Hercule Poirot's Casebook

not at all sporting in character. Tm put it briefly, Mrs

Vanderlyn is a very useful person to...' 2I-Ie described a circle in

the air with his cigar. 'Perhaps we had ietter not say to whom!

10

We will just say to a European power - and perhaps to more

than one European power.'

Carrington drew a deep breath.

'You take a great load off my mind, Charles.'

'You thought I had fallen for the siren? My dear George!

Mrs Vanderlyn is just a little too obvious in her methods for a

wary old bird like me. Besides, she is, as they say, not quite so

young as she once was. Your young squadron leaders wouldn't

notice that. But I am fifty-six, my boy. In another four years I

shall probably be a nasty old man continually haunting the

society of unwilling debutantes.'

'I was a fool,' said Carrington apologetically, 'but it seemed

a bit odd '

'It seemed to you odd that she should be here, in a somewhat

intimate family party just at the moment when you and I were

to hold an unofficial conference over a discovery that will

probably revolutionize the whole problem of air defence?'

Sir George Carrington nodded.

Lord Mayfield said, smiling:

'That's exactly it. That's the bait.'

'The bait?'

'You see, George, to use the language of the movies, we've

nothing actually "on" the woman. And we want something!

She's got away with rather more than she should in the past.

But she's been careful - damnably careful. We know what she's

been up to, but we've got no definite proof of it. We've got to

tempt her with something big.'

'Something big being the specification of the new bomber?'

'Exactly. It's got to be something big enough to induce her

to take a risk - to come out into the open. And then - we've got her!'

Sir George grunted.

'Oh, well,' he said. 'I dare say it's all right. But suppose she

won't take the risk?'

'That would be a pity,' said Lord Mayfield. Then he added:

'But I think she will...'

He rose.

11

'Shall we join the ladies in the drawing-room? We mustn't

deprive your wife of her bridge.'

Sir George grunted:

'Julia's a damned sight too fond of her bridge. Drops a

packet over it. She can't afford to play as high as she does, and

I've told her so. The trouble is, Julia's a born gambler.'

Coming round the table to join his host, he said:

'Well, I hope your plan comes off, Charles.'

CHAPTER 2

In the drawing-room conversation had flagged more than

once. Mrs Vanderlyn was usually at a disadvantage when left

alone with members of her own sex. That channing sympa-thetic

manner of hers, so much appreciated by members of the

male sex, did not for some reason or other commend itself to

women. Lady Julia was a woman whose manners were either

very good or very bad. On this occasion she disliked Mrs

Vanderlyn, and was bored by Mrs Macatta, and made no secret

of her feelings. Conversation languished, and might have

ceased altogether but for the latter.

Mrs Macatta was a woman of great earnestness of purpose.

Mrs Vanderlyn she dismissed immediately as a useless and

parasitic type. Lady Julia she tried to interest in a forthcoming

charity entertainment which she was organizing. Lady Julia

answered vaguely, stifled a yawn or two and retired into her

own inner preoccupation. Why didn't Charles and George

come? How tiresome men were. Her comments became even

more perfunctory as she became absorbed in her (;wn thoughts

and worries.

The three women were sitting in silence when the men

finally entered the room.

Lord Mayfield thought to himself:

12

'Julia looks ill tonight. What a mass of nerves the woman is.'

Aloud he said:

'What about a rubber - eh?'

Lady Julia brightened at once. Bridge was as the breath of

life to her.

Reggie Carrington entered the room at that minute, and a

four was arranged. Lady Julia, Mrs Vanderlyn, Sir George and

young Reggie sat down to the card-table. Lord Mayfield

devoted himself to the task of entertaining Mrs Macatta.

When two rubbers had been played, Sir George looked

ostentatiously at the clock on the mantelpiece.

'Hardly worth while beginning another,' he remarked.

His wife looked annoyed.

'It's only a quarter to eleven. A short one.'

'They never are, my dear,' said Sir George good

temperedly.

'Anyway, Charles and I have some work to do.'

Mrs Vanderlyn murmured:

'How important that sounds! I suppose you clever men who

are at the top of things never get a real rest.'

'No forty-eight hour week for us,' said Sir George.

Mrs Vanderlyn murmured:

'You know, I feel rather ashamed of myself as a raw

American, but I do get so thrilled at meeting people who

control the destinies of a country. I expect that seems a very

crude point of view to you, Sir George.'

'My dear Mrs Vanderlyn, I should never think of you as

"crude" or "raw." '

He smiled into her eyes. There was, perhaps, a hint of irony

in the voice which she did not miss. Adroifiy she turned to

Reggie, smiling sweetly into his eyes.

'I'm sorry we're not continuing our partnership. That was a

frightfully clever four no-trump call of yours.'

Flushed and pleased, Reggie mumbled:

'Bit of a fluke that it came off.'

'Oh, no, it was really a clever bit of deduction on your part.