The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

profit, and that she found out--"

Mary Delafontaine nodded. "We've done it for

years--a little here and there. I never realized she

was sharp enough to find out. And then I learned

she had sent for a detective; and I found out, too,

that she was leaving her money to Katrina--that

miserable little creature!"

"And so the strychnine was put in Katrina's

bedroom? I comprehend. You save yourself and

your husband from what I may discover, and you

saddle an innocent child with murder. Had you no

pity, madame?"

Mary Delafontaine shrugged her shouldersm

her blue forget-me-not eyes looked into Poirot's.

He remembered the perfection of her acting the

first day he had come and the bungling attempts

of her husband. A woman above the averagefbut

inhuman.

She said, "Pity? For that miserable intriguing

little rat?" Her contempt rang out.

Hercule Poirot said slowly, "I think, madame,

that you have cared in your life for two things

only. One is your husband."

He saw her lips tremble.

"And the other--is your garden."

He looked round him. His glance seemed to

apologize to the flowers for that which he had

done and was about to do.

at Pollensa Bay

The steamer from Barcelona to Majorca landed