Lord Edgware Dies Page 0,17

us what you know. You have a duty to society, young man.'

Bryan Martin sighed.

'I suppose you're right,' he said. 'What do you want me to tell you?'

Poirot looked at Japp.

'Have you ever heard Lady Edgware - or perhaps I'd better call her Miss Wilkinson - utter threats against her husband?' asked Japp.

'Yes, several times.'

'What did she say?'

'She said that if he didn't give her her freedom she'd have to "bump him off".'

'And that was not a joke, eh?'

'No. I think she meant it seriously. Once she said she'd take a taxi and go round and kill him - you heard that, M. Poirot?'

He appealed pathetically to my friend.

Poirot nodded.

Japp went on with his questions.

'Now, Mr Martin, we've been informed that she wanted her freedom in order to marry another man. Do you know who that man was?'

Bryan nodded.

'Who?'

'It was - the Duke of Merton.'

'The Duke of Merton! Whew!' The detective whistled. 'Flying at high game, eh? Why, he's said to be one of the richest men in England.'

Bryan nodded more dejectedly than ever.

I could not quite understand Poirot's attitude. He was lying back in his chair, his fingers pressed together and the rhythmic motion of his head suggested the complete approval of a man who has put a chosen record on the gramophone and is enjoying the result.

'Wouldn't her husband divorce her?'

'No, he refused absolutely.'

'You know that for a fact?'

'Yes.'

'And now,' said Poirot, suddenly taking part once more in the proceedings, 'you see where I come in, my good Japp. I was asked by Lady Edgware to see her husband and try and get him to agree to a divorce. I had an appointment for this morning.'

Bryan Martin shook his head.

'It would have been of no use,' he declared confidently. 'Edgware would never have agreed.'

'You think not?' said Poirot, turning an amiable glance on him.

'Sure of it. Jane knew that in her heart of hearts. She'd no real confidence that you'd succeed. She'd given up hope. The man was a monomaniac on the subject of divorce.'

Poirot smiled. His eyes grew suddenly very green.

'You are wrong, my dear young man,' he said gently. 'I saw Lord Edgware yesterday, and he agreed to a divorce.'

There was no doubt that Bryan Martin was completely dumbfounded by this piece of news. He stared at Poirot with his eyes almost starting out of his head.

'You - you saw him yesterday?' he spluttered.

'At a quarter-past twelve,' said Poirot in his methodical manner.

'And he agreed to a divorce?'

'He agreed to a divorce.'

'You should have told Jane at once,' cried the young man reproachfully.

'I did, M. Martin.'

'You did?' cried Martin and Japp together.

Poirot smiled.

'It impairs the motive a little, does it not?' he murmured. 'And now, M. Martin, let me call your attention to this.'

He showed him the newspaper paragraph.

Bryan read it, but without much interest.

'You mean this makes an alibi?' he said. 'I suppose Edgware was shot some time yesterday evening?'

'He was stabbed, not shot,' said Poirot.

Martin laid the paper down slowly.

'I'm afraid this does no good,' he said regretfully. 'Jane didn't go to that dinner.'

'How do you know?'

'I forget. Somebody told me.'

'That is a pity,' said Poirot thoughtfully.

Japp looked at him curiously.

'I can't make you out, Moosior. Seems now as though you don't want the young woman to be guilty.'

'No, no, my good Japp. I am not the partisan you think. But frankly, the case as you present it, revolts the intelligence.'

'What do you mean, revolts the intelligence? It doesn't revolt mine.'

I could see words trembling on Poirot's lips. He restrained them.

'Here is a young woman who wishes, you say, to get rid of her husband. That point I do not dispute. She told me so frankly. Eh bien, how does she set about it? She repeats several times in the loud clear voice before witnesses that she is thinking of killing him. She then goes out one evening. Calls at his house, has herself announced, stabs him and goes away. What do you call that, my good friend? Has it even the common sense?'

'It was a bit foolish, of course.'

'Foolish? It is the imbecility!'

'Well,' said Japp, rising. 'It's all to the advantage of the police when criminals lose their heads. I must go back to the Savoy now.'

'You permit that I accompany you?'

Japp made no demur and we set out. Bryan Martin took a reluctant leave of us. He seemed to be in a great state of nervous excitement. He begged earnestly that any further development might be reported to him.

'Nervy sort of chap,' was