Susan Cardwell paused, stretched for a cigarette, lit it, and remarked:
“You’d better ask her that. After all, it isn’t my business.”
Major Riddle asked:
“When was the last time you saw Sir Gervase?”
“At tea.”
“Did his manner strike you as peculiar in any way?”
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
“Not more than usual.”
“What did you do after tea?”
“Played billiards with Hugo.”
“You didn’t see Sir Gervase again?”
“No.”
“What about the shot?”
“That was rather odd. You see, I thought the first gong had gone, so I hurried up with my dressing, came dashing out of my room, heard, as I thought, the second gong and fairly raced down the stairs. I’d been one minute late for dinner the first night I was here and Hugo told me it had about wrecked our chances with the old man, so I fairly hared down. Hugo was just ahead of me and then there was a queer kind of pop-bang and Hugo said it was a champagne cork, but Snell said ‘No’ to that and, anyway, I didn’t think it had come from the dining room. Miss Lingard thought it came from upstairs, but anyway we agreed it was a backfire and we trooped into the drawing room and forgot about it.”
“It did not occur to you for one moment that Sir Gervase might have shot himself?” asked Poirot.
“I ask you, should I be likely to think of such a thing? The Old Man seemed to enjoy himself throwing his weight about. I never imagined he’d do such a thing. I can’t think why he did it. I suppose just because he was nuts.”
“An unfortunate occurrence.”
“Very—for Hugo and me. I gather he’s left Hugo nothing at all, or practically nothing.”
“Who told you that?”
“Hugo got it out of old Forbes.”
“Well, Miss Cardwell—” Major Riddle paused a moment, “I think that’s all. Do you think Miss Chevenix-Gore is feeling well enough to come down and talk to us?”
“Oh, I should think so. I’ll tell her.”
Poirot intervened.
“A little moment, mademoiselle. Have you seen this before?”
He held out the bullet pencil.
“Oh, yes, we had it at bridge this afternoon. Belongs to old Colonel Bury, I think.”
“Did he take it when the rubber was over?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“Thank you, mademoiselle. That is all.”
“Right, I’ll tell Ruth.”