It will need more than that.’
Mr Seddon said drily:
‘What do you advise?’
‘There is always the truth.’
‘Quite so.’
‘But in this case will the truth help us?’
Mr Seddon said sharply:
‘That, again, is a most improper remark.’
Poirot said:
‘There are certain questions to which I should like answers.’
Mr Seddon said cautiously:
‘I cannot, of course, guarantee to answer without the consent of my client.’
‘Naturally. I understand that.’ He