The ABC Murders
Chapter Eighteen Poirot Makes a Speech
Franklin Clarke arrived at three o'clock on the following afternoon and
came straight to the point without beating about the bush.
"M.Poirot£¬"he said£¬"I'm not satisfied."
"No£¬Mr Clarke?"
"I've no doubt that Crome is a very efficient officer£¬but£¬frankly£¬he
puts my back up.That air of his of knowing best!I hinted something of what I
had in mind to your friend here when he was down at Churston£¬but I've had
all my brother's affairs to settle up and I haven't been free until now.My
idea is£¬M/Poirot£¬that we oughtn't to let the grass grow under our
feet-""Just what Hastings is always saying!"
"-but go right ahead.We've got to get ready for the next crime."
"So you think there will be a next crime?"
"Don't you?"
"Certainly."
"Very well£¬then.I want to get organized."
"Tell me your idea exactly?"
"I propose£¬M/Poirot£¬a kind of special legion-to work under your
orders-composed of the friends and relatives of the murdered people."
"Une bonne idee."
"I'm glad you approve.By putting our heads together I feel we might get
at something.Also£¬when the next warning comes£¬by being on the spot£¬one of
us might-I don't say it's probable-but we might recognize some person as
having been near the scene of a previous crime."
"I see your idea£¬and I approve£¬but you must remember£¬Mr Clarke£¬the
relations and friends of the other victims are hardly in your sphere of
life.They are employed persons and thought they might be given a short
vacation-"Franklin Clarke interrupted.
"That's just it.I'm the only person in a position to foot the bill.Not
that I'm particularly well off myself£¬but my brother died a rich man and it
will eventually come to me.I propose£¬as I say£¬to enroll a special legion£¬
the members to be paid for their services at the same rate as they get
habitually£¬with£¬of course£¬the additional expenses."
"Who do you propose should form this legion?"
"I've been into that.As a matter of fact£¬I wrote to Miss Megan
Barnard-indeed£¬this is partly her idea.I suggest myself£¬Miss Barnard£¬Mr
Donald Fraser£¬who was engaged to the dead girl.
Then there is a niece of the Andover woman-Miss Barnard knows her
address.I don't think the husband would be of any use to us-I hear he's
usually drunk.
I also think the Barnards-the father and mother-are a bit old for active
campaigning."
"Nobody else?"
"Well-er-Miss Grey."
He flushed slightly as he spoke the name.
"Oh!Miss Grey?"
Nobody in the world could put a gentle nuance of irony into a couple of
words better than Poirot.About thirty-five years fell away from Franklin
Clarke.He looked suddenly like a shy schoolboy.
"Yes.You see£¬Miss Grey was with my brother for over two years.She knows
the countryside and the people round£¬and everything.I've been away for a
year and a half."
Poirot took pity on him and turned the conversation.
"You have been in the East?In China?"
"Yes.I had a kind of roving commission to purchase things for my
brother."
"Very interesting it must have been.Eh bien£¬Mr Clarke£¬I approve very
highly of your idea.I was saying to Hastings only yesterday that a
rapprochement of the people concerned was needed.It is necessary to pool
reminiscences£¬to compare notes-enfin to talk the thing over-to talk-to
talk-and again to talk.Out of some innocent phrase may come enlightenment."
A few days later the "Special Legion"met at Poirot's rooms.
As they sat round looking obediently towards Poirot£¬who had his place£¬
like the chairman at a board meeting£¬at the head of the table£¬I myself
passed them£¬as it were£¬in review£¬confirming or revising my first
impression of them.
The three girls were all of them striking-looking-the extraordinary fair
beauty of Thora Grey£¬the dark intensity of Megan Barnard£¬with her strange
Red Indian immobility of face-Mary Drower£¬neatly dressed in a black coat
and skirt£¬with her pretty£¬intelligent face.Of the two men£¬Franklin Clarke£¬
big£¬bronzed and talkative£¬Donald Fraser£¬self-contained and quiet£¬made an
interesting contrast to each other.
Poirot£¬unable£¬of course£¬to resist the occasion£¬made a little speech.
