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‘‘Yes; that's possible;'' admitted John。 ‘‘Still;'' he added; ‘‘I'm blest if I can see what his motive could have been。''
I trembled。
‘‘Look here;'' I said; ‘‘I may be altogether wrong。 And; remember; all this is in confidence。''
‘‘Oh; of course that goes without saying。''
We had walked; as we talked; and now we passed through the little gate into the garden。 Voices rose near at hand; for tea was spread out under the sycamore…tree; as it had been on the day of my arrival。
Cynthia was back from the hospital; and I placed my chair beside her; and told her of Poirot's wish to visit the dispensary。
‘‘Of course! I'd love him to see it。 He'd better e to tea there one day。 I must fix it up with him。 He's such a dear little man! But he is funny。 He made me take the brooch out of my tie the other day; and put it in again; because he said it wasn't straight。''
I laughed。
‘‘It's quite a mania with him。''
‘‘Yes; isn't it?''
We were silent for a minute or two; and then; glancing in the direction of Mary Cavendish; and dropping her voice; Cynthia said:
‘‘Mr。 Hastings。''
‘‘Yes?''
‘‘After tea; I want to talk to you。''
Her glance at Mary had set me thinking。 I fancied that between these two there existed very little sympathy。 For the first time; it occurred to me to wonder about the girl's future。 Mrs。 Inglethorp had made no provisions of any kind for her; but I imagined that John and Mary would probably insist on her making her home with them at any rate until the end of the war。 John; I knew; was very fond of her; and would be sorry to let her go。
John; who had gone into the house; now reappeared。 His good…natured face wore an unaccustomed frown of anger。
‘‘Confound those detectives! I can't think what they're after! They've been in every room in the house turning things inside out; and upside down。 It really is too bad! I suppose they took advantage of our all being out。 I shall go for that fellow Japp; when I next see him!''
‘‘Lot of Paul Prys;'' grunted Miss Howard。
Lawrence opined that they had to make a show of doing something。
Mary Cavendish said nothing。
After tea; I invited Cynthia to e for a walk; and we sauntered off into the woods together。
‘‘Well?'' I inquired; as soon as we were protected from prying eyes by the leafy screen。
With a sigh; Cynthia flung herself down; and tossed off her hat。 The sunlight; piercing through the branches; turned the auburn of her hair to quivering gold。
‘‘Mr。 Hastings you are always so kind; and you know such a lot。''
It struck me at this moment that Cynthia was really a very charming girl! Much more charming than Mary; who never said things of that kind。
‘‘Well?'' I asked benignantly; as she hesitated。
‘‘I want to ask your advice。 What shall I do?''
‘‘Do?''
‘‘Yes。 You see; Aunt Emily always told me I should be provided for。 I suppose she forgot; or didn't think she was likely to die anyway; I am not provided for! And I don't know what to do。 Do you think I ought to go away from here at once?''
‘‘Good heavens; no! They don't want to part with you; I'm sure。''
Cynthia hesitated a moment; plucking up the grass with her tiny hands。 Then she said: ‘‘Mrs。 Cavendish does。 She hates me。''
‘‘Hates you?'' I cried; astonished。
Cynthia nodded。
‘‘Yes。 I don't know why; but she can't bear me; and he can't; either。''
‘‘There I know you're wrong;'' I said warmly。 ‘‘On the contrary; John is very fond of you。''
‘‘Oh; yes John。 I meant Lawrence。 Not; of course; that I care whether Lawrence hates me or not。 Still; it's rather horrid when no one loves you; isn't it?''
‘‘But they do; Cynthia dear;'' I said earnestly。 ‘‘I'm sure you are mistaken。 Look; there is John and Miss Howard ''
Cynthia nodded rather gloomily。 ‘‘Yes; John likes me; I think; and of course Evie; for all her gruff ways; wouldn't be unkind to a fly。 But Lawrence never speaks to me if he can help it; and Mary can hardly bring herself to be civil to me。 She wants Evie to stay on; is begging her to; but she doesn't want me; and and I don't know what to do。'' Suddenly the poor child burst out crying。
I don't know what possessed me。 Her beauty; perhaps; as she sat there; with the sunlight glinting down on her head; perhaps the sense of relief at encountering someone who so obviously could have no connection with the tragedy; perhaps honest pity for her youth and loneliness。 Anyway; I leant forward; and taking her little hand; I said awkwardly:
‘‘Marry me; Cynthia。''
Unwittingly; I had hit upon a sovereign remedy for her tears。 She sat up at once; drew her hand away; and said; with some asperity:
‘‘Don't be silly!''
I was a little annoyed。
‘‘I'm not being silly。 I am asking you to do me the honour of being my wife。''
To my intense surprise; Cynthia burst out laughing; and called me a ‘‘funny dear。''
‘‘It's perfectly sweet of you;'' she said; ‘‘but you know you don't want to!''
‘‘Yes; I do。 I've got ''
‘‘Never mind what you've got。 You don't really want to and I don't either。''
‘‘Well; of course; that settles it;'' I said stiffly。 ‘‘But I don't see anything to laugh at。 There's nothing funny about a proposal。''
‘‘No; indeed;'' said Cynthia。 ‘‘Somebody might accept you next time。 Good…bye; you've cheered me up very much。''
And; with a final uncontrollable burst of merriment; she vanished through the trees。
Thinking over the interview; it struck me as being profoundly unsatisfactory。
It occurred to me suddenly that I would go down to the village; and look up Bauerstein。 Somebody ought to be keeping an eye on the fellow。 At the same time; it would be wise to allay any suspicions he might have as to his being suspected。 I remembered how Poirot had relied on my diplomacy。 Accordingly; I went to the little house with the ‘‘Apartments'' card inserted in the window; where I knew he lodged; and tapped on the door。
An old woman came and opened it。
‘‘Good afternoon;'' I said pleasantly。 ‘‘Is Dr。 Bauerstein in?''
She stared at me。
‘‘Haven't you heard?''
‘‘Heard what?''
‘‘About him。''
‘‘What about him?''
‘‘He's took。''
‘‘Took? Dead?''
‘‘No; took by the perlice。''
‘‘By the police!'' I gasped。 ‘‘Do you mean they've arrested him?''
‘‘Yes; that's it; and ''
I waited to hear no more; but tore up the village to find Poirot。
Chapter 10
THE ARREST
TO my extreme annoyance; Poirot was not in; and the old Belgian who answered my knock informed me that he believed he had gone to London。
I was dumbfounded。 What on earth could Poirot be doing in London! Was it a sudden decision on his part; or had he already made up his mind when he parted from me a few hours earlier?
I retraced my steps to Styles in some annoyance。 With Poirot away; I was uncertain how to act。 Had he foreseen this arrest? Had he not; in all probability; been the cause of it? Those questions I could not resolve。 But in the meantime what was I to do? Should I announce the arrest openly at Styles; or not? Though I did not acknowledge it to myself; the thought of Mary Cavendish was weighing on me。 Would it not be a terrible shock to he