"a.s.suredly,"saidPoirot."Thatisthebestthingyoucando.M.Faulkener,attendmeherealittleminute.Iwillreturnontheinstant."

HeaccompaniedDonovantothedoorandbeyond.Theyremainedoutsideonthelandingtalkingforsomeminutes.WhenPoirotatlastre-enteredtheflathefoundJimmystandinginthesitting-roomgazingroundhimwithpuzzledeyes.

"Well,M.Poirot,"hesaid,"whatnext?"

"Thereisnothingnext.Thecaseisfinished."

"What?"

"Iknoweverything-now."

Jimmystaredathim."Thatlittlebottleyoufound?"

"Exactly.Thatlittlebottle."

Jimmyshookhishead."Ican"tmakeheadortailofit.ForsomereasonorotherIcanseeyouaredissatisfiedwiththeevidenceagainstthisJohnFraser,whoeverhemaybe."

"Whoeverhemaybe,"repeatedPoirotsoftly."Ifheisanyoneatall-well,Ishallbesurprised."

"Idon"tunderstand."

"Heisaname-thatisall-anamecarefullymarkedonahandkerchief!"

"Andtheletter?"

"Didyounoticethat.i.twasprinted?Now,why?Iwilltellyou.Handwritingmightberecognized,andatypewrittenletterismoreeasilytracedthanyouwouldimagine-butifarealJohnFraserwrotethatletterthosetwopointswouldnothaveappealedtohim!No,itwaswrittenonpurpose,andputinthedeadwoman"spocketforustofind.ThereisnosuchpersonasJohnFraser."

Jimmylookedathiminquiringly.

"Andso,"wentonPoirot,"Iwentbacktothepointthatfirststruckme.Youheardmesaythatcertainthingsinaroomwerealwaysinthesameplaceundergivencirc.u.mstances.Igavethreeinstances.Imighthavementionedafourth-theelectric-lightswitch,myfriend."

Jimmystillstareduncomprehendingly.Poirotwenton.

"YourfriendDonovandidnotgonearthewindow-itwasbyrestinghishandonthistablethathegot.i.tcoveredinblood!ButIaskedmyselfatonce-whydidherest.i.tthere?Whatwashedoinggropingaboutthisroomindarkness?Forremember,myfriend,theelectric-lightswitchisalwaysinthesameplace-bythedoor.Why,whenhecametothisroom,didhenotatoncefeelforthelightandturniton?Thatwasthenatural,thenormalthingtodo.Accordingtohim,hetriedtoturnonthelightinthekitchen,butfailed.YetwhenItriedtheswitchitwasinperfectworkingorder.Didhe,then,notwishthelighttogoonjustthen?Ifithadgoneonyouwouldbothhaveseenatoncethatyouwereinthewrongflat.Therewouldhavebeennoreasontocomeintothisroom."

"Whatareyoudrivingat,M.Poirot?Idon"tunderstand.Whatdoyoumean?"

"Imean-this."

PoirotheldupaYaledoorkey.

"Thekeyofthisflat?"

"No,monami,thekeyoftheflatabove.MademoisellePatricia"skey,whichM.DonovanBaileyabstractedfromherbagsometimeduringtheevening."

"Butwhy-why?"

"Parbleu!Sothathecoulddowhathewantedtodo-gainadmissiontothisflatinaperfectlyunsuspiciousmanner.Hemadesurethattheliftdoorwasunboltedearlierintheevening."

"Wheredidyougetthekey?"

Poirot"ssmilebroadened."Ifounditjustnow-whereIlookedforit-inM.Donovan"spocket.Seeyou,thatlittlebottleIpretendedtofindwasaruse.M.Donovanistakenin.HedoeswhatIknewhewoulddo-unstoppersitandsniffs.Andinthatlittlebottleisethylchloride,averypowerfulinstantanaesthetic.ItgivesmejustthemomentortwoofunconsciousnessIneed.ItakefromhispocketthetwothingsthatIknewwouldbethere.Thiskeywasoneofthem-theother-"

Hestoppedandthenwenton.

