23. Difficulties Ahead

           Afteramomentofstress,suchasIhavejustdescribed,reactionisboundtosetin.Iretiredtorestthatnightonanoteoftriumph,butIawoketorealizethatIwasbynomeansoutofthewood.True,IcouldseenoflawinthealibiIhadsosuddenlyconceived.Ihadbuttosticktomystory,andIfailedtoseehowBellacouldbeconvictedinfaceofit.Itwasnotasthoughtherewasanyoldfriendshipbetweenusthatcouldberakedup,andwhichmightleadthemtosuspectthatIwascommittingperjury.ItcouldbeprovedthatinactualfactIhadonlyseenthegirlonthreeoccasions.No,Iwasstillsatisfiedwithmyidea—hadnotevenPoirotadmittedthatitdefeatedhim?

           ButthereIfelttheneedoftreadingwarily.Allverywellformylittlefriendtoadmithimselfmomentarilynonplussed.Ihadfartoomuchrespectforhisabilitiestoconceiveofhimasbeingcontenttoremaininthatposition.Ihadaveryhumbleopinionofmywitswhenitcametomatchingthemagainsthis.Poirotwouldnottakedefeatlyingdown.Somehoworother,hewouldendeavourtoturnthetablesonme,andthatintheway,andatthemoment,whenIleastexpectedit.

           Wemetatbreakfastthefollowingmorningasthoughnothinghadhappened.Poirot’sgoodtemperwasimperturbable,yetIthoughtIdetectedafilmofreserveinhismannerwhichwasnew.Afterbreakfast,Iannouncedmyintentionofgoingoutforastroll.AmaliciousgleamshotthroughPoirot’seyes.

           “Ifitisinformationyouseek,youneednotbeatthepainsofderangingyourself.Icantellyouallyouwishtoknow.