Hercule Poirot's Casebook

'What were your instructions, Holmes, on the Thursday

night when I came here?'

Holmes cleared his throat, then said:

'Mter dinner Mr Comworthy told me that Mr Farley ex-pected

a Mr Hercul Poirot at nine-thirty. I was to ascertain the

gentleman's name, and I was to verify the information by

glancing at a letter. Then I was to show him up to Mr

Cornworthy's room.'

'Were you also told to knock on the door?'

An expression of distaste crossed the butler's countenance.

'That was one of Mr Farley's orders. I was always to knock

when introducing visitors- business visitors, that is,' he added.

'Ah, that puled me! Were you given any other instructions

concerning me?'

'No, sir. When Mr Cornworthy had told me what I have just

repeated to you he went out.'

'what time was that?'

'Ten minutes to nine, sir.'

'Did you see Mr Farley after that?'

'Yes, sir, I took him up a glass of hot water as usual at nine

o'clock.'

'Was he then in his own room or in Mr Comworthy's?'

'He was in his own room, sir.'

'You noticed nothing unusual about that room?'

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'Unusual? No, sir.'

'Where were Mrs Farley and Miss Farley?'

'They had gone to the theatre, sir.'

'Thank you, Holmes, that will do.'

Holmes bowed and left the room. Poirot turned to Ha

millionaire's widow.

'One more question, Mrs Farley. Had your husband goc

sight?'

'No. Not without his glasses.'

'He was very shortsighted?'

'Oh, yes, he was quite helpless without his spectacles.'

'He had several pairs of glasses?'

'yes.'

'Ah,' said Poirot. He leaned back. 'I think that that con

cludes the case .... '

There was silence in. the room. They were all looking at th

little man who sat there complacently stroking his moustache

On the inspector's face was perplexity, Dr S 'tdlingfieet was

frowning, Cornworthy merely stared uncomprehendingly, Mr

Farley gazed in blank astonishment, Joanna Farley look

eager.

Mrs Farley broke the silence.

'I don't understand, M. Poirot.' Her voice was fretful. 'The

dream '

'Yes,' said Poirot. 'That dream was very important.'

Mrs Farley shivered. She said:

'I've never believed in anything supernatural before - but

now- to dream it night after night beforehand-'

'It's extraordinary,' said S 'tfilingfieet. 'Extraordinary! If we

hadn't got your word for it, Poirot, and if you hadn't had it

straight from the horse's mouth -' he coughed in

embarrassment, and readopting his professional manner, 'I beg

your pardon, Mrs Farley. If Mr Farley himself had not told that

story-'

'Exactly,' said Poirot. His eyes, which had been half-closed,

164

opened suddenly. They were very green. '/f Benedict Farley

hadn't told me-'

He paused a minute, looking round at a circle of blank faces.

'There are certain things, you comprehend, that happened

that evening which I was quite at a loss to explain. First, why

make such a point of my bringing that letter with me?'

'Identification,' suggested Cornworthy.

'No, no, my dear young man. Really that idea is too

ridiculous. There must be some much more valid reason. For

not only did Mr Farley require to see that letter produced, but

he definitely demanded that I should leave it behind me. And

moreover even then he did not destroy it! It was found among

his papers this afternoon. Why did he keep it?'

Joanna Fafiey's voice broke in. 'He wanted, in case anything

happened to him, that the facts of his strange dream should be

made known.'

Poirot nodded approvingly.

'You are astute, Mademoiselle. That must be- that can only

be- the point of the keeping of the letter. When Mr Farley was

dead, the story of that strange dream was to be told! That dream

was very important. That dream, Mademoiselle, was vita/!

'I will come now,' he went on, 'to the second point. After

hearing his story I ask Mr Farley to show me the desk and the

revolver. He seems about to get up to do so, then suddenly

refuses. Why did he refuse?'

· This time no one advanced an answer.

'I will put that question differently. What was there in that

next room that Mr Farley did not want me to see?'

There was still silence.

'Yes,' said Poirot, 'it is difficult, that. And yet there was some

reason - some urgent reason why Mr Farley received me in his

secretary's room and refused point blank to take me into his

own room. There was something in that room he could not affora to

2ve me see.

'And now I come to the third inexplicable thing that

165

happened on that evening. Mr Farley, just as I was leaving,

requested me to hand him the letter I had received. By

inadvertence I handed him a communication from my

laundress. He glanced at it and laid it down beside him. Jtt

before I left the room I discovered my error- and rectified i:!

After that I left the house and - I admit it- I was completely at seal The whole affair and especially that last inddent seemed to

me quite inexplicable.'

He looked round from one to the other.

'You do not see?'

Stillingfieet said, 'I don't really see how your laundre.,;:;

comes into it, Poirot .'

'My laundress,' said Poirot, 'was very important. That

miserable woman who ruins my collars, was, for the first time in