The paragraph inspired by Poirot duly appeared in our daily paper the next morning. I was in the dark as to its purpose, but its effect on Caroline was immense.
She began by stating, most untruly, that she had said as much all along. I raised my eyebrows, but did not argue. Caroline, however, must have felt a prick of conscience, for she went on:—
"I mayn't have actually mentioned Liverpool, but I knew he'd try to get away to America. That's what Crippen did."
"Without much success," I reminded her.
"Poor boy, and so they've caught him. I consider, James, that it's your duty to see that he isn't hung."
"What do you expect me to do?"
"Why, you're a medical man, aren't you? You've known him from a boy upwards. Not mentally responsible. That's the line to take, clearly. I read only the other day that they're very happy in Broadmoor—it's quite like a high-class club."
But Caroline's words had reminded me of something.
"I never knew that Poirot had an imbecile nephew?" I said curiously.
"Didn't you? Oh, he told me all about it. Poor lad. It's a great grief to all the family. They've kept him at home so far, but it's getting to such a pitch that they're afraid he'll have to go into some kind of institution."
"I suppose you know pretty well everything there is to know about Poirot's family by this time," I said, exasperated.
"Pretty well," said Caroline complacently. "It's a
[252]
