"Thepointis-howarewegoingtogetin?"saidMildred.

Shewasasensiblegirl,whokepttothepoint,butshewasnotnearlysoattractiveastheimpulsiveandtroublesomePat.

Allfourofthemregardedthecloseddoorblankly.

"Couldn"ttheporterhelp?"suggestedJimmy."Hasn"thegotamasterkeyorsomethingofthatkind?"

Patshookherhead.Therewereonlytwokeys.Onewasinsidetheflathungupinthekitchenandtheotherwas-orshouldbeinthemalignedbag.

"Ifonlytheflatwereonthegroundfloor,"wailedPat."Wecouldhavebrokenopenawindoworsomething.Donovan,youwouldn"tliketobeacatburglar,wouldyou?"

Donovandeclinedfirmlybutpolitelytobeacatburglar.

"Aflatonthefourthfloorisabitofanundertaking,"saidJimmy.

"Howaboutafire-escape?"suggestedDonovan.

"Thereisn"tone."

"Thereshouldbe,"saidJimmy."Abuildingfivestoreyshighoughttohaveafireescape."

"Idaresay,"saidPat."Butwhatshouldbedoesn"thelpus.HowamIevertogetintomyflat?"

"Isn"tthereasortofthingummybob?"saidDonovan."Athingthetradesmensendupchopsandbrusselssproutsin?"

"Theservicelift,"saidPat."Ohyes,but.i.t"sonlyasortofwire-basketthing.Oh!wait-Iknow.Whataboutthecoallift?"

"Nowthat,"saidDonovan,"isanidea."

Mildredmadeadiscouragingsuggestion."It"llbebolted,"shesaid."InPat"skitchen,Imean,ontheinside."

b.u.t.theideawasinstantlynegatived.

"Don"tyoubelieveit,"saidDonovan.

"NotinPat"skitchen,"saidJimmy."Patneverlocksandboltsthings."

"Idon"tthinkit"sbolted,"saidPat."Itookthedustbinoffthismorning,andI"msureIneverbolteditafterwards,andIdon"tthinkI"vebeennearitsince."

"Well,"saidDonovan,"thatfact"sgoingtobeveryusefultoustonight,but,allthesame,youngPat,letmepointouttoyouthattheseslackhabitsareleavingyouatthemercyofburglars-non-feline-everynight."

Patdisregardedtheseadmonitions.

"Comeon,"shecried,andbeganracingdownthefourflightsofstairs.Theothersfollowedher.Patledthemthroughadarkrecess,apparentlyfulltooverflowingofperambulators,andthroughanotherdoorintothewelloftheflats,andguidedthemtotherightlift.Therewas,atthemoment,adustbinonit.Donovanlifteditoffandsteppedgingerlyontotheplatforminitsplace.Hewrinkleduphisnose.

"Alittlenoisome,"heremarked."Butwhatofthat?DoIgoaloneonthisventureorisanyonecomingwithme?"

"I"llcome,too,"saidJimmy.

HesteppedonbyDonovan"sside.

"Isupposetheliftwillbearme,"headdeddoubtfully.

"Youcan"tweighmuchmorethanatonofcoal,"saidPat,whohadneverbeenparticularlystrongonherweights-and-measurestable.

"And,anyway,weshallsoonfindout,"saidDonovancheerfully,ashehauledontherope.

Withagrindingnoisetheydisappearedfromsight.

"Thisthingmakesanawfulnoise,"remarkedJimmy,astheypa.s.sedupthroughblackness."Whatwillthepeopleintheotherflatsthink?"

"Ghostsorburglars,Iexpect,"saidDonovan."Haulingthisropeisquiteheavywork.TheporterofFriarsMansionsdoesmoreworkthanIeversuspected.Isay,Jimmy,oldson,areyoucountingthefloors?"

"Oh,Lord!No.Iforgotabout.i.t."

"Well,Ihave,whichisjustaswell.That"sthethirdwe"repa.s.singnow.Thenextisours."

"Andnow,Isuppose,"grumbledJimmy,"weshallfindthatPatdidboltthedoorafterall."

b.u.t.thesefearswereunfounded.Thewoodendoorswungbackatatouch,andDonovanandJimmysteppedoutintotheinkyblacknessofPat"skitchen.

"Weoughttohaveatorchforthiswildnightwork,"explainedDonovan."IfIknowPat,everything"sonthefloor,andweshallsmashendlesscrockerybeforeIcangettothelightswitch.Don"tmoveabout,Jimmy,tillIgetthelighton."

Hefelthiswaycautiouslyoverthefloor,utteringonefervent"d.a.m.n!"asacornerofthekitchentabletookhimunawaresintheribs.Hereachedtheswitch,andinanothermomentanother"d.a.m.n!"floatedoutofthedarkness.

"What"sthematter?"askedJimmy.

"Lightwon"tcomeon.Dudbulb,Isuppose.Waitaminute.I"llturnthesitting-roomlighton."

