good sprinkling of young people – some vacant-looking – some bored – some definitely unhappy. How absurd to call youth the time of happiness – youth, the time of greatest vulnerability!
His glance softened as it rested on one particular couple. A well-matched pair – tall broad-shouldered man, slender delicate girl. Two bodies that moved in a perfect rhythm of happiness. Happiness in the place, the hour, and in each other.
The dance stopped abruptly. Hands clapped and it started again. After a second encore the couple returned to their table close by Poirot. The girl was flushed, laughing. As she sat, he could study her face as it was lifted laughing to her companion.
There was something else beside laughter in her eyes. Hercule Poirot shook his head doubtfully.
‘She cares too much, that little one,’ he said to himself. ‘It is not safe. No, it is not safe.’
And then a word caught his ear. Egypt.
Their voices came to him clearly – the girl’s young, fresh, arrogant, with just a trace of soft-sounding for-eign Rs, and the man’s pleasant, low-toned, well-bred English.
‘I’m not counting my chickens before they’re hatched, Simon. I tell you Linnet won’t let us down!’
‘I might let her down.’
‘Nonsense – it’s just the right job for you.’
‘As a matter of fact I think it is… I haven’t really any doubts as to my capability. And I mean to make good – for your sake!’
The girl laughed softly, a laugh of pure happiness.
‘We’ll wait three months – to make sure you don’t get the sack – and then-’
‘And then I’ll endow thee with my worldly goods – that’s the hang of it, isn’t it?’
‘And, as I say, we’ll go to Egypt for our honeymoon. Damn the expense! I’ve always wanted to go to Egypt all my life. The Nile and the Pyramids and the sand…’
He said, his voice slightly indistinct:
‘We’ll see it together, Jackie… together. Won’t it be marvellous?’
‘I wonder. Will it be as marvellous to you as it is to me? Do you really care – as much as I do?’
Her voice was suddenly sharp – her eyes dilated – almost with fear.
The man’s answer came with an equal sharpness:
‘Don’t be absurd, Jackie.’
But the girl repeated: ‘I wonder…’ Then she shrugged her shoulders: ‘Let’s dance.’
Hercule Poirot murmured to himself:
‘Une qui aime et un qui se laisse aimer. Yes, I wonder too.’
Chapter 7
Joanna Southwood said: ‘And suppose he’s a terrible tough?’
Linnet shook her head.
‘Oh, he won’t be. I can trust Jacqueline’s taste.’
Joanna murmured:
‘Ah, but people don’t run true to form in love affairs.’
Linnet shook her head impatiently. Then she changed the subject.
‘I must go and see Mr Pierce about those plans.’
‘Plans?’
‘Yes, some dreadful insanitary old cottages. I’m having them pulled down and the people moved.’
‘How sanitary and public-spirited of you, darling!’
‘They’d have had to go anyway. Those cottages would have overlooked my new swimming pool.’
‘Do the people who live in them like going?’
‘Most of them are delighted. One or two are being rather stupid about it – really tiresome in fact. They don’t seem to realize how vastly improved their living conditions will be!’
‘But you’re being quite high-handed about it, I presume.’
‘My dear Joanna, it’s to their advantage really.’
‘Yes, dear. I’m sure it is. Compulsory benefit.’
Linnet frowned. Joanna laughed.
‘Come now, you are a tyrant, admit it. A beneficent tyrant if you like!’
‘I’m not the least bit of a tyrant.’
‘But you like your own way!’
‘Not especially.’
‘Linnet Ridgeway, can you look me in the face and tell me of any one occasion on which you’ve failed to do exactly as you wanted?’
‘Heaps of times.’
‘Oh, yes, “heaps of times”-just like that – but no concrete example. And you simply can’t think up one, darling, however hard you try! The triumphal progress of Linnet Ridgeway in her golden car.’
Linnet said sharply: ‘You think I’m selfish?’
‘No – just irresistible. The combined effect of money and charm. Everything goes down before you. What you can’t buy with cash you buy with a smile. Result: Linnet Ridgeway, the Girl Who Has Everything.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Joanna!’
‘Well, haven’t you got everything?’
‘I suppose I have… It sounds rather disgusting, somehow!’
‘Of course it’s disgusting, darling! You’ll probably get terribly bored and blasé by and by. In the meantime, enjoy the triumphal progress in the golden car. Only I wonder, I really do wonder, what will happen when you want to go down a street which has a board saying No Thoroughfare.’
‘Don’t be idiotic, Joanna.’ As Lord Windlesham joined them, Linnet said, turning to him: ‘Joanna is saying the nastiest things to me.’
‘All spite, darling, all spite,’ said Joanna vaguely as she got up from her seat.
She made no apology for leaving them. She had caught the glint in Windlesham’s eye.
He was silent for a minute or two. Then he went straight to the point.
‘Have you come to a decision, Linnet?’
Linnet said slowly:
‘Am I being a brute? I suppose, if I’m not sure, I ought to say No-’
He interrupted her:
‘Don’t
