21. Hercule Poirot on the Case!

           Inameasuredvoice,Poirotbeganhisexposition.

           “Itseemsstrangetoyou,monami,thatamanshouldplanhisowndeath?Sostrange,thatyouprefertorejectthetruthasfantastic,andtoreverttoastorythatisinrealitytentimesmoreimpossible.Yes,M.Renauldplannedhisowndeath,butthereisonedetailthatperhapsescapesyou—hedidnotintendtodie.”

           Ishookmyhead,bewildered.

           “Butno,itisallmostsimplereally,”saidPoirotkindly.“ForthecrimethatM.Renauldproposedamurdererwasnotnecessary,asItoldyou,butabodywas.Letusreconstruct,seeingeventsthistimefromadifferentangle.

           “GeorgesConneaufliesfromjustice—toCanada.There,underanassumednamehemarries,andfinallyacquiresavastfortuneinSouthAmerica.Butthereisanostalgiauponhimforhisowncountry.Twentyyearshaveelapsed,heisconsiderablychangedinappearance,besidesbeingamanofsucheminencethatnooneislikelytoconnecthimwithafugitivefromjusticemanyyearsago.Hedeemsitquitesafetoreturn.HetakesuphisheadquartersinEngland,butintendstospendthesummersinFrance.Andillfortune,thatobscurejusticewhichshapesmen’sends,andwillnotallowthemtoevadetheconsequencesoftheiracts,takeshimtoMerlinville.There,inthewholeofFrance,istheonepersonwhoiscapableofrecognizinghim.Itis,ofcourse,agoldminetoMadameDaubreuil,andagoldmineofwhichsheisnotslowtotakeadvantage.Heishelpless,absolutelyinherpower.Andshebleedshimheavily.

           “Andthentheinevitablehappens.