a little odd ?"

Jean said bitterly:

LOH6 71

"They haven't got much to amuse them

down here."

Poirot asked:

"Do you want to marry Charles Oldfield

?"

The girl answered coolly enough.

"Yes, I do. I wanted to almost as soon

as I met him.39

"Then his wife's death was very convenient

for you ?"

Jean Moncrieffe said:

"Mrs. Oldfield was a singularly unpleasant

woman. Frankly, I was delighted

when she died."

"Yes," said Poirot. "You are certainly

frank!"

She gave the same scornful smile.

Poirot said:

"I have a suggestion to make."

"Yes ?"

"Drastic means are required here. I

suggest that somebody --possibly yourself

--might write to the Home Office."

"What on earth do you mean ?"

"I mean that the best way of disposing

of this story once and for all is to get the

body exhumed and an autopsy performed."

She took a step back from him. Her lips

72

opened, then shut again. Poirot watched

her.

"Well, Mademoiselle ?" he said at last.

Jean Moncrieffe said quietly:

"I don't agree with you."

"But why not ? Surely a verdict of death

from natural causes would silence all

tongues ?"

"I/you got that verdict, yes."

"Do you know what you are suggesting, Mademoiselle ?" Jean Moncrieffe said impatiently:

"I know what I'm talking about. You're

thinking of arsenic poisoning --you could

prove that she was not poisoned by arsenic.

But there are other poisons --the vegetable

alkaloids. After a year, I doubt if

you'd find any traces of them even if they

had been used. And I know what these

official analyst people are like. They might

return a non-committal verdict saying that

there was nothing to show what caused

death --and then the tongues would wag

faster than ever!"

Hercule Poirot was silent for a minute

or two, then he said:

"Who in your opinion is the most inveterate

talker in the village ?"

73

The girl considered. She said at last:

cc! really think old Miss Leatheran is

the worst cat of the lot."

"Ah! Would it be possible for you to

introduce me to Miss Leatheran—in a

casual manner if possible ?"

''Nothing could be easier. All the old

tabbies are prowling about doing their

shopping at this time of the morning.

We've only got to walk down the main

street."

As Jean had said, there was no difficulty

about the procedure. Outside the post

office, Jean stopped and spoke to a tall,

thin middle-aged woman with a long nose

and sharp inquisitive eyes.

"Good-moming, Miss Leatheran."

"Good-moming, Jean. Such a lovely

day, is it not ?"

The sharp eyes ranged inquisitively

over Jean Moncrieffe's companion. Jean

said:

"Let me introduce M. Poirot, who is

staying down here for a few days."

Ill

Nibbling delicately at a scone and balancing

a cup of tea on his knee, Hercule Poirot

74

allowed himself to become confidential with

his hostess. Miss Leatheran had been kind

enough to ask him to tea and had thereupon