And the time of death was round about midnight last night?
Between midnight and 1 amthats pretty certain. Our homicidal joker is a man of his word. If he says the 25th, it is the 25ththough it may have been only by a few minutes.
Crome nodded.
Yes, thats his mentality all right. Theres nothing else? Nobody saw anything helpful?
Not as far as we know. But its early yet. Everyone who saw a girl in white walking with a man last night will be along to tell us about it soon, and as I imagine there were about four or five hundred girls in white walking with young men last night, it ought to be a nice business.
Well, sir, Id better get down to it, said Crome. Theres the café and theres the girls home. Id better go to both of them. Kelsey can come with me.
And Mr Poirot? asked the superintendent.
I will accompany you, said Poirot to Crome with a little bow.
Crome, I thought, looked slightly annoyed. Kelsey, who had not seen Poirot before, grinned broadly.
It was an unfortunate circumstance that the first time people saw my friend they were always disposed to consider him as a joke of the first water[132].
What about this belt she was strangled with? asked Crome. Mr Poirot is inclined to think its a valuable clue. I expect hed like to see it.
Du tout[133], said Poirot quickly. You misunderstood me.
Youll get nothing from that, said Carter. It wasnt a leather beltmight have got fingerprints if it had been. Just a thick sort of knitted silkideal for the purpose.
I gave a shiver.
Well, said Crome, wed better be getting along.
We set out forthwith.
Our first visit was to the Ginger Cat. Situated on the sea front, this was the usual type of small tearoom. It had little tables covered with orange-checked cloths and basket-work chairs[134] of exceeding discomfort with orange cushions on them. It was the kind of place that specialized in morning coffee, five different kinds of teas (Devonshire, Farmhouse, Fruit, Carlton and Plain), and a few sparing lunch dishes for females such as scrambled eggs and shrimps and macaroni au gratin[135].
The morning coffees were just getting under way[136]. The manageress ushered us hastily into a very untidy back sanctum.
MissehMerrion? inquired Crome.
Miss Merrion bleated out in a high, distressed-gentle-woman voice:
That is my name. This is a most distressing business. Most distressing. How it will affect our business I really cannot think!
Miss Merrion was a very thin woman of forty with wispy orange hair (indeed she was astonishingly like a ginger cat herself). She played nervously with various fichus and frills that were part of her official costume.
Youll have a boom, said Inspector Kelsey encouragingly.
Youll see! You wont be able to serve teas fast enough!
Disgusting, said Miss Merrion. Truly disgusting. It makes one despair of human nature.
But her eyes brightened nevertheless.
What can you tell me about the dead girl, Miss Merrion?
Nothing, said Miss Merrion positively. Absolutely nothing!
How long had she been working here?
This was the second summer.
You were satisfied with her?
She was a good waitressquick and obliging.
She was pretty, yes? inquired Poirot.
Miss Merrion, in her turn, gave him an Oh, these foreigners look.
She was a nice, clean-looking girl, she said distantly.
What time did she go off duty last night? asked Crome.
Eight oclock. We close at eight. We do not serve dinners. There is no demand for them. Scrambled eggs and tea (Poirot shuddered) people come in for up to seven oclock and sometimes after, but our rush is over by 6.30.
Did she mention to you how she proposed to spend her evening?
Certainly not, said Miss Merrion emphatically. We were not on those terms[137].
No one came in and called for her? Anything like that?
No.
Did she seem quite her ordinary self? Not excited or depressed?
Really I could not say, said Miss Merrion aloofly.
How many waitresses do you employ?
Two normally, and an extra two after the 20th July until the end of August.
But Elizabeth Barnard was not one of the extras?
Miss Barnard was one of the regulars.
What about the other one?
Miss Higley? She is a very nice young lady.
Were she and Miss Barnard friends?
Really I could not say.
Perhaps wed better have a word with her.
Now?
If you please.
I will send her to you, said Miss Merrion, rising. Please keep her as short a time as possible. This is the morning coffee rush hour.
The feline and gingery Miss Merrion left the room.
Very refined, remarked Inspector Kelsey. He mimicked the ladys mincing tone. Really I could not say.
A plump girl, slightly out of breath, with dark hair, rosy cheeks and dark eyes goggling with excitement, bounced in.
Miss Merrion sent me, she announced breathlessly.
Miss Higley?
Yes, thats me.
You knew Elizabeth Barnard?
Oh, yes, I knew Betty. Isnt it awful? Its just too awful! I cant believe its true. Ive been saying to the girls all the morning I just cant believe it! You know, girls, I said, it just doesnt seem real. Betty! I mean, Betty Barnard, whos been here all along, murdered! I just cant believe it, I said. Five or six times Ive pinched myself just to see if I wouldnt wake up. Betty murdered Itswell, you know what I meanit doesnt seem real.