Ive done with murder, said Spence, except in the case of weeds. Thats what Im doing now. Applying weed killer. Never so easy as you think, somethings always wrong, usually the weather. Mustnt be too wet, mustnt be too dry and all the rest of it. How did you know where to find me? he asked as he unlatched the gate and Poirot passed through.
You sent me a Christmas card. It had your new address notified on it.
Ah yes, so I did. Im old-fashioned, you know. I like to send round cards at Christmas time to a few old friends.
I appreciate that, said Poirot.
Spence said, Im an old man now.
We are both old men.
Not much grey in your hair, said Spence.
I attend to that with a bottle, said Hercule Poirot. There is no need to appear in public with grey hair unless you wish to do so.
Well, I dont think jet black would suit me, said Spence.
I agree, said Poirot. You look most distinguished with grey hair.
I should never think of myself as a distinguished man.
I think of you as such. Why have you come to live in Woodleigh Common?
As a matter of fact, I came here to join forces with a sister of mine. She lost her husband, her children are married and living abroad, one in Australia and the other in South Africa. So I moved in here. Pensions dont go far nowadays , but we do pretty comfortably living together. Come and sit down.
He led the way on to the small glazed-in verandah where there were chairs and a table or two. The autumn sun fell pleasantly upon this retreat.
What shall I get you? said Spence. No fancy stuff here, Im afraid. No blackcurrant or rose hip syrup or any of your patent things. Beer? Or shall I get Elspeth to make you a cup of tea? or I can do you a shandy or Coca-Cola or some cocoa if you like it. My sister, Elspeth, is a cocoa drinker.
You are very kind. For me, I think a shandy. The ginger beer and the beer? That is right, is it not?
Absolutely so.
He went into the house and returned shortly afterwards carrying two large glass mugs. Im joining you, he said.
He drew a chair up to the table and sat down, placing the two glasses in front of himself and Poirot.
What was it you said just now? he said, raising his glass. We wont say Heres to crime. Ive done with crime, and if you mean the crime I think you do, in fact which I think you have to do, because I dont recall any other crime just lately, I dont like the particular form of murder weve just had.
No. I do not think you would do so.
We are talking about the child who had her head shoved into a bucket?
Yes, said Poirot, that is what I am talking about.
I dont know why you come to me, said Spence. Im nothing to do with the police nowadays. All thats over many years ago.
Once a policeman, said Hercule Poirot, always a policeman. That is to say, there is always the point of view of the policeman behind the point of view of the ordinary man. I know, I who talk to you. I, too, started in the police force in my country.
Yes, so you
did. I remember now your telling me. Well, I suppose ones outlook is a bit slanted, but its a long time since Ive had any active connection.
But you hear the gossip, said Poirot. You have friends of your own trade. You will hear what they think or suspect or what they know.
Spence sighed.
One knows too much, he said, that is one of the troubles nowadays. There is a crime, a crime of which the pattern is familiar, and you know, that is to say the active police officers know, pretty well whos probably done that crime. They dont tell the newspapers but they make their inquiries, and they know. But whether theyre going to get any further than thatwell, things have their difficulties.
You mean the wives and the girl friends and the rest of it?
Partly that, yes. In the end, perhaps, one gets ones man. Sometimes a year or two passes. Id say, you know, roughly, Poirot, that more girls nowadays marry wrong uns than they ever used to in my time.
Hercule Poirot considered, pulling his moustaches.
Yes, he said, I can see that that might be so. I suspect that girls have always been partial to the bad lots , as you say, but in the past there were safeguards.
Thats right. People were looking after them. Their mothers looked after them. Their aunts and their older sisters looked after them. Their younger sisters and brothers knew what was going on. Their fathers were not averse to kicking the wrong young men out of the house. Sometimes, of course, the girls used to run away with one of the bad lots. Nowadays theres no need even to do that. Mother doesnt know who the girls out with, fathers not told who the girl is out with, brothers know who the girl is out with but they think more fool her . If the parents refuse consent, the couple go before a magistrate and manage to get permission to marry, and then when the young man who everyone knows is a bad lot proceeds to prove to everybody, including his wife, that he is a bad lot, the fats in the fire ! But loves love; the girl doesnt want to think that her Henry has these revolting habits, these criminal tendencies, and all the rest of it. Shell lie for him, swear blacks white for him and everything else. Yes, its difficult. Difficult for us, I mean. Well, theres no good going on saying things were better in the old days. Perhaps we only thought so. Anyway, Poirot, how did you get yourself mixed up in all this? This isnt your part of the country, is it? Always thought you lived in London. You used to when I knew you.