Ellie Henderson looked at him--waiting.
"But I am bound to say," went on Poirot,
"that I myself have not noted any signs of exasperation
on the good Colonel's part. Also, what
is more important, he had an alibi. He was with
those two girls all day and did not return to the
ship till four o'clock. By then, Mrs. Clapperton
had been dead many hours."
There Was another minute of silence. Ellie Henderson
said softly: "But you still think--a passenger
on the ship?"
Poirot bowed his head.
Ellie Henderson laughed suddenly--a reckless
defiant laugh. "Your theory may be difficult to
prove, M. Poirot. There are a good many passengers
on this ship."
Poirot bowed to her. "I will use a phrase from
one of your detective story writers. 'I have my
methods, Watson.'" The
following evening, at dinner, every passen-
PROBLEM AT SEA
211
ger found a typewritten slip by his plate requesting
him to be in the main lounge at 8:30. When the
company were assembled, the Captain stepped
onto the raised platform where the orchestra
usually played and addressed them.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you all know of the
tragedy which took place yesterday. I am sure you
all wish to co-operate in bringing the perpetrator