Poirot Investigates - Agatha Christie - 4

Disc four, the case of the Missing Will. The problem presented to us
by Miss Violet Marsh made rather a pleasant change from our usual routine work.
Quire had received a brisk and businesslike note from the lady asking for an appointment,
and he had replied, asking her to call upon him at eleven o'clock
the following day. She arrived punctually, a tall, handsome young woman,
plainly but neatly dressed, with an assured and businesslike manner, clearly a young
woman who meant to get on in the world. I am not a great
admirer of the so called new woman myself, and in spite of her good
looks, I was not particularly prepossessed in her favor. My businesses of a
somewhat unusual nature. Monsieur Pouiro, she began after she had accepted a chair.
I had better begin at the beginning and tell you the whole story,
if you please, mademoiselle. I am an orphan. My father was one
of two brothers, sons of a small yeoman farmer in Devonshire. The farm
was a poor one, and the elder brother, Andrew, emigrated to Australia,
where he did very well. Indeed, and by means of successful speculation
in Land became a very rich man. The younger brother, Roger, my
father, had no leanings towards the agricultural life. He managed to educate himself
a little and obtained a post as a clerk with a small firm. He
married slightly above him. My mother was the daughter of a poor artist.
My father died when I was six years old. When I was fourteen,
my mother followed him to the grave. My only living relation then was my
uncle Andrew, who had recently returned from Australia and bought a small place,
Crabtree Manner, in his native county. He was exceedingly kind to his brother's
orphan child, took me to live with him and treated me in every way
as though I was his own daughter. Crabtree Manner, in spite of its
name, is really only an old farmhouse. Farming was in my uncle's blood,
and he was intensely interested in various modern farming experiments. Although kindness itself
to me, he had certain peculiar and deeply rooted ideas as to the upbringing
of women. Himself a man of little or no education, though possessing remarkable
shrewdness, he placed little value on what he called book knowledge. He was
especially opposed to the education of women. In his opinion, girls should learn
practical housework and dairy work, be useful about the home, and have as
little to do with book learning as possible. But he proposed to bring me
up on these lines. To my bitter disappointment and annoyance, I rebelled.
Frankly. I know that I possessed a good brain and had absolutely no talent
for domestic duties. My uncle and I had many bitter arguments on the subject,
for though much attached to each other, we were both self willed.
I was lucky enough to win a scholarship, and up to a certain point,
was successful in getting my own way. The crisis arose when I resolved
to go to Girton. I had a little money of my own left me
by my mother, and I was quite determined to make the best use of
the gifts Guard had given me. I had one long final argument with my
uncle. He put the facts plainly before me. He had no other relations,
and he had intended me to be his sole heiress. As I have
told you, he was a very rich man. If I persisted in these
new fangled notions of mine. However, I need look for nothing from him.
I remained polite but firm. I should always be deeply attached to him,
I told him, but I must need my own life, and we
parted on that note. You fancy your brain, my girl, were his
last words. I've no book learning, but for all that, I'll pit
mine against yours. Any day we'll see what we shall see. Well that
was nine years ago. I have stayed with him for a weekend occasionally,
and our relations were perfectly amicable. Though his views remained unaltered. He never
referred to my having matriculated, nor to my bachelor of science. For the
last three years, his health had been failing, and a month ago he
died. I am now coming to the point of my visit. My uncle
left a most extraordinary will. By its terms crabtree manner, and its contents
are to be at my disposal for a year from his death, during which
time my clever niece may prove her wits. The actual words run at the
end of that period, my wits having proved better than hers, the house
and all my uncle's large fortune passed to various charitable institutions. AH let ease
a little hard on you, mademoiselle, seeing that you were miss your mush's
only blood relation. Well, I do not look on it that way,
Uncle Andrew warned me fairly, and I chose my own path, since I
would not fall in with his wishes. He was a perfect liberty to leave
his money to whom he pleased. Was the will drawn up by a lawyer?
No, it was written on a printed will form and witnessed by the
man and his wife who live in the house and do for my uncle.
There might be a possibility of upsetting such a will. Oh, I would
not even attempt to do such a thing. Do you regard it then,
as a spotting challenge on the part of your uncle? That is exactly how
I look upon it. It dares that interpretation, suddenly, said Quiro thoughtfully.
Somewhere in this rambling old manor house, your uncle has concealed either a
sum of money in notes, or possibly a second will, and has given
you one year in which to exercise your ingenuity to find it exactly, Monsieur
Puiro, And I am paying you the compliment of assuming that your ingenuity will
be greater than mine. Ahah. But that is very charming of you,
eh, my gracells are at your disposal. You have made no such yourself,
well, only a cursory one. But I have too much respect for
my uncle's undoubted abilities to fancy that the task will be an easy one.
Have you the will or copy of it with you? Miss marsh handed the
document across the table. Puiro ran through it, nodding to himself, hmm.
Made three years ago, they did much the twenty fifth, and the
time is given also eleven A m ah. That is very suggestive. It
narrows the field of such assuredly. It is another will we have to seek.
For a will made even half an hour later would upset this. A
bien, mademoiselle. It is a problem charming and ingenious that you have presented
to me here. I shall have all the pleasure in the world in serving
it for you. Guaranteed that your uncle was a man of ability, his
gret sales cannot have been as the quality of acute wellows. Really, Puiro's
vanity is blatant, and fortunately I have nothing of moment on hand. At
a minute, Hastings and I will go down to Crabtree manner to night.
