死亡约会 Part II Chapter 14（2）（在线收听）

‘Did you notice her as you walked home?’

‘I did notice she was there—it was her usual seat in the afternoon and evening, but I didn’t payspecial attention. I was just explaining to Lady Westholme the conditions of our slump. I had tokeep an eye on Miss Pierce, too. She was so tired she kept turning her ankles.’

‘Thank you, Mr Cope. May I be so indiscreet as to ask if Mrs Boynton is likely to have left alarge fortune?’

‘A very considerable one. That is to say, strictly speaking, it was not hers to leave. She had alife interest in it and at her death it is divided between the late Elmer Boynton’s children. Yes, theywill all be very comfortably off now.’

‘Money,’ murmured Poirot, ‘makes a lot of difference. How many crimes have been committedfor it?’

Mr Cope looked a little startled.

‘Why, that’s so, I suppose,’ he admitted.

Poirot smiled sweetly and murmured: ‘But there are so many motives for murder, are there not?

Thank you, Mr Cope, for your kind co-operation.’

‘You’re welcome, I’m sure,’ said Mr Cope. ‘Do I see Miss King sitting up there? I think I’ll goand have a word with her.’

Poirot continued to descend the hill.

He met Miss Pierce fluttering up it.

She greeted him breathlessly.

‘Oh, M. Poirot, I’m so glad to meet you. I’ve been talking to that very odd girl—the youngestone, you know. She has been saying the strangest things—about enemies, and some sheikh thatwanted to kidnap her and how she has spies all round her. Really, it sounded most romantic! LadyWestholme says it is all nonsense and that she once had a red-headed kitchenmaid who told liesjust like that, but I think sometimes that Lady Westholme is rather hard. And after all, it might betrue, mightn’t it, M. Poirot? I read some years ago that one of the Czar’s daughters was not killedin the Revolution in Russia, but escaped secretly to America. The Grand Duchess Tatiana, I thinkit was. If so, this might be her daughter, mightn’t it? She did hint at something royal—and she hasa look, don’t you think? Rather Slavonic—those cheek-bones. How thrilling it would be!’

Poirot said somewhat sententiously: ‘It is true that there are many strange things in life.’

‘I didn’t really take in this morning who you were,’ said Miss Pierce, clasping her hands. ‘Ofcourse you are that very famous detective! I read all about the ABC case. It was so thrilling. I hadactually a post as governess near Doncaster at the time.’

Poirot murmured something. Miss Pierce went on with growing agitation.

‘That is why I felt perhaps—I had been wrong—this morning. One must always tell everything,must one not? Even the smallest detail, however unrelated it may seem. Because, of course, if youare mixed up in this, poor Mrs Boynton must have been murdered! I see that now! I suppose MrMah Mood—I cannot remember his name—but the dragoman, I mean—I suppose he could not bea Bolshevik agent? Or even, perhaps, Miss King? I believe many quite well-brought-up girls ofgood family belong to these dreadful Communists! That’s why I wondered if I ought to tell you—because, you see, it was rather peculiar when one comes to think of it.’

‘Precisely,’ said Poirot. ‘And therefore you will tell me all about it.’