of Mary Gerrard the motive is supposed to be jealousy.”
“That's right.”
Poirot said, “What line does the defence propose to take?”
Peter Lord said, “Bulmer proposes to take the line that there was no motive. He'll put forward the theory that the engagement between Elinor and Roderick was a family business, entered into for family reasons, to please Mrs. Welman, and that the moment the old lady was dead Elinor broke it off of her own accord. Roderick Welman will give evidence to that effect. I think he almost believes it!”
“Believes that Elinor did not care for him to any great extent?” “Yes.”
“In which case,” said Poirot, “she would have no reason for murdering Mary Gerrard.”
“Exactly.”
“But in that case, who did murder Mary Gerrard?”
“As you say.”
Poirot shook his head. “C'est difficile.”
Peter Lord said vehemently, “That's just it! If she didn't, who did? There's the tea; but both Nurse Hopkins and Mary drank that. The defence will try and suggest that Mary Gerrard took the morphine herself after the other two had left the room - that she committed suicide, in fact.”
“Had she any reason for committing suicide?”
“None whatever.”
“Was she of a suicidal type?”
“No.”
Poirot said, “What was she like, this Mary Gerrard?”
Peter Lord considered, “She was - well, she was a nice kid. Yes, definitely a nice kid.”
Poirot sighed.
He murmured “This Roderick Welman, did he fall in love with her because she was a nice kid?”
Peter Lord smiled. “Oh, I get what you mean. She was beautiful, all right.” “And you yourself? You had no feeling for her?” Peter Lord stared, “Good Lord, no.”
Hercule Poirot reflected for a moment or two, then he said, “Roderick Welman says that there was affection between him and Elinor Carlisle, but nothing stronger. Do you agree to that?”
“How the hell should I know?”
Poirot shook his head. “You told me when you came into this room that Elinor Carlisle had the bad taste to be in love with a long-nosed, supercilious ass. That, I presume, is a description of Roderick Welman. So, according to you, she does care for him.”
Peter Lord said in a low, exasperated voice, “She cares for him all right! Cares like hell!”
Poirot said, “Then there was a motive.”
Peter Lord swerved round on him, his face alight with anger. “Does it matter? She might have done it, yes! I don't care if she did.”
Poirot said, “Aha!”
“But I don't want her hanged, I tell you! Supposing she was driven desperate? Love's a desperate and twisting business. It can turn a worm into a fine fellow - and it can bring a decent, straight man down to the dregs! Suppose she did do it. Haven't you got any pity?”
Hercule Poirot said, “I do not approve of murder.”
Peter Lord stared at him, looked away, stared again, and finally burst out laughing.
“Of all the things to say - so prim and smug, too! Who's asking you to approve? I'm not asking you to tell lies! Truth's truth, isn't it? If you find something that tells in an accused person's favour, you wouldn't be inclined to suppress it because she's guilty, would you?”
“Certainly not.”
“Then why the hell can't you do what I ask you?”
Hercule Poirot said, “My friend, I am perfectly prepared to do so.”
Sad Cypress
Chapter 9
Peter Lord stared at him, took out a handkerchief, wiped his face, and threw himself down in a chair.
“Whoof!” he said. “You got me all worked up! I didn't see in the least what you were getting at!”
Poirot said, “I was examining the case against Elinor Carlisle. Now I know it. Morphine was administered to Mary Gerrard; and, as far as I can see, it must have been given in the sandwiches. Nobody touched those sandwiches except Elinor Carlisle. Elinor Carlisle had a motive for killing Mary Gerrard, and she is, in your opinion, capable of killing Mary Gerrard, and in all probability she did kill Mary Gerrard. I see no
“That's right.”
Poirot said, “What line does the defence propose to take?”
Peter Lord said, “Bulmer proposes to take the line that there was no motive. He'll put forward the theory that the engagement between Elinor and Roderick was a family business, entered into for family reasons, to please Mrs. Welman, and that the moment the old lady was dead Elinor broke it off of her own accord. Roderick Welman will give evidence to that effect. I think he almost believes it!”
“Believes that Elinor did not care for him to any great extent?” “Yes.”
“In which case,” said Poirot, “she would have no reason for murdering Mary Gerrard.”
“Exactly.”
“But in that case, who did murder Mary Gerrard?”
“As you say.”
Poirot shook his head. “C'est difficile.”
Peter Lord said vehemently, “That's just it! If she didn't, who did? There's the tea; but both Nurse Hopkins and Mary drank that. The defence will try and suggest that Mary Gerrard took the morphine herself after the other two had left the room - that she committed suicide, in fact.”
“Had she any reason for committing suicide?”
“None whatever.”
“Was she of a suicidal type?”
“No.”
Poirot said, “What was she like, this Mary Gerrard?”
Peter Lord considered, “She was - well, she was a nice kid. Yes, definitely a nice kid.”
Poirot sighed.
He murmured “This Roderick Welman, did he fall in love with her because she was a nice kid?”
Peter Lord smiled. “Oh, I get what you mean. She was beautiful, all right.” “And you yourself? You had no feeling for her?” Peter Lord stared, “Good Lord, no.”
Hercule Poirot reflected for a moment or two, then he said, “Roderick Welman says that there was affection between him and Elinor Carlisle, but nothing stronger. Do you agree to that?”
“How the hell should I know?”
Poirot shook his head. “You told me when you came into this room that Elinor Carlisle had the bad taste to be in love with a long-nosed, supercilious ass. That, I presume, is a description of Roderick Welman. So, according to you, she does care for him.”
Peter Lord said in a low, exasperated voice, “She cares for him all right! Cares like hell!”
Poirot said, “Then there was a motive.”
Peter Lord swerved round on him, his face alight with anger. “Does it matter? She might have done it, yes! I don't care if she did.”
Poirot said, “Aha!”
“But I don't want her hanged, I tell you! Supposing she was driven desperate? Love's a desperate and twisting business. It can turn a worm into a fine fellow - and it can bring a decent, straight man down to the dregs! Suppose she did do it. Haven't you got any pity?”
Hercule Poirot said, “I do not approve of murder.”
Peter Lord stared at him, looked away, stared again, and finally burst out laughing.
“Of all the things to say - so prim and smug, too! Who's asking you to approve? I'm not asking you to tell lies! Truth's truth, isn't it? If you find something that tells in an accused person's favour, you wouldn't be inclined to suppress it because she's guilty, would you?”
“Certainly not.”
“Then why the hell can't you do what I ask you?”
Hercule Poirot said, “My friend, I am perfectly prepared to do so.”
Sad Cypress
Chapter 9
Peter Lord stared at him, took out a handkerchief, wiped his face, and threw himself down in a chair.
“Whoof!” he said. “You got me all worked up! I didn't see in the least what you were getting at!”
Poirot said, “I was examining the case against Elinor Carlisle. Now I know it. Morphine was administered to Mary Gerrard; and, as far as I can see, it must have been given in the sandwiches. Nobody touched those sandwiches except Elinor Carlisle. Elinor Carlisle had a motive for killing Mary Gerrard, and she is, in your opinion, capable of killing Mary Gerrard, and in all probability she did kill Mary Gerrard. I see no
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