The man and wife who attended on your uncle are still there, I presume.
Oh, yes, their name is Baker. The following morning saw us
started on the hunt proper. We had arrived late the night before. Mister
and Missus Baker, having received a telegram from Miss March, were expecting us.
They are a pleasant couple, the man gnarled and pink cheeked like a
shriveled Pippin, and his wife a woman of vast proportions and true Devonshire calm.
Tired with our journey and the eight mile drive from the station, we
had retired at once to bed after supper of roast chicken, apple pie and
Devonshire cream. We had now disposed of an excellent breakfast and were sitting in
a small paneled room which had been the late mister Marsh's study and living room.
A roll top desk stuffed with papers, all neatly docketed, stood against
the wall, and a big leather arm chair showed plainly that it had been
its owner's constant resting place. A big chintz covered settee ran along the opposite
wall, and the deep low window seats were covered with the same faded chintz
of an old fashioned pattern. Ebier mon Ami, said Puiro, lighting one
of his tiny cigarettes. We must map out our plan of campaign. Already
I have made a rough survey of the house, but I am of opinion
that any clue will be found in this room. We shall have to go
through the documents in the desk with meticulous care, and naturally I do not
expect to find the will among them. But it is likely that some apparently
innocent paper may conceal the clue to its hiding place. But first we must
have a little information. Ring the bell, I pray of you. I
did so. While we were waiting for it to be answered, Puaro walked
up and down, looking about him approvingly. A man of method, this
is, Monsieur marsh. See how neatly the packets of papers are ducketed,
and then the key to each drawer has its ivory level. So has the
key of the china cabinet turned the wall. And see with what precision the
china within it are arranged. Ah, it rejoices the heart. Nothing here
offends the eye. He came to an abrupt pause as his eye was caught
by the key of the desk itself, to which a dirty envelope was fixed
Quiot frowned it and withdrew it from the lock. On it was scrawled the
words key of roll top desk in a crabbed handwriting, quite unlike the neat
superscriptions on the other keys. M an alien note, said Puio, frowning,
I could swear that here we have no longer the personality of Monsieur Marsh.
But who else has been in the house only miss Marsh, and she,
if I mistake not, is also a young lady of method and order.
Baker came in answer to the bell, I will you fetch madame your
wife and answer a few questions. Baker departed and in a few moments returned
with Missus Baker wiping her hands on her apron and beaming all over her face.
In a few clear Wordsquaro set forth the object of his mission. The
Bakers were immediately sympathetic. Oh us don't want to see miss Violet done out
of what's hers, declared the woman cruel heart will be for hospitals to get
all. Quaro proceeded with his questions, Yes, mister, and Missus Baker
remembered perfectly witnessing the will Baker had previously been sent into the neighboring town to
get two printed will forms, do, said Quaro sharply, Oh, yes,
sir, for safety, like I suppose, in case he should spoil
one. And sure enough so he did. Do us had signed one?
And what time of day was that? Baker scratched his head, but his
wife was quicker. Ah, why to be sure? I just put the
milk on for the cocoa at eleven, don't you remember it'll all bawled over
on the stove when it's got back to the kitchen. And afterwards a twould
be about an hour later. I's had to go in again. I've made
a mistake, says old Master. Had to tear the whole thing up.
I'll trouble you to sign again, and us did, and afterwards Master give
us a tidy sum of money. Now I've left you nothing in my will,
says he. But each year I live, you'll have this to be
a nest egg when I'm gone, And sure enough so he did. Quarre
reflected, after you had signed the second time, what did monsieur marche do
do you know? Oh went out to the village to pay traisement books.
Hmmm, that did not sound very promising, Quiro tried another tack. He
held out the key of the desk. Is that your master's writing? Now
I may have imagined it, but I fancied that. A moment or two
elapsed before Baker replied, yes, sir, it is. He's lying.
I thought, But why has your muster led to the house. Have there
been any strangers in it during the last three years? No, sir,
no visitors, only miss Violett. No strangers of any kind been inside his
room? No, sir, Oh, now you forget the workman. Jim,
his wife reminded him workmen. Quaro wheeled round on her. What workmen?
The woman explained that about two years and a half ago, workmen had
been in the house to do certain repairs. She was quite vague as to
what the repairs were. Her view seemed to be that the whole thing was
a fad of her master's and quite unnecessary the time the workman had been in
the study. But what they had done there she couldn't say, as her
master had not let either of them into the room while the work was in
progress. Unfortunately, they could not remember the name of the firm employed,
beyond the fact that it was a Plymouth one. Ah, we progress hastings,
said Puire, rubbing his hands as the bakers left the room. Clearly,
he made a second will and then had workmen from plymouthin to make a
suitable hiding place. Instead of wasting time taking up the floor and tapping the
walls, we will go to Plymouth. With a little trouble, we were
able to get the information we wanted. After one or two essays we found
the firm employed by mister Marsh. Their employees had all been with them many
years, and it was easy to find the two men who had worked under
mister Marsh's orders. They remembered the job perfectly. Among various other minor jobs.
They had taken up one of the bricks of the old fashioned fireplace,
made a cavity beneath, and so cut the brick that it was impossible to
see the join. By pressing on the second brick from the end, the
whole thing was raised. It had been quite a complicated piece of work,
and the old gentleman had been very fussy about it. Our informant was a
man called Coggan, a big, gaunt man with a grizzled mustache. He
seemed an intelligent fellow. We returned to crabtree manner in high spirits, and
locking the study door, proceeded to put our newly acquired knowledge into effect.
