22. I Find Love

           ForamomentortwoIsatasthoughfrozen,thephotographstillinmyhand.Then,summoningallmycouragetoappearunmoved,Ihandeditback.Atthesametime,IstoleaquickglanceatPoirot.Hadhenoticedanything?Buttomyreliefhedidnotseemtobeobservingme.Anythingunusualinmymannerhadcertainlyescapedhim.

           Herosebrisklytohisfeet.

           “Wehavenotimetolose.Wemustmakeourdeparturewithalldespatch.Alliswell—theseaitwillbecalm!”

           Inthebustleofdeparture,Ihadnotimeforthinking,butonceonboardtheboat,securefromPoirot’sobservation(he,asusual,was“practisingthemethodmostexcellentofLaverguier”)Ipulledmyselftogether,andattackedthefactsdispassionately.HowmuchdidPoirotknow?WasheawarethatmyacquaintanceofthetrainandBellaDuveenwereoneandthesame?WhyhadhegonetotheHôtelduPhare?OnmybehalfasIhadbelieved?OrhadIonlyfatuouslythoughtso,andwasthisvisitundertakenwithadeeperandmoresinisterpurpose?

           Butinanycase,whywashebentonfindingthisgirl?DidhesuspectherofhavingseenJackRenauldcommitthecrime?Ordidhesuspect—butthatwasimpossible!ThegirlhadnogrudgeagainsttheelderRenauld,nopossiblemotiveforwishinghisdeath.Whathadbroughtherbacktothesceneofthemurder?Iwentoverthefactscarefully.ShemusthaveleftthetrainatCalaiswhereIpartedfromherthatday.NowonderIhadbeenunabletofindherontheboat.