Agatha Christie The Hollow Chapter I At 6:13 a.m. ... - bzelbublive.info

not when somebody has just been killed. John is John Christow, Dr. Christow. GerdaChristow is his wife." "And the lady who went with Mrs. Christow to the house?""My cousin, Henrietta Savernake." There was a movement, a very faint movementfrom the man on Poirot5 s left. Henrietta Savernake, thought Poirot, and he doesnot like that she should say it--but it is, after all, inevitable that I should know .. .("Henrietta!" the dying man had said. He had said it in a very curious way. A way thatreminded Poirot of something--of some incident . . . now, what was it? No matter, itwould come to him.)Lady Angkatell was going on, determined now on fulfilling her social duties."And this is another cousin of ours^ Edward Angkatell. And Miss Hardcastle."Poirot acknowledged the introductions with polite bows. Midge felt suddenly thatshe wanted to laugh hysterically; she controlled herself with an effort. "And now,my dear," said Sir Henry, "I think that, as you suggested, you had better go backto the house ... I will have a word or two here with M. Poirot." Lady Angkatelllooked thoughtfully at them. "I do hope," she said, "that Gerda is lyingdown. Was that the right thing to suggest? I really couldn't think what to say. I mean,one has no precedent. What does one say to awoman who has just killed her husband?" She looked at them as though hoping thatsome authoritative answer might be given to her question. Then she went along thepath towards the house. Midge followed her. Edward brought up the rear.Poirot was left with his host. Sir Henry cleared his throat. He seemed a littleuncertain what to say. "Christow," he observed at last, "was a very able fellow--avery able fellow." Poirot's eyes rested once more on the dead man. He still had thecurious impression that the dead man was more alive than the living. He wonderedwhat gave him that impression.He responded politely to Sir Henry: "Such a tragedy as this is very unfortunate,"he said. "This sort of thing is more in your line than mine," said Sir Henry. "I don'tthink I have ever been at close quarters with a murder before. I hope I've done theright thing so far?" "The procedure has been quite correct," said Poirot."You have summoned the police and until they arrive and take charge, there is nothingfor us to do--except to make sure that nobody disturbs the body or tampers withthe evidence." As he said the last word he looked down into the pool where he couldsee the revolver lying on the concrete bottom slightly distorted by the blue water.The evidence, he thought, had perhaps already been tampered with before he, HerculePoirot, had been able to prevent it ... But no--that had been an accident. Sir Henrymurmured distastefully: "Think we've got to stand about? A bit chilly. It would beall right, I should think, if we went inside the pavilion?" Poirot, who had beenconscious of damp feet and a disposition to shiver, acquiesced gladly. The pavilionwas at the side of the pool farthest from the house and through its open door theycommanded a view of the pool and the body and the path to the house along whichthe police would come. The pavilion was luxuriously furnished with comfortablesettees and gay native rugs. On a painted iron table a tray was set with