‘The final break-up of the ménage,’ said Alec Legge. ‘Sally has cleared out. I expect you know that.’

‘I did not know it, no.’

Alec Legge gave a short laugh.

‘I’m glad there’s something you don’t know. Yes, she’s had enough of married life. Going to link up her life with that tame architect.’

‘I am sorry to hear it,’ said Poirot.

‘I don’t see why you should be sorry.’

‘I am sorry,’ said Poirot, clearing off two books and a shirt and sitting down on the corner of the sofa, ‘because I do not think she will be as happy with him as she would be with you.’

‘She hasn’t been particularly happy with me this last six months.’

‘Six months is not a lifetime,’ said Poirot, ‘it is a very short space out of what might be a long happy married life.’

‘Talking rather like a parson, aren’t you?’

‘Possibly. May I say, Mr Legge, that if your wife has not been happy with you it is probably more your fault than hers.’

‘She certainly thinks so. Everything’s my fault, I suppose.’

‘Not everything, but some things.’

‘Oh, blame everything on me. I might as well drown myself in the damn’ river and have done with it.’

Poirot looked at him thoughtfully.

‘I am glad to observe,’ he remarked, ‘that you are now more perturbed with your own troubles than with those of the world.’

‘The world can go hang,’ said Mr Legge. He added bitterly, ‘I seem to have made the most complete fool of myself all along the line.’

‘Yes,’ said Poirot, ‘I would say that you have been more unfortunate than reprehensible in your conduct.’

Alec Legge stared at him.

‘Who hired you to sleuth me?’ he demanded. ‘Was it Sally?’

‘Why should you think that?’

‘Well, nothing’s happened officially. So I concluded that you must have come down after me on a private job.’

‘You are in error,’ replied Poirot. ‘I have not at any time been sleuthing you. When I came down here I had no idea that you existed.’

‘Then how do you know whether I’ve been unfortunate or made a fool of myself or what?’

‘From the result of observation and reflection,’ said Poirot. ‘Shall I make a little guess and will you tell me if I am right?’

‘You can make as many little guesses as you like,’ said Alec Legge. ‘But don’t expect me to play.’