At first he refused to take me into his confidence, but later he told me about his marriage, and the hole he was in.
As soon as the murder was discovered, I realized that once the facts were known, suspicion could not fail to attach to Ralph – or, if not to him, to the girl he loved. That night I put the facts plainly before him. The thought of having possibly to give evidence which might incriminate his wife made him resolve at all costs to – to ‘ I hesitated, and Ralph filled up the gap.
‘To do a bunk,’ he said graphically. ‘You see, Ursula left me to go back to the house. I thought it possible that she might have attempted to have another interview with my stepfather. He had already been very rude to her that afternoon. It occurred to me that he might have so insulted her – in such an unforgivable manner – that without knowing what she was doing ‘.He stopped. Ursula released her hand from his, and stepped back.
‘You thought that, Ralph! You actually thought that I might have done it?’ ‘Let us get back to the culpable conduct of Dr Sheppard,’ said Poirot drily. ‘Dr Sheppard consented to do what he could to help him. He was successful in hiding Captain Paton from the police.’ ‘Where?’ asked Raymond. ‘In his own house?’ ‘Ah, no, indeed,’ said Poirot. ‘You should ask yourself the question that I did. If the good doctor is concealing the young man, what place would he choose? It must necessarily be somewhere near at hand. I think ofCranchester. A hotel? No.
Lodgings? Even more emphatically, no. Where, then? Ah! I have it. A nursing home. A home for the mentally unfit. I test my theory. I invent a nephew with mental trouble. I consult Mademoiselle Sheppard as to suitable homes. She gives me the names of two near Cranchester to which her brother has sent patients. I make inquiries. Yes, at one of them a patient was brought there by the doctor himself early on Saturday morning.
That patient, though known by another name, I had no difficulty in identifying as Captain Paton. After certain necessary formalities, I was allowed to bring him away. He arrived at my house in the early hours of yesterday morning.’ I looked at him ruefully.
‘Caroline’s Home Office expert,’ I murmured. ‘And to think I never guessed!’ ‘You see now why I drew attention to the reticence of your manuscript,’ murmured Poirot. ‘It was strictly truthful as far as it went – but it did not go very far, eh, my friend?’ I was too abashed to argue.
‘Dr Sheppard has been very loyal,’ said Ralph. ‘He has stood by me through thick and thin. He did what he thought was best. I see now, from what M. Poirot has told me, that it was not really the best. I should have come forward and faced the music. You see, in the home, we never saw a newspaper. I knew nothing of what was going on.’ ‘Dr Sheppard has been a model of discretion,’ said Poirot drily. ‘But me, I discover all the little secrets. It is my business.’ ‘Now we can have your story of what happened that night,’ said Raymond impatiently.
‘You know it already,’ said Ralph. ‘There’s very little for me to all. I left the summer-house about nine forty-five, and tramped about the lanes, trying to make up my mind as to what to do next – what line to take. I’m bound to admit that I’ve not the shadow of an alibi, but I give you my solemn word that I never went to the study, that I never saw my stepfather alive – or dead. Whatever the world thinks, I’d like all of you to believe me.’ ‘No alibi,’ murmured Raymond. ‘That’s bad. I believe you, of course, but – it’s a bad business.’ ‘It makes things very simple, though,’ said Poirot, in a cheerful voice. ‘Very simple indeed.’ We all stared at him.
‘You see what I mean? No? Just this – to save Captain Paton the real criminal must confess.’ He beamed round at us all.