‘So that’s who he is,’ I said slowly.
‘You’ve heard of him, of course?’
‘I’m rather an old fogey, as Caroline tells me,’ I said, ‘but I have just heard of him.’
‘Extraordinary!’ commented Caroline.
I don’t know what she was referring to – possibly her own failure to discover the truth.
‘You want to go and see him?’ I asked slowly. ‘Now why?’
‘To get him to investigate this murder, of course,’ said Caroline sharply. ‘Don’t be so stupid, James.’
I was not really being stupid. caroline does not always understand what I am driving at.
‘You haven’t got confidence in inspector Davis?’ I went on.
‘Of course she hasn’t,’ said Caroline. ‘I haven’t either.’
Anyone would have thought it was Caroline’s uncle who had been murdered.
‘And how do you know he would take up the case?’ I asked. ‘Remember he has retired from active work.’
‘That’s just it,’ said Flora simply. ‘I’ve got to persuade him.’
‘You are sure you are doing wisely?’ I asked gravely.
‘Of course she is,’ said Caroline. ‘I’ll go with her myself if she likes.’
‘I’d rather the doctor came with me, if you don’t mind, Miss Sheppard,’ said Flora.
She knows the value of being direct on certain occasions. Any hints would certainly have been wasted on Caroline.
‘You see,’ she explained, following directness with tact, ‘dr Sheppard being the doctor, and having found the body, he would be able to give all the details to M. Poirot.’
‘Yes,’ said Caroline grudgingly, ‘I see that.’
I took a turn or two up and down the room.
‘Flora,’ I said gravely, ‘be guided by me. I advise you not to drag this detective into the case.’
Flora sprang to her feet. The colour rushed into her cheeks.
‘I know why you say that,’ she cried. ‘But it’s exactly for that reason I’m so anxious to go. You’re afraid! But I’m not. I know Ralph better than you do.’
‘Ralph!’ said Caroline. ‘What has Ralph got to do with it?’
Neither of us heeded her.
‘Ralph may be weak,’ continued Flora. ‘He may have done foolish things in the past – wicked things even – but he wouldn’t murder anyone.’
‘No, no,’ I exclaimed. ‘I never thought it of him.’
‘Then why did you go to the Three Boars last night?’ demanded Flora. ‘on your way home – after uncle’s body was found?’
I was momentarily silenced. I had hoped that that visit of mine would remain unnoticed.