"Precisely," said the inspector dryly. "How'
ever, after your clearing up of the situation--"
Poirot interrupted him. "One little minute."
He turned to Mrs. Farley. "Had your husband
ever been hypnotized?"
"Never."
"Had he studied the question of hypnotism?
Was he interested in the subject.O"
164
Agatha Christie
She shook her head. "I don't think so."
Suddenly her self-control seemed to break
down. "That horrible dream! It's uncanny! That
he should have dreamed that--night after night--and
then--and then--it's as though he were--
hounded to death!"
Poirot remembered Benedict Farley saying--"I
proceed to do that which I really wish to do. I put
an end to myself."
He said, "Had it ever occurred to you that your
husband might be tempted to do away with him-self?"
"No--at least--sometimes he was very
queer .... "
Joanna Farley's voice broke in clear and scorn-ful.
"Father would never have killed himself. He
was far too careful of himself."
Dr. Stillingfleet said, "It isn't the people who
threaten to commit suicide who usually do it, you
know, Miss Farley. That's why suicides sometimes
seem unaccountable."