"Wereyouabletoseethefaceofthemaninthecar,monsieur?DiditresemblethatofTredwellinanyway?"
"Itwastoofarawayformetoseehisface."
"HasTredwellabrother,doyouknow?"
"Hehadseveral,b.u.t.theyarealldead.Thelastonewaskilledinthewar."
"IamnotyetclearastothegroundsofWaverlyCourt.Thecarwasheadingforthesouthlodge.Isthereanotherentrance?"
"Yes,whatwecalltheeastlodge.Itcanbeseenfromtheothersideofthehouse."
"Itseemstomestrangethatn.o.bodysawthecarenteringthegrounds."
"Thereisarightofwaythrough,andaccesstoasmallchapel.Agoodmanycarspa.s.sthrough.Themanmusthavestoppedthecarinaconvenientplaceandrunuptothehousejustasthealarmwasgivenandattentionattractedelsewhere."
"Unlesshewasalreadyinsidethehouse,"musedPoirot."Isthereanyplacewherehecouldhavehidden?"
"Well,wecertainlydidn"tmakeathoroughsearchofthehousebeforehand.Thereseemednoneed.Isupposehemighthavehiddenhimselfsomewhere,butwhowouldhavelethimin?"
"Weshallcometothatlater.Onethingatatime-letusbemethodical.Thereisnospecialhiding-placeinthehouse?WaverlyCourtisanoldplace,andtherearesometimes"priests"holes",astheycallthem."
"Bygad,there"sapriest"shole.Itopensfromoneofthepanelsinthehall."
"Nearthecouncilchamber?"
"Justoutsidethedoor."
"Voila!"
"Butn.o.bodyknowsofits.e.xistenceexceptmywifeandmyself."
"Tredwell?"
"Well-hemighthaveheardofit."
"MissCollins?"
"Ihavenevermentionedittoher."
Poirotreflectedforaminute.
"Well,monsieur,thenextthingisformetocomedowntoWaverlyCourt.IfIarrivethisafternoon,willitsuityou?"
"Oh,a.s.soonaspossible,please,MonsieurPoirot!"criedMrsWaverly."Readthisoncemore."
ShethrustintohishandsthelastmissivefromtheenemywhichhadreachedtheWaverlysthatmorningandwhichhadsentherpost-hastetoPoirot.Itgavecleverandexplicitdirectionsforthepayingoverofthemoney,andendedwithathreatthattheboy"slifewouldpayforanytreachery.ItwasclearthataloveofmoneywarredwiththeessentialmotherloveofMrsWaverly,andthatthelatterwasatlastgainingtheday.
PoirotdetainedMrsWaverlyforaminutebehindherhusband.
"Madame,thetruth,ifyouplease.Doyoushareyourhusband"sfaithinthebutler,Tredwell?"
"Ihavenothingagainsthim,MonsieurPoirot,Icannotseehowhecanhavebeenconcernedinthis,but-well,Ihaveneverlikedhim-never."
"Oneotherthing,madame,canyougivemetheaddressofthechild"snurse?"
"149NetherallRoad,Hammersmith.Youdon"timagine-"
"NeverdoIimagine.Only-Iemploythelittlegreycells.Andsometimes,justsometimes,Ihavealittleidea."
Poirotcamebacktomeasthedoorclosed.
"Somadamehasneverlikedthebutler.Itisinteresting,that,eh,Hastings?"
Irefusedtobedrawn.PoirothasdeceivedmesooftenthatInowgowarily.Thereisalwaysacatchsomewhere.
Aftercompletinganelaborateoutdoortoilet,wesetoffforNetherallRoad.WewerefortunateenoughtofindMissJessieWithersathome.Shewasapleasant-facedwomanofthirty-five,capableandsuperior.Icouldnotbelievethatshecouldbemixedupintheaffair.Shewasbitterlyresentfulofthewayshehadbeendismissed,butadmittedthatshehadbeeninthewrong.Shewasengagedtobemarriedtoapainteranddecoratorwhohappenedtobeintheneighbourhood,andshehadrunouttomeethim.Thethingseemednaturalenough.IcouldnotquiteunderstandPoirot.Allhisquestionsseemedtomequiteirrelevant.TheywereconcernedmainlywiththedailyroutineofherlifeatWaverlyCourt.IwasfranklyboredandgladwhenPoirottookhisdeparture.
"Kidnappingisaneasyjob,monami,"heobserved,ashehailedataxiintheHammersmithRoadandorderedittodrivetoWaterloo.
"Thatchildcouldhavebeenabductedwiththegreatesteaseanydayforthelastthreeyears."
"Idon"tseethatthatadvancesusmuch,"Iremarkedcoldly.
"Aucontraire,itadvancesusenormously,butenormously!Ifyoumustwearatiepin,Hastings,atleastlet.i.tbeintheexactcentreofyourtie.Atpresent.i.tisatleastasixteenthofaninchtoomuchtotheright."
