8. An Unexpected Meeting

           WewereupattheVillabetimesnextmorning.Themanonguardatthegatedidnotbarourwaythistime.Instead,herespectfullysalutedus,andwepassedontothehouse.ThemaidLéoniewasjustcomingdownthestairs,andseemednotaversetotheprospectofalittleconversation.

           PoirotinquiredafterthehealthofMrs.Renauld.

           Léonieshookherhead.

           “Sheisterriblyupset,lapauvredame!Shewilleatnothing—butnothing!Andsheisaspaleasaghost.Itisheartrendingtoseeher.Ah,parexemple,itisnotIwhowouldgrievelikethatforamanwhohaddeceivedmewithanotherwoman!”

           Poirotnoddedsympathetically.

           “Whatyousayisveryjust,butwhatwillyou?Theheartofawomanwholoveswillforgivemanyblows.Still,undoubtedlytheremusthavebeenmanyscenesofrecriminationbetweentheminthelastfewmonths?”

           AgainLéonieshookherhead.

           “Never,monsieur.NeverhaveIheardMadameutterawordofprotest—ofreproach,even!Shehadthetemperanddispositionofanangel—quitedifferenttoMonsieur.”

           “MonsieurRenauldhadnotthetemperofanangel?”

           “Farfromit.Whenheenragedhimself,thewholehouseknewofit.ThedaythathequarrelledwithM.Jack—mafoi!theymighthavebeenheardinthemarketplace,theyshoutedsoloud!”

           “Indeed,”saidPoirot.“Andwhendidthisquarreltakeplace?”

           “Oh!itwasjustbeforeM.JackwenttoParis.Almosthemissedhistrain.Hecameoutofthelibrary,andcaughtuphisbagwhichhehadleftinthehall.Theautomobile,itwasbeingrepaired,andhehadtorunforthestation.