Смерть на Ниле / Death on the Nile

But remember, Mademoiselle de Bellefort has brains.’

Simon said sombrely:

‘Some day, I feel, we’ve got to make a stand and fight it out. Her attitude isn’t reasonable.’

‘Reasonable, mon Dieu!’ cried Poirot.

‘There’s no reason why women shouldn’t behave like rational beings,’ said Simon stolidly.

Poirot said dryly:

‘Quite frequently they do. That is even more upsetting!’ He added, ‘I, too, shall be on the Karnak. It is part of my itinerary.

‘Oh!’ Simon hesitated, then said, choosing his words with some embarrassment: ‘That isn’t – isn’t – er – on our account in any way? I mean I wouldn’t like to think-’

Poirot disabused him quickly.

‘Not at all. It was all arranged before I left London. I always make my plans well in advance.’

‘You don’t just move on from place to place as the fancy takes you? Isn’t the latter really pleasanter?’

‘Perhaps. But to succeed in life every detail should be arranged well beforehand.’

Simon laughed and said:

‘That is how the more skilful murderer behaves, I suppose.

‘Yes – though I must admit that the most brilliant crime I remember and one of the most difficult to solve was committed on the spur of the moment.’

Simon said boyishly:

‘You must tell us something about your cases on board the Karnak.’

‘No, no; that would be to talk – what do you call it? – the shop.’

‘Yes, but your kind of shop is rather thrilling. Mrs Allerton thinks so. She’s longing to get a chance to cross-question you.’

‘Mrs Allerton? That is the charming grey-haired woman who has such a devoted son?’

‘Yes.

‘Does she know that you-?’

‘Certainly not,’ said Simon with emphasis. ‘Nobody knows. I’ve gone on the principle that it’s better not to trust anybody.’

‘An admirable sentiment – and one which I always adopt. By the way, the third member of your party, the tall grey-haired man-’

‘Pennington?’

‘Yes. He is travelling with you?’

Simon said grimly:

‘Not very usual on a honeymoon, you were thinking? Pennington is Linnet’s American trustee.

‘Ah, vraiment! You permit a question? She is of age, Madame your wife?’

Simon looked amused.

‘She isn’t actually twenty-one yet – but she hadn’t got to ask anyone’s consent before marrying me. It was the greatest surprise to Pennington. He left New York on the Carmanic two days before Linnet’s letter got there telling him of our marriage.