"Iquestionedatthetimethereasontheinspectorgaveforthebodybeingconcealedbehindthecurtain.Togaintime?No,therewasmorethanthat.AndsoIthoughtofjustonething-thepost,myfriend.Theeveningpostthatcomesathalfpastnineorthereabouts.Saythemurdererdoesnotfindsomethingheexpectstofind,b.u.t.thatsomethingmaybedeliveredbypostlater.Clearly,then,hemustcomeback.b.u.t.thecrimemustnotbediscoveredbythemaidwhenshecomesin,orthepolicewouldtakepossessionoftheflat,sohehidesthebodybehindthecurtain.Andthemaidsuspectsnothingandlaysthelettersonthetableasusual."

"Theletters?"

"Yes,theletters."Poirotdrewsomethingfromhispocket."ThisisthesecondarticleItookfromM.Donovanwhenhewasunconscious."Heshowedthesuperscription-atypewrittenenvelopeaddressedtoMrsErnestineGrant."ButIwillaskyouonethingfirst,M.Faulkener,beforewelookatthecontentsofthisletter.AreyouorareyounotinlovewithMademoisellePatricia?"

"IcareforPatd.a.m.nably-butI"veneverthoughtIhadachance."

"YouthoughtthatshecaredforM.Donovan?Itmaybethatshehadbeguntocareforhim-but.i.twasonlyabeginning,myfriend.Itisforyoutomakeherforget-tostandbyherinhertrouble."

"Trouble?"saidJimmysharply.

"Yes,trouble.Wewilldoallwecantokeephernameoutofit,but.i.twillbeimpossibletodosoentirely.Shewas,yousee,themotive."

Herippedopentheenvelopethatheheld.Anenclosurefellout.Thecoveringletterwasbrief,andwasfromafirmofsolicitors.

DearMadam, Thedoc.u.mentyouencloseisquiteinorder,andthefactofthemarriagehavingtakenplaceinaforeigncountrydoesnotinvalidateitinanyway.

Yourstruly,etc.

Poirotspreadouttheenclosure.ItwasacertificateofmarriagebetweenDonovanBaileyandErnestineGrant,datedeightyearsgo.

"Oh,myG.o.d!"saidJimmy."Patsaidshe"dhadaletterfromthewomanaskingtoseeher,butsheneverdreameditwasanythingimportant."

Poirotnodded."M.Donovanknew-hewenttoseehiswifethiseveningbeforegoingtotheflatabove-astrangeirony,bytheway,thatledtheunfortunatewomantocometothisbuildingwhereherrivallived-hemurderedherincoldblood,andthenwentontohisevening"samus.e.m.e.nt.Hiswifemusthavetoldhimthatshehadsentthemarriagecertificatetohersolicitorsandwas.e.xpectingtohearfromthem.Doubtlesshehimselfhadtriedtomakeherbelievethattherewasaflawinthemarriage."

"Heseemedinquitegoodspirits,too,alltheevening.M.Poirot,youhaven"tlethimescape?"Jimmyshuddered.

"Thereisnoescapeforhim,"saidPoirotgravely."Youneednotfear."

"It"sPatI"mthinkingaboutmostly,"saidJimmy."Youdon"tthink-shereallycared."

"Monami,thatisyourpart,"saidPoirotgently."Tomakeherturntoyouandforget.Idonotthinkyouwillfinditverydifficult!"

TheAdventureofJohnnieWaverly

"Youcanunderstandthefeelingsofamother,"saidMrsWaverlyforperhapsthesixthtime.

ShelookedappealinglyatPoirot.Mylittlefriend,alwayssympathetictomotherhoodindistress,gesticulatedrea.s.suringly.

"Butyes,butyes,Icomprehendperfectly.HavefaithinPapaPoirot."

"Thepolice-"beganMrWaverly.

Hiswifewavedtheinterruptionaside."Iwon"thaveanythingmoretodowiththepolice.Wetrustedtothemandlookwhathappened!ButI"dheardsomuchofM.Poirotandthewonderfulthingshe"ddone,thatIfelthemightpossiblybeabletohelpus.Amother"sfeelings-"

Poirothastilystemmedthereiterationwithaneloquentgesture.MrsWaverly"semotionwasobviouslygenuine,but.i.ta.s.sortedstrangelywithhershrewd,ratherhardtypeofcountenance.WhenIheardlaterthatshewasthedaughterofaprominentsteelmanufacturerofBirminghamwhohadworkedhiswayupintheworldfromanofficeboytohispresenteminence,Irealizedthatshehadinheritedmanyofthepaternalqualities.

