‘Need that hurt your pride? Since what they say is true—that it should in justice be yours?’
Pilar said:
‘You do not understand…’
Poirot said:
‘On the contrary—I understand very well.’
‘Oh!…’ She turned away pettishly.
There was a ring at the bell. Poirot glanced over his shoulder. He saw the silhouette of Superintendent Sugden outside the door. He said hurriedly to Pilar:
‘Where are you going?’
She said sulkily:
‘To the drawing-room. To the others.’
Poirot said quickly:
‘Good. Stay with them there. Do not wander about the house alone, especially after dark. Be on your guard. You are in great danger, mademoiselle. You will never be in greater danger than you are today.’
He turned away from her and went to meet Sugden.
The latter waited till Tressilian had gone back into his pantry.
Then he shoved a cable form under Poirot’s nose.
‘Now we’ve got it!’ he said. ‘Read that. It’s from the South African Police.’
The cable said:
‘Ebenezer Farr’s only son died two years ago.’
Sugden said:
‘So now we know! Funny—I was on a different tack altogether…’
IV
Pilar marched into the drawing-room, her head held high.
She went straight up to Lydia, who was sitting in the window with some knitting.
Pilar said:
‘Lydia, I have come to tell you that I will not take that money. I am going away—at once…’
Lydia looked astonished. She laid down her knitting. She said:
‘My dear child, Alfred must have explained very badly! It is not in the least a matter of charity, if that is what you feel. Really, it is not a question of kindness or generosity on our part. It is a plain matter of right and wrong. In the ordinary course of events your mother would have inherited this money, and you would have come into it from her. It is your right—your blood right. It is a matter, not of charity, but of justice!’
Pilar said fiercely:
‘And that is why I cannot do it—not when you speak like that—not when you are like that! I enjoyed coming here. It was fun! It was an adventure, but now you have spoilt it all! I am going away now, at once—you will never be bothered by me again…’
Tears choked her voice. She turned and ran blindly out of the room.