Hercule Poirot's Casebook

'At the bottom of the garden he could make his way out to a

main road. If he had a car waiting there, he would soon be out

of reach '

23

'But there are the police - the A.A. scouts '

Sir George interrupted.

'You forget, M. Poirot. We cannot risk publicity. If it were to

get out that these plans had been stolen, the result would be

extremely unfavourable to the Party.'

'Ah, yes,' said Poirot. 'One must remember La Politique. The great discretion must be observed. You send instead for

me. Ah well, perhaps it is simpler.'

'You are hopeful of success, M. Poirot?' Lord Mayfield

sounded a trifle incredulous.

The little man shrugged his shoulders.

'Why not? One has only to reason - to reflect.'

He paused a moment and then said:

'I would like now to speak to Mr Carlile.'

'Certainly.' Lord Mayfield rose. 'I asked him to wait up. He

will be somewhere at hand.'

He went out of the room.

Poirot looked at Sir George.

'Eh bien,' he said. 'What about this man on the terrace?'

'My dear M. Poirot. Don't ask me! I didn't see him, and I

can't describe him.'

Poirot leaned forward.

'So you have already said. But it is a little different from that

is it not?'

'what d'you mean?' asked Sir George abruptly.

'How shall I say it? Your disbelief, it is more profomaxt.'

Sir George started to speak, then stopped.

'But yes,' said Poirot encouragingly. 'Tell me. You are both

at the end of the terrace. Lord Mayfield sees a shadow slip from

the window and across the grass. Why do you not see that

shadow?'

Carrington stared at him.

'You've hit it, M. Poirot. I've been worrying about that ever

since. You see, I'd swear that no one did leave this window. I

though Mayfield had imagined it - branch of a tree waving something

of that kind. And then when we came in here and

24

found there had been a robbery, it seemed as though Mayfield

must have been right and I'd been wrong. And yet -'

Poirot smiled.

'And yet you still in your heart of hearts believe in the

evidence (the negative evidence) of your own eyes?'

'You're right, M. Poirot, I do.'

Poirot gave a sudden smile.

'How wise you are.'

Sir George said sharply:

'There were no footprints on the grass edge?'

Poirot nodded.

'Exactly. Lord Mayfield, he fancies he sees a shadow. Then

there comes the robbery and he is sure - but sure! It is no

longer a fancy - he actually saw the man. But that is not so. Me,

I do not concern myself much with footprints and such things

but for what it is worth we have that negative evidence. There

were no footprints on the grass. It had rained heavily this

evening. If a man had crossed the terrace to the grass this

evening his footprints would have shown.'

Sir George said, staring: 'But then - but then '

'It brings us back to the house. To the people in the house.'

He broke off as the door opened and Lord Maytield entered

with Mr Carlile.

Though still looking very pale and worried, the secretary had

regained a certain composure of manner. Adjusting his pincenez

he sat down and looked at Poirot inquiringly.

'How long had you been in this room when you heard the

scream, monsieur?'

Carlile considered.

'Between five and' ten minutes, I should say.'

'And before that there had been no disturbance of any kind?'

'No.'

'I understand that the house-party had been in one room for

the greater part of the evening.'

'Yes, the drawing-room.'

Poirot consulted his notebook.

'Sir George Carrington and his wife. Mrs Macatta. Mrs

25

Vandedyn. Mr Reggie Carrington. Lord Mayfield and your-self.

Is that right?'

'I myself was not in the drawing-room. I was working here

the greater part of the evening.'

Poirot turned to Lord Mayfield.

'Who went up to bed first?'

'Lady Julia Carrington, I think. As a matter of fact, the three

ladies went out together.'

'And then?'

'Mr Carlile came in and I told him to get out the papers as

Sir George and I would be along in a minute.'

'It was then that you decided to take a turn on the terrace?'

'It was.'

'Was anything said in Mrs Vanderlyn's hearing as to your

working in the study?'

'The matter was mentioned, yes.'

'But she was not in the room when you irtstnacted Mr Carlile

to get out the papers?'

'No.'

'Excuse me, Lord Mayfield,' said Carlile. 'Just after you had

said that, I collided with her in the doorway. She had come

back for a book.'

'So you think she might have overheard?'

'I think it quite possible, yes.'

'She came back for a book,' mused Poirot, 'IDid you fred her

her book, Lord Mayfield?'

'Yes, Reggie gave it to her.'

'Ah, yes, it is what you call the old gasp - no,, pardon, the old

wheeze - that - to come back for a book. It is; often useful!'

'You think it was deliberate?'

Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

'And after that, you two gentlemen [go outr on the terrace.

And Mrs Vandedyn?'

'She went off with her book.'

'And the young M. Reggie. He went to bectt also?'

'Yes.'

'And Mr Carlile he comes here and smraetirme between five

26

and ten minutes later he heard a scream. Continue, M. Carlile.

you heard a scream and you went out into the hall. Ah, perhaps

it would be simplest if you reproduced exactly your actions.'

Mr Carlile got up a little awkwardly.