12. The Evidence of the German Lady’s Maid

           M.Boucwaslookingathisfriendcuriously.

           “Idonotquiteunderstandyou,monvieux.Youweretryingtodo—what?”

           “Iwassearchingforaflaw,myfriend.”

           “Aflaw?”

           “Yes—inthearmourofayounglady’sself-possession.Iwishedtoshakehersangfroid.DidIsucceed?Idonotknow.ButIknowthis—shedidnotexpectmetotacklethematterasIdid.”

           “Yoususpecther,”saidM.Boucslowly.“Butwhy?Sheseemsaverycharmingyounglady—thelastpersonintheworldtobemixedupinacrimeofthiskind.”

           “Iagree,”saidConstantine.“Sheiscold.Shehasnotemotions.Shewouldnotstabaman;shewouldsuehiminthelawcourts.”

           Poirotsighed“Youmust,bothofyou,getridofyourobsessionthatthisisanunpremeditatedandsuddencrime.AsforthereasonwhyIsuspectMissDebenham,therearetwo.OneisbecauseofsomethingthatIoverheard,andthatyoudonotasyetknow.”

           HeretailedtothemthecuriousinterchangeofphraseshehadoverheardonthejourneyfromAleppo.

           “Thatiscurious,certainly,”saidM.Boucwhenhehadfinished.“Itneedsexplaining.Ifitmeanswhatyoususpectitmeans,thentheyarebothoftheminittogether—sheandthestiffEnglishman.”

           Poirotnodded.

           “Andthatisjustwhatisnotborneoutbythefacts,”hesaid.“Seeyou,iftheywerebothinthistogether,whatshouldweexpecttofind—thateachofthemwouldprovideanalibifortheother.Isnotthatso?Butno—thatdoesnothappen.