"Raymond Boynton said that!"
The exclamation broke from the Frenchman.
"You think it unlikely -psychologically speaking?"Poirot inquired placidly.
Gerard shook his head.
"No,I should not say that.I was surprised,yes.If you follow me,I was
surprised just because Raymond Boynton was so eminently fitted to be a suspect."
Colonel Carbury sighed.1These psychological fellers!"the sigh seemed to say.
"Question is,"he murmured,"what are we going to do about it?"
Gerard shrugged his shoulders.
"I do not see what you can do,"he confessed."The evidence is bound to be
inconclusive.You may know that murder has been done but it will be difficult to
prove it."
"I see,"said colonel Carbury."We suspect that murder's been done and we just
sit back and twiddle our fingers!Don't like it!"He added,as if in
extenuation,his former odd plea,"I'm a tidy man."
"I know,I know."Poirot nodded his head sympathetically."You would like to
clear this up.You would like to know definitely exactly what occurred and how it
occurred.And you,Dr Gerard?You have said that there is nothing to be done -that
the evidence is bound to be inconclusive?That is probably true.But are you
satisfied that the matter should rest so?"
"She was a bad life,"said Gerard slowly."In any case,she might have died
very shortly -a week-a month-a year."
"So you are satisfied?"persisted Poirot.
Gerard went on:
"There is no doubt that her death was -how shall we put it?-beneficial to
the community.It has brought freedom to her family.They will have scope to
develop -they are all,I think,people of good character and intelligence.They
will be -now -useful members of society!The death of Mrs Boynton,as I see it,has
resulted in nothing but good."
Poirot for the third time: "So you are satisfied?"
"No."Gerard pounded a fist suddenly on the table."I am not 'satisfied",as
you put it!It is my instinct to preserve life -not to hasten
death.Therefore,though my conscious mind may repeat that this woman's death was
a good thing,my unconscious mind rebels against it!It is not well,gentlemen,that
a human being should die before her time has come."
Poirot smiled.He leaned back contented with the answer he had probed for so
patiently.
Colonel Carbury said unemotionally: "He don't like murder!Quite right!No
more do I."
He rose and poured himself out a stiff whisky and soda.His guests"glasses
were still full.
"And now,"he said,returning to the subject,"let's get down to brass tacks.Is
there anything to be done about it?We don't like it -no!But we may have to lump
it!No good making a fuss if you can't deliver the goods."
Gerard leaned forward."What is your professional opinion,M.Poirot?You are
the expert."
Poirot took a little time to speak.Methodically he arranged an ash-tray or
two and made a little heap of used matches.Then he said:
"You desire to know,do you not,Colonel Carbury,who killed Mrs Boynton?(That
is if she was killed and did not die a natural death.)Exactly how and when she
was killed-and in fact the whole truth of the matter?"
"I should like to know that,yes."Carbury spoke unemotionally.
Hercule Poirot said slowly: "I see no reason shy you should not know it!"
Dr Gerard looked incredulous.Colonel Carbury looked mildly interested.
"Oh,"he said."So you don't,don't you?That's interestin".How d"you propose to
set about it?"
"By methodical sifting of the evidence,by a process of reasoning."
"Suits me,"said Colonel Carbury.
"And by a study of the psychological possibilities."
"Suits Dr Gerard,I expect,"said Carbury."And after that -after you've sifted
the evidence and done some reasoning and paddled in psychology -hey presto!-you
think you can produce the rabbit out of the hat?"
"I should be extremely surprised if I could not do so,"said Poirot calmly.
Colonel Carbury stared at him over the rim of his glass.Just for a moment
the vague eyes were no longer vague-they measured-and appraised.
He put down his glass with a grunt.
"What do you say to that,Dr Gerard?"
"I admit that I am sceptical of success......Yes,I know that M.Poirot has
great powers."
"I am gifted-yes,"said the little man.He smiled modestly.
Colonel Carbury turned away his head and coughed.
Poirot said: "The first thing to decide is whether this is a composite
murder-planned and carried out by the Boynton family as a whole,or whether it is
the work of one of them only.If the latter,which is the most likely member of
the family to have attempted it."
Dr Gerard said: "There is your own evidence.One must,I think,consider first
Raymond Boynton."
"I agree,"said Poirot."The words I overheard and the discrepancy between his
evidence and that of the young woman doctor puts him definitely in the forefront
of the suspects."
"He was the last person to see Mrs Boynton alive.That is his own story.Sarah
King contradicts that.Tell me,Dr Gerard,is there -eh?-you know what I mean -a
little tendresse,shall we say -there?"
The Frenchman nodded."Emphatically so."
"Aha!Is she,this young lady,a brunette with hair that goes back from her
forehead-so-and big hazel eyes and a manner very decided?"
Dr Gerard looked rather surprised.
"Yes,that describes her very well."
