As we were sipping our cocktails Franklin Clarke said curiously: 'I suppose we can guess what you are after? You're out to break that alibi. But I can't see what you're so pleased about. You haven't got a new fact of any kind.'
'No—that is true.'
'Well, then?'
'Patience. Everything arranges itself, given time.'
'You seem quite pleased with yourself anyway.'
'Nothing so far has contradicted my little idea—that is why.'
His face grew serious. 'My friend Hastings told me once that he had, as a young man played a game called The Truth. It was a game where everyone in turn was asked three questions—two of which must be answered truthfully. The third one could be barred. The questions, naturally, were of the most indiscreet kind. But to begin with everyone had to swear that they would indeed speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.'
He paused.
'Well?' said Megan.
'Eh bien—me, I want to play that game. Only it is not necessary to have three questions. One will be enough. One question to each of you.'
'Of course,' said Clarke impatiently. 'We'll answer anything.'
'Ah, but I want it to be more serious than that. Do you all swear to speak the truth?'
He was so solemn about it that the others, puzzled, became solemn themselves. They all swore as he demanded.
'Bon, 'said Poirot briskly. 'Let us begin—'
'I'm ready,' said Thora Grey.
'Ah, but ladies first—this time it would not be the politeness. We will start elsewhere.'
He turned to Franklin Clarke. 'What, mon cher M. Clarke, did you think of the hats the ladies wore at Ascot this year?'
Franklin Clarke stared at him. 'Is this a joke?'
'Certainly not.'
'Is that seriously your question?'
'It is.'
Clarke began to grin. 'Well, M. Poirot, I didn't actually go to Ascot, but from what I could see of them driving in cars, women's hats for Ascot were an even bigger joke than the hats they wear ordinarily.'
'Fantastic?'
'Quite fantastic.'
Poirot smiled and turned to Donald Fraser. 'When did you take your holiday this year, Monsieur?'
It was Fraser's turn to stare. 'My holiday? The first two weeks in August.'
His face quivered suddenly. I guessed that the question had brought the loss of the girl he loved back to him.
Poirot, however, did not seem to pay much attention to the reply. He turned to Thora Grey and I heard the slight difference in his voice. It had tightened up. His question came sharp and clear.
'Mademoiselle, in the event of Lady Clarke's death, would you have married Sir Carmichael if he had asked you?'
The girl sprang up. 'How dare you ask me such a question. It's—it's insulting!'
'Perhaps. But you have sworn to speak the troth. Eh bien—yes or no?'
'Sir Carmichael was wonderfully kind to me. He treated me almost like a daughter. And that's how I felt to him—just affectionate and grateful.'
'Pardon me, but that is not answering yes or no, mademoiselle.'
She hesitated. 'The answer, of course, is no!'
He made no comment. 'Thank you, mademoiselle.'
He turned to Megan Barnard. The girl's face was very pale. She was breathing hard as though braced up for an ordeal.
Poirot's voice came out like the crack of a whiplash. 'Mademoiselle, what do you hope will be the result of my investigations? Do you want me to find out the truth—or not?'
Her head went back proudly. I was fairly sure of her answer. Megan, I knew, had a fanatical passion for truth.
Her answer came clearly—and it stupefied me.
'No!'
We all jumped. Poirot leaned forward, studying her face. 'Mademoiselle Megan,' he said, 'you may not want the truth but—ma foi—you can speak it!'
He turned towards the door, then, recollecting, went to Mary Drower.
'Tell me, mon enfant, have you a young man?'
Mary, who had been looking apprehensive, looked startled and blushed.
'Oh, Mr. Poirot, I—I—well, I'm not sure.'
He smiled. 'Alors c'est bien, mon enfant.'
He looked round for me. 'Come, Hastings, we must start for Eastbourne.'
The car was waiting and soon we were driving along the coast road that leads through Pevensey to Eastbourne.
'Is it any use asking you anything, Poirot?'
'Not at this moment. Draw your own conclusions as to what I am doing.'
I relapsed into silence.
Poirot, who seemed pleased with himself, hummed a little tune. As we passed through Pevensey he suggested that we stop and have a look over the castle.
As we were returning towards the car, we paused a moment to watch a ring of children—Brownies, I guessed, by their getup—who were singing a ditty in shrill, untuneful voices . . . .
'What is it that they say, Hastings? I cannot catch the words.'
I listened—till I caught one refrain.
'And catch a fox and put him in a box and never let him go!' repeated Poirot.
His face had gone suddenly grave and stern. 'It is very terrible that, Hastings.' He was silent a minute. 'You hunt the fox here?'
'I don't. I've never been able to afford to hunt. And I don't think there's much hunting in this part of the world.'
'I meant in England generally. A strange sport. The waiting at the covert side—then they sound the tally-ho, do they not?—and the run begins—across the country—over the hedges and ditches—and the fox he runs—and sometimes he doubles back—but the dogs—'
'Hounds!'
'—hounds are on his trail, and at last they catch him and he dies—quickly and horribly.'
'I suppose it does sound cruel, but really—'
'The fox enjoys it? Do not say les [unreadable], my friend. Tout de [unreadable]—it is better that—the quick, cruel death than what those children were singing . . . . To be shut away—in a box—for ever . . . . No, it is not good, that.'
He shook his head. Then he said, with a change of tone: 'Tomorrow, I am to visit the man Cust,' and he added to the chauffeur: 'Back to London.'
