Hercule Poirot - 16 - Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie

Author:Agatha Christie
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Mystery
Published: 2010-06-22T23:00:00+00:00

Dumb Witness

Chapter 16

MRS. TANIOS

“A gentleman is looking for you, madam.”

The woman who was writing at a table in the sitting-room of the Durham hotel, turned her head, stood up, and came to meet us.

Mrs Tanios could have been any age over thirty. She was a tall, lean woman of dark hair, inexpressive eyes and a restless face. A fashionable hat was hanging on her had at a weird angle, and she used a bad-looking cotton dress.

“I don't believe -” she started vaguely.

Poirot made a bow.

“I am just coming from a visit at your cousin, Miss Theresa Arundell.”

“Oh, Theresa? Yes?”

“Could you spare a few minutes for a private matter?”

Mrs Tanios looked around. Poirot suggested a leather sofa in a secluded corner. Walking in that direction, we heard a children's voice:

“Mommy, where are you going?”

“That way. Come, go on with your letter, dear.”

The child, a thin girl of about seven years went back to what she was doing.

The corner of the room was deserted. Mrs Tanios sat down, and so did we. She looked questioningly at Poirot.

The detective started:

“It is about your aunt's death.”

“Yes.”

“Miss Arundell changed her will very shortly before her death, leaving all her estate to Miss Wilhelmina Lawson. I would like to know, Mrs Tanios, if you support your cousins in the effort to try to get an annulment of this document.”

“Oh!” Mrs Tanios drew a deep breath. “But I don't think that's possible, is it? I mean, my husband consulted a lawyer and he seemed to think that it was better not to attempt it.”

“Lawyers, madame, are cautious people. Their advice is usually to avoid litigation at all costs - and no doubt they are usually right. But there are times when it pays to take a risk. I am not a lawyer myself and therefore I look at the matter rather differently. Miss Arundell - Miss Theresa Arundell, I mean - is prepared to fight. What about you?”

“I - Oh! I really don't know.” She twisted her fingers nervously together. “I should have to consult my husband.”

“Certainly, you must consult your husband before anything definite is undertaken. But what are your own feelings in the matter?”

“Well, really, I don't know.” Mrs Tanios looked more worried than ever. “It depends so much on my husband.”

“But you yourself, what do you think, madame?”

Mrs Tanios frowned, then she said slowly:

“I don't think I like the idea very much. It seems - it seems rather indecent, doesn't it?”

“Does it, madame?”

“Yes - after all, if Aunt Emily chose to leave her money away from her family, I suppose we must put up with it.”

“You do not feel aggrieved in the matter, then?”

“Oh, yes, I do.” A quick flush showed in her cheeks. “I think it was most unfair! Most unfair! And so unexpected. It was so unlike Aunt Emily. And so very unfair on the children.”

“You think it is very unlike Miss Emily Arundell?”

“I think it was extraordinary of her!”

“Then isn't it possible that she was not acting of her own free will? Don't you think that perhaps she was being unduly influenced?”

Mrs Tanios frowned again.

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