Hercule Poirot's Christmas / Рождество Эркюля Пуаро. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Colonel Johnson said: ‘You mean, I take it, Mrs Lee, something that has no connection with the crime?’

‘Yes, no connection at all. Just something in my – my private life.’

The chief constable said: ‘You’d better make a clean breast of it[333], Mrs Lee, and leave us to judge.’

Magdalene said, her eyes swimming: ‘Yes, I will trust you. I know I can. You look so kind. You see, it’s like this. There’s somebody – ’ She stopped.

‘Yes, Mrs Lee?’

‘I wanted to telephone to somebody last night – a man – a friend of mine, and I didn’t want George to know about it. I know it was very wrong of me – but well, it was like that. So I went to telephone after dinner when I thought George would be safely in the dining-room. But when I got here I heard him telephoning, so I waited.’

‘Where did you wait, madame?’ asked Poirot.

‘There’s a place for coats and things behind the stairs. It’s dark there. I slipped back there, where I could see George come out from this room. But he didn’t come out, and then all the noise happened and Mr Lee screamed, and I ran upstairs.’

‘So your husband did not leave this room until the moment of the murder?’

‘No.’

The chief constable said: ‘And you yourself from nine o’clock to nine-fifteen were waiting in the recess behind the stairs?’

‘Yes, but I couldn’t say so, you see! They’d want to know what I was doing there. It’s been very, very awkward for me, you do see that[334], don’t you?’

Johnson said dryly: ‘It was certainly awkward.’

She smiled at him sweetly. ‘I’m so relieved to have told you the truth. And you won’t tell my husband, will you? No, I’m sure you won’t! I can trust you, all of you.’

She included them all in her final pleading look, then she slipped quickly out of the room.

Colonel Johnson drew a deep breath. ‘Well,’ he said. ‘It might be like that! It’s a perfectly plausible story. On the other hand[335] – ’

‘It might not,’ finished Sugden. ‘That’s just it. We don’t know.’

III

Lydia Lee stood by the far window of the drawing-room looking out. Her figure was half-hidden by the heavy window curtains. A sound in the room made her turn with a start to see Hercule Poirot standing by the door.

She said: ‘You startled me, M. Poirot.’

‘I apologize, madame. I walk softly.’ She said: ‘I thought it was Horbury.’

Hercule Poirot nodded. ‘It is true, he steps softly, that one – like a cat – or a thief.’ He paused a minute, watching her.

Her face showed nothing, but she made a slight grimace of distate as she said: ‘I have never cared for that man. I shall be glad to get rid of him.’

‘I think you will be wise to do so, madame.’

She looked at him quickly. She said: ‘What do you mean? Do you know anything against him?’

Poirot said: ‘He is a man who collects secrets – and uses them to his advantage.’

She said sharply: ‘Do you think he knows anything – about the murder?’

Poirot shrugged his shoulders. He said: ‘He has quiet feet and long ears. He may have overheard something that he is keeping to himself.’

Lydia said clearly: ‘Do you mean that he may try to blackmail one of us?’

‘It is within the bounds of possibility.[336] But that is not what I came here to say.’

‘What did you come to say?’

Poirot said slowly: ‘I have been talking with M. Alfred Lee. He has made me a proposition, and I wished to discuss it with you before accepting or declining it. But I was so struck by the picture you made – the charming pattern of your jumper against the deep red of the curtains, that I paused to admire.’

Lydia said sharply: ‘Really, M. Poirot, must we waste time in compliments?’

‘I beg your pardon, madame. So few English ladies understand la toilette[337]. The dress you were wearing the first night I saw you, its bold but simple pattern, it had grace – distinction.’

Lydia said impatiently: ‘What was it you wanted to see me about?’

Poirot became grave. ‘Just this, madame. Your husband, he wishes me to take up the investigation very seriously. He demands that I stay here, in the house, and do my utmost to get to the bottom of the matter[338].’

Lydia said sharply: ‘Well?’

Poirot said slowly: ‘I should not wish to accept an invitation that was not endorsed by the lady of the house.’

She said coldly: ‘Naturally I endorse my husband’s invitation.’

‘Yes, madame, but I need more than that. Do you really want me to come here?’

‘Why not?’

‘Let us be more frank. What I ask you is this: do you want the truth to come out, or not?’

‘Naturally.’

Poirot sighed. ‘Must you return me these conventional replies?[339]’