‘Don’t be foolish, John,’ said Mrs Clapperton. ‘You’ll catch a chill.’
‘llot with us, he won’t,’ said Kitty. ‘We’re hot stuff!’
He went with them, laughing.
Poirot noticed that Mrs Clapperton said No Bid to her initial bid of Two Clubs.
He strolled out on to the promenade deck. Miss Henderson was standing by the rail. She looked round expectantly as he came to stand beside her and he saw the drop in her expression.
They chatted for a while. Then presently as he fell silent she asked: ‘What are you thinking about?’
Poirot replied: ‘I am wondering about my knowledge of English.
Mrs Clapperton said: “John won’t play bridge.” Is not “can’t play” the usual term?’
‘She takes it as a personal insult that he doesn’t, I suppose,’ said Ellie drily. ‘The man was a fool ever to have married her.’
In the darkness Poirot smiled. ‘You don’t think it’s just possible that the marriage may be a success?’ he asked diffidently.
‘With a woman like that?’
Poirot shrugged his shoulders. ‘Many odious women have devoted husbands. An enigma of nature. You will admit that nothing she says or does appears to gall him.’ Miss Henderson was considering her reply when Mrs Clapperton’s voice floated out through the smoking-room window.
‘No – I don’t think I will play another rubber. So stuffy. I think I’ll go up and get some air on the boat deck.’
‘Good night,’ said Miss Hendersom ‘I’m going to bed.’ She disappeared abruptly.
Poirot strolled forward to the lounge – deserted save for Colonel Clapperton and the two girls. He was doing card tricks for them and noting the dexterity of his shuffling and handling of the cards, Poirot remembered the General’s story of a career on the music hall stage.
‘I see you enjoy the cards even though you do not play bridge,’ he remarked.
‘I’ve my reasons for not playing bridge,’ said Clapperton, his charming smile breaking out. ‘I’ll show you. We’ll play one hand.’ He dealt the cards rapidly. ‘Pick up your hands. Well, what about it?’ He laughed at the bewildered expression on Kitty’s face.
He laid down his hand and the others followed suit. Kitty held the entire club suit, M. Poirot the hearts, Pam the diamonds and Colonel Clapperton the spades.
‘You see?’ he said. ‘A man who can deal his partner and his adversaries any hand he pleases had better stand aloof from a friendly gamet If the luck goes too much his way, ill-natured things might be said.’
‘Ohl’ gasped Kitty. ‘How could you do that? It all looked perfectly ordinary.’
‘The quickness of the hand deceives the eye,’ said Poirot sententiously – and caught the sudden change in the Colonel’s expression.
It was as though he realized that he had been off his guard for a moment or two.
Poirot smiled. The conjuror had shown himself through the mask of the pukka sahib.
The ship reached Alexandria at dawn the following morning.
As Poirot came up from breakfast he found the two girls all ready to go on shore. They were talking to Colonel Clapperton.
‘We ought to get off now,’ urged Kitty. ‘The passport people will be going off the ship presently. You’ll come with us, won’t you? You wouldn’t let us go ashore all by ourselves? Awful things might happen to us.’
‘I certainly don’t think you ought to go by yourselves, said Clapperton, smiling. ‘But I’m not sure my wife feels up to it.’
‘That’s too bad,’ said Pam. ‘But she can have a nice long rest.’
Colonel Clapperton looked a little irresolute. Evidently the desire to play truant was strong upon him. He noticed Poirot.
‘Hullo, M. Poirot – you going ashore?’ ‘No, I think not,’ M. Poirot replied.
‘I’ll – I’ll -just have a word with Adeline,’ decided Colonel Clapperton.
‘We’ll come with you,’ said Pam. She flashed a wink at Poirot.
‘Perhaps we can persuade her to come too,’ she added gravely.
Colonel Clapperton seemed to welcome this suggestion. He looked decidedly relieved.
‘Come along then, the pair of you,’ he said lightly. They all three went along the passage of B deck together.
Poirot, whose cabin was just opposite the Clappertons, followed them out of curiosity.