Hercule Poirot's Casebook

said something and he answered, '/Ill right. $o long.' And he

got imo 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.'

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'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.

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 tin,:

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.'

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

,csn do.'

I: '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.

l'I think,' said Poirot, 'that mademoiselle would appreciate

tter 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 herselfi 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:

85

'Last night Mrs Allen had a visitor. He is described as a

of forty-five, military bearing, toothbrush moustache, sonar ]v

dressed and driving a Standard Swallow salooti car. Do

know who that is?'

'I can't be sure, of course, but it sounds like Major Eust:e.'

'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 satu'b?'

A fleeting smile passed across Jane Plenderleith's face,

she replied gravely, 'No.'

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'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