Hercule Poirot's Casebook

'Ah!' said Hercule Poirot. He leaned back and looked at the

ceiling. 'And yet, Sir George, we agreed, not a quarter of an

hour ago, that these papers represented very definitely money.

Not perhaps, in quite so obvious a form as banknotes, or gold,

or jewellery, but nevertheless they were potential money. If

there were anyone here who was hard up '

The other 'interrupted him with a snort.

'Who isn't these days? I suppose I can say it without

incriminating myself.'

He smiled and Poirot smiled pofitely back at him and

murmured:

'Mais oui, you can say what you like, for you, Sir George,

have the one unimpeachable alibi in this affair.'

'But I'm danmed hard up myselfl.'

Poirot shook his head sadly.

'Yes, indeed, a man in your position has heavy living

expenses. Then you have a young son at a most expensive age '

Sir George groaned.

'Education's bad enough, then debts on top of it. Mind you,

this lad's not a bad lad.'

Poirot listened sympathetically. He heard a lot of the Air

Marshal's accumulated grievances. The lack of grit and

stamina in the younger generation, the fantastic way in which

mothers spoilt their children and always took their side, the

curse of gambling once it got hold of a woman, the folly of

playing for higher stakes than you could afford. It was couched

33

in general terms, Sir George did not allude directly to either his

wife or his son, but his natural transparency made his

generalizations very easy to see through.

He broke off suddenly.

'Sorry, mustn't take up your time with something that's

right off the subject, especially at this hour of the night - or

rather, morning.'

He stifled a yawn.

'I suggest, Sir George, that you should go to bed. You have

been most kind and helpful.'

'Right, think I will mm in. You really think there is a chance

of gettirsg the plans back?'

Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

'I mean to try. I do not see why not.'

'Well, I'll be off. Goodight.'

He left the room.

Poirot remained in his chair staring thoughtfully at the

ce'fling, then he took out a LITTLE notebook and turning to a clean

page, he wrote:

Mrs Vanderlyn?

Lady Julia Carfington?

/vlrs Macatta?

Reggie Carrington?

Mr Carlile?

Underneath he wrote:

Mrs

Vanderlyn and Mr Reggie Carrington?

Mrs

Vandefiyn and Lady Julia?

Mrs

Vanderlyn and Mr Carlile?

He shcok his head in a dissatisfied manner, murmuring:

'C'est Mus simple que fa.'

Then he added a few short sentences.

Did Lord Mayfield see a 'shadow'? If not, why did he say he

34

did? Did Sir George see anything? He was positive he had seez

nothing AFTER I examined flower-bed. Note: Lord Mayfield

near-sighted can read without glasses but has to use a monocle tt

look across a room. Sir George is long-sighted. Therefore, from

far end of the terrace, his sight is more to be depended upon thaz,

::Lord Mayfield' s. Yet Lord Mayfield is very positive that he DID

il see something and is quite unshaken by his friend's denial.

: i, Can anyone be quite as above suspicion as Mr Carlile appears tt

be? Lord Mayfield is very emphatic as to his innocence. Too muci.

so. lYhy? Because he secretly suspects ban and is ashamed of h

suspicions? Or because he definitely suspects some other person.;

is to say, some person OTHER than Mrs Vanderlyn?

He put the notebook away.

Then, getting up, he were along to the study.

CHAPTER5

Lord Mayfield was seated at his desk when Poirot entered the

study. He swung round, laid down his pen, and looked up

inquiringly.

'Well, M. Poirot, had your interview with Carrington?'

Poirot smiled and sat down.

'Yes, Lord Mayfield. He cleared up a point that had puzzled

'What was that?'

'The reason for Mrs Vanderlyn's presence here. You

comprehend, I thought it possible -'

Mayfield was quick to realize the cause of Poirot's somewhat

exaggerated embarrassment.

'You thought I had a weakness for the lady? Not at all. Far

from it. Funnily enough, Carrington thought the same.'

35

'Yes, he has told me of the conversation he held with x,[

the subject.'

- '

Lord Mayfield looked rather rueful.

cM ·

y little scheme didn't come off. Always annoying t I

to admit that a Woman has got the better of you. '

'Ah, but she has not got the better of you yet, Mayfield.'

·

ou think we may yet win? Well, I'm glad to hear you

so. I'd like to think it was true.'

He sighed.

'I feel I've acted like a complete fool - so pleased with my

stratagem for entrapping the lady.'

Hercule Poirot said, as he lit one of his tiny cigarettes:

'What was your stratagem exactly, Lord Ma3rfield?'

'Well,' Lord Mayfield hesitated. 'I hadn't exactly got down

to details.'

'You didn't discuss it with anyone?'

'No.'

'Not even with Mr Carlile?'

'No.'

Poirot smiled.

'You prefer to play a lone hand, Lord Mayfield.'

'I-have usually found it the best way,' said the other a little

grimly.

'Yes, you are wise. Trust no one. But you d/mention the

matter to Sir George Carrinon'

'Si ' '

- --°- °

reply tecause I realized that the dear fellow was seriously

perturbed about nae.'

Lord Mayfield smiled at the remembrance.

'He is an old friend of yours?'

'Yes. I have known him for over twenty years.'

'And his wife?'

'I have known his wife also, of course.'