Poirot turned back the pages.
'I think you are mistaken, Hastings.'
'Where?' I cried, leaning forward eagerly.
Poirot smiled. 'She tells you that in every line of the letter, mon ami.'
'But where am I to find her? There's no address on the letter. There's a French stamp, that's all.'
'Excite yourself not! Leave it to Papa Poirot. I can find her for you as soon as I have five little minutes?'
Chapter 27. Jack Renauld's Story
'Congratulations, Monsieur Jack,' said Poirot, wringing the lad warmly by the hand.
Young Renauld had come to us as soon as he was liberated-before starting for Merlinville to rejoin Marthe and his mother. Stonor accompanied him. His heartiness was in strong contrast to the lad's wan looks. It was plain that the boy was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He smiled mournfully at Poirot, and said in a low voice: 'I went through it to protect her, and now it's all no use.'
'You could hardly expect the girl to accept the price of your life,' remarked Stonor dryly. 'She was bound to come forward when she saw you heading straight for the guillotine.'
'Eh to jail and you were heading for it too?' added Poirot, with a slight twinkle. 'You would have had Maitre Grosier's death from rage on your conscience if you had gone on.'
'He was a well meaning ass, I suppose,' said Jack. 'But he worried me horribly. You see, I couldn't very well take him into my confidence. But, my God! what's going to happen about Bella?'
'If I were you,' said Poirot frankly, 'I should not distress myself unduly. The French Courts are very lenient to youth and beauty, and the crime passionnel. A clever lawyer will make out a great case of extenuating circumstances. It will not be pleasant for you-'
'I don't care about that. You see, Monsieur Poirot, in a way I do feel guilty of my father's murder. But for me, and my entanglement with this girl, he would be alive and well today. And then my cursed carelessness in taking away the wrong overcoat. I can't help feeling responsible for his death. It will haunt me for ever!'
'No, no; I said soothingly.'
'Of course it's horrible of me to think that Bella killed my father,' resumed Jack. 'But I'd treated her shamefully. After I met Marthe and realised I'd made a mistake I ought to have written and told her honestly. But I was so scared of a row and of its coming to Marthe's ear and her thinking there was more in it than there ever had been, that-well I was a coward, and went on hoping the thing would die down of itself. I just in fact-not realizing that I was driving the poor kid desperate. If she'd really knifed me, as she meant to I should have got no more than my deserts. And the way she's come forward now is downright plucky. I'd have stood the racket-you know-up to the end.'
He was silent for a moment or two and then burst out: 'What gets me is why the Guvernor should be wandering about in underclothes and my overcoat at that time of night. I suppose he'd just given the foreign johnnies the slip, and my mother must have made a mistake about its being two o'clock when they came, Or-or, it wasn't all a frame-up, was it? I mean, my mother didn't think-couldn't think that-that it was me?'
Poirot reassured him quickly. 'No, no, Monsieur Jack. Have no fears on that score. As for the rest, I will explain it to you one of these days. It is rather curious. But will you recount to us exactly what did occur on that terrible evening?'
'There's very little to tell. I came from Cherbourg, as I told you in order to see Marthe before going to the other end of the world. The train was late and I decided to take the shortcut across the golf links. I could easily get into the grounds of the Villa Marguerite from there. I had nearly reached the place when-'
He paused and swallowed.
'I heard a terrible cry. It wasn't loud-a sort of choke and gasp-but it frightened me. For a moment I stood rooted to the spot. Then I came round the corner of a bush. There was moonlight. I saw the grave, and a figure lying face downwards with a dagger sticking in the back. And then-and then-I looked up and saw her. She was looking at me as though she saw a ghost-it's what she must have thought me at first-all expression seemed frozen out of her face by horror. And then she gave a cry and turned and ran.'
He stopped, trying to master his emotion.
'And afterwards?' asked Poirot gently.
'I really don't know. I stayed there for a time, dazed. And then I realized I'd better get away as fast as I could. It didn't occur to me that they would suspect me, but I was afraid of being called upon to give evidence against her. I walked to St. Beauvais as I told you and got a car from there hack to Cherbourg.'
A knock came at the door, and a page entered with a telegram which he delivered to Stonor. He tore it open. Then he got up from his seat.
'Mrs. Renauld has regained consciousness,' he said.
'Ah!' Poirot sprang to his feet. 'Let us all go to Merlinville at once?'
A hurried departure was made forthwith. Stonor, at Jack's instance, agreed to stay behind and do all that could be done for Bella Duveen. Poirot, Jack Renauld, and I set off in the Renauld car.
The run took just over forty minutes. As we approached the doorway of the Villa Marguerite Jack Renauld shot a questioning glance at Poirot.
'How would it be if you went on first-to break the news to my mother that I am free-'
'While you break it in person to Mademoiselle Marthe, eh?' finished Poirot, with a twinkle. 'But yes, by all means, I was about to propose such an arrangement myself.'
Jack Renauld did not wait for more. Stopping the car, he swung himself out, and ran up the path to the front door.
We went on in the car to the Villa Geneviève.
'Poirot,' I said, 'do you remember how we arrived here that first day? And were met by the news of Mr. Renauld's murder?'
'Ah, yes, truly. Not so long ago either. But what a lot of things have happened since then-especially for you.'
'Yes, indeed,' I sighed.
'You are regarding it from the sentimental standpoint, Hastings. That was not my meaning. We will hope that Mademoiselle Bella will be dealt with leniently, and after all Jack Renauld cannot marry both the girls! I spoke from a professional standpoint. This is not a crime well ordered and regular, such as a detective delights in. The mise en scéne was designed by Georges Conneau, that indeed is perfect, but the denouement-ah, no! A man killed by accident in a girl's fit of anger-ah, indeed, what order or method is there in that?'
And in the midst of a fit of laughter on my part at Poirot's peculiarities, the door was opened by Françoise.
Poirot explained that he must see Mrs. Renauld at once, and the old woman conducted him upstairs. I remained in the salon. It was some time before Poirot reappeared. He was looking unusually grave.
'Vous voilà, Hastings! Sacré tonnerre! But there are squalls ahead!'
'What do you mean?' I cried.
'I would hardly have credited it,' said Poirot thoughtfully, 'but women are very unexpected.'
'Here are Jack and Marthe Daubreuil,' I exclaimed, looking out of the window.
Poirot bounded out of the room, and met the young couple on the steps outside.
'Do not enter. It is better not. Your mother is very upset.'
'I know, I know,' said Jack Renauld. 'I must go up to her at once.'
'But no, I tell you. It is better not.'
'But Marthe and I-'
'In any case, do not take Mademoiselle with you. Mount, if you must, but you would be wise to be guided by me.'
A voice on the stairs behind made us all start.
'I thank you for your good offices, Monsieur Poirot but I will make my own wishes clear.'
We stared in astonishment. Descending the stairs, leaning on Léonie's arm, was Mrs. Renauld, her
