Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1941-11-21

uage, there are things that one does
not say. But, alas, detective is fore
ed to say them! He must ask ques-
tions: about peoples private affairs,
about their feelings!"
Roddy said: "Surely all this is quite
Unnecessary"
Poirot said quickly and humbly: eff
1 might just understand the position;
then we will pass from the unpleasant
subject and not refer to it again. 1t
is fairly widely known, Mr.. Welman.
that you-admired Mary Gerard
That is, think, true?"
Roddy got up and stood by the win
dow. He played with the shade tassel'
He said: "Yes."
"You fell in love with herr"
81 suppose So"
"Ah, and you are now heartbroken
by her death"
"I-I suppose-I mean-well, real
ly, M. Polrot-" He turned-a ner-
vous, irritable, sensitive creature at
bay.
Hercule Poirot said: eff you could
just tell me-just show me clearly
then it would be finished with"
Roddy Welman sat down in a chair.
He did not look at the other man. He
spoke in series of jerks. "It's very
difficult to explain. Must we go into
it?"
Poirot said: zone cannot always
turn aside and pass by from the un-
pleasantness of life, Mr.. Welman!
You say you suppose you cared for
this girl. You are not sure, then?"
Roddy said: "I don't know . . She
was so lovely Like dream. That's
what it seems like now. A dream!
Not real! All that-my seeing her
first-my-well, my infatuation for
her! A kind of madness! And now
everything is finished-gone. as
though-as though it had never hap
pened."
Poirot nodded his head. He said:
eyes, I understand :" And added:
You were not in England yourself at
the time of her death?"
"No, went abroad on July 9th and
returned on August 1st. Elinor's tel
egram followed me about from place
to place. I hurried home as soon as
I got the news"
Poirot said: "It must have been a
great shock to you. You had cared
for the girl very much"
Roddy said, and there were bitter
ness and evaporation in his voice:
"Why should these things happen to
one? It's not as though one wished
them to happen! It is contrary to all
to all ones ordered expectation Of
lifei"
Hercule Poirot said: "Ah, but life
is like that! It does not permit you to
arrange and order it as you will. It
will not permit you to escape emotion,
to live by the intellect and by reason!
You cannot say, Il will feel so much
and no more Life, Mr.. Welman,
whatever else it is, is not reason
able!"
Roderick Welman murmured: $50
it seems. -"
Poirot said: "a spring morning,
a gril's face-and the well-ordered Sc
quence of existence is routed"
Roddy WINGED and Poirot went on:
Sometimes it is little more than that
"a face. What did you really know
Of Mary Gerard, Mr.. Welman?"
Roddy said heavily: "What did I
know? So little; I see that now. She
was sweet, I think, and gentle; but
really, know nothing-nothing at all
. That's why, suppose, I don't
miss her -"
His antagonism and resentment
were gone now. He spoke naturally
and simply. Hercule Poirot, as he had
a knack of doing, had penetrated the
others defenses. Rcddy seemed to
feel a certain relief in unburdening
He said: "Sweet-gentle-
not very clever. Sensitive, I think,
and kind. She had a refinement
that you would not expect to find in
girl of her class"
"Was she the kind of girl who
would make enemies unconsciously? ?"
Rody shook his head vigorously,
"No, no, I can't imagine any one dis
liking her, I mean. Spite is different.
Poirot said quickly: "Spite? So
there was spite, you think?"