"Mesdames and Messieurs£¬you know what we are here for.The police are
doing their utmost to track down the criminal.I£¬too£¬in my different way.
But it seems to me a reunion of those who have a personal interest in
the matter-and also£¬I may say£¬a personal knowledge of the victims-might
have results that an outside investigation cannot pretend to attain.
"Here we have three murders-an old woman£¬a young girl£¬an elderly man.
Only one thing links these three people together-the fact that the same
person killed them.That means that the same person was present in three
different localities and was seen necessarily by a large number of people.
That he is a madman in an advanced stage of mania goes without
saying.That his appearance and behaviour give no suggestion of such a fact
is equally certain.This person-and though I say he£¬remember it may be a man
or a woman-has all the devilish cunning of insanity.He has succeeded so far
in covering his traces completely.The police have certain vague indications
but nothing upon which they can act.
"Nevertheless£¬there must exist indications which are not vague but
certain.To take one particular point-this assassin£¬he did not arrive at
Bexhill at midnight and find conveniently on the beach a young lady whose
name began with B-""Must we go into that?"
It was Donald Fraser who spoke-the words wrung from him£¬it seemed£¬by
some inner anguish.
"It is necessary to go into everything£¬monsieur£¬"said Poirot£¬turning
to him."You are here£¬not to save your feelings by refusing to think of
details£¬but if necessary to harrow them by going into the matter au fond.
As I say£¬it was not chance that provided A B C with a victim in Betty
Barnard.There must have been deliberate selection on his part-and therefore
premeditation.That is to say£¬he must have reconnoitred the ground
beforehand.There were facts of which he had informed himself-the best hour
for the committing of the crime at Andocer-the mise en scene at Bexhill-the
habits of Sir Carmichael Clarke at Churston.Me£¬for one£¬I refuse to believe
that there is no indication-no slightest hint-that might help to establish
his identity.
"I make the assumption that one-or possibly all of you-knows something
that they do not know they know.
"Sooner or later£¬by reason of your association with one another£¬
something will come to light£¬will take on a significance as yet underamed
of.It is like the jig-saw puzzle-each of you may have a piece apparently
without meaning£¬but which when reunited may show a definite portion of the
picture as a whole."
"Words!"said Megan Barnard.
"Eh?"Poirot looked at her inquiringly.
"What you've been saying.It's just words.It doesn't mean anything."
She spoke with that kind of desperate intensity that I had come to
associate with her personality.
"Words£¬mademoiselle£¬are only the outer clothing of ideas."
"Well£¬I think it's sense£¬"said Mary Drower."I do really£¬miss.It's
often when you're talking over things that you seem to see your way clear.
Your mind gets made up for you sometimes without your knowing how it's
happened.Talking leads to a lot of things one way and another."
"If "least said is soonest mended"£¬it's the converse we want here£¬
"said Franklin Clarke.
"What do you say£¬Mr Fraser?"
"I rather doubt the practical applicability of what you say£¬M.Poirot."
"What do you think£¬Thora?"asked Clarke.
"I think the principle of talking things over is always sound."
"Suppose£¬"suggested Poirot£¬"that you all go over your own remembrances
of the time preceding the murder.Perhaps you'll start£¬Mr Clarke."
"Let me see£¬on the morning of the day Car was killed I went off sailing.
Caught eight mackerel.Lovely out there on the bay.
Lunch at home.Irish stew£¬I remember.Slept in the hammock.Tea.Wrote some
letters£¬missed the post£¬and drove into Paignton to post them.Then dinner
and -I'm not ashamed to say it-reread a book of E.Nesbit's that I used to
love as a kid.
Then the telephone rang-""No further.Now reflect£¬Mr Clarke£¬did you
meet anyone on your way down to the sea in the morning?"
"Lots of people."
"Can you remember anything about them?"
"Not a damned thing now."
"Sure?"
"Well-let's see-I remember a remarkably fat woman-she wore a striped
silk dress and I wondered why-had a couple of kids with her-two young men
with a fox terrier on the beach throwing stones for it-Oh£¬yes£¬a girl with
yellow hair squeaking as she bathed-funny how things come back-like a
photograph developing."