MrWaverlywasabig,florid,jovial-lookingman.Hestoodwithhislegsstraddledwideapartandlookedthetypeofthecountrysquire.

"Isupposeyouknowallaboutthisbusiness,M.Poirot?"

Thequestionwasalmostsuperfluous.ForsomedayspastthepaperhadbeenfullofthesensationalkidnappingoflittleJohnnieWaverly,thethree-year-oldsonandheirofMarcusWaverly,Esq.,ofWaverlyCourt,Surrey,oneoftheoldestfamiliesinEngland.

"ThemainfactsIknow,ofcourse,butrecounttomethewholestory,monsieur,Ibegofyou.Andindetailifyouplease."

"Well,IsupposethebeginningofthewholethingwasabouttendaysagowhenIgotananonymousletter-beastlythings,anyway-thatIcouldn"tmakeheadortailof.ThewriterhadtheimpudencetodemandthatIshouldpayhimtwenty-fivethousandpounds-twenty-fivethousandpounds,M.Poirot!Failingmyagreement,hethreatenedtokidnapJohnnie.OfcourseIthrewthethingintothewastepaperbasketwithoutmoreado.Thought.i.twa.s.somesillyjoke.FivedayslaterIgotanotherletter."Unlessyoupay,yoursonwillbekidnappedonthetwenty-ninth."Thatwasonthetwenty-seventh.Adawasworried,butIcouldn"tbringmyselftotreatthematterseriously.d.a.m.nitall,we"reinEngland.n.o.bodygoesaboutkidnappingchildrenandholdingthemuptoransom."

"Itisnotacommonpractice,certainly,"saidPoirot."Proceed,monsieur."

"Well,Adagavemenopeace,so-feelingabitofafool-IlaidthematterbeforeScotlandYard.Theydidn"tseemtotakethethingveryseriously-inclinedtomyviewthat.i.twa.s.somesillyjoke.Onthetwenty-eighthIgotathirdletter."Youhavenotpaid.Yoursonwillbetakenfromyouattwelveo"clocknoontomorrow,thetwenty-ninth.Itwillcostyoufiftythousandpoundstorecoverhim."UpIdrovetoScotlandYardagain.Thistimetheyweremoreimpressed.Theyinclinedtotheviewthattheletterswerewrittenbyalunatic,andthatinallprobabilityanattemptofsomekindwouldbemadeatthehourstated.Theya.s.suredmethattheywouldtakealldueprecautions.InspectorMcNeilandasufficientforcewouldcomedowntoWaverlyonthemorrowandtakecharge."

"Iwenthomemuchrelievedinmymind.Yetwealreadyhadthefeelingofbeinginastateofsiege.Igaveordersthatnostrangerwastobeadmitted,andthatnoonewastoleavethehouse.Theeveningpa.s.sedoffwithoutanyuntowardincident,butonthefollowingmorningmywifewa.s.seriouslyunwell.Alarmedbyhercondition,IsentforDoctorDakers.Hersymptomsappearedtopuzzlehim.Whilehesitatingtosuggestthatshehadbeenpoisoned,Icouldseethatthatwaswhatwasinhismind.Therewasnodanger,hea.s.suredme,but.i.twouldbeadayortwobeforeshewouldbeabletogetaboutagain.Returningtomyownroom,Iwa.s.startledandamazedtofindanotepinnedtomypillow.Itwasinthesamehandwritingastheothersandcontainedjustthreewords:"Attwelveo"clock"."

"Iadmit,M.Poirot,thatthenIsawred!Someoneinthehousewasinthis-oneoftheservants.Ihadthemallup,blackguardedthemrightandleft.Theyneversplitoneachother;itwasMissCollins,mywife"scompanion,whoinformedmethatshehadseenJohnnie"snurseslipdownthedriveearlythatmorning.Itaxedherwithit,andshebrokedown.Shehadleftthechildwiththenurserymaidandstolenouttomeetafriendofhers-aman!Prettygoingson!Shedeniedhavingpinnedthenotetomypillow-shemayhavebeenspeakingthetruth,Idon"tknow.IfeltIcouldn"ttaketheriskofthechild"sownnursebeingintheplot.Oneoftheservantswasimplicated-ofthatIwa.s.sure.FinallyIlostmytemperandsackedthewholebunch,nurseandall.Igavethemanhourtopacktheirboxesandgetoutofthehouse."

