Hercule Poirot's Casebook (hercule poirot) Read online

  'Miss Plenderleith might tell us,' suggested Poirot.

  'She might,' said Japp gloomily. 'On the other hand she might not. I've no doubt she could tell us a good deal if she liked. What about you, Poirot, old boy? You were alone with for a bit. Didn't you trot out that Father Confessor manner that sometimes makes such a hit?'

  Poirot spread out his hands.

  'Alas, we talked only of gas fires.'

  'Gas fires - gas rues.' Japp sounded disgusted. 'What's the matter with you, old cock? Ever since you've been here the things you've taken an interest in are quill pens and paper baskets. Oh, yes, I saw you having a quiet look im(he one downstairs. Anything in it?'

  Poirot sighed.

  'A catalogue of bulbs and an old magazine.'

  'What's the idea, anyway? If anyone wants to throw aw incriminating document or whatever it is you have in mind they're not likely just to pitch it into a waste-paper basket?'

  'That is very true what you say there. Only something unimportant would be thrown away like that.'

  Poirot spoke meekly. Nevertheless Japp looked at him suspiciously.

  'Well,' he said. 'I know what I'm going to do next. What about you?'

  'Eh bien,' said Poirot. 'I shall complete my search for the unimportant. There is still the dustbin.'

  He skipped nimbly out of the room. Japp looked after him with an air of disgust.

  'Potty,' he said. 'Absolutely potty.'

  Inspector Jameson preserved a respectful silence. His ihce said with British superiority: 'Foreigners?

  Aloud he said:

  'So that's Mr Hercule Poirot! I've heard of him.'

  'Old friend of mine,' explained Japp. 'Not half as balmy as he looks, mind you. All the same he's getting on now.'

  'Gone a bit gaga as they say, sir,' suggested Inspector Jameson. 'Ah well, age will tell.'

  'All the same,' said Japp, 'I wish I knew what he was u He walked over to the writing-table and stared uneasily at emerald green quill pen.

  CHAPTER 5

  Japp was just engaging his third chauffeur's wife in conversation when Poirot, walking noiselessly as a cat, suddenly appeared at his elbow.

  'Whew, you made me jump,' said Japp. 'Got anything?'

  'Not what I was looking for.'

  Japp turned back to Mrs James Hogg.

  'And you say you've seen this gentleman before?'

  'Oh, yes sir. And my husband too. We knew him at once.'

  'Now look here, Mrs Hogg, you're a shrewd woman, I can see. I've no doubt that you know all about everyone in the mews. And you're a woman of judgment - unusually good judgment, I can tell that -' Unblushingly he repeated this remark for the third time. Mrs Hogg bridled slightly and assumed an expression of superhuman intelligence. 'Give me a line on those two young women - Mrs Allen and Miss Plendedeith. What were they like? Gay? Lots of parties? That sort of thing?'

  'Oh, no sir, nothing of the kind. They went out a good bit -Mrs Allen especially - but they're class, if you know what I mean. Not like some as I could name down the other end. I'm sure the way that Mrs Stevens goes on - if she is a Mrs at all which I doubt - well I shouldn't like to tell you what goes on there - I...'

  'Quite so,' said Japp, dexterously stopping the flow. 'Now that's very important what you've told me. Mrs Allen and Miss Plenderleith were well liked, then?'

  'Oh yes, sir, very nice ladies, both of them - especially Mrs Allen. Always spoke a nice word to the children, she did. Lost her own little girl, I believe, poor dear. Ah well, I've buried three myself. And what I say is...'

  'Yes, yes, very sad. And Miss Plenderleith?'

  'Well, of course she was a nice lady too, but much mor:

  abrupt if you know what I mean. Just go by with a nod, sh:

  would, and not stop to pass the time of day. But I've nothing against her - nothing at all.'

  'She and Mrs Allen got on well together?'

  'Oh, yes sir. No quarrelling - nothing like that. Very happ,:

  and contented they were - I'm sure Mrs Pierce will bear me out.'

  'Yes, we've talked to her. Do you know Mrs Allen's fianc by sight?'

  'The gentleman she's going to marry? Oh, yes. He's been here quite a bit offand on. Member of Parliament, they do say.'

  'It wasn't he who came last night?'

