‘You probably would be worried if you’d committed a murder,’ said Norman Gale grimly.
‘He looked nice, though,’ said Jane; ‘and the old father was rather a dear. I hope it isn’t them.’
‘We don’t seem to be getting on very fast,’ said Norman Gale.
‘I don’t see how we can get on without knowing a lot of things about the old woman who was murdered. Enemies, and who inherits her money, and all that.’
Norman Gale said thoughtfully:
‘You think this is mere idle speculation?’
Jane said coolly, ‘Isn’t it?’
‘Not quite.’ Gale hesitated, then went on slowly, ‘I have a feeling it may be useful—’
Jane looked at him inquiringly.
‘Murder,’ said Norman Gale, ‘doesn’t concern the victim and the guilty only. It affects the innocent too. You and I are innocent, but the shadow of murder has touched us. We don’t know how that shadow is going to affect our lives.’
Jane was a person of cool common sense, but she shivered suddenly.
‘Don’t,’ she said. ‘You make me feel afraid.’
‘I’m a little afraid myself,’ said Gale.
Chapter 6
Consultation
Hercule Poirot rejoined his friend Inspector Japp. The latter had a grin on his face.
‘Hullo, old boy,’ he said. ‘You’ve had a pretty near squeak of being locked up in a police cell.’
‘I fear,’ said Poirot gravely, ‘that such an occurrence might have damaged me professionally.’
‘Well,’ said Japp with a grin, ‘detectives do turn out to be criminals sometimes—in story books.’
A tall thin man with an intelligent, melancholy face joined them, and Japp introduced him.
‘This is Monsieur Fournier of the Sûreté. He has come over to collaborate with us about this business.’
‘I think I have had the pleasure of meeting you once some years ago, M. Poirot,’ said Fournier, bowing and shaking hands. ‘I have also heard of you from M. Giraud.’
A very faint smile seemed to hover on his lips. And Poirot, who could well imagine the terms in which Giraud (whom he himself had been in the habit of referring to disparagingly as the ‘human fox-hound’) had spoken of him, permitted himself a small discreet smile in reply.
‘I suggest,’ said Poirot, ‘that both you gentlemen should dine with me at my rooms. I have already invited Maître Thibault. That is, if you and my friend Japp do not object to my collaboration.’
‘That’s all right, old cock,’ said Japp, slapping him heartily on the back. ‘You’re in on this on the ground floor.’
‘We shall be indeed honoured,’ murmured the Frenchman ceremoniously.
‘You see,’ said Poirot, ‘as I said to a very charming young lady just now, I am anxious to clear my character.’
‘That jury certainly didn’t like the look of you,’ agreed Japp with a renewal of his grin. ‘Best joke I’ve heard for a long time.’
By common consent no mention of the case was made during the very excellent meal which the little Belgian provided for his friends.
‘After all, it is possible to eat well in England,’ murmured Fournier appreciatively as he made delicate use of a thoughtfully provided toothpick.