"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."