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Chapter IV. Poirot Investigates
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“Youhavebeenwithyourmistressmanyyears,isitnotso?”
“Tenyears,sir.”
“Thatisalongtime,andveryfaithfulservice.Youweremuchattachedtoher,wereyounot?”
“Shewasaverygoodmistresstome,sir.”
“Thenyouwillnotobjecttoansweringafewquestions.IputthemtoyouwithMr.Cavendish’sfullapproval.”
“Oh,certainly,sir.”
“ThenIwillbeginbyaskingyouabouttheeventsofyesterdayafternoon.Yourmistresshadaquarrel?”
“Yes,sir.ButIdon’tknowthatIought——”Dorcashesitated.
Poirotlookedatherkeenly.
“MygoodDorcas,itisnecessarythatIshouldknoweverydetailofthatquarrelasfullyaspossible.Donotthinkthatyouarebetrayingyourmistress’ssecrets.Yourmistressliesdead,anditisnecessarythatweshouldknowall—ifwearetoavengeher.Nothingcanbringherbacktolife,butwedohope,iftherehasbeenfoulplay,tobringthemurderertojustice.”
“Amentothat,”saidDorcasfiercely.“And,namingnonames,there’soneinthishousethatnoneofuscouldeverabide!Andanilldayitwaswhenfirsthedarkenedthethreshold.”
Poirotwaitedforherindignationtosubside,andthen,resuminghisbusiness-liketone,heasked:
“Now,astothisquarrel?Whatisthefirstyouheardofit?”
“Well,sir,Ihappenedtobegoingalongthehalloutsideyesterday——”
“Whattimewasthat?”
“Icouldn’tsayexactly,sir,butitwasn’ttea-timebyalongway.Perhapsfouro’clock—oritmayhavebeenabitlater.
