'This she indignantly tore up. The terms of her letter are those of a woman genuinely in love, and she would probably deeply resent being offered money. In the end he got rid of her, and here the words that he used are significant.'

'"Yes, yes, but for God's sake go now" ,' I repeated. 'They seem to me a little vehement, perhaps, that is all.'

'That is enough. He was desperately anxious for the girl to go. Why? Not because the interview was unpleasant. No, it was the time that was slipping by, and for some reason time was precious.'

'Why should it be?' I asked, bewildered.

'That is what we ask ourselves. Why should it be? But later we have the incident of the wristwatch-which again shows us that time plays a very important part in the crime. We are now fast approaching the actual drama. It is half past ten when Bella Duveen leaves, and by the evidence of the wristwatch we know that the crime was committed, or at any rate that it was staged, before twelve o'clock. We have reviewed all the events anterior to the murder, there remains only one unplaced. By the doctor's evidence, the tramp, when found, had been dead at least forty-eight hours-with a possible margin of twenty-four hours more. Now, with no other facts to help me than those we have discussed, I place the death as having occurred on the morning of 7thJune.'

I stared at him, stupefied.

'But how? Why? How can you possibly know?'

'Because only in that way can the sequence of events be logically explained. Mon ami, I have taken you step by step along the way. Do you not now see what is so glaringly plain?'

'My dear Poirot, I can't see anything glaring about it. I did think I was beginning to see my way before, but I'm now hopelessly fogged. For goodness' sake, get on, and tell me who killed Mr. Renauld.'

'That is just what I am not sure of as yet.'

'But you said it was glaringly clear?'

'We talk at cross-purposes, my friend. Remember, it is crimes we are investigating-for which as I pointed out to you, we have the necessary two bodies. There there, ne vous [unreadable]. I will explain all. To begin with, we apply our psychology. We find three points at which Monsieur Renauld displays a distinct change of view and action-three psychological points therefore. The first occurs immediately after arriving in Merlinville, the second after quarrelling with his son on a certain subject, the third on the morning of 7thJune. Now for the three causes. We can attribute No 1 to meeting Madame Daubreuil. No 2 is indirectly connected with her, since it concerns a marriage between Monsieur Renauld's son and her daughter. But the cause of No 3 is hidden from me [unclear]. We had to deduce it. Now, mon ami, let me ask you a question: whom do we believe to have planned this crime?'

'Georges Conneau,' I said doubtfully, eyeing Poirot [missing].

'Exactly. Now Giraud laid it down as an axiom that a woman lies to save herself, the man she loves, and her child. Since we are satisfied that it was Georges Conneau who died [missing] lie to her, and as Georges Conneau is no [missing] it follows that the third case is out of court.'

'[Missing]. Equally so. So we are forced to the second-that Mrs. Renauld lied for the sake of the man she loved-or to [missing] words, for the sake of Georges Conneau. You agree?'

'Yes,' I admitted. 'It seems logical enough.'

'Then Madame Renauld loves Georges Conneau. Who,

[Missing.]

we any evidence to show that Madame Renauld

[Missing.]

well then. Do not cling to theories where facts do not support them. Ask yourself instead whom Madame Renauld did love.'

I shook my head perplexed.

'Me oui, you know perfectly. Whom did Madame Renauld love so dearly, that when she saw his dead body she collapsed in a swoon?'

'Her husband?' I gasped dumbfounded. 'Her husband-or Georges Conneau whichever you like [missing.]

'But it's impossible.'

'How "impossible"? Did we not agree just now that Madame Daubreuil was in a position to blackmail Georges Conneau?'

'Yes but-'

'And did she not very effectively blackmail Monsieur Renauld?'

'That may he true enough, but-'

'And is it not a fact that we know nothing of Monsieur Renauld's youth and upbringing? That he springs suddenly into existence as a French-Canadian exactly twenty-two years ago?'

'All that is so,' I said more firmly 'but you seem to me to be overlooking one salient point.'

'What is that my friend?'

'Why, we have admitted that Georges planned the crime. That brings us to the ridiculous statement that he planned his own murder!'

'Et bien, mon ami,' said Poirot placidly 'that is just what he did do!'