The brother and sister moved apart and looked at Poirot.
Poirot bowed and moved to the door.
“I am–as you say–on the job! It is difficult, but Mademoiselle is right. There is always a way. Ah, by the way, this Miss Lawson, is she the kind that might conceivably lose her head under cross-examination in court?” Charles and Theresa exchanged glances.
“I should say,” said Charles, “that a really bullying K.C. could make her say black was white!” “That,” said Poirot, “may be very useful.”
He skipped out of the room and I followec him. In the hall he picked up his hat, moved to the front door, opened it and shut it again quickly with a bang. Then he tiptoed to the door of the sitting-room and unblushingly applied his ear to the crack. At whatever school Poirot was educated, there were clearly no unwritten rules about eavesdropping.
I was horrified but powerless. I made urgent signs to Poirot, but he took no notice.
And then, clearly, in Theresa ArundelFs deep, vibrant voice, there came two words: “You fool!” There was the noise of footsteps along the passage and Poirot quickly seized me by the arm, opened the front door and passed through, closing it noiselessly behind him.
XV Miss Lawson
“poirot,” I said. “Have we got to listen at doors?” “Calm yourself, my friend. It was only I who listened! It was not you who put your ear to the crack. On the contrary, you stood bolt upright like a soldier.” “But I heard just the same.” “True. Mademoiselle was hardly whispering.”
“Because she thought that we had left the flat.” “Yes, we practised a little deception there.” “I don’t like that sort of thing.” “Your moral attitude is irreproachable! But let us not repeat ourselves. This conversation has occurred on previous occasions.
You are about to say that it is not playing the game. And my reply is that murder is not a game.”
“But there is no question of murder here.” “Do not be sure of that.” “The intention, yes, perhaps. But after all, murder and attempted murder are not the same thing.” “Morally they are exactly the same thing.
But what I meant was, are you so sure that it is only attempted murder that occupies our attention?” I stared at him.
“But old Miss Arundell died a perfectly natural death.” “I repeat again—are you so sure?” “Every one says so!” “Every one? Oh, Id Id!” “The doctor says so,” I pointed out. “Dr.
Grainger. He ought to know.” “Yes, he ought to know.” Poirot’s voice was dissatisfied. “But remember, Hastings, again and again a body is exhumed—and in each case a certificate has been signed in all good faith by the doctor attending the case.” “Yes, but in this case. Miss Arundell died of a longstanding complaint.” “It seems so—yes.” Poirot’s voice was still dissatisfied. I looked at him keenly.
“Poirot,” I said, “I’ll begin a sentence with ‘Are you sure!” Are you sure you are not being carried away by professional zeal?
You want it to be murder and so you think it must be murder.” The shadow on his brow deepened. He nodded his head slowly.
“It is clever what you say there, Hastings.
It is a weak spot on which you put your finger. Murder is my business. I am like a great surgeon who specializes in–say–appendicitis or some rarer operation. A patient comes to him and he regards that patient solely from the standpoint of his own specialized subject. Is there any possible reason for thinking this man suffers from so and so… ? Me, I am like that, too. I say to myself always, ‘Can this possibly be murder?5 And you see, my friend, there is nearly always a possibility.” “I shouldn’t say there was much possibility here,” I remarked.
“But she died, Hastings 1 You cannot get away from that fact. She died!” “She was in poor health. She was past seventy. It all seems perfectly natural to me.” “And does it also seem natural to you that Theresa Arundell should call her brother a fool with that degree of intensity?” “What has that got to do with it?” “Everything! Tell me, what did you think of that statement of Mr. Charles ArundelFs–that his aunt had shown him her new will?” I looked at Poirot warily.