“But consider!” The little man’s hands were eloquent. “You have been here a week. You are lively, gay, without a care. Today, suddenly, you speak of ghosts, of old times. What has happened? For several days there have been no new arrivals until last night when Captain Marshall and his wife and daughter arrive. Today the change! It is obvious!”
Rosamund Darnley said: “Well, it’s true enough. Kenneth Marshall and I were more or less children together. The Marshalls lived next door to us. Ken was always nice to me – although condescending, of course, since he was four years older. I’ve not seen anything of him for a long time. It must be – fifteen years at least.”
Poirot said thoughtfully: “A long time.”
Rosamund nodded.
There was a pause and then Hercule Poirot said:
“He is sympathetic, yes?”
Rosamund said warmly: “Ken’s a dear. One of the best. Frightfully quiet and reserved. I’d say his only fault is a penchant for making unfortunate marriages.”
Poirot said in a tone of great understanding: “Ah…”
Rosamund Darnley went on. “Kenneth’s a fool – an utter fool where women are concerned! Do you remember the Martingdale case?”
Poirot frowned. “Martingdale? Martingdale? Arsenic, was it not?”
“Yes. Seventeen or eighteen years ago. The woman was tried for the murder of her husband.”
“And he was proved to have been an arsenic eater and she was acquitted?”
“That’s right. Well, after her acquittal, Ken married her. That’s the sort of damn silly thing he does.”
Hercule Poirot murmured: “But if she was innocent?”
Rosamund Darnley said impatiently: “Oh, I daresay she was innocent. Nobody really knows! But there are plenty of women to marry in the world without going out of your way to marry one who’s stood trial for murder.”
Poirot said nothing. Perhaps he knew that if he kept silence Rosamund Darnley would go on. She did so.
“He was very young, of course, only just twenty-one. He was crazy about her. She died when Linda was born – a year after their marriage. I believe Ken was terribly cut up by her death. Afterwards he racketed around a lot – trying to forget, I suppose.” She paused. “And then came this business of Arlena Stuart. She was in Revue at the time. There was the Codrington divorce case. Lady Codrington divorced Codrington citing Arlena Stuart. They say Lord Codrington was absolutely infatuated with her. It was understood they were to be married as soon as the decree was made absolute. Actually, when it came to it, he didn’t marry her. Turned her down flat. I believe she actually sued him for breach of promise. Anyway, the thing made a big stir at the time. The next thing that happens is that Ken goes and marries her. The fool – the complete fool!”
