'No, as a matter of fact, I never came across Allen.'
'But you know something about him?'
'Heard he was by way of being a bad hat. Of course, that was
only rumour.'
'Mrs Allen did not say anything?'
'Never talked about him.'
'You were on intimate terms with her?'
Major Eustace shrugged his shoulders.
'We were old friends, you know, old friends. But we didn't
see each other very often.'
'But you did see her that last evening? The evening of
November f'tfth? '
'Yes, as a matter of fact, I did.'
'You called at her house, I think.'
Major Eustace nodded. His voice took on a gentle, regretful
note.
'Yes, she asked me to advise her about some investments. Of
course, I can see what you're driving at - her state of mind - aH
that sort of thing. Well, really, it's very difficult to say. Her
manner seemed normal enough and yet she was a bit jumpy,
come to think of it.'
'But she gave you no hint as to what she contemplated
doing?'
'Not the least in the world. As a matter of fact, when I said
goodbye I said I'd ring her up soon and we'd do a show
together.'
'You said you'd ring her up. Those were your last words?'
'Yes.'
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'Curious. I have information that you said something quite
different.'
Eustace changed colour.
'Well, of course, I can't remember the exact words.'
'My information is that what you actually said was, "Well,
tin)k it over and let me know."'
'Let me see, yes I believe you're right. Not exactly that. I
think I was suggesting she should let me know when she was
,flee.'
'Not quite the same thing, is it?' said Japp.
Major Eustace shrugged his shoulders.
'My dear fellow, you can't expect a man to remember word
for word what he said on any given occasion.'
'And what did Mrs Allen reply?'
'She said she'd give .me a ring. That is, as near as I can
remember.'
'And then you said, ",'Ill right. So long."' 'Probably. Something of the kind anyway.'
Japp said quietly:
'You say that Mrs Allen asked you to advise her about her
investments. Did she, by any chance, emrust you with the sum of
two hundred pounds in cash to invest for her?'
Eustace's face flushed a dark purple. He leaned forward and
growled out:
'What the devil do you mean by that?'
'Did she or did she not?'
'That's my business, Mr Chief Inspector.'
Japp said quietly:
'Mrs Allen drew out the sum of two hundred pounds in cash
from her bank. Some of the money was in five-pound notes.
The numbers of these can, of course, be traced.'
'What if she did?'
'Was the money for investment - or was it - blackmail,
Major Eustace?'
'That's a preposterous idea. What next will you suggest?'
Japp said in his most official manner:
'I think, Major Eustace, that at this point I must ask you if
101
you are willing to come to Scotland Yard and make a statement.
There is, of course, no compulsion and you can, if you prefer
have your solicitor present.'
'Solicitor? What the devil should I want with a solicitor:
And what are you cautioning me for?'
'I am inquiring into the circumstances of the death of Mrs
Allen.'
'Good God, man, you don't suppose - Why, that's non-sense!
Look here, what happened was this. I called round to see
Barbara by appointment...'
'That was at what time?'
'At about half-past nine, I should say. We sat and talked...'
'And smoked?'
'Yes, and smoked. Anything damaging in that?' demanded
'Where did this conversation take place?'
'In the sitting-room. Left of the door as you go in. We talked
together quite amicably, as I say. I left a little before half-past
ten. I stayed for a minute on the doorstep for a few !as
words...'
'Last words - precisely,' murmured Poirot.
'Who areyou, I'd like to know?' Eustace turned and spat he
words at him. 'Some kind of damned dago! What are
butting in for?'
'I am Hercule Poirot,' said the little man with dignity.
'I don't care if you are the Achilles statue. As I say, Barbara
and I parted quite amicably. I drove straight to the Far East
Club. Got there at five and twenty to eleven and went straight
up to the card-room. Stayed there playing bridge until one-thirty.
Now then, put that in your pipe and smoke it.'
'I do not smoke the pipe,' said Poirot. 'It is a pretty alibi you
have the'e.'
'It should be a pretty cast iron one anyway! Now then, sir,'
he looked at Japp. 'Are you satisfied?'
'You remained in the sitting-room throughout your vist?'
'Yes.'
'You did not go upstairs to Mrs Allen's own boudoir?'
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'No, I tell you. We stayed in the one room and'didn't leave
it.'
Japp looked at him thoughtfully for a minute or two. Then
he said:
'How many sets of cuff links have you?'