WaverlyCourtwasafineoldplaceandhadrecentlybeenrestoredwithtasteandcare.MrWaverlyshowedusthecouncilchamber,theterrace,andallthevariousspotsconnectedwiththecase.Finally,atPoirot"srequest,hepressedaspringinthewall,apanelslidaside,andashortpa.s.sageledusintothepriest"shole.
"Yousee,"saidWaverly."Thereisnothinghere."
Thetinyroomwasbareenough,therewasnoteventhemarkofafootsteponthefloor.IjoinedPoirotwherehewasbendingattentivelyoveramarkinthecorner.
"Whatdoyoumakeofthis,myfriend?"
Therewerefourimprintsclosetogether.
"Adog,"Icried.
"Averysmalldog,Hastings."
"APom."
"SmallerthanaPom."
"Agriffon?"Isuggesteddoubtfully.
"Smallereventhanagriffon.AspeciesunknowntotheKennelClub."
Ilookedathim.Hisfacewasalightwithexcitementandsatisfaction.
"Iwasright,"hemurmured."IknewIwasright.Come,Hastings."
Aswesteppedoutintothehallandthepanelclosedbehindus,ayoungladycameoutofadoorfartherdownthepa.s.sage.MrWaverlypresentedhertous.
"MissCollins."
MissCollinswasaboutthirtyyearsof.a.ge,briskandalertinmanner.Shehadfair,ratherdullhair,andworepince-nez.
AtPoirot"srequest,wepa.s.sedintoasmallmorning-room,andhequestionedhercloselyastotheservantsandparticularlyastoTredwell.Sheadmittedthatshedidnotlikethebutler.
"Hegiveshimselfairs,"sheexplained.
TheythenwentintothequestionofthefoodeatenbyMrsWaverlyonthenightofthe28th.MissCollinsdeclaredthatshehadpartakenofthesamedishesupstairsinhersitting-roomandhadfeltnoilleffects.a.s.shewasdepartingInudgedPoirot.
"Thedog,"Iwhispered.
"Ah,yes,thedog!"Hesmiledbroadly."Isthereadogkeptherebyanychance,mademoiselle?"
"Therearetworetrieversinthekennelsoutside."
"No,Imeanasmalldog,atoydog."
"No-nothingofthekind."
Poirotpermittedhertodepart.Then,pressingthebell,heremarkedtome,"Shelies,thatMademoiselleCollins.PossiblyIshould,also,inherplace.Nowforthebutler."
Tredwellwasadignifiedindividual.Hetoldhisstorywithperfectaplomb,anditwasessentiallythesameasthatofMrWaverly.Headmittedthatheknewthesecretofthepriest"shole.Whenhefinallywithdrew,pontificaltothelast,ImetPoirot"squizzicaleyes.
"Whatdoyoumakeofitall,Hastings?"
"Whatdoyou?"Iparried.
"Howcautious...o...b..come.Never,neverwillthegreycellsfunctionunlessyoustimulatethem.Ah,butIwillnotteaseyou!Letusmakeourdeductionstogether.Whatpointsstrikeusspeciallyasbeingdifficult?"
"Thereisonethingthatstrikesme,"Isaid."Whydidthemanwhokidnappedthechildgooutbythesouthlodgeinsteadofbytheeastlodgewherenoonewouldseehim?"
"Thatisaverygoodpoint,Hastings,anexcellentone.Iwillmatchitwithanother.WhywarntheWaverlysbeforehand?Whynotsimplykidnapthechildandholdhimtoransom?"
"Becausetheyhopedtogetthemoneywithoutbeingforcedtoaction."
"Surelyitwasveryunlikelythatthemoneywouldbepaidonamerethreat?"
"Alsotheywantedtofocusattentionontwelveo"clock,sothatwhenthetrampmanwa.s.seized,theothercouldemergefromhishiding-placeandgetawaywiththechildunnoticed."
"Thatdoesnotalterthefactthattheyweremakingathingdifficultthatwasperfectlyeasy.Iftheydonotspecifyatimeordate,nothingwouldbeeasierthantowaittheirchance,andcarryoffthechildinamotoronedaywhenheisoutwithhisnurse."
"Ye-es,"Iadmitteddoubtfully.
"Infact,thereisadeliberateplayingofthefarce!Nowletusapproachthequestionfromanotherside.Everythinggoestoshowthattherewasanaccompliceinsidethehouse.Pointnumberone,themysteriouspoisoningofMrsWaverly.Pointnumbertwo,theletterpinnedtothepillow.Pointnumberthree,theputtingonoftheclocktenminutes-allinsidejobs.Andanadditionalfactthatyoumaynothavenoticed.Therewasnodustinthepriest"shole.Ithadbeensweptoutwithabroom.