MrWaverly"sredfacewasquitetwoshadesredderasherememberedhisjustwrath.

"Wasnotthatalittleinjudicious,monsieur?"suggestedPoirot."Forallyouknow,youmighthavebeenplayingintotheenemy"shands."

MrWaverlystaredathim."Idon"tseethat.Sendthewholelotpacking,thatwasmyidea.IwiredtoLondonforafreshlottobesentdownthatevening.Inthemeantime,there"dbeonlypeopleIcouldtrustinthehouse:mywife"ssecretary,MissCollins,andTredwell,thebutler,whohasbeenwithmesinceIwasaboy."

"AndthisMissCollins,howlongha.s.shebeenwithyou?"

"Justayear,"saidMrsWaverly."Shehasbeeninvaluabletomeasasecretary-companion,andisalsoaveryefficienthousekeeper."

"Thenurse?"

"Shehasbeenwithmesixmonths.Shecametomewithexcellentreferences.Allthesame,Ineverreallylikedher,althoughJohnniewasquitedevotedtoher."

"Still,Igathershehadalreadyleftwhenthecatastropheoccurred.Perhaps,MonsieurWaverly,youwillbesokindastocontinue."

MrWaverlyresumedhisnarrative.

"InspectorMcNeilarrivedaboutten-thirty.Theservantshadallleftbythen.Hedeclaredhimselfquitesatisfiedwiththeinternalarrangements.Hehadvariousmenpostedintheparkoutside,guardingalltheapproachestothehouse,andhea.s.suredmethatifthewholethingwerenotahoax,weshouldundoubtedlycatchmymysteriouscorrespondent."

"IhadJohnniewithme,andheandIandtheinspectorwenttogetherintoaroomwecallthecouncilchamber.Theinspectorlockedthedoor.Thereisabiggrandfatherclockthere,andasthehandsdrewneartotwelveIdon"tmindconfessingthatIwasasnervousasacat.Therewasawhirringsound,andtheclockbegantostrike.IclutchedJohnnie.Ihadafeelingamanmightdropfromtheskies.Thelaststrokesounded,andasitdidso,therewasagreatcommotionoutside-shoutingandrunning.Theinspectorflungupthewindow,andaconstablecamerunningup."

""We"vegothim,sir,"hepanted."Hewa.s.sneakingupthroughthebushes.He"sgotawholedopeoutfitonhim.""

"Wehurriedoutontheterracewheretwoconstableswereholdingaruffianly-lookingfellowinshabbyclothes,whowastwistingandturninginavainendeavourtoescape.Oneofthepolicemenheldoutanunrolledparcelwhichtheyhadwrestedfromtheircaptive.Itcontainedapadofcottonwoolandabottleofchloroform.Itmademybloodboiltoseeit.Therewasanote,too,addressedtome.Itoreitopen.Itborethefollowingwords:"Youshouldhavepaidup.Toransomyoursonwillnowcostyoufiftythousand.Inspiteofallyourprecautionshehasbeenabductedattwelveo"clockonthetwenty-ninthasIsaid.""

"Igaveagreatlaugh,thelaughofrelief,butasIdidsoIheardthehumofamotorandashout.Iturnedmyhead.Racingdownthedrivetowardsthesouthlodgeatafuriousspeedwasalow,longgreycar.Itwasthemanwhodroveitwhohadshouted,b.u.t.thatwasnotwhatgavemeashockofhorror.ItwasthesightofJohnnie"sflaxencurls.Thechildwasinthecarbesidehim."

"Theinspectorrippedoutanoath."Thechildwasherenotaminuteago,"hecried.Hiseyessweptoverus.Wewereallthere:myself,Tredwell,MissCollins."Whendidyouseehimlast,MrWaverly?""

"Icastmymindback,tryingtoremember.Whentheconstablehadcalledus,Ihadrunoutwiththeinspector,forgettingallaboutJohnnie."

