Thats right, Don, she said. It isnt a time for considering ones own feelings or anyone elses. Youve got to come clean.
Donald Fraser looked suspiciously at Poirot.
Who are you? You dont belong to the police?
I am better than the police, said Poirot. He said it without conscious arrogance. It was, to him, a simple statement of fact.
Tell him, said Megan.
Tell him, said Megan.
Donald Fraser capitulated.
Iwasnt sure, he said. I believed her when she said it. Never thought of doing anything else. Afterwardsperhaps it was something in her manner. II, well, I began to wonder.
Yes? said Poirot.
He had sat down opposite Donald Fraser. His eyes, fixed on the other mans, seemed to be exercising a mesmeric spell.
I was ashamed of myself for being so suspicious. Butbut I was suspicious I thought of going to the front and watching her when she left the cafe. I actually went there. Then I felt I couldnt do that. Betty would see me and shed be angry. Shed realize at once that I was watching her.
What did you do?
I went over to St Leonards. Got over there by eight oclock. Then I watched the busesto see if she were in them But there was no sign of her
And then?
II lost my head rather. I was convinced she was with some man. I thought it probable he had taken her in his car to Hastings. I went on therelooked in hotels and restaurants, hung round cinemaswent on the pier. All damn foolishness. Even if she was there I was unlikely to find her, and anyway, there were heaps of other places he might have taken her to instead of Hastings.
He stopped. Precise as his tone had remained, I caught an undertone of that blind, bewildering misery and anger that had possessed him at the time he described.
In the end I gave it upcame back.
At what time?
I dont know. I walked. It must have been midnight or after when I got home.
Then
The kitchen door opened.
Oh, there you are, said Inspector Kelsey.
Inspector Crome pushed past him, shot a glance at Poirot and a glance at the two strangers.
Miss Megan Barnard and Mr Donald Fraser, said Poirot, introducing them.
This is Inspector Crome from London, he explained.
Turning to the inspector, he said:
While you pursued your investigations upstairs I have been conversing with Miss Barnard and Mr Fraser, endeavouring if I could to find something that will throw light upon the matter.
Oh, yes? said Inspector Crome, his thoughts not upon Poirot but upon the two newcomers.
Poirot retreated to the hall. Inspector Kelsey said kindly as he passed:
Get anything?
But his attention was distracted by his colleague and he did not wait for a reply.
I joined Poirot in the hall.
Did anything strike you, Poirot? I inquired.
Only the amazing magnanimity of the murderer, Hastings.
I had not the courage to say that I had not the least idea what he meant.
Chapter 13
A Conference
Conferences!
Much of my memories of the ABC case seem to be of conferences.
Conferences at Scotland Yard. At Poirots rooms. Official conferences. Unofficial conferences.
This particular conference was to decide whether or not the facts relative to the anonymous letters should or should not be made public in the press.
The Bexhill murder had attracted much more attention than the Andover one.
It had, of course, far more elements of popularity. To begin with the victim was a young and good-looking girl. Also, it had taken place at a popular seaside resort.
All the details of the crime were reported fully and rehashed daily in thin disguises. The ABC railway guide came in for its share of attention. The favourite theory was that it had been bought locally by the murderer and that it was a valuable clue to his identity. It also seemed to show that he had come to the place by train and was intending to leave for London.
The railway guide had not figured at all in the meagre accounts of the Andover murder, so there seemed at present little likelihood of the two crimes being connected in the public eye[154].
Weve got to decide upon a policy, said the Assistant Commissioner. The thing iswhich way will give us the best results? Shall we give the public the factsenlist their co-operationafter all, itll be the co-operation of several million people, looking out for a madman
He wont look like a madman, interjected Dr Thompson.
looking out for sales of A В Csand so on. Against that I suppose theres the advantage of working in the darknot letting our man know what were up to, but then theres the fact that he knows very well that we know. Hes drawn attention to himself deliberately by his letters. Eh, Crome, whats your opinion?
I look at it this way, sir. If you make it public, youre playing A В Cs game. Thats what he wantspublicitynotoriety. Thats what hes out after[155]. Im right, arent I, doctor? He wants to make a splash[156].
Thompson nodded.
The Assistant Commissioner said thoughtfully:
So youre for balking him. Refusing him the publicity hes hankering after. What about you, M. Poirot?
Poirot did not speak for a minute. When he did it was with an air of choosing his words carefully.
It is difficult for me, Sir Lionel, he said. I am, as you might say, an interested party. The challenge was sent to me. If I say Suppress that factdo not make it public, may it not be thought that it is my vanity that speaks? That I am afraid for my reputation? It is difficult! To speak outto tell allthat has its advantages. It is, at least, a warning On the other hand, I am as convinced as Inspector Crome that it is what the murderer wants us to do.