In the momentary stillness a sharp sound was heard.
‘What’s that?’ asked Dr Gerard.
‘Sounded like a shot to me,’ said Colonel Carbury, rising to his feet quickly. ‘In the next room. Who’s got that room, by the way?’
Poirot murmured: ‘I have a little idea—it is the room of Lady Westholme…’
Epilogue
Extract from the Evening Shout:
We regret to announce the death of Lady Westholme, M.P., the result of a tragic accident. Lady Westholme, who was fond of travelling in out-of-the-way countries, always took a small revolver with her. She was cleaning this when it went off accidentally and killed her. Death was instantaneous. The deepest sympathy will be felt for Lord Westholme, etc., etc.
On a warm June evening five years later Sarah Boynton and her husband sat in the stalls of a London theatre. The play was Hamlet. Sarah gripped Raymond’s arm as Ophelia’s words came floating over the footlights:
How should I your true love know
From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff,
And his sandal shoon.
He is dead and gone, lady,
He is dead and gone;
At his head a grass-green turf;
At his heels a stone.
O, ho!
A lump rose in Sarah’s throat. That exquisite witless beauty, that lovely unearthly smile of one gone beyond trouble and grief to a region where only a floating mirage was truth…
Sarah said to herself: ‘She’s lovely…’
That haunting, lilting voice, always beautiful in tone, but now disciplined and modulated to be the perfect instrument.
Sarah said with decision as the curtain fell at the end of the act: ‘Jinny’s a great actress—a great—great actress!’
Later they sat round a supper-table at the Savoy. Ginevra, smiling, remote, turned to the bearded man by her side.
‘I was good, wasn’t I, Theodore?’
‘You were wonderful, chérie.’
A happy smile floated on her lips.
She murmured: ‘You always believed in me—you always knew I could do great things—sway multitudes…’
At a table not far away the Hamlet of the evening was saying gloomily:
‘Her mannerisms! Of course people like it just at first—but what I say is, it’s not Shakespeare. Did you see how she ruined my exit?’
Nadine, sitting opposite Ginevra, said: ‘How exciting it is to be here in London with Jinny acting Ophelia and being so famous!’
Ginevra said softly: ‘It was nice of you to come over.’