unfair ['Vn'fE@], permit [p@'mIt], judgment ['dZVdZm@nt]
"You see," said Franklin. "That's how my brother felt to her. He thought of her like a daughter. What I feel so unfair is the fact that the moment my brother is dead, his wife practically turns her out of the house! Women really are devils, M. Poirot."
"Your sister-in-law is ill and in pain, remember."
"I know. That's what I keep saying to myself. One mustn't judge her. All the same, I thought I'd show you this. I don't want you to get a false impression of Thora from anything Lady Clarke may have said."
Poirot returned the letter. "I can assure you," he said, smiling, "that I never permit myself to get false impressions from anything anyone tells me. I form my own judgments."
"Well," said Clarke, stowing away the letter
As we left the room
"Oh, yes. I shouldn't be happy staying here inactive
"There is activity of mind as well as body, Hastings
"Well, you're better at it than I am," I said
"You are incontestably right, Hastings
stow [st@U], incontestably [,Ink@n'tenstIblI], cavalier [,k&v@'lI@]
"Well," said Clarke, stowing away the letter, "I'm glad I showed it to you anyway. Here come the girls. We'd better be off."
As we left the room, Poirot called me back. "You are determined to accompany the expedition, Hastings?"
"Oh, yes. I shouldn't be happy staying here inactive."
"There is activity of mind as well as body, Hastings."
"Well, you're better at it than I am," I said.
"You are incontestably right, Hastings. Am I correct in supposing that you intend to be a cavalier to one of the ladies?"
"That was the idea
"And which lady did you propose to honour with your company
"Well — I — er — hadn't considered yet
"What about Miss Barnard
"She's rather the independent type," I demurred
"Miss Grey
"Yes. She's better
honour ['O:n@], independent [,Ind@'pend@nt], propose [pr@'p@Uz]
"That was the idea."
"And which lady did you propose to honour with your company?"
"Well — I — er — hadn't considered yet."
"What about Miss Barnard?"
"She's rather the independent type," I demurred.
"Miss Grey?"
"Yes. She's better."
"I find you, Hastings
"Oh, really, Poirot
"I am sorry to upset your plans