Evil Under the Sun

‘He’s awful, isn’t he? Always saying how rich he is and making the most terrible jokes.’

Christine said:

‘Poor man. One really feels rather sorry for him.’

Linda didn’t agree. She didn’t see anything to be sorry for in Mr Blatt. She was young and ruthless.

She walked with Christine Redfern out of the shop and down towards the causeway.

She was busy with her own thoughts. She liked Christine Redfern. She and Rosamund Darnley were the only bearable people on the island in Linda’s opinion. Neither of them talked much to her for one thing. Now, as they walked, Christine didn’t say anything. That, Linda thought, was sensible. If you hadn’t anything worth saying why go chattering all the time?

She lost herself in her own perplexities.

She said suddenly:

‘Mrs Redfern, have you ever felt that everything’s so awful—so terrible—that you’ll—oh, burst…?’

The words were almost comic, but Linda’s face, drawn and anxious, was not. Christine Redfern, looking at her at first vaguely, with scarcely comprehending eyes, certainly saw nothing to laugh at…

She caught her breath sharply.

She said:

‘Yes—yes—I have felt—just that…’

IV

Mr Blatt said:

‘So you’re the famous sleuth, eh?’

They were in the cocktail bar, a favourite haunt of Mr Blatt’s.

Hercule Poirot acknowledged the remark with his usual lack of modesty.

Mr Blatt went on.

‘And what are you doing down here—on a job?’

‘No, no. I repose myself. I take the holiday.’

Mr Blatt winked.

‘You’d say that anyway, wouldn’t you?’

Poirot replied:

‘Not necessarily.’

Horace Blatt said:

‘Oh! Come now. As a matter of fact you’d be safe enough with me. I don’t repeat all I hear! Learnt to keep my mouth shut years ago. Shouldn’t have got on the way I have if I hadn’t known how to do that. But you know what most people are—yap, yap, yap about everything they hear! Now you can’t afford that in your trade! That’s why you’ve got to keep it up that you’re here holiday-making and nothing else.’

Poirot asked:

‘And why should you suppose the contrary?’

Mr Blatt closed one eye.

He said:

‘I’m a man of the world. I know the cut of a fellow’s jib. A man like you would be at Deauville or Le Touquet or down at Juan les Pins. That’s your—what’s the phrase?—spiritual home.’

Poirot sighed. He looked out of the window. Rain was falling and mist encircled the island. He said:

‘It is possible that you are right! There, at least, in wet weather there are the distractions.’

‘Good old Casino!’ said Mr Blatt. ‘You know, I’ve had to work pretty hard most of my life. No time for holidays or kickshaws. I meant to make good and I have made good. Now I can do what I please. My money’s as good as any man’s. I’ve seen a bit of life in the last few years, I can tell you.’

Poirot murmured:

‘Ah, yes?’

‘Don’t know why I came to this place,’ Mr Blatt continued.

Poirot observed:

‘I, too, wondered?’

‘Eh, what’s that?’

Poirot waved an eloquent hand.

‘I, too, am not without observation. I should have expected you most certainly to choose Deauville or Biarritz.’

‘Instead of which, we’re both here, eh?’

Mr Blatt gave a hoarse chuckle.

‘Don’t really know why I came here,’ he mused. ‘I think, you know, it sounded romantic. Jolly Roger Hotel, Smugglers’ Island. That kind of address tickles you up, you know. Makes you think of when you were a boy. Pirates, smuggling, all that.’

He laughed, rather self-consciously.

‘I used to sail quite a bit as a boy. Not this part of the world. Off the East coast. Funny how a taste for that sort of thing never quite leaves you. I could have a tip-top yacht if I liked, but somehow I don’t really fancy it. I like mucking about in that little yawl of mine. Redfern’s keen on sailing, too. He’s been out with me once or twice. Can’t get hold of him now—always hanging round that red-haired wife of Marshall’s.’

He paused, then lowering his voice, he went on:

‘Mostly a dried up lot of sticks in this hotel! Mrs Marshall’s about the only lively spot! I should think Marshall’s got his hands full looking after her. All sorts of stories about her in her stage days—and after! Men go crazy about her. You’ll see, there’ll be a spot of trouble one of these days.’