Thesitting-roomwasthedoorimmediatelyacrossthepa.s.sage.JimmyheardDonovangooutofthedoor,andpresentlyfreshm.u.f.fledcursesreachedhim.Hehimselfedgedhiswaycautiouslyacrossthekitchen.

"What"sthematter?"

"Idon"tknow.Roomsgetbewitchedatnight,Ibelieve.Everythingseemstobeinadifferentplace.Chairsandtableswhereyouleastexpectedthem.Oh,h.e.l.l!Here"sanother!"

ButatthismomentJimmyfortunatelyconnectedwiththeelectric-lightswitchandpresseditdown.Inanotherminutetwoyoungmenwerelookingateachotherinsilenthorror.

ThisroomwasnotPat"ssitting-room.Theywereinthewrongflat.

Tobeginwith,theroomwasabouttentimesmorecrowdedthanPat"s,whichexplainedDonovan"spatheticbewildermentatrepeatedlycannoningintochairsandtables.Therewasalargeroundtableinthecentreoftheroomcoveredwithabaizecloth,andtherewasanaspidistrainthewindow.Itwas,infact,thekindofroomwhoseowner,theyoungmenfeltsure,wouldbedifficulttoexplainto.Withsilenthorrortheygazeddownatthetable,onwhichlayalittlepileofletters.

"MrsErnestineGrant,"breathedDonovan,pickingthemupandreadingthename."Oh,help!Doyouthinkshe"sheardus?"

"It"samiracleshehasn"theardyou,"saidJimmy."Whatwithyourlanguageandthewayyou"vebeencrashingintothefurniture.Comeon,fortheLord"ssake,let"sgetoutofherequickly."

Theyhastilyswitchedoffthelightandretracedtheirstepsontiptoetothelift.Jimmybreathedasighofreliefastheyregainedthefastnessofitsdepthswithoutfurtherincident.

"Idolikeawomantobeagood,soundsleeper,"hesaidapprovingly."MrsErnestineGranthasherpoints."

"Iseeitnow,"saidDonovan;"whywemadethemistakeinthefloor,Imean.Outinthatwellwestartedupfromthebas.e.m.e.nt."Heheavedontherope,andtheliftshotup."We"rerightthistime."

"Idevoutlytrustweare,"saidJimmyashesteppedoutintoanotherinkyvoid."Mynerveswon"tstandmanymoreshocksofthiskind."

Butnofurthernervestrainwasimposed.ThefirstclickofthelightshowedthemPat"skitchen,andinanotherminutetheywereopeningthefrontdoorandadmittingthetwogirlswhowerewaitingoutside.

"Youhavebeenalongtime,"grumbledPat."MildredandIhavebeenwaitinghereages."

"We"vehadanadventure,"saidDonovan."Wemighthavebeenhauledofftothepolice-stationasdangerousmalefactors."

Pathadpa.s.sedonintothesitting-room,wheresheswitchedonthelightanddroppedherwraponthesofa.ShelistenedwithlivelyinteresttoDonovan"saccountofhisadventures.

"I"mgladshedidn"tcatchyou,"shecommented."I"msureshe"sanoldcurmudgeon.Igotanotefromherthismorning-wantedtoseemesometime-somethingshehadtocomplainabout-mypiano,Isuppose.Peoplewhodon"tlikepianosovertheirheadsshouldn"tcomeandliveinflats.Isay,Donovan,you"vehurtyourhand.It"salloverblood.Goandwas.h.i.tunderthetap."

Donovanlookeddownathishandinsurprise.HewentoutoftheroomobedientlyandpresentlyhisvoicecalledtoJimmy.

"Hullo,"saidtheother,"what"sup?Youhaven"thurtyourselfbadly,haveyou?"

"Ihaven"thurtmyselfatall."

Therewa.s.somethingsoqueerinDonovan"svoicethatJimmystaredathiminsurprise.DonovanheldouthiswashedhandandJimmysawthattherewasnomarkorcutofanykindonit.

"That"sodd,"hesaid,frowning."Therewasquitealotofblood.Wherediditcomefrom?"Andthensuddenlyherealizedwhathisquicker-wittedfriendhadalreadyseen."ByJove,"hesaid."Itmusthavecomefromthatflat."Hestopped,thinkingoverthepossibilitieshiswordsimplied."You"resureitwas-er-blood?"hesaid."Notpaint?"

Donovanshookhishead."Itwasblood,allright,"hesaid,andshivered.

Theylookedateachother.Thesamethoughtwasclearlyineachoftheirminds.ItwasJimmywhovoiceditfirst.

"Isay,"hesaidawkwardly."Doyouthinkweoughtto-wellG.o.downagain-andhave-a-alookaround?Seeit"sallright,youknow?"

"Whataboutthegirls?"

"Wewon"tsayanythingtothem.Pat"sgoingtoputonanap.r.o.nandmakeusanomelette.We"llbebackbythetimetheywonderwhereweare."