  'No, sir, it was not.' Mrs Hogg drew herself up. A note of excitement disguised beneath intense primness came into her voice. 'And if you ask me, sir, what you are thinking is all wrong. Mrs Allen wasn't that kind of lady, I'm sure. It's true there was no one in the house, but I do not believe anything of the kind - I said so to Hogg only this morning. "No, Hogg," I said, "Mrs Allen was a lady - a real lady - so don't suggesting things" - knowing what a man's mind is, if you excuse my mentioning it. Always coarse in their ideas.'

  Passing this insult by, Japp proceeded:

  'You saw him arrive and you saw him leave - that's so, isn't it?'

  'That's so, sir.'

  'And yo didn't hear anything else? Any sounds of a quarrel?'

  'No, sir, nor likely to. Not, that is to say, that such thin3s couldn't be heard - because the contrary to that is well 1¥::, - and down the other end the way Mrs Stevens goes for poor frightened maid of hers is common talk - and one d we've advised her not to stand it, but there, the wages is - temper of the devil she may have but pays for it - fcty shillings a week...'

  Japp said quickly:

  'But you didn't hear anything of the kind at No. 14?'

  'No, sir. Nor likely to with fireworks popping offhere, there and everywhere and my Eddie with his eyebrows singed off as near as nothing.'

  'This man left at ten-twenty - that's right, is it?'

  'It might be, sir. I couldn't say myself. But Hogg says so and he's a very reliable, steady man.'

  'You actually saw him leave. Did you hear what he said?'

  'No, sir. I wasn't near enough for that. Just saw him from my [-indows, standing in the doorway talking to Mrs Allen.'

  'See her too?'

  'Yes, sir, she was standing just inside the doorway.'

  'Notice what she was wearing?'

  'Now really, sir, I couldn't say. Not noticing particularly as t were.'

  Poirot said:

  'You did not even notice if she was wearing day dress or evening dress?'

  'No, sir, I can't say I did.'

  Poirot looked thoughtfully up at the window above and then across to No. 14. He smiled and for a moment his eye caught Japp's.

  'And the gentleman?'

  'He was in a dark-blue overcoat and a bowler hat. Very smart and well set up.'

  Japp asked a few more questions and then proceeded to his next interview. This was with Master Frederick Hogg, an impish-faced, bright-eyed lad, considerably swollen with self-importance.

  'Yes, sir. I heard them talking. "Think it over and let me know," the gent said. Pleasant like, you know. And then she said something and he answered, 'All right. $o long.' And he got into the car - I was holding the door open but he didn't give me nothing,' said Master Hogg with a slight tinge of depression in his tone. 'And he drove away.'

  'You didn't hear what Mrs Allen said?'

  'No, sir, can't say I did.'

  'Can you tell me what she was wearing? What colour, fir instance?'

  'Couldn't say, sir. You see, I didn't really see her. She must have been round behind the door.'

  'Just so,' said Japp. 'Now look here, my boy, I want you o think and answer my next question very carefully. If you don't know and can't remember, say so. Is that clear?'

  'Yes, sir.'

  Master Hogg looked at him eagerly.

  'Which of'em dosed the door, Mrs Allen or the gendeman?'

  'The front door?'

  'The front door, naturally.'

  The child reflected. His eyes screwed themselves up in an effort of remembrance.

  'Think the lady probably did - No, she didn't. He did.

  Pulled it to with a bit of a bang and jumped into the car quick.r />
  Looked as though he had a date somewhere.'

  'Right. Well, young man, you seem a bright kind of shaver.

  Here's sixpence for you.'

  Dismissing Master Hogg, Japp turned to his friend. Slowly with one accord they nodded.

  'Could be!' said Japp.

  'There are possibilities,' agreed Poirot.

  His eyes shone with a green light. They looked like a cat's.

  CHAPTER 6

  On re-entering the sitting-room of No. 14, Japp wasted no time in beating about the bush. He came straight to the point.

  'Now look here, Miss Plenderleith, don't you think it's better to spill the beans here and now. It's going .to come to that in the end.'

  Jane Plenderleith raised her eyebrows. She was standing by the mantelpiece, gently warming one foot at the fire.

  'I really don't know what you mean.'

