"Aha!" said Poirot. "You take the holiday; that is it, yes?"
"Er - yes."
"Very well, Monsieur Fanthorp. Will you give me a brief account of your own movements last night after the events we have just been narrating?"
"I went straight to bed."
"That was at -?"
"Just after half past twelve."
"Your cabin is number twenty-two on the starboard side - the one nearest the saloon?"
"Yes."
"I will ask you one more question. Did you hear anything - anything at all - after you went to your cabin?"
Fanthorp considered.
"I turned in very quickly. I think I heard a kind of splash just as I was dropping off to sleep. Nothing else."
"You heard a kind of splash? Near at hand?"
Fanthorp shook his head.
"Really, I couldn't say. I was half asleep."
"And what time would that be?"
"It might have been about one o'clock. I can't really say."
"Thank you, Monsieur Fanthorp. That is all."
Poirot turned his attention to Cornelia.
"And now, Mademoiselle Robson? Your full name?"
"Cornelia Ruth. And my address is The Red House, Bellfield, Connecticut."
"What brought you to Egypt?"
"Cousin Marie, Miss Van Schuyler, brought me along on a trip."
"Had you ever met Madame Doyle previous to this journey?"
"No, never."
"And what did you do last night?"
"I went right to bed after helping Dr Bessner with Mr Doyle's leg."
"Your cabin is -?"
"Forty-three on the port side - right next door to Miss de Bellefort."
"And did you hear anything?"
Cornelia shook her head.
"I didn't hear a thing."
"No splash?"
"No, but then I wouldn't, because the boat's against the bank on my side."
Poirot nodded.
"Thank you, Mademoiselle Robson. Now perhaps you will be so kind as to ask Mademoiselle Bowers to come here."
Fanthorp and Cornelia went out.
"That seems clear enough," said Race. "Unless three independent witnesses are lying, Jacqueline de Bellefort couldn't have got hold of the pistol. But somebody did. And somebody overheard the scene. And somebody was bold enough to write a big J on the wall."
There was a tap on the door and Miss Bowers entered. The hospital nurse sat down in her usual composed, efficient manner. In answer to Poirot she gave her name, address, and qualifications, adding, "I've been looking after Miss Van Schuyler for over two years now."
"Is Mademoiselle Van Schuyler's health very bad?"
"Why, no, I wouldn't say that," replied Miss Bowers. "She's not very young, and she's nervous about herself, and she likes to have a nurse around handy. There's nothing serious the matter with her. She just likes plenty of attention, and she's willing to pay for it."
Poirot nodded comprehendingly. Then he said, "I understand that Mademoiselle Robson fetched you last night?"
"Why, yes, that's so."
"Will you tell me exactly what happened?"
"Well, Miss Robson just gave me a brief outline of what had occurred, and I came along with her. I found Miss de Bellefort in a very excited, hysterical condition."
"Did she utter any threats against Madame Doyle?"
"No, nothing of that kind. She was in a condition of morbid self-reproach. She'd taken a good deal of alcohol, I should say, and she was suffering from reaction. I didn't think she ought to be left. I gave her a shot of morphia and sat up with her."
"Now, Mademoiselle Bowers, I want you to answer this. Did Mademoiselle de Bellefort leave her cabin at all?"
"No, she did not."
"And you yourself?"
"I stayed with her until early this morning."