It was impossible to see any sign on the bricks, but when we pressed
in the manner indicated a deep cavity was at once disclosed. Eagerly, Puiot
plunged in his hand. Suddenly his face fell from complacent elation to consternation.
All he held was a charred fragment of stiff paper, and but for it,
the cavity was empty. Sacre, cried Puio angrily. Some one has
been before us. We examined the scrap of paper anxiously. Clearly it was
a fragment of what we sought. A portion of Baker's signature remained, but
no indication of what the terms of the will had been. Quiros sat back
on his heels. His expression would have been comical if we had not been
so overcome. I understand it not. He growled, Who destroyed this?
And what was their object? The Baker's, I suggested bacois, neither will
makes any provision for them, and they are more likely to be kept on
with me smash than if the place became the property of a hospital. How
could he be to any one's advantage to destroy the will the hospitals benefit?
Yes, but one cannot suspect institutions. Or perhaps the old man changed his
mind and destroyed it himself, I suggested. Quaro rose to his feet,
dusting his knees with his usual care. HM that may be, he admitted,
one your more sensible observations, histings, Well, we can do no
more here. We have done all that motal man can do. We have
successfully pitied our wits against the late Andro Marshes, but unfortunately his niece is
no better off for our success. By driving to the station at once,
we were just able to catch a train to London, though not the Principal
Express. Puio was sad and dissatisfied. For my part, I was tired
and dozed in a corner. Suddenly, as we were just moving out of
Taunton, Puio uttered a piercing squeal. W hastings, awake and jump but
jump, I see. Before I knew where I was, we were standing
on the platform, bare headed and minus other leases while the train disappeared into
the night. I was furious, but Puio paid no attention. Im Basil
that I have been he cried, triple im basil, Not again, will
I vant my little gracelles. Well that's a good job at any rate,
I said, grumpily, but what is this all about? As usual,
when following out his own ideas, Puaro paid absolutely no attention to me.
The tradesmen's books, I have left them entirely out of a count yes,
but where where? Never mind, I cannot be mistaken. We must return
at once. Easier said than done. We managed to get a slow train
to Exeter and ere Puio had a car. We arrived back at Crabtree Manor
in the small hours of the morning. I pass over the bewilderment of the
bakers when we had at last aroused them. Paying no attention to anybody,
Puiro strode at once to the study. I have been not a triple imbasile,
but thirty six times one, my friend, he deigned to remark.
Now, behold, going straight to the desk, he drew out the key
and detached the envelope from it. I stared at him stupidly. How could
he possibly hope to find a big will form in that tiny envelope? With
great care, he cut open the envelope, laying it out flat. Then
he lighted the fire and held the plane inside surface of the envelope to the
flame. In a few minutes, faint characters began to appear. Look,
mon Ami, cried Pwiot in triumph. I looked. There were just a
few lines of faint writing, stating briefly that he left everything to his niece
Violet Marsh. It was dated March the twenty fifth, twelve thirty p m.
And witnessed by Albert Pike, confectioner, and Jesse Pike, married woman.
But is it legal, I gasped, Well, as far as I
know, there is no law against writing your will in a blend of disappearing
and sympathetic ink. Ye, the intention of the testator is clear, and
the beneficiary is his only living relation. Ah. But the cleverness of him,
he foresaw every step that as such a would take, that I miserable,
imbacile took. He gets two will forms, makes the servants sign twice,
then sallies that with his will written on the inside of a dorty envelope
and a fountain pen containing his little ink mixture m On some excuse, he
gets the confectioner and his wife to sign their names under his own signature.
Then he ties it to the key of his desk and chuckles to himself.
If his niece sees through his little ruse, she will have justified her choice
of life and the laborate education, and be thoroughly welcomed to his money.
But she didn't see through it, did she? I said slowly? It
seems rather unfair. The old man really won. Ah, But no his
things. It is your wits that go astray. Miss Marsh proved the unis
of her wits and the value of the higher education for women, by at
once putting the matter in my hands. Always employ the expert. She has
amply proved her right to the money. When I wonder, I very much
wonder what old Andrew Marte would have thought the mystery of Hunter's Lodge at all,
murmured Puaro, it is possible that I should not die this time,
coming from a convalescent influenza patient. I hailed the remark as showing a beneficial
optimism. I myself had been the first sufferer from the disease. Puio,
in his turn, had gone down. He was now sitting up in bed,
propped up with pillows. His head muffled in a woolen shawl, and
was slowly sipping a particularly noxious design which I had prepared according to his directions.
His eye rested with pleasure on a neatly graduated row of medicine bottles which
adorned the mantlepiece. Oh yes, yes, my little friend, continued,
once more, Shall I be myself again, the great you wallow the terror
of evil doers? Yeah, figure to yourself, But amy that I have
a little paragraph to myself in society gossip. No, but yours here it
is go it criminals all out hercue bow and believe me, girls, here's
some hercule lese our own pet. Society detectives can't get a grip on you,
cause why because he's got the grip himself, I laughed. Good for
you, Borrow, you're becoming quite a public character. Unfortunately you haven't missed
anything of particular interest during this time. That He's true. A few cases
I had to decline did not fill me with any regret. Our landlady stuck
her head in at the door. There's a gentleman downstairs, says he must
see Monsieur Poirot or you captain, And seeing as he was in a great
to do, and with all that quite the gentleman, I brought up his
card. She handed me a bit of pasteboard. Mister Roger Havering, I
read. Quio motioned with his head towards the bookcase, and I obediently pulled
forth Who's who? Quiro took it from me and scanned the pages rapidly.
