‘Do people interest you too, Monsieur Poirot? Or do you reserve your interest for potential criminals?’
‘Madame – that category would not leave many people outside it.’
Mrs Allerton looked a trifle startled.
‘Do you really mean that?’
‘Given the particular incentive, that is to say,’ Poirot added.
‘Which would differ?’
‘Naturally.’
Mrs Allerton hesitated – a little smile on her lips.
‘Even I perhaps?’
‘Mothers, Madame, are particularly ruthless when their children are in danger.’
She said gravely:
‘I think that’s true – yes, you’re quite right.’
She was silent a minute or two, then she said, smiling:
‘I’m trying to imagine motives for crime suitable for everyone in the hotel. It’s quite entertaining. Simon Doyle, for instance?’
Poirot said, smiling:
‘A very simple crime – a direct short cut to his objective. No subtlety about it.’
‘And therefore very easily detected?’
‘Yes; he would not be ingenious.’
‘And Linnet?’
‘That would be like the Queen in your Alice in Wonderland, “Off with her head.” ’
‘Of course. The divine right of monarchy! Just a little bit of the Naboth’s vineyard touch. And the dangerous girl – Jacqueline de Bellefort – could she do a murder?’
Poirot hesitated for a minute or two, then he said doubtfully:
‘Yes, I think she could.’
‘But you’re not sure?’
‘No. She puzzles me, that little one.’
‘I don’t think Mr Pennington could do one, do you? He looks so desiccated and dyspeptic – with no red blood in him.’
‘But possibly a emphasis sense of self-preservation.’
‘Yes, I suppose so. And poor Mrs Otterbourne in her turban?’
‘There is always vanity.’
‘As a motive for murder?’ Mrs Allerton asked doubtfully.
‘Motives for murder are sometimes very trivial, Madame.’
‘What are the most usual motives, Monsieur Poirot?’
‘Most frequent – money. That is to say, gain in its various ramifications. Then there is revenge, and love, and fear – and pure hate, and beneficence-’
‘Monsieur Poirot!’
‘Oh, yes, Madame. I have known of – shall we say A? – being removed by B solely in order to benefit C. Political murders often come under that heading. Someone is considered to be harmful to civilization and is removed on that account. Such people forget that life and death are the affair of the good God.’
He spoke gravely.
Mrs Allerton said quietly:
‘I am glad to hear you say that. All the same, God chooses his instruments.’