“Well, I don’t know…. She didn’t say anything to me about it…. But then she wouldn’t do that, anyway.” Poirot said quietly: “You knew, of course, that Miss Arundell was making a new will?” “No, no. I’ve told you, it was a complete surprise. I never dreamt–” Poirot interrupted.
“You did not know the contents. But you knew the fact–that there was a will being made?” “Well–I suspected–I mean her sending for the lawyer when she was laid up–” “Exactly. That was after she had a fall, was it not?” “Yes, Bob–Bob was the dog–he had left his ball at the top of the stairs–and she tripped over it and fell.” “A nasty accident.” “Oh, yes; why, she might easily have broken her leg or her arm. The doctor said so.” “She might quite easily have been killed.” “Yes, indeed.” Her answer seemed quite natural and frank.
Poirot said, smiling: “I think I saw Master Bob at Littlegreen House.” “Oh, yes, I expect you did. He’s a dear little doggie.” Nothing annoys me more than to hear a sporting terrier called a dear little doggie.
No wonder, I thought, that Bob despised Miss Lawson and refused to do anything she told him.
“And he is very intelligent?” went on Poirot.
“Oh, yes, very.” “How upset he’d be if he knew he had nearly killed his mistress.” Miss Lawson did not answer. She merely shook her head and sighed.
Poirot asked: | “Do you think it possible that that fall & influenced Miss Arundell to remake her will?” We were getting perilously near the bone here, I thought, but Miss Lawson seemed to find the question quite natural.
“You know,” she said, “I shouldn’t wonder if you weren’t right. It gave her a shock–I’m sure of that. Old people never like to think there’s any chance of their dying. But an accident like that makes one think. Or perhaps she might have had a premonition that her death wasn’t far off.” Poirot said casually: “She was in fairly good health, was she not?” “Oh, yes. Very well, indeed.” “Her illness must have come on very suddenly?”
“Oh, it did. It was quite a shock. We had had some friends that evening–” Miss Lawson paused.
“Your friends, the Misses Tripp. I have met those ladies. They are quite charming.” Miss Lawson’s face flushed with pleasure.
“Yes, aren’t they? Such cultured women!
Such wide interests! And so very spiritual! They told you, perhaps–about our sittings? I expect you are a sceptic–but indeed, I wish I could tell you the inexpressible joy of getting into touch with those who passed over!” “I am sure of it. I am sure of it.” “Do you know, M. Poirot, my mother has spoken to me–more than once. It is such a joy to know that one’s dear ones are still thinking of one and watching over one.” “Yes, yes, I can well understand that,” said Poirot gently. “And was Miss Arundell also a believer?” Miss Lawson’s face clouded over a little.
“She was willing to be convinced,” she said doubtfully. “But I do not think she always approached the matter in the right frame of mind. She was sceptical and unbelieving–and once or twice her attitude attracted a most undesirable type of spirit!
There were some very ribald messages–all due, I am convinced, to Miss Arundell’s attitude.”
“I should think very likely due to Miss Arundell,” agreed Poirot.
“But on that last evening–” continued Miss Lawson, “perhaps Isabel and Julia told you?–there were distinct phenomena. Actually the beginning of a materialization.
Ectoplasm–you know what ectoplasm is, | perhaps?” “Yes, I am acquainted with its nature.”
“It proceeds, you know, from the medium’s mouth in the form of a ribbon and builds itself up into a form. Now I am convinced, Mr. Poirot, that unknown to herself Miss Arundell was a medium. On that evening I distinctly saw a luminous ribbon issuing from dear Miss ArundelFs mouth! Then her head became enveloped in a luminous mist.” “Most interesting!” “And then, unfortunately. Miss Arundell was suddenly taken ill and we had to break up the seance.” “You sent for the doctor–when?” “First thing the following morning.” “Did he think the matter grave?” “Well, he sent in a hospital nurse the following evening but I think he hoped she would pull through.” “The–excuse me–the relatives were not sent for?” Miss Lawson flushed.