Second son of fifth Baron Wissu, married nineteen thirteen Zoe, the fourth daughter
of William Scrabb. Hmm, I said, I rather fancy that's the girl
who used to act at the Frivolity. And she called herself Zoe Carrisbrook.
I remember she married some young man about town Yea, and then just before
the war. No, what did he interest? You? Has things to
go down and hear what our visitor's particular little trouble is. I'll make him
all my excuses. Roger Havering was a man of about forty, well set
up and of smart appearance. His face, however, was haggard, and
he was evidently laboring under great agitation. Captain Hastings, you are Monsieur Poirot's
partner. I understand it's imperative that he should come with me to Derbyshire today.
Well, I'm afraid that's impossible, I replied, Puio is ill in
bed influenza. His face fell. Oh, dear me, that's a great
blow to me. Well, the matter on which you want to consult him
is serious. Oh my god, Yes, my uncle, the best friend
I have in the world, was foully murdered last night. What here in
London? No, in Derbyshire. I was in town and received a telegram
from my wife this morning. Immediately upon its receipt, I determined to come
round and beg Monsieur Parlo to undertake the case. Well, if you will
excuse me a minute, I said, Struck by a sudden idea, I
rushed upstairs and in a few brief words acquainted Quarro with the situation. He
took any further words out of my mouth. I see, I see.
You want to go yourself? Is it not so? Well? Why not?
You should know my methods by now. All I ask is that you
should report me fully every day and follow implicitly in the instructions. And they
were you to this, I willingly agreed. An hour later, I was
sitting opposite mister Havering in a first class carriage on the Midland Railway, speeding
rapidly away from London. To begin with Captain Hastings, you must understand that
Hunter's Lodge, where we are going and where the tragedy took place, is
only a small shooting box in the heart of the Derbyshire Moors. Our real
home is near new Market, and we usually rent a flat in town for
the season. Hunter's Large is looked after by a housekeeper who is quite capable
of doing all we need when we run down for an occasional weekend. Of
course, during the shooting season we take down some of our own servants from
Newmarket. My uncle, mister Harrington Pace, as you may know my mother
was a Mispace of New York, has for the last three years made his
home with us. He never got on well with my father or my elder
brother, and I suspect that my being somewhat of a prodigal son myself,
rather increased than diminished his affection towards me. Of course, I am a
poor man and my uncle was a rich one. In other words, well
then he paid the piper, But though exacting in many ways, he wasn't
really hard to get on with, and we also relived very harmoniously together.
But two days ago my uncle, rather wearied with some recent gaieties of ours
in town, suggested that we should run down to Derbyshire for a day or
two. My wife telegraphed to missus Middleton, the housekeeper, and we went
down that same afternoon. Yesterday evening I was forced to return to town,
but my wife and my uncle remained on. This morning I received this telegram.
He handed it over to me. Come at once. Uncle Harrington murdered
last night. Bring good, detective, if you can but do come Zoey
then, as yet you know no details. No, I suppose it will
be in the evening papers, without doubt the police are in charge. It
was about three o'clock when we arrived at the little station of Elmersdale. From
there, a five mile drive brought us to a small gray stone building in
the midst of the rugged moors, a lonely place I observed with a shiver.
Havering nodded, Oh, I shall try to get rid of it.
I can never live here again. We unlatched the gate and were walking up
the narrow path to the oak door when a familiar figure emerged and came to
meet us. Chap I ejaculated. The Scotland yard inspector grinned at me in
a friendly fashion before addressing my companion, a mister Havering. I think I've
been sent down from London to take charge of this case, and i'd like
a word with you, if i may, Sir, My wife and I
I've seen your good lady, sir, and the housekeeper, and I won't
keep you a moment, but I'm anxious to get back to the village now
that I've seen all there is to see here. Well, I know nothing
as yet as to what exactly said Jap soothingly, but there are just one
or two little points i'd like your opinion about all the same. Now,
Captain Hastings here he knows me, and he'll go on up to the house
and tell them you're coming. Now, what have you done with a little
man by the way, Captain Hastings, he's ill in bed with influenza,
are is he? Now? I'm sorry to hear. Lad. Rather the
case of the cart without the horse, you being here without him, isn't
it? And on his rather ill timed jest, I went on to the
house. I rang the bell as Jap had closed the door. Behind him.
After some moments, it was opened to me by a middle aged woman
in black. Mister Havering will be here in a moment, I explained,
he's been detained by the inspector. I've come down with him from London to
look into the case. Now, perhaps you can tell me briefly what occurred
last night. Come inside, sir. She closed the door behind me and
we stood in the dimly lighted hall. It was after dinner last night,
sir, that the man came. He asked to see mister pay sir,
and seeing that he spoke the same way, I thought it was an American
gentleman friend of mister Pace's, and I showed him into the gun room and
then went to tell mister Pace. He wouldn't give any name, which of
course was a bit odd now I come to think of it. I told
mister Pace, and he seemed puzzled like but he said to the mistress,
excuse me, so while I see what this fellow wants. He went off
to the gun room and I went back to the kitchen. But after a
while I heard loud voices as if they were quarreling, and I came out
into the hall at the same time the mistress she comes out too, and
just then there was a shot and then a dreadful silence. We both ran
to the gunroom door, but it was locked, and we had to go
round to the window. It was open, and their inside was mister Pace,
all shot and bleeding. And what became of the man, Well,
he must have got away through the window, sir, before we got to
it. And then what Missus Havering sent me to fetch the police and five
miles to walk it was. They came back with me and the constable.