  'Is that quite true, Miss Plenderleith?'

  She shrugged her shoulders.

  'I've answered all your questions. I don't see what more I can do.'

  'Well, it's my opinion you could do a lot more - if you chose.'

  'That's only an opinion, though, isn't it, Chief Inspector?' Japp grew rather red in the face.

  'I think,' said Poirot, 'that mademoiselle would appreciate better the reason for your questions if you told her just how the l case stands.'

  'That's very simple. Now then, Miss Plenderleith, the facts are as follows. Your friend was found shot through the head with a pistol in her hand and the door and the window fastened.

  That looked like a plain case of suicide. But it wara't suicide.

  The medical evidence alone proves that.'

  'How?'

  All her ironic coolness had disappeared. She leaned forward - intent - watching his face.

  'The pistol was in her hand - but the fingers weren't grasping it. Moreover there were no fingerprints at all on the pistol. And the angle of the wound makes it impossible that the wound should have been self-inflicted. Then again, she left no letter rather an unusual thing for a suicide. And though the door was locked the key has not been found.'

  Jane Plenderleith turned slowly and sat down in a chair facing them.

  'So that's it!' she said. 'All along I've felt it was impossible that she should have killed herself! I was right! She didn't kill herself. Someone else killed her.'

  For a moment or two she remained lost in thought. Then she raised her head brusquely.

  'Ask me any questions you like,' she said. 'I will answer them to the best of my ability.'

  Japp began:

  'Last night Mrs Allen had a visitor. He is described as a of forty-five, military bearing, toothbrush moustache, smartly dressed and driving a Standard Swallow saloon car. Do know who that is?'

  'I can't be sure, of course, but it sounds like Major Eustace.'

  'Who is Major Eustace? Tell me all you can about him?

  'He was a man Barbara had known abroad - in India.

  turned up about a year ago, and we've seen him on and off since.'

  'He was a friend of Mrs Allen's?'

  'He behaved like one,' said Jane dryly.

  'What was her attitude to him?'

  'I don't think she really liked him - in fact, I'm sure she didn't.'

  'But she treated him with outward friendliness?'

  'Yes.'

  'Did she ever seem - think carefully, Miss Plenderleith afraid of him?'

  Jane Plenderleith considered this thoughtfully for a minute or two. Then she said:

  'Yes - I think she was. She was always nervous when he was about.'

  'Did he and Mr Laverton-West meet at all?'

  'Only once, I think. They didn't take to each other mu¢.

  That is to say, Major Eustace made himself as agreeable as could to Charles, but Charles wasn't having any. Charles got a very good nose for anybody who isn't well - quite - quite.'

  'And Major Eustace was not - what you call - quite - quite ?' asked Poirot.

  The girl said dryly:

  'No, he wasn't. Bit hairy at the heel. Definitely not out of the top drawer.'

  'Alas - I do not know those two expressions. You mear say he was not the pukka sahib?'

  A fleeting smile passed across Jane Plenderleith's face, she replied gravely, 'No.'

  'Would it come as a great surprise to you, Miss Plenderleith, if I suggested that this man was blackmailing Mrs Allen?'

  Japp sat forward to observe the result of his suggestion.

  He was well satisfied. The girl started forward, the colour rose in her cheeks, she brought down her hand sharply on the arm of her chair.

  'So that was it! What a fool I was not to have guessed. Of course!'

  'You think the suggestion feasible, mademoiselle?' asked Poirot.

  'I was a fool not to have thought of it! Barbara's borrowed small sums off me several times during the last six months. And i've seen her sitting poring over her passbook. I knew she was living well within her income, so I didn't bother, but, of course, if she was paying out sums of money-'

  'And it would accord with her general demeanour - yes?' asked Poirot.'

  'Absolutely. She was nervous. Quite jumpy sometimes.

  tltogether different from what she used to be.'

  Poirot said gently:

  'Excuse me, but that is not just what you told us before.'

  'That was different,' Jane Plenderleith waved an impatient hand. 'She wasn't depressed. I mean she wasn't feeling suiddal or anything like that. But blackmail - yes. I wish she'd told me. I'd have sent him to the devil.'

  'But he might have gone - not to the devil, but to Mr Charles Laverton-West?' observed Poirot.

