Hercule Poirot said: “Ah! but it is interesting, that.”
Patrick Redfern went on. “There’s a lot of pixy lore on Dartmoor still. There are Tors that are said to be pixy-ridden, and I expect that farmers coming home after a thick night still complain of being pixy-led.”
Horace Blatt said: “You mean when they’ve had a Couple?”
Patrick Redfern said with a smile: “That’s certainly the commonsense explanation!”
Blatt looked at his watch.
He said: “I’m going in to dinner. On the whole, Redfern, pirates are my favourites, not pixies.”
Patrick Redfern said with a laugh as the other went out: “Faith, I’d like to see the old boy pixy-led himself!”
Poirot observed meditatively: “For a hard-bitten business man, M. Blatt seems to have a very romantic imagination.”
Patrick Redfern said: “That’s because he’s only half educated. Or so my wife says. Look at what he reads! Nothing but thrillers or Wild West stories.”
Poirot said: “You mean that he has still the mentality of a boy?”
“Well, don’t you think so, sir?”
“Me, I have not seen very much of him.”
“I haven’t really, either. I’ve been out sailing with him once or twice, but he doesn’t really like having any one with him. He prefers to be on his own.”
Hercule Poirot said: “That is indeed curious. It is singularly unlike his practice on land.”
Redfern laughed.
He said: “I know. We all have a bit of trouble keeping out of his way. He’d like to turn this place into a cross between Margate and Le Touquet.”
Poirot said nothing for a minute or two. He was studying the laughing face of his companion very attentively. He said suddenly and unexpectedly:
“I think, Mr Redfern, that you enjoy living.”
Patrick stared at him, surprised.
“Indeed I do. Why not?”
“Why not indeed,” agreed Poirot. “I make you my felicitation on the fact.”
Smiling a little Patrick Redfern said: “Thank you, sir.”
“That is why, as an older man, a very much older man, I venture to offer you a piece of advice.”
“Yes, sir?”
“A very wise friend of mine in the Police Force said to me years ago: ‘Hercule, my friend, if you would know tranquillity, avoid women.’”
Patrick Redfern said: “I’m afraid it’s a bit late for that, sir. I’m married, you know.”
“I do know. You wife is a very charming, a very accomplished woman. She is, I think, very fond of you.”
Patrick Redfern said sharply: “I’m very fond of her.”
“Ah,” said Hercule Poirot, “I am delighted to hear it.”
Patrick’s brow was suddenly like thunder.
