The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories

had disappeared from a drawer in the cabin! The notes had been traced! 71hey had not been traced! Jewelry worth a fortUne had been taken! No jewelry had been taken at all! A steward had been arrested and had confesMed to the murder! "What is the truth of it all?" demanded Miss Ellie Henderson, wayla.3,ing Poirot. Her face was pale and troubled. "My dear lady, how %hould I know?" "Of course you kno,,, said Miss Henderson. It was late in the e,'vening. Most people had retired to their cabins, llVliss Henderson led Poirot to a couple of deck chatirs on the sheltered side of the ship. "Now tell me,",, she commanded. Poirot surveyed her thoughtfully' "It's an interesting case," he said. "Is it true that sh% had some very valuable jewelry stolen?" Poirot shook his he:ad. "No. No jewelry was taken. A small amount of loose cash that was in a drawer has disappearedl, though." "I'll never feel safe n a ship again," said Miss Henderson with a shiver. "Any clue as to which of those coffee-colored hr.utes did it?" "No," said Hercule i Poirot. "The whole thing is

rather--strange." "What do you mean ?,, asked Ellie sharply. Poirot spread out his hands. "Eh bien--take the facts. Mrs. Clappe,rton had been dead at least five hours when she Was found. Some money had' disappeared. A string %f beads was on the floor by her bed. The door Was locked and the key was

208 Agatha Christie

missing. The window--windov, not port-hole--gives on the deck and was open."

"Well?" asked the woman impatiently.

"Do you not think it is curious for a murder to be committed under those particular circum-stances? Remember that the postcard sellers, money changers and bead sellers who are allowed on board are all well known to the police."

"The stewards usually lock your cabin, all the same,', Ellie pointed out.

"Yes, to prevent any chance of petty pilfering. But this--was murder."

"What exactly are you thinking of, M. Poirot?" Her Voice sounded a little breathless.

"I am thinking of the locked door."

Miss Henderson considered this. "I don't see anything in that. The man left by the door, locked it and took the key with him so as to avoid having the murder discovered too soon. Quite intelligent of hire, for it wasn't discovered until four o'clock in the afternoon."

"No, no, Mademoiselle, you don't appreciate the POint I'm trying to make. I'm not worried as

to how he got out, but as to how he got in." "The window of course."

"C'est possible. But it would be a very narrow fit--arid there were people passing up and down the deck all the time, remember."

"Then through the door," said Miss Henderson impatiently.

"But you forget, Mademoiselle. Mrs. Clapper-ton had locked the door on the inside. She had done so before Colonel Clapperton left the boat this raorning. He actually tried it--so we know that is so."

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"Nonsense. It probably stuck--or he didn't turn the handle properly." "But it does not rest on his word. We actually heard Mrs. Clapperton herself say so." "We?" "Miss Mooney, Miss Cregan, Colonel Clapper-. ton and myself." Ellie Henderson tapped a neatly shod foot. She did not speak for a moment or two. Then she said in a slightly irritable tone: "Well--what exactly do you deduce from that? If Mrs. Clappcrton could lock the door she could

unlock it too, I suppose."

"Precisely, precisely." Poirot turned a beaming face upon her. "And you see where that leads us. Mrs. Clapperton unlocked the door and let the murderer in. Now would she be likely to do that for a bead seller?" Ellic objected: "She might not have known who it was. He may have knocked--she got up and opened the door--and he forced his way in and killed her." POirot shook his head. "Au contraire. She was lying peacefully in bed when she was stabbed." Miss Henderson stared at him. "What's your idea?" she asked abruptly. Poirot smiled. "Well, it looks, does it not, as though she knew the person she admitted .... " "You mean," said Miss Henderson and her voice sounded a little harsh, "that the murderer is a passenger on the ship?" Poirot nodded. "It seems indicated." "And the string of beads left on the floor was a blind?" "Precisely."

210 Agatha Christie