'Cuff links? Cuff links? What's that got to do with it?'
'You are not bound to answer the question, of course.'
'Answer it? I don't mind answering it. I've got nothing to
hide. And I shall demand an apology. There are these ...' he
stretched out his arms.
Japp noted the gold and platinum with a nod.
'And I've got these.'
He rose, opened a drawer and taking out a case, he opened it
and shoved it rudely almost under Japp's nose.
'Very nice design,' said the chief inspector. 'I see one is
broken - bit of enamel chipped off.'
'What of it?'
'You don't remember when that happened, I suppose?'
'A day or two ago, not longer.'
'Would you be surprised to hear that it happened when you
were visiting Mrs Allen?'
'Why shouldn't it? I've not denied that I was there.' The
major spoke haughtily. He continued to bluster, to act the part
of the justly indignant man, but his hands were trembling.
Japp leaned forward and said with emphasis:
'Yes, but that bit of cuff link wasn't found in the sitting-room.
It was found upstairs in Mrs Allen's boudoir - there in the
room where she was killed, and where a man sat smoking the
same kind of dgarettes as you smoke.'
The shot told. Eustace fell back into his chair. His eyes went
from side to side. The collapse of the bully and the appearance
of the craven was not a pretty sight.
'You've got nothing on me.' His voice was almost a whine.
'You're trying to frame me ... But you can't do it. I've got an
alibi ... I never came near the house again that night...'
Poirot in his mm, spoke.
'No, you did not come near the house again... You did not
103
need to... For perhaps Mrs Allen was already dead when you
leftit.'
'That's impossible - i
mpossible - She was just inside the
door - she spoke to me - People must have heard her - seen
her...'
Poirot said softly:
'They heard you speaking to her.., and pretending to wait
for her answer and then speaking again... It is an old trick that
... People may have assumed she was there, but they did not see her, because they could not even say whether she was wean'ng
evening dress or not - not even mention what colour she was
wearing...'
'My God - it isn't true - it isn't true-'
He was shaking now - collapsed...
Japp looked at him with disgust. He spoke crisply.
'I'll have to ask you, si?, to come with me.'
'You're arresting me?'
'Detained for inquiry - we'll put it that way.'
The silence was broken with a long, shuddering sigh. The
despairing voice of the erstwhile blustering Major Eustace
said:
'I'm sunk...'
Hercule Poirot rubbed his hands together and smiled
cheerfully. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
CHAPTER 9 'Pretty
the way he went all to pieces,' said Japp
professional appreciation, later that day.
He and Poirot were driving in a car along the Bromp'.on
Road.
'He knew the game was up,' said Poirot absently.
'We've got plenty on him,' said Japp. 'Two or three different
104
aliases, a tricky business over a cheque, and a very nice affair
when he stayed at the Ritz and called himself Colonel de Bathe.
Swindled half a dozen Piccadilly tradesmen. We're holding
him on that charge for the moment - until we get this affair
finally squared up. What's the idea of this rush to the country,
old man?'
'My friend, an affair must be rounded off properly.
Everything must be explained. I am on the quest of the
mystery you suggested. The Mystery of the Missing AttacheCase.'
'The
Mystery of the Small Attache-Case - that's what I
called it - It isn't missing that I know of.'
'Wait, mon am/.?
The car turned into the mews. At the door of No. 14, Jane
Plenderleith was just alighting from a small Austin Seven. She
was in golfing clothes.
She looked from one to the other of the two men, then
produced a key and opened the door.
'Come in, won't you?'
She led the way. Japp followed her into the sitting=room.
Poirot remained for a minute or two in the hall, muttering
something about:
'C'est embtant - how difficult to get out of these sleeves.'
In a moment or two he also entered the sitting=room minus
his overcoat but Japp's lips twitched under his moustache. He
had heard the very faint squeak of an opening cupboard door.
Japp threw Poirot an inquiring glance and the other gave a
hardly perceptible nod.
'We won't detain you, Miss Plenderleith,' said Japp briskly.
'Only came to ask if you could tell us the name of Mrs Allen's
solicitor.'
i 'Her solicitor?' The girl shook her head. 'I dont even know
t she had one.'
Well, when she rented this house with you, someone must
have drawn up the agreement?'
'No, I don't think so. You see, I took the house, the lease is
105
in my name. Barbara paid me half the rent. It was quite
informal.'