"I think I have seen her -in the Solomon Hotel.She spoke to this Raymond
Boynton and afterwards he remained plantela-in a dream -blocking
the exit from the lift.Three times I had to say "Pardon"before he heard me and
moved."
He remained in thought for some moments.Then he said: "So,to begin with,we
will accept the medical evidence of Miss Sarah King with certain mental
reservations.She is an interested party."He paused -then went on: "Tell me,Dr
Gerard,do you think Raymond Boynton is of the temperament that could commit
murder easily?"
Gerard said slowly: "You mean deliberate planned murder?Yes,I think it is
possible -but only under conditions of intense emotional strain."
"Those conditions were present?"
"Definitely.This journey abroad undoubtedly heightened the nervous and
mental strain under which all these people were living.The contrast between
their own lives and those of other people was more apparent to them.And in
Raymond Boynton's case-"
"Yes?"
"There was the additional complication of being strongly attracted to Sarah
King."
"That would give him an additional motive?And an additional stimulus?"
"That is so."
Colonel Carbury coughed.
"Like to butt in a moment.That sentence of his you overheard,"You do
see,don't you,that she's got to be killed?"Must have been spoken to someone."
"A good point,"said Poirot."I had not forgotten it.Yes,to whom was Raymond
Boynton speaking?Undoubtedly to a member of his family.But which member?Can you
tell us something,Doctor,of the mental condition of the other members of the
family?"
Gerard replied promptly:
"Carol Boynton was,I should say,in very much the same state as Raymond -a
state of rebellion accompanied by a severe nervous excitement,but uncomplicated
in her case by the introduction of a sex factor.Lennox Boynton had passed the
stage of revolt.He was sunk in apathy.He was finding it,I think,difficult to
concentrate.His method of reaction to his surroundings was to retire further and
further within himself.He was definitely an introvert."
"And his wife?"
"His wife,though tired and unhappy,showed no signs of mental conflict.She
was,I believe,hesitating on the brink of a decision."
"Such a decision being?"
"Whether or not to leave her husband."
He repeated the conversation he had held with Jefferson Cope.Poirot nodded
in comprehension.
"And what of the younger girl-Ginevra her name is,is it not?"
The Frenchman's face was grave.He said:
"I should say that mentally she is in an extremely dangerous condition.She
has already begun to display symptoms of schizophrenia.Unable to bear the
suppression of her life,she is escaping into a realm of fantasy.She has advanced
delusions of persecution -that is to say,she claims to be a Royal Personage -in
danger -enemies surrounding her -all the usual things!"
"And that -is dangerous?"
"very dangerous.It is the beginning of what is often homicidal mania.The
sufferer kills -not for the lust of killing-but in self-defence.He or she kills
in order not to be killed themselves.From their point of view it is eminently
retional."
"So you think that Ginevra Boynton might have killed her mother?"
"Yes.But I doubt if she would have had the knowledge or the constructiveness
to do it the way it was done.The cunning of that class of mania is usually very
simple and obvious.And I am almost certain she would have chosen a more
spectacular method."
"But she is a possibility?"Poirot insisted.
"Yes,"admitted Gerard.
"And afterwards -when the deed was done?Do you think the rest of the family
knew who had done it?"
"They know!"said Colonel Carbury unexpectedly."If ever I came across a bunch
of people who had something to hide -these are they!They're putting something
over all right."
"We will make them tell us what it is,"said Poirot.
"Third degree?"said Colonel Carbury.
"No."Poirot shook his head."Just ordinary conversation.On the whole,you
know,people tell you the truth.Because it is easier!Because it is less strain on
the inventive faculties!You can tell one lie -or two lies -or three lies-or even
four lies -but you cannot lie all the time.And so -the truth becomes plain."
"Something in that,"agreed Carbury.
Then he said bluntly: "You"ll talk to them,you say?That means you're willing
to take this on."
Poirot bowed his head.
"Let us be very clear about this,"he said."What you demand,and what I
undertake to supply,is the truth.But mark this,even when we have got the
truth,there may be no proof.That is to say,no proof that would be accepted in a
court of law.You comprehend?"
"Quite,"said Carbury."You satisfy me of what really happened.Then it's up to
me to decide whether action is possible or not -having regard to the
international aspects.Anyway,it will be cleared up -no mess.Don't like mess."
Poirot smiled.
"One thing more,"said Carbury."I can't give you much time.Can't detain these
people here indefinitely."
Poirot said quietly:
"You can detain them twenty-four hours.You shall have the truth by tomorrow
night."
Colonel Carbury stared hard at him.
"Pretty confident,aren't you?"he asked.
"I know my own ability,"murmured Poirot.
Rendered uncomfortable by this un-British attitude,Colonel Carbury looked
away and fingered his untidy moustache.
"Well,"he mumbled,"it's up to you."
"And if you succeed,my friend,"said Dr Gerard,"you are indeed a
marvel!"
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