Hercule Poirot's Casebook

'Indeed, monsieur, it was all I could think of. A tall figure all

in white, that floated. It is ridiculous but what else could I do?'

'Nothing. So now, all is explained. I had my suspicions from

the first.'

Leonie shot him a provocative glance.

'Monsieur is very clever, and very sympathetic.'

'And since I am not going to make you any embarrassments

over the affair you will do some thing for me in return?'

'Most willingly, monsieur.'

'How much do you know of your mistress's affairs?'

The girl shrugged her shoulders.

'Not very much, monsieur. I have my ideas, of course.'

'And those ideas?'

'Well, it does not escape me that the friends of madame are

always soldiers or sailors or airmen. And then there are other

friends - foreign gentlemen who come to see her very quietly

sometimes. Madame is very handsome, though I do not think

she will be so much longer. The young men, they fred her very

attractive. Sometimes I think, they say too much. But it is only

my idea, that. Madame does not confide in me.'

'What you would have me to understand is that madame

plays a lone hand?'

'That is right, monsieur.'

'In other words, you cannot help me.'

'I fear not, monsieur. I would do if I could.'

'Tell me, your mistress is in a good mood today?

'Decidedly, monsieur.'

'Something has happened to please her?'

'She has been in good spirits ever since she came here.'

'Well, Leonie, you should know.'

49

The girl answered confidently:

'Yes, monsieur. I could-not be mistaken there. I know all

madame's moods. She is in high spirits.'

'Positively triumphant?'

'That is exactly the word, monsieur.'

Poirot nodded gloomily.

'I pounds d that - a little hard to bear. Yet I perceive that it is

inevitable. Thank you, mademoiselle, that is all.'

Leonie threw him a coquettish glance.

'Thank you, monsieur. If I meet monsieur on the stairs, be

well assured that I shall not scream.'

'My child,' said Poirot with dignity. 'I am of advanced years.

What have I to do with such frivolities?'

But with a little twitter of laughter, Loonie took herself off.

Poirot paced slowly up and down the room. His face became

grave and anxious.

'And now,' he said at last, 'for Lady Julia. What will she say,

I wonder?'

Lady Julia came into the room with a quiet air of assurance.

She bent her head graciously, accepted the chair that Poirot

drew forward and spoke in a low, well-bred voice.

'Lord Mayfield says that you wish to ask me some

questions.'

'Yes, madame. It is about last night.'

'About last night, yes?'.

'What happened after you had finished your game of

bridge?'

'My husband thought it was too late to begin another. I went

up to bed.'

'And then?'

'I went to sleep.'

'That is all?'

'Yes. I'm afraid I can't tell you anything of much interest.

When did this' - she hesitated - 'burglary occur?'

'Very soon after you went upstairs.'

'I see. And what exactly was taken?'

'Some private papers, madame.'

50

'Important papers?'

'Very important.'

She frowned a little and then said:

'They were - valuable?'

'Yes, madame, they were worth a good deal of money.'

'I see.'

There was a pause, and then Poirot said:

'What about your book, madame?'

'My book?' She raised bewildered eyes to him.

'Yes, I understand Mrs Vanderlyn to say that some time

after you three ladies had retired you went down again to fetch

a book.'

'Yes, of course, so I did.'

'So that, as a matter of fact, you did not go straight to bed

when you went upstairs? You returned to the drawing-room?'

'Yes, that is true. I had forgotten.'

'While you were in the drawing-room, did you hear someone

scream?'

'No - yes - I don't think so.'

'Surely, madame. You could not have failed to hear it in the

drawing-room.'

Lady Julia flung her head back and said £uxnly:

'I heard nothing.'

Poirot raised his eyebrows, but did not reply.

The silence grew uncomfortable. Lady Julia asked abruptly:

'What is being done?'

'Being done? I do not understand you, madame.'

'I mean about the robbery. Surely the police must be doing

something.'

Poirot shook his head.

'The police have not been called in. I am in charge.'

She stared at him, her restless haggard face sharpened and

tense. Her eyes, dark and searching, sought to pierce his

impassivity.

They fell at last - defeated.

'You cannot tell me what is being done?'

51

'I can only assure you, madame, that I am leaving no stone

unturned.'

'To catch the thief- or to - recover the papers?'

'The recovery of the papers is the main thing, madame.'

Her manner changed. It became bored, listless.

'Yes,' she said indifferently. 'I suppose it is.'

There was another pause.

'Is there anything else, M. Poirot?'

'No, madame. I will not detain you further.'

'Thank you.'

He opened the door for her. She passed out without glancing

at him.

Poirot went back to the fireplace and carefully rearnmged

the ornaments on the mantelpiece. He was still at it when Lord

Mayfield came in through the window.

'Well?' said the latter.

'Very well, I think. Events are shaping themselves as they

should.'

Lord Mayfield said, staring at him:

'You are pleased.'

'No, I am not pleased. But I am content.'

'Really, M. Poirot, I cannot make you out.'