"Oh,well,comeon,"saidDonovan."Isupposewe"vegottogothroughwithit.Idaresaythereisn"tanythingreallywrong."Buthistonelackedconviction.Theygotintotheliftanddescendedtothefloorbelow.Theyfoundtheirwayacrossthekitchenwithoutmuchdifficultyandoncemoreswitchedonthesitting-roomlight.

"Itmusthavebeeninhere,"saidDonovan,"that-thatIgotthestuffonme.Inevertouchedanythinginthekitchen."

Helookedroundhim.Jimmydidthesame,andtheybothfrowned.Everythinglookedneatandcommonplaceandmilesremovedfromanysuggestionofviolenceorgore.

SuddenlyJimmystartedviolentlyandcaughthiscompanion"sarm.

"Look!"

Donovanfollowedthepointingfinger,andinhisturnutteredanexclamation.Frombeneaththeheavyrepcurtainsthereprotrudedafoot-awoman"sfootinagapingpatent-leathershoe.

Jimmywenttothecurtainsanddrewthemsharplyapart.Intherecessofthewindowawoman"shuddledbodylayonthefloor,astickydarkpoolbesideit.Shewasdead,therewasnodoubtofthat.JimmywasattemptingtoraiseherupwhenDonovanstoppedhim.

"You"dbetternotdothat.Sheoughtn"ttobetouchedtillthepolicecome."

"Thepolice.Oh,ofcourse.Isay,Donovan,whataghastlybusiness.Whodoyouthinksheis?MrsErnestineGrant?"

"Lookslikeit.Atanyrate,ifthere"sanyoneelseintheflatthey"rekeepingjollyquiet."

"Whatdowedonext?"askedJimmy."RunoutandgetapolicemanorringupfromPat"sflat?"

"Ishouldthinkringingupwouldbebest.Comeon,wemightaswellgooutthefrontdoor.Wecan"tspendthewholenightgoingupanddowninthatevil-smellinglift."

Jimmyagreed.Justastheywerepa.s.singthroughthedoorhehesitated."Lookhere;doyouthinkoneofusoughttostay-justtokeepaneyeonthings-tillthepolicecome?"

"Yes,Ithinkyou"reright.Ifyou"llstayI"llrunupandtelephone."

Heranquicklyupthestairsandrangthebelloftheflatabove.Patcametoopenit,averyprettyPatwithaflushedfaceandacookingap.r.o.non.Hereyeswidenedinsurprise.

"You?Buthow-Donovan,whatisit?Isanythingthematter?"

Hetookbothherhandsinhis."It"sallright,Pat-onlywe"vemaderatheranunpleasantdiscoveryintheflatbelow.Awoman-dead."

"Oh!"Shegavealittlegasp."Howhorrible.Ha.s.shehadafitorsomething?"

"No.Itlooks-well-itlooksratherasthoughshehadbeenmurdered."

"Oh,Donovan!"

"Iknow.It"sprettybeastly."

Herhandswerestillinhis.Shehadleftthemthere-wasevenclingingtohim.DarlingPat-howhelovedher.Didshecareatallforhim?Sometimeshethoughtshedid.SometimeshewasafraidthatJimmyFaulkener-remembrancesofJimmywaitingpatientlybelowmadehimstartguiltily.

"Pat,dear,wemusttelephonetothepolice."

"Monsieurisright,"saidavoicebehindhim."Andinthemeantime,whilewearewaitingtheirarrival,perhapsIcanbeofsomeslighta.s.sistance."

Theyhadbeenstandinginthedoorwayoftheflat,andnowtheypeeredoutontothelanding.Afigurewa.s.standingonthestairsalittlewayabovethem.Itmoveddownandintotheirrangeofvision.

Theystoodstaringatalittlemanwithaveryfiercemoustacheandanegg-shapedhead.Heworearesplendentdressing-gownandembroideredslippers.HebowedgallantlytoPatricia.

"Mademoiselle!"hesaid."Iam,asperhapsyouknow,thetenantoftheflatabove.Iliketobeuphigh-theair-theviewoverLondon.ItaketheflatinthenameofMrO"Connor.ButIamnotanIrishman.Ihaveanothername.ThatiswhyIventuretoputmyselfatyourservice.Permitme."WithaflourishhepulledoutacardandhandedittoPat.Shereadit.

"M.HerculePoirot.Oh!"Shecaughtherbreath."TheM.Poirot!Thegreatdetective?Andyouwillreallyhelp?"

"Thatismyintention,mademoiselle.Inearlyofferedmyhelpearlierintheevening."

Patlookedpuzzled.

"Iheardyoudiscussinghowtogainadmissiontoyourflat.Me,Iamverycleveratpickinglocks.Icould,withoutdoubt,haveopenedyourdoorforyou,butIhesitatedtosuggest.i.t.Youwouldhavehadthegravesuspicionsofme."

Patlaughed.

"Now,monsieur,"saidPoirottoDonovan."Goin,Iprayofyou,andtelephonetothepolice.Iwilldescendtotheflatbelow."

© 2024 www.topnovel.cc