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.Weston said: "That's the way peoplego down to bathe before breakfast - that is, if they bathe off the rocks as most of them do."Interest came into Hercule Poirot's eyes.He stepped outside and looked down.Below, a path led tosteps cut zigzag leading down the rocks to the sea.There was also a path that led round the hotel to theleft.He said: "One could go down these stairs, go to the left round the hotel and join the main path upfrom the causeway."Weston nodded.He amplified Poirot's statement."One could go right across the island without goingthrough the hotel at all." He added: "But one might still be seen from a window.""What window?""Two of the public bathrooms look out that way - north - and the staff bathroom, and the cloakroom onthe ground floor.Also the billiard room."Poirot nodded.He said: "And all the former have frosted glass windows and one does not play billiardson a fine morning.""Exactly." Weston paused and said: "If he did it, that's the way he went.""You mean Captain Marshall?""Yes.Blackmail, or no blackmail, I still feel it points to him.And his manner - well, his manner isunfortunate."Hercule Poirot said drily: "Perhaps - but a manner does not make a murderer!"Weston said: "Then you think he's out of it?"Poirot shook his head.He said: "No, I would not say that."Weston said: "We'll see what Colgate can make out of the typewriting alibi.In the meantime I've got thechambermaid of this floor waiting to be interviewed.A good deal may depend on her evidence."The chambermaid was a woman of thirty, brisk, efficient and intelligent.Her answers came readily.Captain Marshall had come up to his room not long after ten-thirty.She was then finishing the room.Hehad asked her to be as quick as possible.She had not seen him come back but she had heard the soundof the typewriter a little later.She put it at about five minutes to eleven.She was then in Mr and MrsRedfern's room.After she had done that she moved on to Miss Darnley's room, as near as she could say,at just after eleven o'clock.She remembered hearing Leathercombe Church strike the hour as she wentin.At a quarter past eleven she had gone downstairs for her eleven o'clock cup of tea and "snack."Afterwards she had gone to do the rooms in the other wing of the hotel.In answer to the ChiefConstable's question she explained that she had done the rooms in this corridor in the following order:Miss Linda Marshall's, the two public bathrooms, Mrs Marshall's room and private bath, CaptainMarshall's room.Mr and Mrs Redfern's room and private bath.Miss Darnley's room and private bath.Captain Marshall's and Miss Marshall's rooms had no adjoining bathrooms.During the time she was inMiss Darnley's room and bathroom she had not heard any one pass the door or go out by the staircase tothe rocks, but it was quite likely she wouldn't have heard if any one went quietly.Weston then directed his questions to the subject of Mrs Marshall.No, Mrs Marshall wasn't one for rising early as a rule.She, Gladys Narracott, had been surprised to findthe door open and Mrs Marshall gone down at just after ten.Something quite unusual, that was."Did Mrs Marshall always have her breakfast in bed?""Oh, yes, sir, always.Not very much of it either.Just tea and orange juice and one piece of toast.Slimming like so many ladies."No, she hadn't noticed anything unusual in Mrs Marshall's manner that morning.She'd seemed quite asusual.Hercule Poirot murmured: "What did you think of Mrs Marshall, Mademoiselle?"Gladys Narracott stared at him.She said: "Well, that's hardly for me to say, is it, sir?""But yes, it is for you to say.We are anxious - very anxious - to hear your impression."Gladys gave a slightly uneasy glance towards the Chief Constable who endeavoured to make his facesympathetic and approving, though actually he felt slightly embarrassed by his foreign colleague'smethods of approach.He said: "Er - yes, certainly.Go ahead."For the first time Gladys Narracott's brisk efficiency deserted her.Her fingers fumbled with her printdress [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]