The Goose Quill

           Thatevening,atPoirot’srequest,Iwentovertohishouseafterdinner.Carolinesawmedepartwithvisiblereluctance.

           Ithinkshewouldhavelikedtohaveaccompaniedme.

           Poirotgreetedmehospitably.HehadplacedabottleofIrishwhiskey(whichIdetest)onasmalltable,withasodawatersiphonandaglass.Hehimselfwasengagedinbrewinghotchocolate.Itwasafavouritebeverageofhis,Idiscoveredlater.

           Heinquiredpolitelyaftermysister,whomhedeclaredtobeamostinterestingwoman.

           "I’mafraidyou’vebeengivingheraswelledhead,"Isaiddrily."WhataboutSundayafternoon?"Helaughedandtwinkled.

           "Ialwaysliketoemploytheexpert,"heremarkedobscurely,butherefusedtoexplaintheremark.

           "Yougotallthelocalgossipanyway,"Iremarked."True,anduntrue.""Andagreatdealofvaluableinformation,"headdedquietly.

           "Suchas-"Heshookhishead.

           "Whynothavetoldmethetruth?"hecountered."Inaplacelikethis,allRalphPaton’sdoingswereboundtobeknown.Ifyoursisterhadnothappenedtopassthroughthewoodthatdaysomebodyelsewouldhavedoneso.""Isupposetheywould,"Isaidgrumpily."Whataboutthisinterestofyoursinmypatients?"Againhetwinkled.

           "Onlyoneofthem,doctor.Onlyoneofthem.""Thelast?"Ihazarded.

           Heheldouttomethelittlequill.Ilookedatitcuriously.