Смерть на Ниле / Death on the Nile

She might have done so earlier. But I believe it’s got past that. She’s just spiteful now – trying to take it out of us both.’

Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

‘It may be so,’ he said doubtfully.

‘It’s Linnet I’m worrying about,’ said Simon somewhat unnecessarily.

‘I quite realize that,’ said Poirot.

‘I’m not really afraid of Jackie doing any melodramatic shooting stuff, but this spying and following business has absolutely got Linnet on the raw. I’ll tell you the plan I’ve made, and perhaps you can suggest improvements on it.

To begin with, I’ve announced fairly openly that we’re going to stay here ten days. But tomorrow – the steamer Karnak starts from Shellal to Wadi Halfa. I propose to book passages on that under an assumed name. Tomorrow we’ll go on an excursion to Philae. Linnet’s maid can take the luggage. We’ll join the Karnak at Shellal. When Jackie finds we don’t come back, it will be too late – we shall be well on our way. She’ll assume we have given her the slip and gone back to Cairo. In fact I might even bribe the porter to say so. Enquiry at the tourist offices won’t help her, because our names won’t appear. How does that strike you?’

‘It is well imagined, yes. And suppose she waits here till you return?’

‘We may not return. We would go on to Khartoum and then perhaps by air to Kenya. She can’t follow us all over the globe.’

‘No, there must come a time when financial reasons forbid. She has very little money, I understand.’

Simon looked at him with admiration.

‘That’s clever of you. Do you know, I hadn’t thought of that. Jackie’s as poor as they make them.’

‘And yet she has managed to follow you so far?’

Simon said doubtfully:

‘She’s got a small income, of course. Something under two hundred a year, I imagine. I suppose – yes, I suppose she must have sold out the capital to do what she’s doing.’

‘So that the time will come when she has exhausted her resources and is quite penniless?’

‘Yes…’

Simon wriggled uneasily. The thought seemed to make him uncomfortable.

Poirot watched him attentively.

‘No,’ he remarked. ‘No, it is not a pretty thought…’

Simon said rather angrily:

‘Well, I can’t help it!’ Then he added, ‘What do you think of my plan?’

‘I think it may work, yes. But it is, of course, a retreat.’

Simon flushed.

‘You mean, we’re running away? Yes, that’s true… But Linnet-’

Poirot watched him, then gave a short nod.

‘As you say, it may be the best way.