“There is a very good case against you, Mr. Allerton. I wanted you to realise that’. Now I will tell you something more pleasant. I have not yet examined that rosartd in your cabin. It may be that, when I do, I shall find nothing there. And thean, since Mademoiselle Otterbourne sticks to it that she saw no one on the deck last night–eh bien, there is no ease against you at all. The pearls were taken by a ldel tomaniac who has since returned them. They are in a little box on the table by the ‘ door if you would care to examine them with Mademoiselle.” Tim got up. He stood for a moment unable to speak. When he did, his words seermed inadequate but it is possible that they satisfied his listeners.
“Thanks!” he said. “You won’t have to give me another chance.” He held the door open for the girl, she passed out, and picking up the little cardslboard box, he followed her.
Side by side they went. Tim opened the box, took out the sham string of pearls and J hurled it far from him into the Nile.
“There!” he said. “That’s gone, When I return the box to Poirot the real string will Il be in it. What a damned fool I’ve been.” Rosalie said in a low voice: “Why did you come to do it in the first place?” “How did I come to start, do you mean? Oh, I don’t know. Boredom– lazi ness–the fun of the thing. Such a much more attractive way of earning a living thaOn just pegging away at a job. Sounds pretty sordid to you, I e,,xpect but you kno-W there was an attraction about it–mainly the risk, I suppose.
“I think I understand.”
“Yes, but you wouldn’t ever do it.’
Rosalie considered for a moment or two, her grave young head bent.
“No,” she said simply. “I wouldn’t.”
He said: “Oh, my dear–you’re so lovely . ·· so utterly lovely. Why wouldn’t you say you $’d seen me last night?”
Rosalie said: “I thought–they might suspect you.”
“Did you suspect me?”
“No. I couldn’t believe that you’d kill any one.”
“No. I’m not the strong stuff murderers are made of. I’m only a miserable sne;,,ak thief.”
She put out a timid hand and touched his arm.
“Don’t say that ” He caught her hand in his.
“Rosalie, would you–you know what I mean? Or would you always despise me and throw it in my teeth?” She smiled faintly.
“There are things you could throw in my teeth, too .
“Rosalie—darling .
But she held back a minute longer.
“This–Joanna–?” Tim gave a sudden shout.
“Joanna–?
You’re as bad as Mother. I don’t care a damn about Joanna–she’s got: a face like a horse atad a predatory eye. A most unattractive female.” Presently Rosalie said: “Your mother need never know about you.”
Tim said thoughtfully.
“I’m not sure. I think I shall tell her. Mother’s got plenty of stuffing, you know. She can stand up to things. Yes, I think I shall shatter her maternal illusions about me. She’ll be so relieved to know that my relations with Joanna were purely of a business nature that she’ll forgive me everything else.”
Th,ey had come to Mrs. Allerton’s cabin and Tim knocked firmly on the door.
It opened and Mrs. Allerton stood on the threshold.
“Rosalie and I–” said Tim.
He paused.
“Oh, my dears,” said Mrs. Allerton. She folded Rosalie in her arms. “My dear, dear child… I always hoped but Tim was so tiresomand pretended he didn’t like you. But of course I saw through that!”
Rosalie said in a broken voice:
“You’ve been so sweet to me–always. I used to wish–to wish–” She/broke off and sobbed happily on Mrs. Allerton’s shoulder.
CHAPTER 27
As the door closed behind Tim and Rosalie, Poirot looked somewhat apologetically at Colonel Race. The colonel was looking rather grim.
“You will consent to my little arrangement, yes?” Poirot pleaded. “It is irregular–I know it is irregular, yes but I have a high regard for human happiness.”
“You’ve none for mine,” said Race.
“That jeune fille, I have a tenderness towards her–and she loves that young man. It will be an excellent match—she has the stiffening he needs—the mother likes her–everything is thoroughly suitable.”