Charles and Caroline always kept my room

here—ready and waiting. . . ." He

257

squared his shoulders, suddenly thrust his

head forward pugnaciously. "That's why

I'm here now --to stand by in case I'm

wanted. If Charles needs me --I'm here."

Again the shadow of tragedy crept over

them.

"And what do you think--about all

this ?" Poirot asked.

Frobisher stood stiffly. His brows came

down over his eyes.

"What I think is, the least said the better.

And to be frank, I don't see what you're

doing in the business, M. Poirot. I don't

see why Diana roped you in and got you

down here."

"You are aware that Diana Maberly's

engagement to Hugh Chandler has been

broken off ?"

"Yes, I know that."

"And you know the reason for it ?"

Frobisher replied stiffly:

"I don't know anything about that.

Young people manage these things between

them. Not my business to butt in."

Poirot said:

"Hugh Chandler told Diana that it was

not right that they should marry, because

he was going out of his mind."

258

He saw the beads of perspiration break

out on Frobisher's forehead. He said:

"Have we got to talk about the damned

thing ? What do you think you can do ?

Hugh's done the right thing, poor devil.

It's not his fault, it's heredity—germ

plasm — brain cells.... But once he knew,

well, what else could he do but break the

engagement ? It's one of those things that

just has to be done."

"If I could be convinced of that — "

"You can take it from me."

"But you have told me nothing."

"I tell you I don't want to talk about it."

'Why did Admiral Chandler force his

son to leave the Navy ?"

"Because it was the only thing to be

done."

'Why ?"

Frobisher shook an obstinate head.

Poirot murmured softly:

"Was it to do with some sheep being

killed ?"

The other man said angrily:

"So you've heard about that ?"

"Diana told me."

"That girl had far better keep her mouth

shut."

259

"She did not think it was conclusive.55

"She doesn't know."

"What doesn't she know ?"

Unwillingly, jerkily, angrily, Frobisher

spoke:

"Oh well, if you must have it. ...

Chandler heard a noise that night. Thought

it might be someone got in the house.

Went out to investigate. Light in the boy's

room. Chandler went in. Hugh asleep on

bed — dead asleep — in his clothes. Blood

on the clothes. Basin in the room full of

blood. His father couldn't wake him. Next

morning heard about sheep being found

with their throats cut. Questioned Hugh.

Boy didn't know anything about it. Didn't

remember going out — and his shoes found

by the side door caked in mud. Couldn't

explain the blood in the basin. Couldn't

explain anything. Poor devil didn't know,

you understand.

"Charles came to me, talked it over.

What was the best thing to be done ? Then