GEOFFREY RAYMOND
It seemed to me that we had now exhausted the topic. Caroline thought otherwise.
"Aren't you going across?"
"Across where?"
"To The Larches, of course."
"My dear Caroline," I said, "what for?"
"Mr. Raymond wanted to see him very particularly," said Caroline. "You might hear what it's all about."
I raised my eyebrows.
"Curiosity is not my besetting sin," I remarked coldly. "I can exist comfortably without knowing exactly what my neighbors are doing and thinking."
"Stuff and nonsense, James," said my sister. "You want to know just as much as I do. You're not so honest, that's all. You always have to pretend."
"Really, Caroline," I said, and retired into my surgery.
Ten minutes later Caroline tapped at the door and entered. In her hand she held what seemed to be a pot of jam.
"I wonder, James," she said, "if you would mind taking this pot of medlar jelly across to M. Poirot? I promised it to him. He has never tasted any home-made medlar jelly."
"Why can't Annie go?"' I asked coldly.
"She's doing some mending. I can't spare her."
Caroline and I looked at each other.
"Very well," I said, rising. "But if I take the beastly thing, I shall just leave it at the door. You understand that?"
[179]
