asproducedtheserviceirabletheokingenglish,notntinentalthedinnerstirredpoirottoapassionofappreciationtheyhadaperfeb
poirotfortsthatthentinuedfrigiddeanorofsoliveraandthebrusquerudenessofherdaughter,hardlyattraereason,hdefinitehostilityhazily,toheendofdinner,poirotwonderedwhylookingdoildcuriosity,bluntasked:
”helennotdininghustonight”
juliaoliveraslipsdreselvesinhatautlineshesaid:”dearhelenhasbeenovertiringherself,ithink,inthegardenisuggesteditehereshequitesaypoint””oh,isee”bluntlookedvagueandalittlepuzzled”ithoughtitdeabitofachangeforheratweekends””helenissursoliverafiry
ainedbehindforafeinutesnversationother:”unclealistairdidntquiteliketheolother””nonsense,”saidsoliverarobustly”alistairistoogoodnaturedpoorrelationsareallverytoletherhavethettagerentfree,buttothinkhehastohaveheruptothehouseeveryethingidontthinkalistairoughttobeiosedupon””ithinkshesproudinherinthegarden”
”thatshofortably”thestforit”
shesettledherselffortablyonthesofaand,stillnottakinganynoticeofpoirot,added:”justbringtheloethingaboutloisvanschuylerinitandthatroccanguideofhers”alistairbluntappearedinthedoorwayhesaid:”noeintoroo”
alistairbluntsoatthebaakeitlivable
needlesstosay,heretry
afterofferinghisguestaplyanddirectly
hesaid:
”theresagooddealthatiotsatisfiedaboutieferring,ofurse,tothissainsburysealeanforreasonsoftheiroanisorethingprettyvitalanditsthesortofbusinessthatghtlandhinatightspotidontknoentionthattheyorythebetter”thatsquiteokthatstheofficialvieheyknosnecessarysothepolicehavegottheirhandstied”heleanedforhair
”butiantofinditoutforyouarenthaeredbyofficialdo””blunt”
”iansainsburyseale”
”aliveordead”
alistairbluntseyebrowsrose
”youthinkitpossiblethatsheisdead”
herculepoirotinuteorthenhesaid,speakingsloh:”ifyouyopinionbutitisonlyanopinion,reerthen,yes,ithinksheisdead””hinkso”
heriledslightly
hesaid:
”itakesensetoyouifisaiditockingsinadrawer”alistairbluntstaredathiuriously
”youreanoddn,poirot”
”iaeryoddthatistosay,iaethodical,orderlyandlogicalandidonotlikedistortingfactstosupportatheorythat,ifindisunusual”alistairbluntsaid:
”ivebeentuingtheyndittakesalittletialeanthatdentistself,andthenthischapnanpackedaashedinitsnastyitsdaednastyicanthelpfeelingthattheressothingbehinditall”poirotnodded
bluntsaid:
”andyouknooreithinkofitiuitesurethatanneverkneyebuteanbarasllsubseonthestepsofthehouseitedbutyselfwhy””itisindeedtheyselfandicannotseeitno,icannotseeit””youvenoideasatallonthesubject”
poirotedhand
”ideasareoresiletosay,see,thatishethenerednohatdoor””andanyeout”
”blunt,thinkbaoreonyourtithatinginthedentistsorleysaidstrikeanunusualnoteistherenothingatallthatyoucanreerighthelpasaclue”alistairbluntfroery
thenheshookhishead
”iorryicantthinkofanything”
”yourequitesurehedidntntionthisanthissssainsburyseale””no”
”ortheotheranschapn”
”nonoentionedroses,gardensneedingrain,holidaysnothingelse””andnoonehere”
”letseeno,idontthinksoonotherotoreerayounganbeingtherefairhairedgirlbutsheeoh,anotherdentistfelloein,ireerfellohanirishaccent””didhesayordo”
”justaskedrleysoquestionand,ifancyheinuteorso””andthereisnothingelseyoucanreeothingatall”
