dreadful things one hears! And all their poor wives go through! It's really terrible! Of course. Dr Tanios pretends to be very fond of his wife and he's quite charming to her. His manners are really delightful. But I don't trust foreigners. They're so artful! And I'm quite sure dear Miss Arundell didn't want her money to get into his hands!'
'It is hard on Miss Theresa Arundell and Mr Charles Arundell also to be deprived of their inheritance,' Poirot suggested.
A spot of colour came into Miss Lawson's face.
'I think Theresa has quite as much money as is good for her!' she said sharply. 'She spends hundreds of pounds on her clothes alone. And her underclothing – it's wicked! When one thinks of so many nice, well-bred girls who have to earn their own living -'
Poirot gently completed the sentence.
'You think it would do no harm for her to earn hers for a bit?'
Miss Lawson looked at him solemnly.
'It might do her a lot of good,' she said. 'It might bring her to her senses. Adversity teaches us many things.'
Poirot nodded slowly. He was watching her intently.
'And Charles?'
'Charles doesn't deserve a penny,' said Miss Lawson sharply. 'If Miss Arundell cut him out of her will, it was for a very good cause – after his wicked threats.'
'Threats?' Poirot's eyebrows rose.
'Yes, threats.'
'What threats? When did he threaten her?'
'Let me see, it was – yes, of course, it was at Easter. Actually on Easter Sunday – which made it even worse!'
'What did he say?'
'He asked her for money and she'd refused to give it him! And then he told her that it wasn't wise of her. He said if she kept up that attitude he would – now what was the phrase – a very vulgar American one – oh, yes, he said he would bump her off.'
'He threatened to bump her off?'
'Yes.'
'And what did Miss Arundell say?'
'She said: 'I think you'll find, Charles, that I can look after myself.''
'You were in the room at the time?'
'Not exactly in the room,' said Miss Lawson after a momentary pause.
'Quite, quite,' said Poirot hastily. 'And Charles, what did he say to that?'
'He said: 'Don't be too sure.''
Poirot said slowly:
'Did Miss Arundell take this threat seriously?'
'Well, I don't know… She didn't say anything to me about it… But then she wouldn't do that, anyway.'
Poirot said quietly:
'You knew, of course, that Miss Arundell was making a new will?'
'No, no. I've told you, it was a complete surprise. I never dreamt -'
Poirot interrupted.
'You did not know the contents. But you knew the fact – that there was a will being made?'
'Well – I suspected – I mean her sending for the lawyer when she was laid up -'
'Exactly. That was after she had a fall, was it not?'
'Yes, Bob – Bob was the dog – he had left his ball at the top of the stairs – and she tripped over it and fell.'
'A nasty accident.'
'Oh, yes; why, she might easily have broken her leg or her arm. The doctor said so.'
'She might quite easily have been killed.'
'Yes, indeed.'
Her answer seemed quite natural and frank.
Poirot said, smiling:
'I think I saw Master Bob at Littlegreen House.'
'Oh, yes, I expect you did. He's a dear little doggie.'
Nothing annoys me more than to hear a sporting terrier called a dear little doggie. No wonder, I thought, that Bob despised Miss Lawson and refused to do anything she told him.
'And he is very intelligent?' went on Poirot.
'Oh, yes, very.'
'How upset he'd be if he knew he had nearly killed his mistress.'
Miss Lawson did not answer. She merely shook her head and sighed.
Poirot asked:
'Do you think it possible that that fall influenced Miss Arundell to remake her will?'
We were getting perilously near the bone here, I thought, but Miss Lawson seemed to find the question quite natural.
'You know,' she said, 'I shouldn't wonder if you weren't right. It gave her a shock – I'm sure of that. Old people never like to think there's any chance of their dying. But an accident like that makes one think. Or perhaps she might have had a premonition that her death wasn't far off.'
Poirot said casually:
'She was in fairly good health, was she not?'
'Oh, yes. Very well, indeed.'
'Her illness must have come on very suddenly?'
'Oh, it did. It was quite a shock. We had had some friends that evening -' Miss Lawson paused.
'Your friends, the Misses Tripp. I have met those ladies. They are quite charming.'
Miss Lawson's face flushed with pleasure.
'Yes, aren't they? Such cultured women! Such wide interests! And so very spiritual! They told you, perhaps – about our sittings? I expect you are a sceptic – but indeed, I wish I could tell you the inexpressible joy of getting into touch with those who passed over!'
'I am sure of it. I am sure of it.'
'Do you know, M. Poirot, my mother has spoken to me – more than once. It is such a joy to know that one's dear ones are still thinking of one and watching over one.'
'Yes, yes, I can well understand that,' said Poirot gently. 'And was Miss Arundell also a believer?'
Miss Lawson's face clouded over a little.
'She was willing to be convinced,' she said doubtfully. 'But I do not think she always approached the matter in the right frame of mind. She was sceptical and unbelieving – and once or twice her attitude attracted a most undesirable type of spirit! There were some very ribald messages – all due, I am convinced, to Miss Arundell's attitude.'
'I should think very likely due to Miss Arundell,' agreed Poirot.
'But on that last evening -' continued Miss Lawson, 'perhaps Isabel and Julia told you? – there were distinct phenomena. Actually the beginning of a materialization. Ectoplasm – you know what ectoplasm is, perhaps?'
'Yes, yes, I am acquainted with its nature.'
'It proceeds, you know, from the medium's mouth in the form of a ribbon and builds itself up into a form. Now I am convinced, Mr Poirot, that unknown to herself Miss Arundell was a medium. On that evening I distinctly saw a luminous ribbon issuing from dear Miss Arundell's mouth! Then her head became enveloped in a luminous mist.'
'Most interesting!'
'And then, unfortunately, Miss Arundell was suddenly taken ill and we had to break up the seance.'
'You sent for the doctor – when?'
