'Well, I'd have thought it more likely he'd just have shot the General. If he shot the General and the wife came along, then he'd have had to shoot her, too. You read things like that in books.'
'Yes,' said Mrs. Oliver thoughtfully, 'one does read all sorts of things in books.'
'There was the tutor. I didn't like him much.'
'What tutor?'
'Well, there was a tutor for the boy earlier. You know, he couldn't pass an exam and things at the earlier school he was at-prep school or something. So they had a tutor for him. He was there for about a year, I think. Lady Ravenscroft liked him very much. She was musical, you know, and so was this tutor. Mr. Edmunds, I think his name was. Rather a nambypamby sort of young man, I thought myself, and it's my opinion that General Ravenscroft didn't care for him much.'
'But Mrs. Ravenscroft did.'
'Oh, they had a lot in common, I think. And I think she was the one really that chose him rather more than the General. Mind you, he had very nice manners and spoke to everyone nicely and all that-'
'And did-what'shis-name?'
'Edward? Oh, yes, he liked him all right, I think. In fact, he was quite a bit soft on him, I think. Almost a bit of hero worship. Anyway, don't you believe any stories you hear about scandals in the family or her having an affair with anyone or General Ravenscroft with that rather pie-faced girl who did filing work for him and all that sort of thing. No.
Whoever that wicked murderer was, it's one who came from outside. The police never got on to anyone, no car was seen near there and there was nothing to it and they never got any further. But all the same, I think one ought to look about for somebody perhaps who'd known them in Malaya or abroad or somewhere else, or even when they were first living at Bournemouth. One never knows.'
'What did your husband think about it?' said Mrs. Oliver. 'He wouldn't have known as much about them as you would, of course, but still he might have heard a lot.'
'Oh, he heard a lot of talk, of course. In the George and Flag, of an evening, you know. People saying all sorts of things. Said as she drank and that cases of empty bottles had been taken out of the house. Absolutely untrue, that was, I know for a fact. And there was a nephew as used to come and see them sometimes. Got into trouble with the police in some way, he did, but I don't think there was anything in that. The police didn't, either. Anyway, it wasn't at that time.'
'There was no one else really living in the house, was there, except the General and Lady Ravenscroft?'
'Well, she had a sister as used to come sometimes, Lady Ravenscroft did. She was a half-sister, I think. Something like that. Looked rather like Lady Ravenscroft but not very goodlooking and a year or two older, I should say. She made a bit of trouble between them, I always used to think, when she came for a visit. She was one of those who likes stirring things up, if you know what I mean. Just said things to annoy people.'
'Was Lady Ravenscroft fond of her?'
'Well, if you ask me, I don't think she was really. I think the sister more or less wished herself on to them sometimes and she didn't like not to have her, but I think she found it pretty trying to have her there. The General quite liked her because she played cards well. Played chess and things with him and he enjoyed that. And she was an amusing woman in a way. Mrs. Jerryboy or something like that, her name was.
She was a widow, I think. Used to borrow money from them, I think, too.'
'Did you like her?'
'Well, if you don't mind my saying so, ma'am, no, I didn't like her. I disliked her very much. I thought she was one of those troublemakers, you know. But she hadn't been down for some time before the tragedy happened. I don't really remember very much what she was like. She had a son as came with her once or twice. Didn't like him very much. Shifty, I thought.'
'Well,' said Mrs. Oliver. 'I suppose nobody will really ever know the truth. Not now. Not after all this time. I saw my goddaughter the other day.'
'Did you now, ma'am. I'd be interested to hear about Miss Celia. How is she? All right?'
'Yes. She seems quite all right. I think she's thinking perhaps of getting married. At any rate she's got a-'
'Got a steady boy friend, has she?' said Mrs. Buckle. 'Ah, well, we've all got that. Not that we all marry the first one we settle on. Just as well if you don't, nine times out of ten.'
'You don't know a Mrs. Burton-Cox, do you?' asked Mrs. Oliver.
'Burton-Cox? I seem to know that name. No, I don't think so. Wasn't living down here or come to stay with them or anything? No, not that I remember. Yet I did hear something.
Some old friend of General Ravenscroft, I think, which he'd known in India. But I don't know.' She shook her head.
'Well,' said Mrs. Oliver, 'I mustn't stay gossiping with you any longer. It's been so nice to see you and Marlene.'
Chapter IX. Results Of Elephantine Research
'A telephone call for you,' said Hercule Poirot's manservant George. 'From Mrs. Oliver.'
'Ah, yes, George. And what had she to say?'
'She wondered if she could come and see you this evening, sir, after dinner?'
'That would be admirable,' said Poirot. 'Admirable. I have had a tiring day. It will be a stimulating experience to see Mrs. Oliver. She is always entertaining as well as being highly unexpected in the things she says. Did she mention elephants, by the way?'
'Elephants, sir? No, I do not think so.'
'Ah. Then it would seem perhaps that the elephants have been disappointing.' George looked at his master rather doubtfully. There were times when he did not quite understand the relevance of Poirot's remarks.
'Ring her back,' said Hercule Poirot. 'Tell her I shall be delighted to receive her.' George went away to carry out this order, and returned to say that Mrs. Oliver would be there about quarter to nine.
'Coffee,' said Poirot. 'Let coffee be prepared and some petits fours. I rather think I ordered some in lately from Fortnum and Mason.'
'A liqueur of any kind, sir?'
'No, I think not. I myself will have some Sirop de Cassis.'
'Yes, sir.' Mrs. Oliver arrived exactly on time. Poirot greeted her with every sign of pleasure.
'And how are you, chere madame?'
'Exhausted,' said Mrs. Oliver, She sank down into the armchair that Poirot indicated. 'Completely exhausted.'
'Ah. Qui va a la chasse-oh, I cannot remember the saying.'
'I remember it,' said Mrs. Oliver. 'I learned it as a child. 'Qui va a la chasse perd sa place.' '
'That, I am sure, is not applicable to the chase you have been conducting. I am referring to the pursuit of elephants, unless that was merely a figure of speech.'
'Not at all,' said Mrs. Oliver. 'I have been pursuing elephants madly. Here, there and everywhere. The amount of petrol I have used, the amount of trains I have taken, the amount of letters I've written, the amount of telegrams I've sent-you wouldn't believe how exhausting it all is.'
'Then repose yourself. Have some coffee.'
'Nice, strong, black coffee-yes, I will. Just what I want.'
'Did you, may I ask, get any results?'
'Plenty of results,' said Mrs. Oliver. 'The trouble is, I don't know whether any of them are any use.'
'You learned facts, however?'
'No. Not really. I learned things that people told me were facts, but I strongly doubt myself whether any of them were facts.'
'They were heresay?'
'No. They were what I said they would be. They were memories. Lots of people who had memories. The
