He brought out the three words with ironic detachment.
Gladys said:
‘It was nothing really. Just a bath being run. And I did pass the remark to Elsie, downstairs, that it was funny somebody having a bath round about twelve o’clock.’
‘Whose bath, who had a bath?’
‘That I couldn’t say, sir. We heard it going down the waste from this wing, that’s all, and that’s when I said what I did to Elsie.’
‘You’re sure it was a bath? Not one of the hand-basins?’
‘Oh! quite sure, sir. You can’t mistake bath-water running away.’
Poirot displaying no further desire to keep her, Gladys Narracott was permitted to depart.
Weston said:
III
The first person they saw was Colgate. His face was gloomy.
IV
‘And that puts the lid on it finally,’ said Inspector Colgate. ‘The chambermaid heard him typing up till five minutes to eleven. Miss Darnley saw him at twenty minutes past, and the woman was dead at a quarter to twelve. He says he spent that hour typing in his room, and it seems quite clear that hewas typing in his room. That washes Captain Marshall right out.’
He stopped, then looking at Poirot with some curiosity, he asked:
‘M. Poirot’s looking very serious over something.’
Poirot said thoughtfully:
‘I was wondering why Miss Darnley suddenly volunteered this extra evidence.’
Inspector Colgate cocked his head alertly.
‘Think there’s something fishy about it? That it isn’t just a question of “forgetting”?’
He considered for a minute or two, then he said slowly:
V
Stephen Lane strode into the room with his usual vigour.
Weston said:
‘I’m the Chief Constable of the County, Mr Lane. I suppose you’ve been told what has occurred here?’
‘Yes-oh yes-I heard as soon as I got here. Terrible…Terrible…’ His thin frame quivered. He said in a low voice: ‘All along-ever since I arrived here-I have been conscious-very conscious-of the forces of evil close at hand.’
His eyes, burning eager eyes, went to Hercule Poirot.
He said:
‘You remember, M. Poirot? Our conversation some days ago? About the reality of evil?’
Weston was studying the tall, gaunt figure in some perplexity. He found it difficult to make this man out. Lane’s eyes came back to him. The clergyman said with a slight smile:
‘I dare say that seems fantastic to you, sir. We have left off believing in evil in these days. We have abolished Hell fire! We no longer believe in the Devil! But Satan and Satan’s emissaries were never more powerful than they are today!’
Weston said:
‘Er-er-yes, perhaps. That, Mr Lane, is your province. Mine is more prosaic-to clear up a case of murder.’
Stephen Lane said:
‘An awful word. Murder! One of the earliest sins known on earth-the ruthless shedding of an innocent brother’s blood…’ He paused, his eyes half closed. Then, in a more ordinary voice he said:
‘In what way can I help you?’
‘First of all, Mr Lane, will you tell me your own movements today?’
‘Willingly. I started off early on one of my usual tramps. I am fond of walking. I have roamed over a good deal of the countryside round here. Today I went to St Petrock-in-the-Combe. That is about seven miles from here-a very pleasant walk along winding lanes, up and down the Devon hills and valleys. I took some lunch with me and ate it in a spinney. I visited the church-it has some fragments-only fragments alas, of early glass-also a very interesting painted screen.’
‘Thank you, Mr Lane. Did you meet anyone on your walk?’
‘Not to speak to. A cart passed me once and a couple of boys on bicycles and some cows. However,’ he smiled, ‘if you want proof of my statement, I wrote my name in the book at the church. You will find it there.’
‘You did not see anyone at the church itself-the Vicar, or the verger?’
Stephen Lane shook his head. He said:
‘No, there was no one about and I was the only visitor. St Petrock is a very remote spot. The village itself lies on the far side of it about half a mile farther on.’
Colonel Weston said pleasantly:
‘You mustn’t think we’re-er-doubting what you say. Just a matter of checking-up on everybody. Just routine, you know, routine. Have to stick to routine in cases of this kind.’
Stephen Lane said gently:
‘Oh yes, I quite understand.’
Weston went on:
‘Now the next point. Is there anything you know that would assist us at all? Anything about the dead woman? Anything that could give us a pointer as to who murdered her? Anything you heard or saw?’
Stephen Lane said:
‘I heard nothing. All I can tell you is this: that I knew instinctively as soon as I saw her that Arlena Marshall was a focus of evil. Shewas Evil! Evil personified! Woman can be man’s help and inspiration in life-she can also be man’s downfall. She can drag a man down to the level of the beast. The dead woman was just such a woman. She appealed to everything base in a man’s nature. She was a woman such as Jezebel and Aholibah. Now-she has been struck down in the middle of her wickedness!’
Hercule Poirot stirred. He said:
‘Not struck down-strangled!Strangled, Mr Lane, by a pair of human hands.’
The clergyman’s own hands trembled. The fingers writhed and twitched. He said, and his voice came low and choked:
‘That’s horrible-horrible-Must you put it like that?’
Hercule Poirot said:
‘It is the simple truth. Have you any idea, Mr Lane, whose hands those were?’
The other shook his head. He said: ‘I know nothing-nothing…’
Weston got up. He said, after a glance at Colgate to which the latter replied by an almost imperceptible nod, ‘Well, we must get on to the Cove.’
Lane said:
‘Is that where-it happened?’
Weston nodded.
Lane said:
‘Can-can I come with you?’
About to return a curt negative, Weston was forestalled by Poirot.
‘But certainly,’ said Poirot. ‘Accompany me there in a boat, Mr Lane. We start immediately.’