Three Act Tragedy (Hercule Poirot 11)

“See you, as a boy I was poor. There were many of us. We had to get on in the world. I entered the Police Force. I worked hard. Slowly I rose in that Force. I began to make a name for myself. I made a name for myself. I began to acquire an international reputation. At last, I was due to retire. There came the War. I was injured. I came, a sad and weary refugee, to England. A kind lady gave me hospitality. She died—not naturally; no, she was killed. Eh bien, I set my wits to work. I employed my little grey cells. I discovered her murderer. I found that I was not yet finished. No, indeed, my powers were stronger than ever. Then began my second career, that of a private inquiry agent in England. I have solved many fascinating and baffling problems. Ah, monsieur, I have lived! The psychology of human nature, it is wonderful. I grew rich. Someday, I said to myself, I will have all the money I need. I will realize all my dreams.”

He laid a hand on Mr. Satterthwaite’s knee.

“My friend, beware of the day when your dreams come true. That child near us, doubtless she too has dreamt of coming abroad—of the excitement—of how different everything would be. You understand?”

“I understand,” said Mr. Satterthwaite, “that you are not amusing yourself.”

Poirot nodded.

“Exactly.”

There were moments when Mr. Satterthwaite looked like Puck. This was one of them. His little wrinkled face twitched impishly. He hesitated. Should he? Should he not?

Slowly he unfolded the newspaper he was still carrying.

“Have you seen this, M. Poirot?”

With his forefinger he indicated the paragraph he meant.

The little Belgian took the paper. Mr. Satterthwaite watched him as he read. No change came over his face, but the Englishman had the impression that his body stiffened, as does that of a terrier when it sniffs a rat hole.

Hercule Poirot read the paragraph twice, then he folded the paper and returned it to Mr. Satterthwaite.

“That is interesting,” he said.

“Yes. It looks, does it not, as though Sir Charles Cartwright had been right and we had been wrong.”

“Yes,” said Poirot. “It seems as though we had been wrong…I will admit it, my friend, I could not believe that so harmless, so friendly an old man could have been murdered…Well, it may be that I was wrong…Although, see you, this other death may be coincidence. Coincidences do occur—the most amazing coincidences. I, Hercule Poirot, have known coincidences that would surprise you….”

He paused, and went on:

“Sir Charles Cartwright’s instinct may have been right. He is an artist—sensitive—impressionable—he feels things, rather than reasons about them…Such a method in life is often disastrous—but it is sometimes justified. I wonder where Sir Charles is now.”

Mr. Satterthwaite smiled.

“I can tell you that. He is in the office of the Wagon Lits Co. He and I are returning to England tonight.”

“Aha!” Poirot put immense meaning into the exclamation. His eyes, bright, inquiring, roguish, asked a question. “What zeal he has, our Sir Charles. He is determined, then, to play this rôle, the rôle of the amateur policeman? Or is there another reason?”

Mr. Satterthwaite did not reply, but from his silence Poirot seemed to deduce an answer.

“I see,” he said. “The bright eyes of Mademoiselle are concerned in this. It is not only crime that calls?”

“She wrote to him,” said Mr. Satterthwaite, “begging him to return.”

Poirot nodded.

“I wonder now,” he said. “I do not quite understand—”

Mr. Satterthwaite interrupted.

“You do not understand the modern English girl? Well, that is not surprising. I do not always understand them myself. A girl like Miss Lytton Gore—”

In his turn Poirot interrupted.

“Pardon. You have misunderstood me. I understand Miss Lytton Gore very well. I have met such another—many such others. You call the type modern; but it is—how shall I say?—agelong.”

Mr. Satterthwaite was slightly annoyed. He felt that he—and only he—understood Egg. This preposterous foreigner knew nothing about young English womanhood.