"You are a good subject.Now later in the day-the garden-going to the
post-""The gardener watering......Going to the post?
Nearly ran down a bicyclist-silly woman wobbling and shouting to a
friend.That's all£¬I'm afraid."
Poirot turned to Thora Grey.
"Miss Grey?"
Thora Grey replied in her clear£¬positive voice:
"I did correspondence with Sir Carmichael in the morning-saw the
housekeeper.I wrote letters and did needlework in the afternoon£¬I fancy.
It is difficult to remember.It was quite an ordinary day.I went to bed
early."
Rather to my surprise£¬Poirot asked no further.He said:
"Miss Barnard-can you bring back your remembrances of the last time you
saw your sister?"
"It would be about a fortnight before her death.I was down for Satruday
and Sunday.It was fine weather.We went to Hastings to the swimming pool."
"What did you talk about most of the time?"
"I gave her a piece of my mind£¬"said Megan.
"And what else?She conversed of what?"
The girl frowned in an effort of memory.
"She talked about being hard up-of a hat and a couple of summer frocks
she'd just bought.And a little of Don......She also said she disliked Milly
Higley-that's the girl at the cafe-and we laughed about the Merrion woman
who keeps the cafe......I don't remember anything else......"
"She didn't mention any man-forgive me£¬Mr Fraser-she might be meeting?"
"She wouldn't to me£¬"said Megan dryly.
Poirot turned to the red-haired young man with the square jaw.
"Mr Fraser-I want you to cast your mind back.
You went£¬you said£¬to the cafe on the fatal evening.Your first
intention was to wait there and watch for Betty Barnard to come out.Can you
remember anyone at all whom you noticed whilst you were waiting there?"
"There were a large number of people walking along the front.I can't
remember any of them."
"Excuse me£¬but are you trying?However preoccupied the mind may be£¬the
eye notices mechanically-unintelligently but accurately......"
The young man repeated doggedly:
"I don't remember anybody."
Poirot sighed and turned to Mary Drower.
"I suppose you got letters from your aunt?"
"Oh£¬yes£¬sir."
"When was the last?"
Mary thought a minute.
"Two days before the murder£¬sir."
"What did it say?"
"She said the old devil had been round and that she'd sent him off with
a flea in the ear-excuse the expression£¬sir-said she expected me over on
the Wednesday-that's my day out£¬sir-and she said we'd go to the pictures.It
was going to be my birthday£¬sir."
Something-the thought of the little festivity perhaps-suddenly brought
the tears to Mary's eyes.She gulped down a sob.
Then apologized for it.
"You must forgive me£¬sir.I don't want to be silly.Crying's no good.It
was just the thought of her-and me-looking forward to our treat.It upset me
somehow£¬sir."
"I know just what you feel like£¬"said Franklin Clarke."It's always the
little things that get one-and especially anything like a treat or a
present-something jolly and natural.I remember seeing a woman run over
once.She'd just bought some new shoes.I saw her lying there-and the burst
parcel with the ridiculous little high-heeled slippers peeping out-it gave
me a turn-they looked so pathetic."
Megan said with a sudden eager warmth:
"That's true-that's awfully true.The same thing happened after
Betty-died.Mum had bought some stockings for her as a present-bought them
the very day it happened.Poor mum£¬she was all broken up.I found her crying
over them.She kept saying:"I bought them for Betty-I bought them for
Betty-and she never enven saw them.""Her own voice quivered a little.She
leaned forward£¬looking straight at Franklin Clarke.There was between them a
sudden sympathy-a fraternity in trouble.
"I know£¬"he said."I know exactly.
Those are just the sort of things that are hell to remember."
Donald Fraser stirred uneasily.
Thora Grey diverted the conversation.
"Aren't we going to make any plans-for the future?"she asked.
"Of course."Franklin Clarke resumed his ordinary manner."I think that
when the moment comes-that is£¬when the fourth letter arrives-we ought to
join forces.Until then£¬perhaps we might each try our luck on our own.I
don't know whether there are any points M.Poirot thinks might repay
investigation?"
