Hercule Poirot's Casebook

If so, perhaps you'd come round?'

'I will come immediately.'

'Good for you, old boy. Some dirty work at the crossroads-eh?'

153

Poirot merely repeated that he would set forth immediately.

'Don't want to spill the beans over the telephone? Quite

right. So long.'

A quarter of an hour later Poirot was sitting in the library, a

low long room at the back of Northway House on the ground

floor. There were five other persons in the room. Inspector

Barnett, Dr Stillingfieet, Mrs Farley, the widow of the

millionaire, Joanna Farley, his only daughter, and Hugo

Cornworthy, his private secretary.

Of these, Inspector Barnett was a discreet soldierly-looking

man. Dr Stillingfieet, whose professional manner was entirely

different from his telephonic style, was a tall, long-faced young

man of thirty. Mrs Farley was obviously very much younger

than her husband. She was a handsome dark-haired woman.

Her mouth was hard and her black eyes gave absolutely no due

to her emotions. She appeared perfectly self-possessed. Joanna

Farley had fair hair and a freckled face. The prominence of her

nose and chin was clearly inherited from her father. Her eyes

were intelligent and shrewd. Hugo Cornworthy was a good-looking

young fellow, very correctly dressed. He seemed in-telligent

and efficient.

After greetings and introductions, Poirot narrated simply

and clearly the circumstances of his visit and the story told him

by Benedict Farley. He could not complain of any lack of

interest.

'Most extraordinary story I've ever heard? said the in-spector.

'A dream, eh? Did you know anything about this, Mrs

Farley?'

She bowed her head.

'My husband mentioned it to me. It upset him very much. I-I

told him it was indigestion - his diet, you know, was very

peculiar- and suggested his calling in Dr Stillingfieet.'

The young man shook his head.

'He didn't consult me. From M. Poirot's story, I gather he

went to Harley Street.'

154

'I would like your advice on that point, Doctor,' said Poirot.

'Mr Farley told me that he consulted three specialists. What do

you think of the theories they advanced?'

Stillingtleet frowned.

'It's difficult to say. You've got to take into account that what

he passed on to you wasn't exactly what had been said to him. It

was a layman's interpretation.'

'You mean he had got the phraseology wrong?'

'Not exactly. I mean they would put a thing to him in

professional terms, he'd get the meaning a little distorted, and

then recast it in his own language.'

'So that what he told me was not really what the doctors said.'

'That's what it amounts to. He's just got it all a little wrong, if

you know what I mean.'

Poirot nodded thoughtfully. 'Is it known whom he con-suited?'

he asked.

Mrs Farley shook her head, and Joanna Parley remarked:

'None of us had any idea he had consulted anyone.'

'Did he speak toyou about his dream?' asked Poirot.

The girl shook her head.

'And you, Mr Comworthy?'

'No, he said nothing at all. I took down a letter to you at his

dictation, but I had no idea why he wished to consult you. I

thought it might possibly have something to do with some

business irregularity.'

Poirot asked: 'And now as to the actual facts of Mr Farley's

death?'

Inspector Barnett looked interrogativelit at Mrs Farley and at

Dr Stillingtleet, and then took upon himself the role of

spokesman.

'Mr Farley was in the habit of working in his own room on

the fixst floor every afternoon. I understand that there was a big

amalgamation of business in prospect '

He lo6ked at Hugo Comworthy who said, 'Consolidated

Coachlines.'

155

'In connection with that,' continued Inspector Barnett, 'Mr

Farley had agreed to give an interview to two members of the

Press. He very seldom did anything of the kind - only about

· once in five years, I understand. Accordingly two reporters,

one from the Associated Newsgroups, and one from

Amalgamated Press-sheets, arrived at a quarter past three by

appointment. They waited on the first floor outside Mr Farley's

door- which was the customary place for people to wait who

had an appointment with Mr Farley. At twenty past three a

messenger arrived from the office of Consolidated Coachlines

with some urgent papers. He was shown into Mr Farley's room

where he handed over the documents. Mr Farley accompanied

him to the door, and from there spoke to the two members of

the Press. He said:

'"I'm sorry, gentlemen, to have to keep you waiting, but I

have some urgent business to attend to. I will be as quick as I

'The two gentlemen, Mr Adams and Mr Stoddart, assured Mr

Farley that they would await his convenience. He went back into

his room, shut the door- and was never seen alive again!'

'Continue,' said Poirot.

'At a little after four o'clock,' went on the inspector, 'Mr

Comworthy here came out of his room which is next door to Mr

Farley's and was surprised to see the two reporters still waiting.

He wanted Mr'Farley's signature to some letters and thought he

had also better remind him that these two gentlemen were

waiting. He accordingly went into Mr Farley's room. To his

surprise he could not at fa'st see Mr Farley and thought the room