Free Mrs McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie Page B

Whole thing was a romantic farrago from beginning to end. I just mugged up the facts a bit and then let fly with a lot of hou ha.”
    “What I am trying to say is that even the characters of your heroines are not, perhaps, quite as represented.”
    Pamela let out a neighing sound like a horse.
    “Course they weren't. What do you think? I've no doubt that Eva Kane was a thorough little bitch, and not an injured innocent at all. And as for the Courtland woman, why did she suffer in silence for eight years with a sadistic pervert? Because he was rolling in money, and the romantic friend hadn't any.”
    “And the tragic child, Lily Gamboll?”
    “I wouldn't care to have her gambolling about me with a meat chopper.”
    Poirot ticked off on his fingers.
    “They left the country - they went to the New World - abroad - 'to the Dominions' - 'to start a New Life.' And there is nothing to show, is there, that they did not, subsequently, come back to this country?”
    “Not a thing,” agreed Miss Horsefall. “And now - I really must fly -”
    Later that night Poirot rang up Spence.
    “I've been wondering about you, Poirot. Have you got anything? Anything at all?”
    “I have made my inquiries,” said Poirot grimly.
    “Yes?”
    “And the result of them is this: The people who live in Broadhinny are all very nice people.”
    “What do you mean by that, M. Poirot?”
    “Oh, my friend, consider. 'Very nice people.' That has been, before now, a motive for murder.”

Mrs McGinty's Dead

Chapter 9
    “All very nice people,” murmured Poirot as he turned in at the gate of Crossways, near the station.
    A brass plate in the doorpost announced that Dr Rendell, M.D., lived there.
    Dr Rendell was a large cheerful man of forty. He greeted his guest with definite empressement.
    “Our quiet little village is honoured,” he said, “by the presence of the great Hercule Poirot.”
    “Ah,” said Poirot. He was gratified. “You have, then, heard of me?”
    “Of course we have heard of you. Who hasn't?”
    The answer to that would have been damaging to Poirot's self-esteem. He merely said politely: “I am fortunate to find you at home.”
    It was not particularly fortunate. It was, on the contrary, astute timing. But Dr Rendell replied heartily:
    “Yes. Just caught me. Surgery in a quarter of an hour. Now what can I do for you? I'm devoured with curiosity to know what you're doing down here. A rest cure? Or have we crime in our midst?”
    “In the past tense - not the present.”
    “Past? I don't remember -”
    “Mrs McGinty.”
    “Of course. Of course. I was forgetting. But don't say you're concerned with that - at this late date?”
    “If I may mention this to you in confidence, I am employed by the defence. Fresh evidence on which to lodge an appeal.”
    Dr Rendell said sharply: “But what fresh evidence can there be?”
    “That, alas, I am not at liberty to state -”
    “Oh, quite - please forgive me.”
    “But I have come across certain things which are, I may say - very curious - very - how shall I put it? - suggestive? I came to you, Dr Rendell, because I understand that Mrs McGinty occasionally was employed here.”
    “Oh yes, yes - she was - What about a drink? Sherry? Whisky? You prefer sherry? So do I.” He brought two glasses and, sitting down by Poirot, he went on: “She used to come once a week to do extra cleaning. I've got a very good housekeeper - excellent - but the brasses - and scrubbing the kitchen floor - well, my Mrs Scott can't get down on her knees very well. Mrs McGinty was an excellent worker.”
    “Do you think that she was a truthful person?”
    “Truthful? Well, that's an odd question. I don't think I could say - no opportunity of knowing. As far as I know she was quite truthful.”
    “If then she made a statement to anyone, you think that statement would probably be true?”
    Dr Rendell looked faintly disturbed.
    “Oh, I wouldn't like to go as far as that. I really know so little about