"Yes. Have there not been incidents?"
She flushed.
"You mean that dreadful little man who shot
himself. It wasn't my fault, M. Poirot. Indeed it
wasn't."
"It was not precisely of that incident that I was
thinking."
"That ridiculous due!? But Italians do fight
duels. I was so thankful the man wasn't killed."
"It must have been a relief to you," agreed
Poirot gravely.
She was looking at him doubtfully. He rose and
took her hand in his.
"I shall not fight a duel for you, madame," he
said. "But I will do what you have asked me. I will
discover the truth. And let us hope that your in-stincts
are correct--that the truth will help and not
harm you."
Our first interview was with Major Curtiss. He
was a man of about forty, of soldierly build, with
very dark hair and a bronzed face. He had known
the Claytons for some years and Major Rich also.
He confirmed the press reports.
Clayton and he had had a drink together at the
club just before half-past seven, and Clayton had
then announced his intention of looking in on
40
Agath Christie
Major Rich on lais waYlo Euston.
"What was Mr. Claton's'manner? Was he de-pressed