He stayed all night, and this morning the police gentleman from London arrived.
And what was this man like who called to see mister Pace? The housekeeper
reflected, Well, he had a black beard, sir, and was about
middle aged, and had on a light overcoat. Beyond the fact that he
spoke like an American, I didn't notice much about him. I see now,
I wonder if I can see Missus Haveing. She's upstairs, sir,
Shall I tell her, or if you please tell her, that mister Havering
is outside with Inspector Jap and that the gentleman he has brought back with him
from London is anxious to speak to her as soon as possible. Very good,
sir, I was in a fever of impatience to get all the facts.
Jap had got two or three hours start on me, and his anxiety
to be gone made me keen to be close at his heels. Missus Havering
did not keep me waiting long. In a few minutes, I heard a
light step descending the stairs and looked up to see a very handsome young woman
coming towards me. She wore a flame colored jumper that set off the slender
boyishness of her figure. On her dark head was a little hat of flame
colored leather. Even the present tragedy could not dim the vitality of her personality.
I introduced myself, and she nodded in quick comprehension. Oh, of
course, I've often heard of you and your colleague Monsieur Poirot. You've done
some wonderful things together, haven't you. It was very clever of my husband
to get you so promptly. Now will you ask me questions? I mean,
that's the easiest way, isn't it, of getting to know all you
want to do about this dreadful affair. Well, thank you, Missus Havering.
Now what time was it that this man arrived. It must have been
just before nine o'clock. We'd finished dinner and we were sitting over our coffee
and cigarettes. Now, your husband who had already left for London? Yes,
he went up by the six fifteen. Did he go by car to
the station or did he walk? Our own car? Isn't down here?
One came out from the garage in Elmersdale to fetch him in time for the
train. Was mister Pace quite his usual self? Oh? Absolutely, most
normal in every way? Now, can you describe this visitor at all?
No, I am afraid not. I didn't see him. Missus Middleton showed
him straight into the gun room and then came to tell my uncle. And
what did your uncle say? He seemed rather annoyed, but went off at
once. It was about five minutes later that I heard the sound of raised
voices. I ran out into the hall and almost collided with Missus Middleton.
Then we heard the shot. The gun room door was locked on the inside,
and we had to go right round the house to the window. Of
course, that took some time, and the murderer had been able to get
well away my poor uncle. Her voice faltered had been shot through the head.
I saw at once that he was dead. I sent missus Middleton for
the police. I was careful to touch nothing in the room, but to
leave it exactly as I found it. I nodded approval. Now as to
the weapon, well, I can make a guess at it, Captain Hastings.
A pair of revolvers of my husband's were mounted upon the wall. One
of them is missing. I pointed this out to the police, and they
took the other one away with them. When they have extracted the bullet,
I suppose they will know for certain. May I go to the gun room?
Oh, certainly, the police are finished with it, but the body
has been removed. She accompanied me to the scene of the crime. At
that moment, Havering entered the hall, and, with a quick apology,
his wife rang to him. I was left to undertake my investigations alone.
Now I may as well confess at once that they were rather disappointing. Indetective
novels clues abound, but here I could find nothing that struck me as out
of the ordinary, except a large blood stain on the carpet, where I
judged the dead man had fallen. I examined everything with painstaking care, and
took a couple of pictures of the room with my little camera, which I
brought with me. I also examined the ground outside the window, but it
appeared to have been so heavily trampled under foot that I judged it was useless
to waste time over it. No I had seen all that Hunter's Lodge had
to show me. I must go back to Elmsdale and get into touch with
JAP. Accordingly, I took leave of the Haverings and was driven off in
the car that had brought us from the station. I found Jap at the
matlock arms, and he took me forthwith to see the body. Harrington's Pace
was a small, spare, clean shaven man, a typically American in appearance.
He had been shot through the back of the head, and the revolver
had been discharged at close quarters. Hum turned away for a moment, remarked
JAP, and the other fellow snatched up a revolver and shut him. The
one missus Havering handed over to us was fully loaded, and I suppose the
other one was also curious. What darn fool things people do fancy keeping two
two loaded revolvers hanging up on your ball. What do you think of the
case, I asked, as we left the gruesome chamber behind us. Well,
I've got my eye on aving to begin with. Oh yes, noting
my exclamation of astonishment, Havering has one or two shady incidents in his past.
When he was a boy at Oxford, there was some funny business about
the signature on one of his father's checks, all lushed up, of course,
And then he's pretty heavily in debt now, and they're the kind of
depths he wouldn't like to go to his uncle about, whereas you may be
sure the uncle's will would be in his favor. Oh yes, I've got
my eye on him, and that's why I wanted to speak to him before
he saw his wife. But their statements dovetail, all right. And I've
been to the station and there's no doubt whatever that he left by the six
fifteen that gets up to London about ten thirty. He went straight to his
club, he says. And if that's confirmed, all right, why he
couldn't have been shooting his uncle here at nine o'clock in a black beard.
