Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie Read Free Book Online Page A

on one of the battlements.
    â€œMrs. Crale opened the beer, poured it out and put the glass into her husband’s hand as he was standing before the easel. He tossed it off in one draught—a habit of his, I learned. Then he made a grimace, set down the glass on the table, and said: ‘Everything tastes foul to me today!’ Miss Greer upon that laughed and said, ‘Liver!’ Mr. Crale said: ‘Well, at any rate it was cold. ’”
    Hale paused. Poirot said:
    â€œAt what time did this take place?”
    â€œAt about a quarter past eleven. Mr. Crale continued to paint. According to Miss Greer, he later complained of stiffness in the limbs and grumbled that he must have got a touch of rheumatism. But he was the type of man who hates to admit to illness of any kind, and he undoubtedly tried not to admit that he was feeling ill. His irritable demand that he should be left alone and the others go up to lunch was quite characteristic of the man, I should say.”
    Poirot nodded.
    Hale continued.
    â€œSo Crale was left alone in the Battery garden. No doubt he dropped down on the seat and relaxed as soon as he was alone. Muscular paralysis would then set in. No help was at hand, and death supervened.”
    Again Poirot nodded.
    Hale said:
    â€œWell, I proceeded according to routine. There wasn’t much difficulty in getting down to the facts. On the preceding day there had been a set-to between Mrs. Crale and Miss Greer. The latterhad pretty insolently described some change in the arrangement of the furniture ‘when I am living here.’ Mrs. Crale took her up, and said, ‘What do you mean? When you are living here.’ Miss Greer replied: ‘Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean, Caroline. You’re just like an ostrich that buries its head in the sand. You know perfectly well that Amyas and I care for each other and are going to be married.’ Mrs. Crale said: ‘I know nothing of the kind.’ Miss Greer then said: ‘Well, you know it now.’ Whereupon, it seems, Mrs. Crale turned to her husband who had just come into the room and said: ‘Is it true, Amyas, that you are going to marry Elsa?’”
    Poirot said with interest:
    â€œAnd what did Mr. Crale say to that?”
    â€œApparently he turned on Miss Greer and shouted at her: ‘What the devil do you mean by blurting that out? Haven’t you got the sense to hold your tongue?’
    â€œMiss Greer said: ‘I think Caroline ought to recognize the truth.’
    â€œMrs. Crale said to her husband: ‘Is it true, Amyas?’
    â€œHe wouldn’t look at her, it seems, turned his face away and mumbled something.
    â€œShe said: ‘Speak out. I’ve got to know.’ Whereupon he said:
    â€œâ€˜Oh, it’s true enough—but I don’t want to discuss it now.’
    â€œThen he flounced out of the room again and Miss Greer said:
    â€œâ€˜You see!’ and went on—with something about its being no good for Mrs. Crale to adopt a dog-in-the-manger attitude about it. They must all behave like rational people. She herself hoped that Caroline and Amyas would always remain good friends.”
    â€œAnd what did Mrs. Crale say to that?” asked Poirot curiously.
    â€œAccording to the witnesses she laughed. She said: ‘Over my dead body, Elsa.’ She went to the door and Miss Greer called after her: ‘What do you mean?’ Mrs. Crale looked back and said: ‘I’ll kill Amyas before I give him up to you .’”
    Hale paused.
    â€œPretty damning—eh?”
    â€œYes.” Poirot seemed thoughtful. “Who overheard this scene?”
    â€œMiss Williams was in the room and Philip Blake. Very awkward for them.”
    â€œTheir accounts of the scene agree?”
    â€œNear enough—you never got two witnesses to remember a thing exactly alike. You know that just as well as I do, Mr. Poirot.”
    Poirot