Sad Cypress (Hercule Poirot 22)

“Just a little.”

“When was the last time you saw her?”

“Let me see. It must have been the 5th or 6th of July.”

Sir Edwin said, a touch of steel in his voice:

“You saw her after that, I think.”

“No, I went abroad—to Venice and Dalmatia.”

“You returned to England—when?”

“When I received a telegram—let me see—on the 1st of August, it must have been.”

“But you were actually in England on July 27th, I think.”

“No.”

“Come, now, Mr. Welman. You are on oath, remember. Is it not a fact that your passport shows that you returned to England on July 25th and left it again on the night of the 27th?”

Sir Edwin’s voice held a subtly menacing note. Elinor frowned, suddenly jerked back to reality. Why was Counsel bullying his own witness?

Roderick had turned rather pale. He was silent for a minute or two, then he said with an effort:

“Well—yes, that is so.”

“Did you go and see this girl Mary Gerrard in London on the 25th at her lodgings?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Did you ask her to marry you?”

“Er—er—yes.”

“What was her answer?”

“She refused.”

“You are not a rich man, Mr. Welman?”

“No.”

“And you are rather heavily in debt?”

“What business is that of yours?”

“Were you not aware of the fact that Miss Carlisle had left all her money to you in the event of her death?”

“This is the first I have heard of it.”

“Were you in Maidensford on the morning of July 27th?”

“I was not.”

Sir Edwin sat down.

Counsel for the Prosecution said: