Chapter 21 21

They used to work in two places separately, I know.Poirot paused to speak. Mr. Rhett took the picture in the outer part of the big excavation site.Not far from us was another group of people walking around with baskets on their backs. That was what they called the Pit, and I explained to him that they hadn't found much there, except some rubbish shards of pottery.But Dr Leidner said it was interesting.So I figured it must be interesting. let's go over there. We walked there together, walking very slowly, because it was the time when the sun was scorching. Mr. McGado was there to direct.We see him down below, talking to the foreman.The foreman was an old man who looked like a turtle, with a tweed coat over his long striped cloth robe.

It's a bit difficult to walk down to them because there's only one narrow path, or ladder, so to speak.The workers who carried the baskets were constantly going up and down.They're always blind as bats and never think to get out of your way. As I followed Poirot down, he turned suddenly and said: Does Mr. Mercado write with his right hand or with his left? Ask this now!This is really a unique problem. I thought for a moment, and then said with certainty: right hand. Poirot would not explain in detail.He just kept going.I follow behind. There was a smile on his elongated, sad face.

M. Poirot pretends to be interested in archaeology, but I don't believe he is really interested.However, Mr. McGado reacted immediately. He explained to us that they had already dug twelve mold holes in the place occupied by the old house. We must now be digging into the fourth millenium.he said eagerly. I have always thought that the millenium (the millennium of Christ’s second coming to the world, see Chapter 20 of the Bible’s Revelation, and the translator’s note to verse 17) is something in the future, and it refers to the time when the world will be peaceful. Mr. McGado pointed out the area with the skeletons (how his hands were shaking! wondered if he might have had malaria).And then he said how the nature of the pottery would change, and about the graves And they dug a mold pit, and it was a baby grave, and the poor little baby talked about some curved topography and orientation there, that seemed to show The location of the skeleton.

Then, all of a sudden, just as we were stooping to pick up some flint knives or something that was in a corner with some clay pots, he jumped up with a wild cry. He turned around sharply and found that Poirot and I were staring at him in astonishment. He patted his left arm lightly with his hand. Something pricked me like a hot needle prick. This event immediately set Poirot on fire. Come on, Miss Nurse, let's see, Nurse Leatheran! I rushed to the front.He took Mr. McGado by the arm and rolled his khaki shirt sleeves up to his shoulders with great skill. There, Mr. McGadoo pointed.

About three inches below the shoulder there was a tiny hole from which blood was oozing. Strange, said Poirot.He looked inside the rolled-up sleeves, but I couldn't see anything.Maybe it was an ant bite? Rub some iodine is better.I said. I always carry a small tube of iodine with me, so I quickly took it out and rubbed it for him.But as I did so, I was a little absent-minded, and something quite different caught my attention.Mr. McGado's arm has a series of small holes from wrist to elbow.I know exactly what a scar that is is a hypodermic needle scar. Mr. McGado rolled down his rolled-up sleeves and resumed his explanation.M. Poirot listened to his explanation, but did not turn the conversation to the Leidners.In fact he didn't ask Mr. McGado at all.

Before long we said good-bye to Mr. McGado and climbed up the path again. That's neat and clean, don't you think?my companion asked. Clean and tidy?I asked. Mr. Poirot took something out of the lapel of his coat, and examined it carefully.I saw it was a long sewing needle.One end of the needle was dripped with wax, and it became a big needle.The result amazed me. Monsieur Poirot, I cried, what have you done? I'm the stinging bug, right.I did it cleanly.Do you think so?You didn't see me do that. That is true.I didn't see him do that.And I'm sure Mr. McGado didn't think so either.He must have been as fast as lightning.

But, M. Poirot, why? He answered me with another question. Nurse, did you notice anything? I nodded slowly. Scars from hypodermic injections.I said. So, now we know one thing about Mr. McGado.Poirot said, I once suspected but, I don't know.Knowing the truth is always very necessary. Well, what means to proceed with, you don't care!I thought so, but didn't say it. Poirot suddenly patted his pocket with his hand. Oops!I dropped my handkerchief underneath.I use it to hide needles. I'll get it back for you.I said, and hurried back. You know, by this time, I have a feeling.It seemed to me that Poirot and I were physicians and nurses in charge of treating a patient.At least, more like an operation.He is the surgeon.Maybe I shouldn't say that.But, strangely enough, I started to have a lot of fun.

I remember just after my nursing training, I went to a private house to take care of a patient.Of course, it was discovered that an operation must be performed immediately.But the patient's husband has a strange temperament and has a bad impression of the hospital.He refused to send his wife to the hospital no matter what.He said that the operation must be performed at home. So, of course, that was a great opportunity for me.There was no one else to take a second look at.I am in charge of preparing everything.Of course, I'm nervous about everything the doctor needs, as far as imaginable, I've got it all ready.However, even so, I am still afraid of forgetting to prepare something.The case of physicians is difficult to say.Sometimes they will ask you to prepare everything.But everything is fine.I have everything he asks for.After the surgery, he also told me

: My service is top notch and it's something most physicians find troublesome.That G. p. (General Practitioner) is also very good.All this is done with my help. The patient also recovered, so everyone was happy. Ah, I feel somewhat the same now.From a point of view, M. Poirot reminds me of the surgeon.He is also a short man.An ugly little old man with a monkey face, but he was a good surgeon.He instinctively knew where to start.I've seen quite a few surgeons, and I know how different they are. Gradually I developed confidence in M. Poirot.I sensed that he also knew exactly what to do.I gradually felt that my responsibility was to help him, as we often say, keep tweezers and medical swabs at hand, and he has what he needs whenever he needs it.Running to find him a handkerchief felt as natural to me as picking up a towel thrown on the floor by a physician.That's why.

When I came back from finding the handkerchief, I couldn't see him at first.But, finally, I saw him.He was sitting in a place not far from the excavation site.Talking to Mr. Jaley.Mr. Jaley's workmen stood nearby, holding what looked like a large pole with degrees engraved on it.But, at that moment, he said something to the worker, and the man took it away.It seems that he has already used it up, so he doesn't use it for the time being. Now I want to make the following point clear.You know, I'm not quite sure what M. Poirot really wants me to do, or doesn't want me to do.I mean he probably just sent me back on purpose to find that handkerchief.He was trying to drive me away.

This is like a surgery again.You have to give the physician exactly what he needs, not what he doesn't need.I mean, suppose you handed him the arterial forceps at the wrong time, but, when he needed it, you handed it too late.Thank goodness I'm familiar with what to do in the operating room.I'm unlikely to make a mistake there.However, to do this kind of thing, I became the most inexperienced little apprentice.Therefore, I had to be extremely careful not to make mistakes. Of course, it did not occur to me that Mr. Poirot did not want me to hear what he had to say to Mr. Garrett.But he probably thought he might be able to make Mr. Garrett talk better if I wasn't there. Now I don't want anyone to get the idea that I'm one of those women who likes to eavesdrop on private conversations.I don't do anything like that.Not for a minute.No matter how much you want to hear it, you won't! I mean, if it was a private conversation, I would never listen to it.But in fact I did hear it. In my opinion, I am in a privileged position.When a patient wakes up from an anesthesia, you will hear a lot of what he has to say.The patient doesn't want you to hear and usually doesn't know you've heard but, in fact, you still can.I just think Mr. Jaley is that patient.He was ignorant of the matter, so he was not affected in any way.If you think I'm curious, well, I'll admit, I am.I don't want to miss a single thing I can hear. I mentioned all this to illustrate the fact that I turned around and walked behind the huge pile of garbage until I was within a foot of their conversation and hid in the corner of the pile.If someone says it's a mean thing, I'm sorry, I don't think so.Nurses who are responsible for the care of patients should have nothing to hide.But, of course, only the doctor has the right to say what should be done. Of course, I don't know what method M. Poirot used to conduct his interviews, but, by the time I got there, he was, so to speak, aiming for the bull's-eye. No one knows Dr. Leidner's love for his wife better than I do.He's saying, but, what do we know about a person?Often more is known from his enemies than from his friends. Are you implying that their faults are more important than their merits?said Mr. Jaley.His tone was cold and ironic. Unquestionable homicides are just that.This seems very strange.As far as I know the situation.Not a single person has yet been victimized by being too perfect of character.But there is no doubt that a man of perfect character is enviable. If you want me to help you, I'm afraid you have found the wrong person.Mr. Jaley said, to tell you the truth.Leidner and I didn't get on particularly well.I'm not saying we're enemies, but, we're not exactly friends.Perhaps Mrs. Leidner was very jealous of my old acquaintance with her husband.For my part, I admired her very much, and thought she was a very attractive woman.But because of how much influence she has on Leidner, I have a little bit of resentment.Therefore, we are very polite to each other, but not close. Very well explained.said Poirot. I can see their heads clearly.I saw Mr. Garrett turn his head suddenly, as if something in Mr. Poirot's detached tone displeased him. Mr. Poirot went on: Is Dr. Leidner troubled by your incompatibility with his wife? Jia Lei hesitated for a moment and said: To be honest, I'm not sure.He didn't mention anything.I always hoped he didn't notice the situation.He's stuck in his work all day, you know. So, according to you, is it really the case that you really don't like Mrs. Leidner? Mr. Jaley shrugged. If she hadn't been Leidner's wife, I might have liked her a lot. He laughed, as if he thought his own words were ridiculous. Poirot was arranging a small pile of pottery shards.Then, in a dreamy, absent tone, he said: I spoke to Miss Johnson this morning.He admitted that she had a prejudice against Mrs. Leidner and did not like her very much.But she hastened to add that she had always found Mrs. Leidner attractive. I think she's quite right.Jaley said. So, I trust her.Later I talked to Mrs. McGado.She told me at length that she liked and admired Mrs. Leidner. Jaley didn't respond to this.Poirot waited two minutes before continuing. I don't believe that.So, I come to talk to you.Well, I don't believe what you told me. Jia Lei suddenly became stubborn.I could hear him angry and there was pent-up anger in his voice. No matter what you believe or don't believe, I really can't help you.I've told you the truth, believe it or not. Poirot was not angry.Instead, his words sounded particularly gentle and humble. Is it my fault that whatever I believe, or don't believe?You know, I have sensitive ears.And there will always be rumors spread by legends that will spread like wildfire.We'll listen maybe, we'll know something!Yes, there are indeed some legends. Jaley jumped up.I could see clearly, the veins in his temples twitching.He looks great like that!So thin, so brown, and that wonderful jaw, strong and square.No wonder women are obsessed with him. What legend?he asked aggressively. Poirot squinted at him. Maybe you can guess it.There are frequent legends about you and Mrs. Leidner. How sinister is the human heart! isn't it?People are like dogs.An unpleasant secret No matter how deep you bury it, dogs will always dig it up again. So do you believe these legends? I want to believe the truth.Poirot said seriously. I doubt if you would believe the truth if you heard it.Jia Lei laughed unceremoniously. If you try me, you will know.said Poirot, watching his reaction at the same time. Well, I'm going to give it a try!I can tell you the truth!I hate Louise.Leidner, this is telling you the truth!I hate her to the bone!