  'Yes,' said lane Plenderleith slowly. 'Yes... that's true...'

  'You've no idea of what this man's hold over her may have ?' asked Japp.

  The girl shook her head. 'I haven't the faintest idea. I can t believe, knowing Barbara, hat it could have been anything really serious. On the other hand -' she paused, then went on. 'What I mean is, Barbara as a bit of a simpleton in some ways. She'd be very easily frightened. In fact, she was the kind of girl who would be a positive gift to a blackmailer! The nasty brute?

  She snapped out the last three words with real venom.

  'Unfortunately,' said Poirot, 'the crime seems to have taken place the wrong way round. It is the victim who should kill blackmailer, not the blackmailer his victim.'

  Jane Plenderleith frowned a little.

  'No - that is true - but I can imagine circumstances-'

  'Such as?'

  'Supposing Barbara got desperate. She may have threatenecl him with that silly little pistol of hers. He tries to wrench away from her and in the struggle he fires it and kills her. Then he's horrified at what he's done and tries to pretend it was suicide.'

  'Might be,' said Japp. 'But there's a difficulty.'

  She looked at him inquiringly.

  'Major Eustace (if it was him) left here last night at ten-twenty and said goodbye to Mrs Allen on the doorstep.'

  'Oh,' the girl's face fell. 'I see.' She.paused a minute or two.

  'But he might have come back later,' she said slowly.

  'Yes, that is possible,' said Poirot.

  Japp continued:

  'Tell me, Miss Plenderleith, where was Mrs Allen in the habit of receiving guests, here or in the room upstairs?'

  'Both. But this room was used for more communal partie for my own special friends. You see, the arrangement wa th;t Barbara had the big bedroom and used it as a sitting-rool well, and I had the little bedroom and used this room.'

  'If Major Eustace came by appointment last night, in which room do you think Mrs Allen would have received him?'

  'I think she would probably bring him in here.' The girl sounded a little doubtful. 'It would be less intimate. On the other hand, if she wanted to write a cheque or anything of that kind, she would probably take him upstairs. There arc no writing materials down here.'

  Japp shook his hea
d.

  'There was no question of a cheque. Mrs Allen drew out we hundred pounds in cash yesterday. And so far we've not been able to find any trace of it in the house.'

  'And she gave it to that brute? Oh, poor Barbara! Poor, poor Barbara!'

  Poirot coughed.

  'Unless, as you suggest, it was more or less an accident, it still seems a remarkable fact that he should kill an apparently regular source of income.'

  'Accident? It wasn't an accident. He lost his temper and saw red and shot her.'

  'That is how you think it happened?'

  'Yes.' She added vehemently, 'It was murder - murder?

  Poirot said gravely:

  'I will not say that you are wrong, mademoiselle.'

  Japp said:

  'What cigarettes did Mrs Allen smoke?'

  'Gaspers. There are some in that box.'

  Japp opened the box, took out a cigarette and nodded. He slipped the cigarette into his pocket.

  'And you, mademoiselle?' asked Poirot.

  'The same.'

  'You do not smoke Turkish?'

  'Never.'

  'Nor Mrs Alien?'

  'No. She didn't like them.'

  Poirot asked:

  'And Mr Laverton-West. What did he smoke?'

  She stared hard at him.

  'Charles? What does it matter what he smoked? You're not going to pretend that he killed her?'

  Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

  'A man has killed the woman he loved before now, mademoiselle.'

  Jane shook her head impatiently.

  'Charles wouldn't kill anybody. He's a very careful man.'

  'All the same, mademoiselle, it is the careful men who commit the cleverest murders.'

  She stared at him.

  'But not for the motive you have just advanced, M. Poirot.'

  He bowed his head.

  'No, that is true.'

  Japp rose.

  'Well, I don't think that there's much more I can do here. I'd like to have one more look round.'

  'In case that money should be tucked away somewhere Certainly. Look anywhere you like. And in my room too although it isn't likely Barbara would hide it there.'

  Japp's search was quick but efficient. The living-room had given up all its secrets in a very few minutes. Then he went upstairs. Jane Plenderleith sat on the arm of a chair, smoking a cigarette and frowning at the fire. Poirot watched her.