死亡约会 Part II Chapter 3（2）（在线收听）

Colonel Carbury stared at him over the rim of his glass. Just for a moment the vague eyes wereno longer vague—they measured—and appraised.

He put down his glass with a grunt.

‘What do you say to that, Dr Gerard?’

‘I admit that I am skeptical of success…Yes, I know that M. Poirot has great powers.’

‘I am gifted—yes,’ said the little man. He smiled modestly.

Colonel Carbury turned away his head and coughed.

Poirot said: ‘The first thing to decide is whether this is a composite murder—planned andcarried out by the Boynton family as a whole, or whether it is the work of one of them only. If thelatter, which is the most likely member of the family to have attempted it.’

Dr Gerard said: ‘There is your own evidence. One must, I think, consider first RaymondBoynton.’

‘I agree,’ said Poirot. ‘The words I overheard and the discrepancy between his evidence and thatof the young woman doctor puts him definitely in the forefront of the suspects.’

‘He was the last person to see Mrs Boynton alive. That is his own story. Sarah King contradictsthat. Tell me, Dr Gerard, is there—eh?—you know what I mean—a little tendresse, shall we say—there?’

The Frenchman nodded. ‘Emphatically so.’

‘Aha! Is she, this young lady, a brunette with hair that goes back from her forehead—so—andbig hazel eyes and a manner very decided?’

Dr Gerard looked rather surprised.

‘Yes, that describes her very well.’

‘I think I have seen her—in the Solomon Hotel. She spoke to this Raymond Boynton andafterwards he remained plantélà—in a dream—blocking the exit from the lift. Three times I had tosay “Pardon” before he heard me and moved.’

He remained in thought for some moments. Then he said: ‘So, to begin with, we will accept themedical evidence of Miss Sarah King with certain mental reservations. She is an interested party.’

He paused — then went on: ‘Tell me, Dr Gerard, do you think Raymond Boynton is of thetemperament that could commit murder easily?’

Gerard said slowly: ‘You mean deliberate planned murder? Yes, I think it is possible—but onlyunder conditions of intense emotional strain.’

‘Those conditions were present?’

‘Definitely. This journey abroad undoubtedly heightened the nervous and mental strain underwhich all these people were living. The contrast between their own lives and those of other peoplewas more apparent to them. And in Raymond Boynton’s case—’

‘Yes?’

‘There was the additional complication of being strongly attracted to Sarah King.’

‘That would give him an additional motive? And an additional stimulus?’

‘That is so.’

Colonel Carbury coughed.

‘Like to butt in a moment. That sentence of his you overheard, “You do see, don’t you, thatshe’s got to be killed?” Must have been spoken to someone.’

‘A good point,’ said Poirot. ‘I had not forgotten it. Yes, to whom was Raymond Boyntonspeaking? Undoubtedly to a member of his family. But which member?