Hercule Poirot's Casebook

'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.

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CHAPTER 5

Japp was just engaging his third chauffeur's wife in conversa-tion

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...'

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'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:

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'But you didn't hear anything of the kind at No. 147'

'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

'iening 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

kno," the gent said. Pleasant like, you know. And then she