'I see. Oh! well, I suppose there's nothing doing then.'
'I'm sorry I can't help you,' said Jane politely.
'It doesn't really matter very much.' Japp turned towards
the door. 'Been playing golf?.'
'Yes.' She flushed. 'I suppose it seems rather heartless to
you. But as a matter of fact it got me down rather, being here
in this house. I felt I must go out and do something - tire myself
- or I'd choke?
She spoke with intensity.
Poirot said quickly:
'I comprehend, mademoiselle. It is most understandable most
natural. To sit in this house and think - no, it would not
be pleasant.'
'So long as you understand,' said Jane'shortly.
'You belong to a club?'
'Yes, I play at Wentworth.'
'It has been a pleasant day,' said Poirot.
'Alas, there are few leaves left on the trees now! A week ago
the woods were magnificent.'
'It was quite lovely today.'
'Good afternoon, Miss Plenderleith,' said Japp formally.
'I'll let you know when there's anything de£mite. As a matter of
fact we have got a man detained on suspicion.'
'What man?'
She looked at them eagerly.
'Major Eustace.'
She nodded and turned away, stooping down to put a match
to the fire.
'Well?' said Japp as the car turned the corner of the mews.
Poirot grinned.
'It was quite simple. The key was in the door this time.'
'And-?'
Poirot smiled.
'Eh,/den, the golf clubs had gone'
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'Naturally. The girl isn't a fool, whatever else she is. Anything else gone?'
Poirot nodded his head.
'Yes, my friend - the little attache-case!'
The accelerator leaped under Japp's foot.
'Damnation!' he said. 'I knew there was something. But what
the devil is it? I searched that case pretty thoroughly.'
'My poor Japp - but it is - how do you say, "obvious, my
dear Watson"?'
Japp threw him an exasperated look.
'Where are we going?' he asked.
Poirot consulted his watch.
'It is not yet four o'clock. We could get to Wentworth, I
think, before it is dark.'
'Do you think she really went there?'
'I think so - yes. She would know that we might make
inquiries. Oh, yes, I think we will f'md that she has been there.'
Japp grunted.
'Oh well, come on.' He threaded his way dexterously
through the traffic. 'Though what this attachi-case business
has to do with the crime I can't imagine. I can't see that it's got
anything at all to do with it.'"
'Predsely, my friend, I agree with you - it has nothing to do
with it.'
'Then why - No, don't tell me! Order and method and
everything nicely rounded offi Oh, well, it's a f'me day.'
The car was a fast one. They arrived at Wentworth Golf
Club a little after half-past four. There was no great congestion
there on a week day.
Poirot went straight to the caddie-master and asked for Miss
Plenderleith's dubs. She would be playing on a different
course tomorrow, he explained.
The caddie-master raised his voice and a boy sorted through
some golf dubs standing in a corner. He finally produced a bag
bearing the initials, J.P.
'Thank you,' said Poirot. He moved away, then turned
107
carelessly and asked, 'She did not leave with you a small
attache-case also, did she?'
'Not today, sir. May have left it in the clubhouse.'
'She was down here today?'
'Oh, yes, I saw her.'
'Which caddie did she have, do you know? She's mislaid an
attache-case and can't remember where she had it last.'
&
nbsp; 'She didn't take a caddie. She came in here and bought a
couple of balls. Just took out a couple of irons. I rather fancy
she had a little case in her hand then.'
Poirot turned away with a word of thanks. The two men
walked round the clubhouse. Poirot stood a moment admiring
the view.
'It is beautiful, is it not, the dark pine trees - and then rile
lake. Yes, the lake -'
Japp gave him a quick glance.
'That's the idea, is it?'
Poirot smiled.
'I think it possible that someone may have seen something.
I should set the inquiries in motion if I were you.'
CHAPTER 10
Poirot stepped back, his head a little on one side as he surveyed
the arrangement of the room. A chair here - another chair
there. Yes, that was very nice. And now a ring at the bell - that
would be Japp.
The Scotland Yard man came in alertly. '
'Quite right, old cock! Straight from the horse's mouth. A
young woman was seen to throw something into the lake at
Wentworth yesterday. Description of her answers to Jane
Plenderleith. We managed to fish it up without much ditticulty.
A lot of reeds just there.'
108
'And it was?'
'It was the attache-case all right! But why, in heaven's name?
Well, it beats me! Nothing inside it - not even the magazines.