"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."