Death on the Nile / Смерть на Ниле. Агата КристиЧитать онлайн книгу.

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explain a little further?”[88] murmured Poirot politely.

      “Oh, yes, I will do so. The matter is perfectly simple.”

      There was still no hesitation. Linnet Doyle had a clear-cut businesslike mind. She only paused a minute to present the facts as clear as possible.

      “Before I met my husband, he was engaged to a Miss de Bellefort[89]. She was also a friend of mine. My husband broke off his engagement to her – they were not suited in any way[90]. She, I am sorry to say, took it rather hard. I – am very sorry about that – but these things cannot be helped. She made certain – well, threats – to which I paid very little attention, and which, I may say, she has not attempted to carry out. But instead she has taken the extraordinary course of following us about wherever we go.” Poirot raised his eyebrows.

      “Ah – rather an unusual – er – revenge.”

      “Very unusual – and very ridiculous! But also – annoying.” She bit her lip.

      Poirot nodded.

      “Yes, I can imagine that. You are, I understand, on your honey-moon?”

      “Yes. It happened – the first time – at Venice. I thought it just an embarrassing coincidence – that was all. Then we found her on board the boat at Brindisi[91]. We've understood that she was going on to Palestine. We left her, as we thought, on the boat. But when we got to the hotel she was there – waiting for us.”

      Poirot nodded.

      “And now?”

      “We came up the Nile by boat. I was half expecting to find her on board. When she wasn't there I thought she had stopped being so childish. But when we got here she was here – waiting.”

      Poirot eyed her for a moment. She was still perfectly quiet, but the knuckles of the hand that was gripping the table were white.

      He said, “And you are afraid this state of things may continue?”

      “Yes.” She paused. “Of course the whole thing is idiotic! Jacqueline is making herself ridiculous. I am surprised she hasn't got more pride – more dignity.”

      Poirot made a slight gesture.

      “There are times, Madame, when pride and dignity go by the board[92]! There are other – stronger emotions.”

      Something in his tone didn't please Linnet. She flushed and said quickly: “Perhaps. But the crux of the matter is that this has got to be stopped.”

      “And how do you propose that that should be done, Madame?” Poirot asked.

      “Well – naturally – my husband and I cannot continue being persecuted. There must be some kind of legal way to stop such a thing.”

      She spoke impatiently. Poirot looked at her thoughtfully as he asked:

      “Has she threatened you in actual words in public? Used insulting language? Attempted any bodily harm?[93]”

      “No.”

      “Then, frankly, Madame, I do not see what you can do. If it is a young lady's pleasure to travel in certain places, and those places are the same where you and your husband find yourselves – what of it? The air is free to all! It is always in public that these encounters take place?”

      “You mean there is nothing that I can do about it?”

      Linnet sounded incredulous.

      Poirot said quietly: “Nothing at all as far as I can see. Mademoiselle de Bellefort is within her rights[94].”

      “But it is maddening! It is intolerable that I should have to put up with this!”

      Poirot said drily, “I sympathize with you, Madame.”

      Linnet was frowning.

      “There must be some way of stopping it,” she murmured.

      Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

      “You can always leave – move on somewhere else,” he suggested.

      “ Then she will follow!”

      “Very possibly – yes.”

      “It's absurd!”

      “Precisely.”

      “Anyway, why should I – we – run away? As though – as though – ” She stopped.

      “Exactly, Madame. As though! It is all there, is it not?[95]”

      Linnet lifted her head and stared at him.

      “What do you mean?”

      Poirot altered his tone. He leant forward; his voice was confidential, appealing. He said very gently, “Why do you mind so much, Madame?”

      “Why? But it's maddening! Irritating to the last degree! I've told you why!”

      Poirot shook his head.

      “Not altogether.”

      “What do you mean?” Linnet asked again.

      Poirot leant back and folded his arms.

      “Ecoutez[96], Madame. I will tell you a little history. One day, a month or two ago, I am dining in a restaurant in London. At the table next to me are two people, a man and a girl. They are very happy, very much in love. They talk with confidence of the future. The man's back is to me, but I can watch the girl's face. It is very intense. She is in love – heart, soul and body – and she is not of those who love lightly and often. With her it is clearly the life and the death. They are engaged to be married, and they talk of where they shall pass the days of their honeymoon. They plan to go to Egypt.”

      He paused. Linnet said sharply “Well?”

      Poirot went on: “That is a month or two ago, but the girl's face – I do not forget it. I know that I shall remember if I see it again. And I remember too the man's voice. And you can guess, Madame, when I see the one and hear the other again. It is here in Egypt. The man is on his honeymoon, yes – but he is on his honeymoon with another woman.”

      Linnet said sharply: “What of it? I had already mentioned the facts.”

      “The facts – yes.”

      “Well then?”[97]

      Poirot said slowly: “The girl in the restaurant mentioned a friend – a friend who, she was very positive, would not let her down. That friend, I think, was you, Madame.”

      Linnet flushed.

      “Yes. I told you we had been friends.”

      “And she trusted you?”

      “Yes.”

      She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip impatiently; then she broke out:

      “Of course the whole thing was very unfortunate. But these things happen, Monsieur Poirot.”

      “Ah! Yes, they happen, Madame.” He paused. “You are of the Church of England[98] I think?”

      “Yes.” Linnet looked slightly bewildered.

      “Then you have heard the Bible read aloud in church. You have heard of King David and of the rich man who had many flocks and herds and the poor man who had one ewe lamb[99] – and of how the rich man took the poor man's one ewe lamb. That was something that happened, Madame.”

      Linnet sat up. Her eyes flashed angrily.

      “I see perfectly what you

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