"Andthentherecameasoundthatstartledus,thechimingofachurchclockfromthevillage.Withanexclamationtheinspectorpulledouthiswatch.Itwas.e.xactlytwelveo"clock.Withonecommonaccordwerantothecouncilchamber;theclocktheremarkedthehourastenminutespast.Someonemusthavedeliberatelytamperedwithit,forIhaveneverknownitgainorlosebefore.Itisaperfecttime-keeper."

MrWaverlypaused.Poirotsmiledtohimselfandstraightenedalittlematwhichtheanxiousfatherhadpushedaskew.

"Apleasinglittleproblem,obscureandcharming,"murmuredPoirot."Iwillinvestigateitforyouwithpleasure.Trulyitwasplannedamerveille."

MrsWaverlylookedathimreproachfully."Butmyboy,"shewailed.

Poirothastilycomposedhisfaceandlookedthepictureofearnestsympathyagain."Heissafe,madame,heisunharmed.Resta.s.sured,thesemiscreantswilltakethegreatestcareofhim.Ishenottothemtheturkey-no,thegoose-thatlaysthegoldenegg?"

"M.Poirot,I"msurethere"sonlyonethingtobedone-payup.Iwasallagainst.i.tatfirst-butnow!Amother"sfeelings-"

"Butwehaveinterruptedmonsieurinhishistory,"criedPoirothastily.

"Iexpectyouknowtherestprettywellfromthepapers,"saidMrWaverly."Ofcourse,InspectorMcNeilgotontothetelephoneimmediately.Adescriptionofthecarandthemanwascirculatedallround,anditlookedatfirstasthougheverythingwasgoingtoturnoutallright.Acar,answeringtothedescription,withamanandasmallboy,hadpa.s.sedthroughvariousvillages,apparentlymakingforLondon.Atoneplacetheyhadstopped,anditwasnoticedthatthechildwascryingandobviouslyafraidofhiscompanion.WhenInspectorMcNeilannouncedthatthecarhadbeenstoppedandthemanandboydetained,Iwasalmostillwithrelief.Youknowthesequel.TheboywasnotJohnnie,andthemanwasanardentmotorist,fondofchildren,whohadpickedupasmallchildplayinginthestreetsofEdenswell,avillageaboutfifteenmilesfromus,andwaskindlygivinghimaride.Thankstothec.o.c.ksureblunderingofthepolice,alltraceshavedisappeared.Hadtheynotpersistentlyfollowedthewrongcar,theymightbynowhavefoundtheboy."

"Calmyourself,monsieur.Thepoliceareabraveandintelligentforceofmen.Theirmistakewasaverynaturalone.Andaltogetheritwasacleverscheme.Astothemantheycaughtinthegrounds,Iunderstandthathisdefencehasconsistedallalongofapersistentdenial.HedeclaresthatthenoteandparcelweregiventohimtodeliveratWaverlyCourt.Themanwhogavethemtohimhandedhimaten-shillingnoteandpromisedhimanotherifitweredeliveredatexactlytenminutestotwelve.Hewastoapproachthehousethroughthegroundsandknockatthesidedoor."

"Idon"tbelieveawordofit,"declaredMrsWaverlyhotly."It"sallaparceloflies."

"Enverite,itisathinstory,"saidPoirotreflectively."Butsofartheyhavenotshakenit.Iunderstand,also,thathemadeacertainaccusation?"

HisglanceinterrogatedMrWaverly.Thelattergotratherredagain.

"ThefellowhadtheimpertinencetopretendthatherecognizedinTredwellthemanwhogavehimtheparcel."Onlytheblokeha.s.shavedoffhismoustache."Tredwell,whowasbornontheestate!"

Poirotsmiledalittleatthecountrygentleman"sindignation.

"Yetyouyourselfsuspectaninmateofthehousetohavebeenaccessorytotheabduction."

"Yes,butnotTredwell."

"Andyou,madame?"askedPoirot,suddenlyturningtoher.

"ItcouldnothavebeenTredwellwhogavethistramptheletterandparcel-ifanybodyeverdid,whichIdon"tbelieve.Itwasgivenhimatteno"clock,hesays.Atteno"clockTredwellwaswithmyhusbandinthesmoking-room."

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