Oh yes, I was going to ask you what you thought about that beard
Chap winked. I thought it grew pretty fast, grew in the five miles
from Elmersdale to Hunter's Lodge. Now, Americans that I've met are mostly clean
shaven. Yes, it's amongst mister Pacey's American associates that we left to look
for the murderer. I questioned the housekeeper first and then her mistress, and
their stories agree all right. But I'm sorry missus Havering didn't get a look
at the fellow. But she's a smart woman and she might have noticed something
that would set us on the track. I sat down and wrote a minute
and lengthy account to Puiro. I was able to add various further items of
information before I posted the letter. The bullet had been extracted and was proved
to have been fired from a revolver identical with the one held by the police.
Furthermore, mister Havering's movements on the night in question had been checked and
verified, and it was proved beyond doubt that he had actually arrived in London
by the train in question. And Thirdly, a sensational development had occurred.
A city gentleman living at ealing on crossing Haven Green to get to the District
railway station. That morning had observed a brown paper parcel stuck between the railings.
Opening it, he found that it contained a revolver. He handed the
parcel over to the local police station, and before night it was proved to
be the one we were in search of, the pair to that given us
by missus Havering. One bullet had been fired from it. All this I
added to my report. A wire from Poirot arrived whilst I was at breakfast
the following morning. Of course, black bearded man was not haveing. Only
you or Jap would have such an IDEA wire me description of housekeeper and what
clothes she wore this morning, same of missus Havering. Do not waste time
taking photographs of interiors. They are under exposed and not in the least artistic.
It seemed to me the Poiro's style was unnecessarily facetious. I also fancied
he was a shade jealous of my position on the spot, with full facilities
for handling the case. His request for a description of the clothes worn by
the two women appeared to me to be simply ridiculous, But I complied as
well as I a mere man was able to at eleven. Another wire came
from Poirot. Advised Jab a rest housekeeper, before it is too late.
Dumbfounded, I took the wire to Jab. He swore softly under his breath.
He's the goods Monsieur Poirot. If he says, so, there's something
in it. And I hardly noticed the man as the woman. I don't
know that I can go so far as arresting her, but I'll have a
watched. We'll go up right away and take her another look at her.
But it was too late. Missus Middleton, that quiet, middle aged woman,
who it appeared so normal and respectable, had vanished into thin air.
Her box had been left behind. It contained only ordinary wearing apparel. There
was no clue to her identity or as to her whereabouts. From Missus Havering,
we elicited all the facts we could. I engaged her about three weeks
ago, when Missus Emery, our former housekeeper left. She came to me
from Missus Selborne's agency in Mount Street, a very well known place I get
all my servants from there. They sent several women to see me. But
this Missus Middleton seemed much the nicest and had splendid references. I engaged her
spot and not notified the agency of the fact. I can't believe that there
was anything wrong with her. She was such a nice, quiet woman.
The thing was certainly a mystery. Whilst it was clear that the woman herself
could not have committed the crime, since at the moment the shot was fired,
missus Havering was with her in the hall. Nevertheless, she must have
some connection with the murder, or why should she suddenly take to her heels
and bolt. I wired the latest development to Quiro and suggested returning to London
and making inquiries at Selborne's agency. Quire's reply was prompt useless. To inquire
an agency, they will never have heard of her. Find out what vehicle
took her up to Hunter's Lodge when she first arrived there. Though mystified,
I was obedient. The means of transport in Elmersdale were limited. The local
garage had two battered forward cars and there were two station flies. None of
these had been requisitioned. On the dating question questioned, missus Havering explained that
she had given the woman the money for her fare down to Derbyshire and sufficient
to hire a car or fly to take her up to Hunter's Lodge. There
was usually one of the Fords at the station on the chance of its being
required, and taking into consideration the further fact that nobody at the station had
noticed the arrival of a stranger, blackbearded or otherwise on the fatal evening,
everything seemed to point to the conclusion that the murderer had come to the spot
in a car which had been waiting near at hand to aid his escape,
and that the same car had brought the mysterious housekeeper to her new post.
I may mention that inquiries at the agency in London bore out Quaro's prognostication.
No such woman as Missus Middleton had ever been on their books. They had
received the honorable Missus Havering's application for a housekeeper, and had sent her various
applicants for the post. When she sent them the engagement fee, she omitted
to mention which woman she had selected. Somewhat crestfallen, I returned to London.
I found that Puiro established in an arm chair by the fire in a
garish silk dressing gown. He greeted me with much affection. AHM monymieste things,
But how glad I am to see you. Veritably, I have for
you a great affection, and you have enjoyed yourself. You have run to
and fro with a good jap. You have interrogated and investigated to your heart's
content. Quaro I cried, the things are dark, mystery. It will
never be solved. Oh it is true that we are not likely to cover
ourselves with glory over it. Well, no, indeed, it's a hard
nut to crack. Oh, as far as that goes, I am very
good at cracking the nuts. Oh, a veritable squirrel. It is not
that which embarrasses me. I know well enough. Who killed mister Arrington Pace?
You know how did you find out? Your illuminating answers to my wiles
applied me with a truth See here stings. Let us examine the facts methodically
and in order. Mister Arrington Pace is a man with a considerable for tune,
which at his death will doubtless pass to his nephew. Point number one.
