She cast a quick nervous glance over his shoulder. Then she said abruptly: ‘How will all this end? We’re caught here. Trapped. There’s no way out. We’ve got to go on. I–I don’t know where I am.’
She slipped down on to a seat. Poirot looked down on her gravely; his glance was not untinged with compassion.
She said:
‘How did she know we were coming on this boat? How could she have known?’
Poirot shook his head as he answered:
‘She has brains, you know.’
‘I feel as though I shall never escape from her.’
Poirot said: ‘There is one plan you might have adopted. In fact I am surprised that it did not occur to you. After all, with you, Madame, money is no object. Why did you not engage in your own private dahabeeyah?’
Linnet shook her head rather helplessly.
‘If we’d known about all this – but you see we didn’t – then. And it was difficult…’ She flashed out with sudden impatience: ‘Oh! you don’t understand half my difficulties. I’ve got to be careful with Simon… He’s – he’s absurdly sensitive – about money. About my having so much! He wanted me to go to some little place in Spain with him – he – he wanted to pay all our honeymoon expenses himself. As if it mattered! Men are stupid! He’s got to get used to – to – living comfortably. The mere idea of a dahabeeyah upset him – the – the needless expense. I’ve got to educate him – gradually.’
She looked up, bit her lip vexedly, as though feeling that she had been led into discussing her difficulties rather too unguardedly.
She got up.
‘I must change. I’m sorry, Monsieur Poirot. I’m afraid I’ve been talking a lot of foolish nonsense.’
Mrs Allerton, looking quiet and distinguished in her simple black lace evening gown, descended two decks to the dining room. At the door of it her son caught her up.
‘Sorry, darling. I thought I was going to be late.’
‘I wonder where we sit.’
The saloon was dotted with little tables. Mrs Allerton paused till the steward, who was busy seating a party of people, could attend to them.
‘By the way,’ she added, ‘I asked little Hercule Poirot to sit at our table.’
‘Mother, you didn’t!’ Tim sounded really taken aback and annoyed.
His mother stared at him in surprise. Tim was usually so easy going.
‘My dear, do you mind?’
‘Yes, I do. He’s an unmitigated little bounder!’