Poirot said quietly: ‘He told me that it was a hysterical outburst—no more! That he and his sister were worked up. He told me that in daylight such an idea appeared fantastic to them both.’
‘I see…’
Poirot said gently: ‘Miss Sarah, will you not tell me what it is you fear?’
Sarah turned a white despairing face upon him.
‘That afternoon—we were together. And he left me saying—saying he wanted to do something now—while he had the courage. I thought he meant just to—to tell her. But supposing he meant…’
Her voice died away. She stood rigid, fighting for control.
Chapter 13
Nadine Boynton came out of the hotel. As she hesitated uncertainly, a waiting figure sprang forward.
Mr Jefferson Cope was immediately at his lady’s side.
‘Shall we walk up this way? I think it’s the pleasantest.’
She acquiesced.
They walked along and Mr Cope talked. His words came freely if a trifle monotonously. It is not certain whether he perceived that Nadine was not listening. As they turned aside on to the stony flower-covered hill-side, she interrupted him.
‘Jefferson, I’m sorry. I’ve got to talk to you.’
Her face had grown pale.
‘Why, certainly, my dear. Anything you like, but don’t distress yourself.’
She said: ‘You’re cleverer than I thought. You know, don’t you, what I’m
going to say?’
‘It is undoubtedly true,’ said Mr Cope, ‘that circumstances alter cases. I do feel, very profoundly, that in the present circumstances decisions may have to be reconsidered.’ He sighed. ‘You’ve got to go right ahead, Nadine, and do just what you feel.’
She said with real emotion: ‘You’re so good, Jefferson. So patient! I feel I’ve treated you very badly. I really have been downright mean to you.’
‘Now, look here, Nadine, let’s get this right. I’ve always known what my limitations were where you were concerned. I’ve had the deepest affection and respect for you ever since I’ve known you. All I want is your happiness. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Seeing you unhappy has very nearly driven me crazy. And I may say that I’ve blamed Lennox. I’ve felt that he didn’t deserve to keep you if he didn’t value your happiness a little more than he seemed to do.’
Mr Cope took a breath and went on:
‘Now I’ll admit that after travelling with you to Petra, I felt that perhaps Lennox wasn’t quite so much to blame as I thought. He wasn’t so much selfish where you were concerned, as too unselfish where his mother was concerned. I don’t want to say anything against the dead, but I do think that your mother-in-law was perhaps an unusually difficult woman.’
‘Yes, I think you may say that,’ murmured Nadine.
‘Anyway,’ went on Mr Cope, ‘you came to me yesterday and told me that you’d definitely decided to leave Lennox. I applaud your decision. It wasn’t right—the life you were leading. You were quite honest with me. You didn’t pretend to be more than just mildly fond of me. Well, that was all right with me. All I asked was the chance to look after you and treat you as you should be treated. I may say that afternoon was one of the happiest afternoons in my life.’
Nadine cried out: ‘I’m sorry—I’m sorry.’
‘No, my dear, because all along I had a kind of feeling that it wasn’t real. I felt it was quite on the cards that you would have changed your mind by the next morning. Well, things are different now. You and Lennox can lead a life of your own.’
Nadine said quietly: ‘Yes. I can’t leave Lennox. Please forgive me.’
‘Nothing to forgive,’ declared Mr Cope. ‘You and I will go back to being old friends. We’ll just forget about that afternoon.’
Nadine placed a gentle hand on his arm. ‘Dear Jefferson, thank you. I’m going to find Lennox now.’
She turned and left him. Mr Cope went on alone.