"She was five years older."

"How long had you been married ?"

"Fifteen years."

"Did she leave any property ?"

"Yes. She was a fairly well-to-do woman.

She left, roughly, about thirty thousand

pounds."

"A very useful sum. It was left to you ?"

"Yes."

"Were you and your wife on good terms ? "

"Certainly."

"No quarrels ? No scenes ?"

"Well--" Charles Oldfield hesitated.

"My wife was what might be termed a

difficult woman. She was an invalid and

very concerned over her health and inclined, therefore, to be fretful and difficult 62

to please. There were days when nothing

I could do was right.9y

Poirot nodded. He said:

"Ah yes, I know the type. She would

complain, possibly, that she was neglected,

unappreciated — that her husband was

tired of her and would be glad when she

was dead.3a

Oldfield's face registered the truth of

Poirot's surmise. He said with a wry smile:

"You've got it exactly P3

Poirot went on:

"Did she have a hospital nurse to attend

on her? Or a companion? Or a devoted

maid ?"

"A nurse-companion. A very sensible

and competent woman. I really don't

think she would talk."

"Even the sensible and the competent

have been given tongues by Ie bon Dieu —

and they do not always employ their

tongues wisely. I have no doubt that the

nurse-companion talked, that the servants

talked, that everyone talked! You have all

the materials there for the starting of a

very enjoyable village scandal. Now I will

ask you one thing more. Who is the

lady ?"

63

(c! don't understand.55 Dr. Oldfield

flushed angrily.

Poirot said gently:

cc! think you do. I am asking you who

the lady is with whom your name has been

coupled.33

Dr. Oldfield rose to his feet. His face

was stiff and cold. He said:

"There is no 'lady in the case'. I'm sorry, M. Poirot, to have taken up so much of your time.3'

He went towards the door.

Hercule Poirot said:

"I regret it also. Your case interests me.

I would like to have helped you. But I

cannot do anything unless I am told the

whole truth."

"I have told you the truth."

"No...."

Dr. Oldfield stopped. He wheeled round.

"Why do you insist that there is a woman

concerned in this ?"

"Mon cher docteur I Do you not think

I know the female mentality ? The village

gossip, it is based always, always on the

relations of the sexes. If a man poisons

his wife in order to travel to the North

Pole or to enjoy the peace of a bachelor

64

existence — it would not interest his fellowvillagers

for a minute! It is because they

are convinced that the murder has been

committed in order that the man may marry

another woman that the talk grows and

spreads. That is elemental psychology.5'

Oldfield said irritably:

"I'm not responsible for what a pack

of damned gossiping busybodies think!"

"Of course you are not."