It is half past ten when Bella Duveen leaves, and by the evidence of the wristwatch we know that the crime was committed, or at any rate that it was staged, before twelve o'clock. We have reviewed all the events anterior to the murder, there remains only one unplaced. By the doctor's evidence, the tramp, when found, had been dead at least forty-eight hours-with a possible margin of twenty-four hours more. Now, with no other facts to help me than those we have discussed, I place the death as having occurred on the morning of 7thJune.'
I stared at him, stupefied.
'But how? Why? How can you possibly know?'
'Because only in that way can the sequence of events be logically explained. Mon ami, I have taken you step by step along the way. Do you not now see what is so glaringly plain?'
'My dear Poirot, I can't see anything glaring about it. I did think I was beginning to see my way before, but I'm now hopelessly fogged. For goodness' sake, get on, and tell me who killed Mr. Renauld.'
'That is just what I am not sure of as yet.'
'But you said it was glaringly clear?'
'We talk at cross-purposes, my friend. Remember, it is crimes we are investigating-for which as I pointed out to you, we have the necessary two bodies. There there, ne vous impatientez pas. I will explain all. To begin with, we apply our psychology. We find three points at which Monsieur Renauld displays a distinct change of view and action-three psychological points therefore. The first occurs immediately after arriving in Merlinville, the second after quarrelling with his son on a certain subject, the third on the morning of 7thJune. Now for the three causes. We can attribute No 1 to meeting Madame Daubreuil. No 2 is indirectly connected with her, since it concerns a marriage between Monsieur Renauld's son and her daughter. But the cause of No 3 is hidden from us. We had to deduce it. Now, mon ami, let me ask you a question: whom do we believe to have planned this crime?'
'Georges Conneau,' I said doubtfully, eyeing Poirot.
'Exactly. Now Giraud laid it down as an axiom that a woman lies to save herself, the man she loves, and her child. Since we are satisfied that it was Georges Conneau who did lie to her, and as Georges Conneau is nonot Jack Renauld, it follows that the third case is out of court Attributing the crime to Georges Conneau, the first is equally so. So we are forced to the second-that Madame Renauld lied for the sake of the man she loved-or in the other words, for the sake of Georges Conneau. You agree?'
'Yes,' I admitted. 'It seems logical enough.'
'Then Madame Renauld loves Georges Conneau. Who, then, is Georges Conneau?'
'The tramp.'
'Do we any evidence to show that Madame Renauld loved the tramp?'
'No, but -'
'Very well then. Do not cling to theories where facts do not support them. Ask yourself instead whom Madame Renauld did love.'
I shook my head perplexed.
'Mais oui, you know perfectly. Whom did Madame Renauld love so dearly, that when she saw his dead body she collapsed in a swoon?'
'Her husband?' I gasped dumbfounded.
'Her husband-or Georges Conneau whichever you like to call him yourself.'
'But it's impossible.'
'How 'impossible'? Did we not agree just now that Madame Daubreuil was in a position to blackmail Georges Conneau?'
'Yes but-'
'And did she not very effectively blackmail Monsieur Renauld?'
'That may he true enough, but-'
'And is it not a fact that we know nothing of Monsieur Renauld's youth and upbringing? That he springs suddenly into existence as a French-Canadian exactly twenty-two years ago?'
'All that is so,' I said more firmly 'but you seem to me to be overlooking one salient point.'
'What is that my friend?'
'Why, we have admitted that Georges planned the crime. That brings us to the ridiculous statement that he planned his own murder!'
'Et bien, mon ami,' said Poirot placidly 'that is just what he did do!'
Chapter 21. Hercule Poirot on the Case
IN a measured voice Poirot began his exposition.
'It seems strange to you, mon ami, that a man should plan his own death? So strange, that you prefer to reject the truth as fantastic, and to revert to a story that is in reality ten times more impossible. Yes, Monsieur Renauld planned his own death but there is one detail that perhaps escapes you-he did not intend to die.'
I shook my head bewildered.
'But no, it is all most simple really,' said Poirot kindly. 'For the crime that Monsieur Renauld proposed a murderer was not necessary, as I told you, but a body was. Let us reconstruct, seeing events this time from a different angle.'
'Georges Conneau flees from justice-to Canada. There, under an assumed name, he marries, and finally acquires a vast fortune in South America. But there is a nostalgia upon him for his own country. Twenty years have elapsed, he is considerably changed in appearance, besides being a man of such eminence that no one is likely to connect him with a fugitive from justice many years ago. He deems it quite safe to return. He takes up his headquarters in England, but tends to spend the summers in France. And ill fortune, or that obscure justice which shapes men's ends and will not allow them to evade the consequences of their acts, takes him to Merlinville. There, in the whole of France, is the one person who is capable of recognizing him. It is, of course, a gold mine to Madame Daubreuil, and a gold mine of which she is not slow to take advantage. He is helpless, absolutely in her power. And she bleeds him heavily.'
'And then the inevitable happens. Jack Renauld falls in love with the beautiful girl he sees almost daily and wishes to marry her. That rouses his father. At all costs, he will prevent his son marrying the daughter of this evil woman.'
'Jack Renauld knows nothing of his father's past, but Madame Renauld knows everything. She is a woman of great force of character and passionately devoted to her husband. They take counsel together. Renauld sees only one way of escape-death. He must appear to die, in reality escaping to another country where he will start again under an assumed name and where Madame Renauld, having played the widow's part for a while, can join him. It is essential that she should have control of the money, so he alters his will. How they meant to manage the body business originally, I do not know-possibly an art student's skeleton and a fire-or something of the kind, but long before their plans have matured an event occurs which plays into their hands. A rough tramp, violent and abusive, finds his way into the garden.'
There is a struggle, Renauld seeks to eject him, and suddenly the tramp, an epileptic, falls down in a fit. He is dead. Renauld calls his wife. Together they drag him into the shed-as we know the event had occurred just outside-and they realize the marvellous opportunity that has been vouchsafed them. The man bears no resemblance to Renauld but he is middle-aged, of a usual French type. That is sufficient.'
'I rather fancy that they sat on the bench up there, out of earshot from the house, discussing matters. Their plan was quickly made. The identification must rest solely on Madame Renauld's evidence. Jack Renauld and the chauffeur (who had been with his master two years) must be got out of the way. It was unlikely that the French women servants would go near the body, and in any case Renauld intended to take measures to deceive anyone not likely to appreciate details. Masters was sent off, a telegram dispatched to Jack, Buenos Aires being selected to give credence to the story that Renauld had decided upon. Having heard of me as a rather obscure elderly detective, he wrote his appeal for help, knowing that when I arrived, the production of the letter would have a profound effect upon the examining magistrate-which, of course, it did.'
'They dressed the body of the tramp in a suit of Renauld's and left his ragged coat and trousers by the door of the shed, not daring to take them into the house. And then, to give credence to the tale Madame Renauld was to
