Evil Under the Sun Read Free

thing, Mademoiselle.”
    â€œHuman nature, I suppose?”
    â€œThat, yes. That, always. But that was not what I was going to say. I was going to point out to you that here everyone is on holiday.”
    Emily Brewster turned a puzzled face to him.
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    Hercule Poirot beamed kindly at her. He made dabs in the air with an emphatic forefinger.
    â€œLet us say, you have an enemy. If you seek him out in his flat, in his office, in the street— eh bien, you must have a reason —you must account for yourself. But here at the seaside it is necessary for no one to account for himself. You are at Leathercombe Bay, why? Parbleu! it is August—one goes to the seaside in August—one is on one’s holiday. It is quite natural, you see, for you to be here and for Mr. Lane to be here and for Major Barry to be here and for Mrs. Redfern and her husband to be here. Because it is the custom in England to go to the seaside in August.”
    â€œWell,” admitted Miss Brewster, “that’s certainly a very ingenious idea. But what about the Gardeners? They’re American.”
    Poirot smiled.
    â€œEven Mrs. Gardener, as she told us, feels the need to relax. Also, since she is ‘doing’ England, she must certainly spend a fortnight at the seaside—as a good tourist, if nothing else. She enjoys watching people.”
    Mrs. Redfern murmured:
    â€œYou like watching the people too, I think?”
    â€œMadame, I will confess it. I do.”
    She said thoughtfully: “You see—a good deal.”
    IV
    There was a pause. Stephen Lane cleared his throat and said with a trace of self-consciousness.
    â€œI was interested, M. Poirot, in something you said just now. You said that there was evil done everywhere under the sun. It was almost a quotation from Ecclesiastes.” He paused and then quoted himself: “Yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live.” His face lit up with an almost fanatical light. “I was glad to hear you say that. Nowadays, no one believes in evil. It is considered, at most, a mere negation of good. Evil, people say, is done by those who know no better—who are undeveloped—who are to be pitied rather than blamed. But M. Poirot, evil is real! It is a fact! I believe in Evil like I believe in Good. It exists! It is powerful! It walks the earth!”
    He stopped. His breath was coming fast. He wiped his forehead with his handkerchief and looked suddenly apologetic.
    â€œI’m sorry. I got carried away.”
    Poirot said calmly:
    â€œI understand your meaning. Up to a point I agree with you. Evil does walk the earth and can be recognized as such.”
    Major Barry cleared his throat.
    â€œTalking of that sort of thing, some of these fakir fellers in India—”
    Major Barry had been long enough at the Jolly Roger for everyone to be on their guard against his fatal tendency to embark on long Indian stories. Both Miss Brewster and Mrs. Redfern burst into speech.
    â€œThat’s your husband swimming in now, isn’t it, Mrs. Redfern? How magnificent his crawl stroke is. He’s an awfully good swimmer.”
    At the same moment Mrs. Redfern said:
    â€œOh look! What a lovely little boat that is out there with the red sails. It’s Mr. Blatt’s, isn’t it?”
    The sailing boat with the red sails was just crossing the end of the bay.
    Major Barry grunted:
    â€œFanciful idea, red sails,” but the menace of the story about the fakir was avoided.
    Hercule Poirot looked with appreciation at the young man who had just swum to shore. Patrick Redfern was a good specimen of humanity. Lean, bronzed with broad shoulders and narrow thighs, there was about him a kind of infectious enjoyment and gaiety—a native simplicity that endeared him to all women and most men.
    He stood there shaking the water from him and raising a hand