Evil Under the Sun Read Online Free Page A

and lit one of those tiny cigarettes which it was his affection to smoke.
    Regarding the ascending haze with a quizzical eye, he murmured:
    â€œSo Mr.—no, Captain Marshall is an old friend of yours, Mademoiselle?”
    Rosamund sat up. She said:
    â€œNow how do you know that? Oh, I suppose Ken told you.”
    Poirot shook his head.
    â€œNobody has told me anything. After all, Mademoiselle, I am a detective. It was the obvious conclusion to draw.”
    Rosamund Darnley said: “I don’t see it.”
    â€œBut consider!” The little man’s hands were eloquent. “You have been here a week. You are lively, gay, without a care. Today, suddenly, you speak of ghosts, of old times. What has happened? For several days there have been no new arrivals until last night when Captain Marshall and his wife and daughter arrive. Today the change! It is obvious!”
    Rosamund Darnley said:
    â€œWell, it’s true enough. Kenneth Marshall and I were more or less children together. The Marshalls lived next door to us. Ken was always nice to me—although condescending, of course, since he was four years older. I’ve not seen anything of him for a long time. It must be—fifteen years at least.”
    Poirot said thoughtfully:
    â€œA long time.”
    Rosamund nodded.
    There was a pause and then Hercule Poirot said:
    â€œHe is sympathetic, yes?”
    Rosamund said warmly:
    â€œKen’s a dear. One of the best. Frightfully quiet and reserved. I’d say his only fault is a penchant for making unfortunate marriages.”
    Poirot said in a tone of great understanding: “Ah—”
    Rosamund Darnley went on.
    â€œKenneth’s a fool—an utter fool where women are concerned! Do you remember the Martingdale case?”
    Poirot frowned.
    â€œMartingdale? Martingdale? Arsenic, was it not?”
    â€œYes. Seventeen or eighteen years ago. The woman was tried for the murder of her husband.”
    â€œAnd he was proved to have been an arsenic eater and she was acquitted?”
    â€œThat’s right. Well, after her acquittal, Ken married her. That’s the sort of damn silly thing he does.”
    Hercule Poirot murmured:
    â€œBut if she was innocent?”
    Rosamund Darnley said impatiently:
    â€œOh, I dare say she was innocent. Nobody really knows! But there are plenty of women to marry in the world without going out of your way to marry one who’s stood her trial for murder.”
    Poirot said nothing. Perhaps he knew that if he kept silence Rosamund Darnley would go on. She did so.
    â€œHe was very young, of course, only just twenty-one. He wascrazy about her. She died when Linda was born—a year after their marriage. I believe Ken was terribly cut up by her death. Afterwards he racketed around a lot—trying to forget, I suppose.”
    She paused.
    â€œAnd then came this business of Arlena Stuart. She was in Revue at the time. There was the Codrington divorce case. Lady Codrington divorced Codrington, citing Arlena Stuart. They say Lord Codrington was absolutely infatuated with her. It was understood they were to be married as soon as the decree was made absolute. Actually, when it came to it, he didn’t marry her. Turned her down flat. I believe she actually sued him for breach of promise. Anyway, the thing made a big stir at the time. The next thing that happens is that Ken goes and marries her. The fool—the complete fool!”
    Hercule Poirot murmured:
    â€œA man might be excused such a folly—she is beautiful, Mademoiselle.”
    â€œYes, there’s no doubt of that. There was another scandal about three years ago. Old Sir Roger Erskine left her every penny of his money. I should have thought that would have opened Ken’s eyes if anything would.”
    â€œAnd did it not?”
    Rosamund Darnley shrugged her shoulders.
    â€œI tell you I’ve seen nothing of him for years. People say, though, that he took it with