Hercule Poirot's Casebook

that Reggie Carrington was struggling with a yawn, he leaned

forward and adroitly asked Mrs Macatta a question about her

'Fitness for Children' scheme.

Round the table, moving silently in the subdued amber light,

a butler and two footmen offered dishes and ffiled up wine-glasses.

Lord Mayfield paid a very high salary to his chef, and

was noted as a connoisseur of wines.

The table was a round one, but there was no mistaking who

was the host. Where Lord Mayfield sat was so very decidedly

the head of the table. A big man, square-shouldered, with thick

silvery hair, a big straight nose and a slightly prominent chin.

It was a face that lent itself easily to caricature. As Sir Charles

McLaughlin, Lord Mayfield had combined a political career

with being the head of a big engineering firm. He was himself

a first-class engineer. His peerage had come a year ago, and at

the same time he had been created first Minister of Arma-ments,

a new ministry which had only just come into being.

The dessert had been placed on the table. The port had

circulated once. Catching Mrs Vanderlyn's eye, Lady Julia

rose. The three women left the room.

The port passed once more, and Lord Mayfield referred

lightly to pheasants. The conversation for five minutes or so

was sporting. Then Sir George said:

'Expect you'd like to join the others in the drawing-room,

Reggie, my boy. Lord Mayfield won't mind.'

The boy took the hint easily enough.

'Thanks, Lord Mayfield, I think I will.'

Mr Carlile mumured:

'If you'll excuse me, Lord Mayfield - certain memoranda

and other work to get through...'

Lord Mayfield nodded. The two young men left the. room.

8

The servants had retired some time before. The Minister for

Armaments and the head of the Air Force were alone.

After a minute or two, Carrington said:

'Well - O.K.?'

'Absolutely! There's nothing to touch this new bomber in

any country in Europe.'

'Make rings round 'em, eh? That's what I thought.'

'Supremacy of the air,' said Lord Mayfield decisively.

Sir George Carrington gave a deep sigh.

'Ab°ut time! You know, Charles, we've been through a

ticklish spell. Lots of gunpowder everywhere all over Europe.

And we weren't ready, damn it! We've had a narrow squeak.

And we're not out of the wood yet, however much we hurry on

construction.'

Lord Mayfield murmured:

'Nevetheless, George, there are some advantages in starting

late. A lot of the European stuff is out of date already - and

they're perilously near bankruptcy.'

'I don't believe that means anything,' said Sir George

gloomily. 'One's always hearing this nation and that is

bankrupt! But they carry on just the same. You know, fmance

is an absolute mystery to me.'

Lord Mayfield's eyes twinkled a little. Sir George Caning-ton

was always so very much the old fashioned 'bluff, honest

old sea dog'. There were people who said that it was a pose he

deliberately adopted.

Changing the subject, Carrington said in a slightly over-casual

manner:

'Attractive woman, Mrs Vandefiyn - eh?'

Lord Mayfield said:

'Are you wondering what she's doing here?'

His eyes were amused.

Carrington looked a little confused.

'Not at all - not at all.'

'Oh, yes, you were! Don't be an old humbug, George. You

were wondering, in a slightly dismayed fashion, whether I was

the latest victim!'

Carrington said slowly:

'I'll admit that it did seem a trifle odd to me that she should

be here - well, this particular weekend.'

Lord Mayfield nodded.

'Whre the carcass is, there are the vultures gathered

together. We've got a very del'mite carcass, and Mrs Vanderlyn

might be described as Vulture No. 1.'

The Air Marshal said abruptly:

'Know anything about this Vanderlyn woman?'

Lord Mayfield clipped off the end of a cigar, lit it with

precision and, throwing his head back, dropped out his words

with careful deliberation.

'What do I know about Mrs Vanderlyn? I know that she's an

American subject. I know that she's had three husbands, one

Italian, one German and one Russian, and that in consequence

she has made useful what I think are called "contacts" in three

countries. I know that she manages to buy very expensive

clothes and live in a very luxurious manner, and that there is

some slight uncertainty as to where the income comes from

which permits her to do so.'

With a grin, Sir George Cardngton murmured:

'Your spies have not been inactive, Charles, I see.'

'I know,' Lord Mayfield continuecl, 'that in addition to

having a seductive type of beauty, Mrs ¥anderlyn is also a very

good listener, and that she can display a fascinating interest in

what we call "shop". That is to say, a man can tell her all about

his job and feel that he is being intensely interesting to the lady!

Sundry young officers have gone a little too far in their zeal to

be interesting, and their careers have suffered in consequence.

They have told Mrs Vanderlyn a little rnore than they should

have done. Nearly all the lady's friends are in the Services - but

last winter she was hunting in a certain county near one of our

largest armament firms, and she formed various friendships