Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-01-09
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

mics, for he preferred the white rose
of York-cold and austere-and she,
so she told me, loved red roses, the
red rose of Lancaster. Red roses that
have scent and color and passion and
warmth. And that, my friend, is the
difference between Elinor Carlisle
and Roderick Welman."
Peter Lord said: at explains Eli
nor Carlisle-who is passionate and
proud and who loved desperately a
man who was incapable of loving
her
Peter Lord said: q don't under
stand you.
Poirot said: But 1 understand her
/ understand both of them"
Now my friend, we will go back
once more to that little clearing in
the shrubbery," said Poirot.
They went there in silence. Peter
Lords freckled face was troubled and
angry. When they came to the spot,
Poirot stood motionless for some time
and Peter Lord watched him.
Then suddenly the little detective
gave a vexed sigh. He said: ut is
so simple, really. Do you not see, my
friend, the fatal fallacy inf your rea-
soning? According to your theory,
some one, a man, presumably, who
had known Mary Gerrad in Germany
came here intent on killing her. But
look, my friend, look! Use the two
eyes of your body, since the eyes of
What do you see from here? A win
What do you see form here? A win
dow, is it not? And at that window
girl. A girl cutting sandwiches.
That is to say, Elinor Carlisle. But
think for a minute of this: What on
earth was to tell the watching man
that those sandwiches were going to
be offered to Mary Gerard? No one
knew that but Elinor Carlisle her
self-nobody! Not even Mary Ger
rard, nor Nurse Hopkins.
$50 what follows-if a man stood
here watching land if he afterwards
went to that window and climbed in
and tempered with the sandwiches?
What did he think and believe? He
thought, he must have thought, that
the SANDWICHES were to be eaten by
Elinor Carlisle herself :"
x
Poirot knocked at the door of
Nurse Hopkins cottage. She opened
it and asked with asperity: "Well.
Mr.. Poirot, what do you want now?"
Il may enter?"
Somewhat grudgingly Nurse Hop
kins drew back and Poirot was per-
mitted to cross the threshold. Nurse
Hopkins was hospitable with the tea
pot, and a minute later Poirot was re-
garding with some dismay a cup of
inky beverage.
Just made-nice and strong" said
Nurse Hopkins.
Poirot stirred his tea cautiously and
took one heroic sip. He said: "Have
you any idea why l have come here?"
81 couldn't say, Pm sure, until You
ell me. l don't profess to be mind
reader"
Ihave come to ask you for the
ruth"
Nurse Hopkins uprose in wrath.
And what's the meaning Of that, [ .
should like to know? A truthful
woman I've always been. Not one to
shield myself in any way. | spoke
Up about that missing tube of NOR
ohine at the inquest when many one
n my place would have sat tight and
said nothing. For we'll enough did
know that l should get censured for
in leaving my case a
1out; but, after all, it's thing might .
happen to anybody! was blamed
for that-and it won't do me any !
good in my profession, l can tell you.
But that didn't make any difference
to me! l knew something that had a
bearing on CnG CdSeJ dilu oO spun
put. And I'll thank you, Mr.. Poirot,
to keep any nasty insinuations to
yourself! There's not thing about
Mary Gerrard's death that / haven't
been open and above-board as day
light about, and if you think differ
emily, I'd be obliged if you'd give
chapter and verse for it! I've con-
cealed nothing-nothing at all! And
I'm prepared to take the oath and
stand up in court and say So"
Poirot did not attempt to interrupt.
He knew only too well the technique
of dealing with an angry woman. He
allowed Nurse Hopkins to flare up
and simmer down. Then he spoke
quietly and mildly. He said: " Ibid
not suggest that there is anything a
bout the crime which you have not
told"
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