sir, that was the way of it, and I asked Annie what she thought I’d better do. I didn’t like to put it in the fire— and of course, I couldn’t take upon myself[214] to open it, and neither Annie nor I could see that it was any business of Miss Lawson’s so after we’d talked it over a bit, I just put a stamp on it and ran out to the post box and posted it.’
Poirot turned slightly to me.
‘Voilà’[215], he murmured.
I could not help saying, maliciously:
‘Amazing how simple an explanation can be!’
I thought he looked a little crestfallen, and rather wished I hadn’t been so quick to try and rub it in.
He turned again to Ellen.
‘As my friend says: How simple an explanation can be! You understand, when I received a letter dated over two months ago, I was somewhat surprised.’
‘Yes, I suppose you must have been, sir. We didn’t think of that.’
‘Also—’ Poirot coughed. ‘I am in a little dilemma. That letter, you see—it was a commission with which Miss Arundell wished to entrust me. A matter of a somewhat private character.’ He cleared his throat importantly. ‘Now that Miss Arundell is dead I am in some doubt how to act. Would Miss Arundell have wished me to undertake the commission in these circumstances or not? It is difficult—very difficult.’
Both women were looking at him respectfully.
‘I shall have, I think, to consult Miss Arundell’s lawyer. She had a lawyer, did she not?’
Ellen answered, quickly.
‘Oh, yes, sir. Mr Purvis from Harchester.’
‘He knew all her affairs?’
‘I think so, sir. He’s done everything for her ever since I can remember. It was him she sent for after the fall she had.’
‘The fall down the stairs?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Now let me see when was that exactly?’
The cook broke in.
‘Day after Bank Holiday it was. I remember that well. I stayed in to oblige on Bank Holiday seeing she had all those people staying and I had the day on Wednesday instead.’
Poirot whipped out his pocket almanac.
‘Precisely—precisely. Easter Bank Holiday, I see, fell on the thirteenth this year. Then Miss Arundell had her accident on the fourteenth. This letter to me was written three days later. A pity it was never sent. However, it may still not be too late—’ he paused. ‘I rather fancy that the—er—commission she wished me to perform was connected with one of the— er—guests you mentioned just now.’
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