Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie Page B

chocolates - a knife - even a pistol - but strangulation - no! It is a man we have to look for. And immediately,” he went on, “it becomes more difficult. There are two people here in this hotel who have a motive for wishing Arlena Marshall out of the way - but both of them are women.”
    Colonel Weston asked: “Redfern's wife is one of them, I suppose?”
    “Yes. Mrs Redfern might have made up her mind to kill Arlena Stuart. She had, let us say, ample cause. I think, too, that it would be possible for Mrs Redfern to commit a murder. But not this kind of murder. For all her unhappiness and jealousy, she is not, I should say, a woman of strong passions. In love, she would be devoted and loyal - not passionate. As I said just now - arsenic in the teacup - possibly - strangulation, no. I am sure, also, that she is physically incapable of committing this crime and her hands and feet are small below the average.”
    Weston nodded. He said: “This isn't a woman's crime. No, a man did this.”
    Inspector Colgate coughed. “Let me put forward a solution, sir. Say that prior to meeting this Mr Redfern the lady had had another affair with some one - call him X. She turns down X for Mr Redfern. X is mad with rage and jealousy. He follows her down here, stays somewhere in the neighborhood, comes over to the island and does her in. It's a possibility!”
    Weston said: “It's possible, all right. And if it's true, it ought to be easy to prove. Did he come on foot or in a boat? The latter seems more likely. If so, he must have hired a boat somewhere. You'd better make inquiries.”
    He looked across at Poirot. “What do you think of Colgate's suggestion?”
    Poirot said slowly: “It leaves, somehow, too much to chance. And besides - somewhere the picture is not true. I cannot, you see, imagine this man... the man who is mad with rage and jealousy.”
    Colgate said: “People did go potty about her, though, sir. Look at Redfern.”
    “Yes, yes... But all the same -” Colgate looked at him questioningly. Poirot shook his head. He said frowning: “Somewhere, there is something we have missed...”

Evil Under the Sun

Chapter 6
    Colonel Weston was poring over the hotel register. He read aloud.
    "Major and Mrs Cowan, Miss Pamela Cowan, Master Robert Cowan, Master Evan Cowan. Rydal's Mount, Leatherhead.
    "Mr and Mrs Masterman, Mr Edward Masterman, Miss Jennifer Masterman, Mr Roy Masterman, Master Frederick Masterman. 5 Malborough Avenue, London, N.W.
    "Mr and Mrs Gardener. New York.
    "Mr and Mrs Redfern. Crossgates, Seldon, Princes Risborough.
    "Major Barry. 18 Cardon Street, St James, London, S.W.1.
    "Mr Horace Blatt. 5 Pickersgill Street, London, E.C.2.
    "Mr Hercule Poirot. Whitehaven Mansions, London, W.1.
    "Miss Rosamund Darnley. 8 Cardigan Court, W.1.
    "Miss Emily Brewster. Southgates, Sunbury-on-Thames.
    "Rev. Stephen Lane. London.
    "Captain and Mrs Marshall. 73 Upscott Mansions.
    “Miss Linda Marshall. London, S.W.7.”
    He stopped. Inspector Colgate said: “I think, sir, that we can wash out the first two entries. Mrs Castle tells me that the Mastermans and the Cowans come here regularly every summer with their children. This morning they went off on an all-day excursion sailing, taking lunch with them. They left just after nine o'clock. A man called Andrew Baston took them. We can check up for him, but I think we can put them right out of it.”
    Weston nodded. “I agree. Let's eliminate every one we can. Can you give us a pointer on any of the rest of them, Poirot?”
    Poirot said: “Superficially, that is easy. The Gardeners are a middle-aged married couple, pleasant, travelled. All the talking is done by the lady. The husband is acquiescent. He plays tennis and golf and has a form of dry humour that is attractive when one gets him to oneself.”
    “Sounds quite O.K.”
    “Next - the Redferns. Mr Redfern is young, attractive to women, a magnificent swimmer, a good tennis player and accomplished dancer. His wife I