"I could make some suggestions£¬"said Poirot.
"Good.I'll take them down."He produced a notebook."Go ahead£¬M.Poirot.
A-?"
"I consider it just possible that the waitress£¬Milly Higley£¬might know
something useful."
"A-Milly Higley£¬"wrote down Franklin Clarke.
"I suggest two methods of approach.You£¬Miss Barnard£¬might try what I
call the offensive approach."
"I suppose you think that suits my style?"
said Megan dryly.
"Pick a quarrel with the girl-say you knew she never liked your
sister-and that your sister had told you all about her.If I do not err£¬that
will provoke a flood of recrimination.She will tell you just what she
thought of your sister!Some useful fact may emerge."
"And the second method?"
"May I suggest£¬Mr Fraser£¬that you should show signs of interest in the
girl?"
"Is that necessary?"
"No£¬it is not necessary.It is just a possible line of exploration."
"Shall I try my hand?"asked Franklin.
"I've-er-a pretty wide experience£¬M.Poirot.Let me see what I can do
with the young lady."
"You've got your own part of the world to attend to£¬"said Thora Grey
rather sharply.
Franklin's face fell just a little.
"Yes£¬"he said."I have."
"Tout de meme£¬I do not think there is much you can do down there for
the present£¬"said Poirot."Mademoiselle Grey now£¬she is far more
fitted-"Thora Grey interrupted him.
"But you see£¬M.Poirot£¬I have left Devon for good."
"Ah?I did not understand."
"Miss Grey very kindly stayed on to help me clear up things£¬"said
Franklin."But naturally she prefers a post in London."
Poirot directed a sharp glance from one to the other.
"How is Lady Clarke?"he demanded.
I was admiring the faint colour in Thora Grey's cheeks and almost missed
Clarke's reply.
"Pretty bad.By the way£¬M.Poirot£¬I wonder if you could see your way to
running down to Devon and paying her a visit?She expressed a desire to see
you before I left.Of course£¬she often can't see people for a couple of days
at a time£¬but if you would risk that-at my expense£¬of course."
"Certainly£¬Mr Clarke.Shall we say the day after tomorrow?"
"Good.I'll let nurse know and she'll arrange the dope accordingly."
"For you£¬my child£¬"said Poirot£¬turning to Mary£¬"I think you might
perhaps do good work in Andover.Try the children."
"The children?"
"Yes.Children will not chat readily to outsiders.But you are known in
the street where your aunt lived.There were a good many children playing
about.They may have notived who went in and out of your aunt's shop."
"What about Miss Grey and myself?"asked Clarke."That is£¬if I'm not to
go to Bexhill."
"M.Poirot£¬"said Thora Grey£¬"what was the postmark on the third
letter?"
"Putney£¬mademoiselle."
She said thoughtfully:"SW15£¬Putney£¬that is right£¬is it not?"
"For a wonder£¬the newspapers printed it correctly."
"That seems to point to A B C being a Londoner."
"On the face of it£¬yes."
"One ought to be able to draw him£¬"said Clarke."M.Poirot£¬how would it
be if I inserted an advertisement-something after these lines:A B C.
Urgent£¬H.P.close on your track.A hundred for my silence.X.Y.Z.Nothing
quite so crude as that-but you see the idea.It might draw him."
"It is a possibility-yes."
"Might induce him to try and have a shot at me."
"I think it's very dangerous and silly£¬"said Thora Grey sharply.
"What about it£¬M.Poirot?"
"It can do no harm to try.I think myself that A B C will be too cunning
to reply."Poirot smiled a little."I see£¬Mr Clarke£¬that you are-if I may
say so without being offensive-still a boy at heart."
Franklin Clarke looked a little abashed.
"Well£¬"he said£¬consulting his notebook.
"We're making a start.
A-Miss Barnard and Milly Higley B-Mr Fraser and Miss Higley C-Children
in Andover D-Advertisement I don't feel any of it is much good£¬but it will
be something to do whilst waiting."
He got up and a few minutes later the meeting had dispersed.
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