His nephew is known to be desperately hard up. Point number two.
His nephew is also known to be, you, shall we say, a
man of rather loose moral fadder. Point number three. Tipt Roger Havering is
proved to have journeyed straight up to London a precis amon and therefore, as
mister Ivering left Elmo's Dale at six fifteen, Since mister Paisk cannot have been
killed before he left, or the doctor would have spotted the time at the
crime as being given wrongly when he examined the body, we conclude quite rightly
that mister Ivering did not shoot his uncle. But there is a Missus Averring
Hastings. What impossible The housekeeper was with her when the shot was fired.
A, yes, the housekeeper, but she has disappeared. But she'll be
found, I think not. There is something peculiarly elusive about the ask Gifer,
don't you Taxoy's teams. It struck me at once, But she played
her part, I suppose, and then got out in the nick of time.
Ah. And what was her part well? Presumably to admit her confederate,
the black bearded man. Oh no, that was not her part.
Her path was what you have just mentioned, to provide an alibi for missus
Evering at the moment the shot was fired. And no one will ever find
her money me, because she does not exist. There is no such person
as you are so great Shakespeare says it was Dickens I murmured, unable to
suppress a smile. But what do you mean, poiro I mean that Zoe
Evering was an actress before a marriage, That you and Jef only saw the
housekeeper in a dark hole, a dim, middle aged figure in black with
a faint, subdued voice. And finally that neither you nor Jap nor the
local police from the housekeeper fetched ever saw Missus Middleton and her mistress at one
and the same time. No, it was child's play for that cleaver and
bearing woman on the pretext of summoning her mistress. She runs upstairs, sleeps
on a bright jumper and a hat with black girls attached, which she jams
down over the gray transformation. A few death touches and the makeup is removed,
a slight dusting of rouge, and the brilliant Zoe Avering comes down with
a clear, ringing voice. Nobody looks, particularly as the housekeeper. Why
should they, There is nothing to connect her with the crime. She too
has an alibi. Yeah, but the revolver that was found the dealing Missus
Havering couldn't have placed it there. No, was Roger Evering's job. But
it was a mistake on their path. It put me on the right track.
A man who has committed murtherer with a revolver which he found on the
spot, would fling it away at once. He would not carry it up
to London with him. No, the motive was clear. The criminals wished
to focus the interest of the police on a spot far removed from Derbyshire.
They were anxious to get the police away as soon as possible from the vicinity
of Hunter's Lodge. Of course, the revolver found that healing was not a
one with which mister Pace was shot. Roger Hevering discharged one shot from it,
brought it up to London, went straight to his club to establish his
alapie, then went quickly out wheeling by the district a matter of about well
twenty minutes, only placed the puzzer where it was found, and so back
to town. That charming creature. His wife quietly shoots mister Pace after dinner.
You remember he was shot from behind another significant point that railroads the river
air and puts it back in each place, and then starts off with a
desperate little comedy. But it's incredible, I muttered, fascinated. And yet
and yet it is true, Yes, sure, my friend, it is
true. But to bring that precious spell to justice, that is another matter.
Well, Jap must do what he can. I have written him fully,
But I fear very much as things that we shall be obliged to leave
them to fate. Oh lebon dieu, whichever you prefer. The wicked flourished
like a green bay tree, I reminded him, But at a price,
as things always at a price. Kuaie Wu Quaraoh's forebodings were confirmed. Jap,
though convinced of the truth of his theory, was unable to get together
the necessary evidence to ensure a conviction. Mister Pacey's huge fortune passed into the
hands of his murderers. Nevertheless, Nemesis did overtake them. And when I
read in the paper that the honorable Roger and Missus Havering were amongst those killed
in the crashing of the airmail to Paris, I knew that justice was satisfied.
The million dollar bond robbery. What a number of bond robberies they have
been lately, I observed one morning, laying aside the newspaper pouiro Let's forsake
the science of detection and take to crime instead. Ah, you are the
how do you say it? Get rich? Quick? Deck aim on me.
Well, look at this last coup, the million dollars worth of liberty
bonds which the London and Scottish Bank were sending to New York, and which
disappeared in such a remarkable manner on board the Olympia. Hm, if it
were not for the malamere, I should delight to voyage myself on one of
those big liners, murmured Puaro dreamily. Yes, indeed, I said enthusiastically.
Some of them must be perfect palaces, the swimming baths, the lounges,
the restaurants, the palm courts. Really, it must be hard to
believe that one is on the sea. M Me. I always know when
I am on the sea, said Puio sadly. And all those bag tales
that you enumerate, Yah, they say nothing to me. But my friend,
consider for a moment the geniuses that travel, as it were, incognito
on board these floating palaces, as you saw, justly call them, one
would meet the elite, the oh no bless of the criminal world. I
laughed. So that's the way your enthusiasm runs. You would have liked to
cross swords with the man who sneaked the liberty bonds, the landlady interrupted us.
Ah, a young lady has wants to see you, Monsieur Poaro.
Here's our card. The card bore the inscription miss Esmi Faqua and Puiro.
After diving under the table to retrieve a stray crumb and putting it carefully in
the wastepaper basket, nodded to the landlady to admit her. In another minute,
one of the most charming girls I have ever seen was ushered into the
room. She was perhaps about five and twenty, with big brown eyes and
a perfect figure. She was well dressed and perfectly composed in manner. Well,
sit down, I beg of you, mademoiselle. She is my friend
Captain their Stings, who aids me in my little problems. Well, I
am afraid it is a big problem I have brought you to day, Monsieur
Paro, said the girl, giving me a pleasant bow as she seated herself.
