8. Fresh suspicions by Agatha Christie
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you_have_been trying to_believe what you wish to_believe . it_is because you_are trying to drown and stifle your instinct, which tells you another name -- -- ''

"No, no, no ! '' cried Miss Howard wildly, flinging up her hands ."Don't say it ! Oh, don't say it ! It isn't true ! It can't be true .I don't know what put such awild -- such adreadful -- idea into my head ! ''

" I_am right, am I not ? '' asked Poirot .

"Yes, yes; you_must_be awizard to_have guessed .But it can't be so -- it's too monstrous, too impossible .It must_be Alfred Inglethorp .''

Poirot shook his head gravely .

"Don't ask me about_it,'' continued Miss Howard, "because I shan't tell you .I won't admit it, even to myself . I_must_be mad to_think of_such athing .''

Poirot nodded, as_if satisfied .

" i_will ask_you nothing . it_is enough for_me that_it_is as i_thought .And I -- I, too, have an instinct . we_are working together towards acommon end .''

"Don't ask me to help_you, because I won't .I wouldn't lift afinger to -- to -- -- '' She faltered .

" you_will help me in_spite of yourself .I ask_you nothing -- but you_will_be my ally . you_will_not_be_able to help yourself . you_will do the_only_thing that i_want of you .''

" and_that is ? ''

" you_will watch ! ''

Evelyn Howard bowed her head .

"Yes, I_can't help doing that . I_am always watching -- always hoping I_shall_be proved wrong .''

" if_we_are wrong, well and good,'' said Poirot ."No one will_be more pleased than I_shall .But, if_we_are right ? if_we_are right, Miss Howard, on whose side are_you then ? ''

"I don't know, I don't know -- -- ''

"Come now .''

"It could_be hushed up .''

" there_must_be no hushing up .''

"But Emily herself -- -- '' She broke off .

"Miss Howard,'' said Poirot gravely, " this_is unworthy of you .''

Suddenly she took her face from her hands .

"Yes,'' she said quietly, "that was not Evelyn Howard who spoke ! '' She flung her head up proudly ." this_is Evelyn Howard ! And she_is on_the side of Justice ! Let the cost be what it may .'' And with_these words, she walked firmly out_of_the room .

"There,'' said Poirot, looking after her, "goes avery valuable ally .That woman, Hastings, has got brains as_well as aheart .''

I_did_not reply .

"Instinct is amarvellous thing,'' mused Poirot ."It can neither be explained nor ignored .''

"You and Miss Howard seem to_know what you_are talking about,'' I observed coldly ."Perhaps you don't realize_that I_am still in_the dark .''

"Really ? is_that so, mon ami ? ''

"Yes .Enlighten me, will_you ? ''

Poirot studied me attentively for amoment or two .Then, to my intense surprise, he shook his head decidedly .

"No, my friend .''

"Oh, look here, why_not ? ''

"Two is enough for asecret .''

"Well, i_think it_is very unfair to_keep back facts from me .''

" I_am not keeping back facts .Every fact that I_know is in your possession . you_can draw your own deductions from_them . this_time it_is aquestion of ideas .''

"Still, it would_be interesting to_know .''

Poirot looked at me very earnestly, and again shook his head .

" you_see,'' he_said sadly, " you_have no instincts .''

" it_was intelligence you were requiring just now,'' I pointed out .

"The two often go together,'' said Poirot enigmatically .

The remark seemed so utterly irrelevant that I_did_not even take_the trouble to answer it .But I decided that if I_made any interesting and important discoveries -- as no_doubt i_should -- i_would keep them to myself, and surprise Poirot with_the ultimate result .

there_are times when it_is one's duty to assert oneself .

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