"Nowthen,wehavefourpeopleinthehouse.Wecanexcludethenurse,sinceshecouldnothavesweptoutthepriest"shole,thoughshecouldhaveattendedtotheotherthreepoints.Fourpeople,MrandMrsWaverly,Tredwell,thebutler,andMissCollins.WewilltakeMissCollinsfirst.Wehavenothingmuchagainsther,exceptthatweknowverylittleabouther,thatsheisobviouslyanintelligentyoungwoman,andthatshehasonlybeenhereayear."
"Sheliedaboutthedog,yousaid,"Iremindedhim.
"Ah,yes,thedog."Poirotgaveapeculiarsmile."Nowletuspa.s.stoTredwell.Thereareseveralsuspiciousfactsagainsthim.Foronething,thetrampdeclaresthat.i.twasTredwellwhogavehimtheparcelinthevillage."
"b.u.t.tredwellcanprovea.n.a.libionthatpoint."
"Eventhen,hecouldhavepoisonedMrsWaverly,pinnedthenotetothepillow,putontheclock,andsweptoutthepriest"shole.Ontheotherhand,hehasbeenbornandbredintheserviceoftheWaverlys.Itseemsunlikelyinthelastdegreethatheshouldconniveattheabductionofthesonofthehouse.Itisnotinthepicture!"
"Well,then?"
"Wemustproceedlogically-howeverabsurditmayseem.WewillbrieflyconsiderMrsWaverly.Butsheisrich,themoneyishers.Itishermoneywhichhasrestoredthisimpoverishedestate.Therewouldbenoreasonforhertokidnaphersonandpayoverhermoneytoherself.Herhusband,now,isinadifferentposition.Hehasarichwife.Itisnotthesamethingasbeingrichhimself-infactIhavealittleideathattheladyisnotveryfondofpartingwithhermoney,exceptonaverygoodpretext.ButMrWaverly,youcanseeatonce,heisbonviveur."
"Impossible,"Ispluttered.
"Notatall.Whosendsawaytheservants?MrWaverly.Hecanwritethenotes,drughiswife,putonthehandsoftheclock,andestablishanexcellentalibiforhisfaithfulretainerTredwell.TredwellhasneverlikedMrsWaverly.Heisdevotedtohismasterandiswillingtoobeyhisordersimplicitly.Therewerethreeoftheminit.Waverly,Tredwell,andsomefriendofWaverly.Thatisthemistakethepolicemade,theymadenofurtherinquiriesaboutthemanwhodrovethegreycarwiththewrongchildinit.Hewasthethirdman.Hepicksupachildinavillagenearby,aboywithflaxencurls.Hedrivesinthroughtheeastlodgeandpa.s.sesoutthroughthesouthlodgejustattherightmoment,wavinghishandandshouting.Theycannotseehisfaceorthenumberofthecar,soobviouslytheycannotseethechild"sface,either.ThenhelaysafalsetrailtoLondon.Inthemeantime,Tredwellhasdonehispartinarrangingfortheparcelandnotetobedeliveredbyarough-lookinggentleman.Hismastercanprovidea.n.a.libiintheunlikelycaseofthemanrecognizinghim,inspiteofthefalsemoustachehewore.AsforMrWaverly,a.s.soonasthehullabaloooccursoutside,andtheinspectorrushesout,hequicklyhidesthechildinthepriest"shole,andfollowshimout.Laterintheday,whentheinspectorisgoneandMissCollinsisoutoftheway,itwillbeeasyenoughtodrivehimofftosomesafeplaceinhisowncar."
"Butwhataboutthedog?"Iasked."AndMissCollinslying?"
"Thatwasmylittlejoke.Iaskedheriftherewereanytoydoginthehouse,andshesaidno-butdoubtlesstherearesome-inthenursery!Yousee,MrWaverlyplacedsometoysinthepriest"sholetokeepJohnnieamusedandquiet."
"M.Poirot-"MrWaverlyenteredtheroom-"haveyoudiscoveredanything?Haveyouanycluetowheretheboyhasbeentaken?"
Poirothandedhimapieceofpaper."Hereistheaddress."
"b.u.t.thisisablanksheet."
"BecauseIamwaitingforyoutowriteitdownforme."
"Whatthe-"MrWaverly"sfaceturnedpurple.
"Iknoweverything,monsieur.Igiveyoutwenty-fourhourstoreturntheboy.Youringenuitywillbeequaltothetaskofexplaininghisreappearance.Otherwise,MrsWaverlywillbeinformedoftheexactsequenceofevents."
MrWaverlysankdowninachairandburiedhisfaceinhishands."Heiswithmyoldnurse,tenmilesaway.Heishappyandwellcaredfor."
"Ihavenodoubtofthat.IfIdidnotbelieveyoutobeagoodfatheratheart,Ishouldnotbewillingtogiveyouanotherchance."
"Thescandal-"
"Exactly.Yournameisanoldandhonouredone.Donotjeopardizeitagain.Goodevening,MrWaverly.Ah,bytheway,onewordofadvice.Alwayssweepinthecorners!"
FourandTwentyBlackbirds