Hercule Poirot's Casebook

'No indeed. I am utterly at sea. Barbara! Murdered! It seens

incredible.'

'Now, Mr Laverton-West, can you tell me what your

movements were on the night of November fifth?'

'My movements? My movements?'

Laverton-West's voice rose in shrill protest.

'Purely a matter of routine,' explained Japp. 'We -er - have

to ask everybody.'

Charles Laverton-West looked at him with dignity.

'I should hope that a man in my position might be exempt.'

Japp merely waited.

'I was - now let me see... Ah, yes. I was at the House. Lef',

96

at half-past ten. Went for a walk alonAe:$ the EmbaCment,

Watched some of the fireworks.'

'Nice to think there aren't any plots of'hat Ilaaat d n0adays

said Japp cheerily.

Laverton-West gave him a fish-like sin.

'Then I - er - walked home.'

'Reaching home - your London addrsis Bi; is 0slow Square'

I think - at what time?'

'I hardly know exactly.'

'Eleven? Half-past?'

'Somewhere about then.'

'Perhaps someone let you in.'

'No, I have my key.'

'Meet anybody whilst you were wallug?"c.g?' ·

'No - er - really, Chief Inspector, Irtserem these questicns

very much?

'I assure you, it's just a matter of m 'taCtine, Mr iavertt°n'

West. They aren't personal, you know.

The reply seemed to soothe the irat¢ICi.l.l.P.

'If that is all '

'That is all for the present, Mr Laveton.a,n-West.'

'You will keep me informed '

'Naturally, sir. By the way, let meintrca'oduce M. Hercule

Poirot. You may have heard of him.'

Mr Laverton-West's eye fastened izlf · interestedly on the

'Yes - yes - I have heard the name' .

'Monsieur,' said Poirot, his manner suclddenly very fo'reqgn'

'Believe me, my heart bleeds for you. ga¢i/ a 10ss! Such agony

you must be enduring! Ah, but I will I say no ofe. ,' How

the English hide theiremotions.' lie whpped

--his cigarette case. 'Permit me -la, it is empty. Japgpp?'

Japp slapped his pockets and sho{x his head.

Laverton-West produced his ovn o"cigarette ga.se, c mar'Er

- have one of mine, M. 10irot.'

'Thank you - thank you,' The.liRe mare helpec him/nself'

9'

'As you say, M. Poirot,' resumed the other, 'we English

not parade our emotions. A stiff upper lip - that is our motto?

He bowed to the two men and went out.

'Bit of a stuffed fish,' said Japp disgustedly. 'And a boiled

owl! The Plenderleith girl was quite right about him. Yet he':,

a good-looking sort of chap - might go down well with some

woman who had no sense of humOur. What about tha*.

cigarette?'

Poirot handed it over, shaking his head.

'Egyptian. An expensive variety.'

'No, that's no good. A pity, for I've never heard a weaker

alibi! In fact, it wasn't an alibi at all... You know, Poirot, it's a

pity the boot wasn't on the other leg. If she'd been blackmailing

him... He's a lovely type for blackmail - would pay out like a

lamb! Anything to avoid a scandal.'

'My friend, it is very pretty to reconstruct the case as

would like it to be, but that is not strictly our affair.'

'No, Eustace is our affair. I've got a few lines on

De pounds itely a nasty fellow.'

'By the way, did you do as I suggested about

Plendefieith?'

'Yes. Wait a sec, I'll ring through and get the latest.'

He picked up the telephone receiver and spoke througk t.

After a brief interchange he replaced it and looked u3"

Poirot.

'Pretty heartless piece of goods. Gone offto play golf.

a nice thing to do when your friend's been murdered only

day before.'

Poirot uttered an exclamation.

'What's the matter now?' asked Japp.

But Poirot was murmuring to himself.

'Of course.., of course.., but naturally... What an imbe.; iie

I am - why, it leapt to the eye?

Japp said rudely:

'Stop jabbering to yourself and let's go and tackle

He was amazed to see the radiant smile that spread o,:er

Poirot's face.

98

'But - yes - most certainly let us tackle him. For now, see

you, I know everything o but everything?

CHAPTER8

elajor Eustace received the two men with the easy assurance of

man of the world.

His flat was small, a mere pied i terre, as he explained. He

offered the two men a drink and when that was refused he took

out his cigarette case.

Both Japp and Poirot accepted a cigarette. A quick glance

passed between them.

'You smoke Turkish, I see,' said Japp as he twirled the

cigarette between his fingers.

'Yes. I'm sorry, do you prefer a gasper? I've got one

somewhere about.'

'No, no, this will do me very well.' Then he leaned forward

- his tone changed. 'Perhaps you can guess, Major Eustace,

what it was I came to see you about?'

I The other shook his head. His manner was nonchalant.

Major Eustace was a tall man, good-looking in a somewhat

eoarse fashion. There was a puffiness round the eyes - small,

vafty eyes that belied the good-humoured geniality of his

lllarmer.

He said:

'No - I've no idea what brings such a big gun as a chief

inspector to see me. Anything to do with my car?'

'No, it is not your car. I think you knew a Mrs Barbara Alien,

jor Eustace?'

I The major leant back, puffed out a cloud of smoke, and said

i an enlightened voice:

'Oh, so that's it! Of course, I might have guessed. Very sad

business.'

'You know about it?'

'Saw it in the paper last night. Too bad.'