He said slowly: ‘That case was—different.’
‘No. No, it was not different! The man who was killed was evil’—her voice dropped—‘as she was…’
Poirot said: ‘The moral character of the victim has nothing to do with it! A human being who has exercised the right of private judgement and taken the life of another human being is not safe to exist amongst the community. I tell you that! I, Hercule Poirot!’
‘How hard you are!’
‘Madame, in some ways I am adamant. I will not condone murder! That is the final word of Hercule Poirot.’
She got up. Her dark eyes flashed with sudden fire.
‘Then go on! Bring ruin and misery into the lives of innocent people! I have nothing more to say.’
‘But I, I think, madame, that you have a lot to say…’
‘No, nothing more.’
‘But, yes. What happened, madame, after you left your mother-in-law? Whilst you and your husband were in the marquee together?’
She shrugged her shoulders. ‘How should I know?’
‘You do know—or you suspect.’
She looked him straight in the eyes. ‘I know nothing, M. Poirot.’
Turning, she left the room.
Chapter 8
After noting on his pad—N.B. 4.40—Poirot opened the door and called to the orderly whom Colonel Carbury had left at his disposal, an intelligent man with a good knowledge of English. He asked him to fetch Miss Carol Boynton.
He looked with some interest at the girl as she entered, at the chestnut hair, the poise of the head on the long neck, the nervous energy of the beautifully shaped hands.
He said: ‘Sit down, mademoiselle.’
She sat down obediently. Her face was colourless and expressionless. Poirot began with a mechanical expression of sympathy to which the girl acquiesced without any change of expression.
‘And now, mademoiselle, will you recount to me how you spent the afternoon of the day in question?’
Her answer came promptly, raising the suspicion that it had already been well rehearsed.
‘After luncheon we all went for a stroll. I returned to the camp—’
Poirot interrupted. ‘A little minute. Were you all together until then?’
‘No, I was with my brother Raymond and Miss King for most of the time. Then I strolled off on my own.’
‘Thank you. And you were saying you returned to the camp. Do you know the approximate time?’
‘I believe it was just about ten minutes past five.’
Poirot put down C.B. 5.10.
‘And what then?’
‘My mother was still sitting where she had been when we set out. I went up and spoke to her, and then went on to my tent.’
‘Can you remember exactly what passed between you?’