Hercule Poirot's Casebook

'I agree. But someone might have come in through the study

window.'

'But that is just what you said did not happen?'

'I said that no one from outside could have come and left

without leaving marks on the grass. But it could have been

managed from inside the house. Someone could have gone

from his room by one of these windows, slipped along the

terrace, in at the study window, and back again in here.'

Mr Carlile objected:

'But Lord Mayfield and Sir George Carriugton were on

terrace.'

'They were on the terrace, yes, but they were en promenade:,

Sir George Carrington's eyes may be of the most reliable'

Poirot made a little bow - 'but he does not keep them in the

back of his head! The study window is at the extreme left of tbs:

terrace, the windows of this room come next, but the terrace

continues to the right past one, two, three, perhaps foul'

rooms?'

'Dining-room, billiard-room, morning room and library,'

said Lord Mayfield.

',And you walked up and down the terrace, how many times?'

At least five or sin.

30

'You see, it ia easy enough, the thief has only to watch for the

right moment!'

Carlile said slowly:

'You mean that when I was in the hall, talking to the French

girl, the thief was waiting in the drawing-room?'

'That is my suggestion. It is, of course, only a suggestion.'

'It doesn't sound very probable to me,' said Lord Mayfield.

'Too risky.'

The Air Marshall demurred.

'I don't agree with you, Charles. It's perfectly possible.

Wonder I hadn't the wits to think of it for myself.'

'So you see,' said Poirot, 'why I believe that the plans are still

in the house. The problem now is to fred them?

Sir George snorted.

'That's simple enough. Search everybody.'

Lord Mayfield made a movement of dissent, but Poirot

spoke before he could.

'No, no, it is not so simple as that. The person who took

those plans will anticipate that a search will be made and will

make quite sure that they are not found amongst his or her

belongings. They will have been hidden in neutral ground.'

'Do you suggest that we've got to go playing hide and seek all

over the bally house?'

Poirot smiled.

'No, no, we need not be so crude as that. We can arrive at the

hiding-place (or alternatively at the identify of the guilty

person) by reflection. That will simplify matters. In the

morning I would like an interview with every person in the

house. It would, I think, be unwise to seek those interviews

now.'

Lord Mayfield nodded.

'Cause too much comment,' he said, 'if we dragged everybody

out of their beds at three in the morning. In any case you'll

have to proceed with a good deal of camouflage, M. Poirot.

This matter has got to be kept dark.'

Poirot waved an airy hand.

'Leave it to Hercule Poirot. The lies I invent are always most

31

delicate anq most convincing. Tomorrow, then, I conduct rn

investigatio

· . . ess. But tonight, I should like to begin b lntervlewtnb. , e;,

, yuu, o, George and you, Lord Mayfield.'

He bowett to them both.

'You mean - alone?'

'That wa my meaning.'

,L, ord Mabffield raised his eyes slightly, then he said:

Certainly. I'll leave you alone with Sir George. When you want me, Yu'll find me in my study. Come, Carlile.'

He and the secretary went out, shutting the door behind

them.

Sir George sat down, reaching mechanically for a cigarette.

He turned a puzzled face to Poirot.

'You knoN,, he said slowly. 'I don't quite get this.'

'That is V%y simply explained,' said Poirot with a smile.

two words, to be accurate. Mrs Vanderlyn!'

'Oh,' said Carrington. 'I think I see. Mrs Vanderlyn?'

'Precisely, It might be, you see, that it would not be ver'

delicate to ak Lord Mayfield the question I want to ask. W

Mrs Vanderlyn? This lady, she is known to be a suspicious

character. Why, then, should she be here? I say to myself there

are three explanations. One, that Lord Mayfield has a penchan

for the lady (Mad that is why I seek to talk to you alone. I do not

wish to embtrrass him). Two, that Mrs Vanderlyn is perhaps

the dear friend of someone else in the house?'

'You can %unt me out!' said Sir George with a grin.

'Then, if reither of those cases is true, the question returns

in redoubled l?orce. Why Mrs Vanderlyn? And it seems to me I

perceive a sh.dowy answer. There was a reason. Her presence

at this parttular juncture was definitely desired by Lord

Mayfield for a special reason. Am I right?'

Sir Georg nodded.

foYou're quite right,' he said. 'Mayfield is too old a bird to

r her wiles. He wanted her here for quite another reason. It

was like this.

He retaileq the conversation that had taken place at the

dinner-table. Poirot listened attentively.

32

'Ah,' he said. 'I comprehend now. Nevertheless, it seems

that the lady has turned the tables on you both rather neatly?

Sir George swore freely.

Poirot watched him with some slight amusement, then he

said:

'You do not doubt that this theft is her doing - I mean, that

she is responsible for it, whether or no she played an active

part?'

Sir George stared.

'Of course not! There isn't any doubt of that. Why, who else

would have any interest in stealing those plans?'