I dare say you have read about it in the papers. I am
referring to the theft of liberty bonds the Olympia. Some astonishment must have shown
itself on Puiro's face, for she continued quickly, you are doubtless asking yourself
what have I to do with a grave institution like the London and Scottish Bank.
In one sense nothing, In another sense everything you see, Monsieur Poiro,
I am engaged to a mister Philip Ridgeway ah, and mister Philip Ridgeway
was in charge of the bonds when they were stolen. Of course, no
actual blame can attach to him. It wasn't his fault in any way.
Nevertheless, he is half distraught over the matter, and his uncle, I
know, insists that he must carelessly have mentioned having them in his possession.
It is a terrible setback to his career. Who is his uncle, mister
Vavasar, Joint General manager of the London and Scottish Bank. Now suppose missus
bacquire let your account to Midahl's story thor very well. Now, as you
know, the bank wished to extend their credits in America, and for this
purpose decided to send over a million dollars in liberty bonds. Mister Vavasar selected
his nephew, who had occupied a position of trust in the bank for many
years and who was conversant with all the details of the bank dealings in New
York. To make the trip. The Olympia sailed from Liverpool on the twenty
third, and the bonds were handed over to Philip on the morning of that
day by mister Vavasor and mister Shaw, the two joint general managers of the
London and Scottish Bank. They were counted enclosed in a package and sealed in
his presence, and he then locked the package at once in his portmanteau,
a portmanteau with an ordinary lock. No, mister Shaw insisted on a special
lock being fitted to it by hubs. Philip, as I say, placed
the package at the bottom of the trunk. It was stolen just a few
hours before reaching New York. A rigor search of the whole ship was made,
but without result. The bonds seemed literally to have vanished into thin Airquarro
made a grimace, but they did not valeth absolutely. Since I gather that
they were sold in small passels within half an hour of the docking of the
Olympia. Well, undoubtedly the next thing is for me to see, mister
Ridgeway. Well, I was about to suggest that you should lunch with me
at the Cheshire Cheese if Philip will be there. He's meeting me, but
he does not yet know that I've been consulting you on his behalf. We
agreed to this suggestion readily enough, and drove there in a taxi. Mister
Philip Ridgeway was there before us, and looked somewhat surprised to see his fiancee
arriving with two complete strangers. He was a nice looking young fellow, paul
and spruce, with a touch of graying hair at the temples, though he
couldn't have been much over thirty. Miss Farquhar went up to him and laid
her hand on his arm. Oh, you must forgive me acting without consulting
you, Philip. It would let me introduce you to Monsieur Hercule Poirot,
whom you must often have heard and his friend, Captain Hastings. Ridgeway looked
very astonished. Oh of course I've heard of you, Monsieur Parrot, he
said, as he shook hands. But I had no idea that esmy was
thinking of consulting you about my our trouble. Well, I was afraid you
wouldn't let me do it, Philip, said missus Farquhar meekly, so you
took care to be on the safe side, he observed with a smile.
I hope, Monsieur Poirot, will be able to throw some light on this
extraordinary puzzle, for I confess frankly that I'm nearly out of my mind with
worry and anxiety about it. Indeed, his face looked drawn and haggard,
and showed only too clearly the strain under which he was laboring. Well,
well, said Poirot, let us lange and over Lange, we will put
diurrege together and see what can be done. I want to hear mister Ridgway's
story from his only wops. Whilst we discussed the excellent stake and kidney pudding
of the establishment, Philip Bridgeway narrated the circumstances leading to the disappearance of the
bonds. His story agreed with that of Missus Farquhar in every particular. When
he had finished, Puiot took up the thread with a question, and what
exactly led you to discover that the bonds had been stolen? Mister Ridgeway?
He laughed rather bitterly. Now the things stared me in the face. Monsieur
Poiro, I couldn't have missed it. My cabin trunk was pulled half out
from under the bunk, and it was all scratched and cut about where they
had tried to force the lock. But I understood that didepin opened with a
key. Well he is that. So they tried to force it but couldn't,
and in the end they must have got it on locked somehow or other.
Curious, said Poiro, his eyes beginning to flicker with the green light.
I knew so well, very curious. Ah, they waste much much.
I am trying to prize it open and then set frosty. They find
they have the key all the time, for each of Hubbs's lugs are unique.
But that's just why they couldn't have had the key. It never left
me day or night. You are sure of that, oh, I can
swear to it. And besides, if they had had the key or a
duplicate, why should they waste time trying to force an obviously unforcible lock.
Ah, there is exactly the question we are asking ourselves. I venture to
prophesy that the solution, if we ever find it, will hinge on that
curious fact. I beg of you not to assort me if I ask you
one more question, are you perfectly certain that you did not leave the trunk
on lock? Philip Ridgeway merely looked at him, and Paro gesticulated apologetically.
Ah no, but these things can happen, I assure you very well.
The bonds were stolen from the trunk. What did the chief do with them?
How did he manage to get ashore with them? Ah, cried Ridgeway.
But that's just it. How one word was past to the customs authorities,
and every soul that left the ship was gone over with a tooth comb.
And the bonds I gather made their bulky package, or certainly they did.
They could hardly have been hidden on board, And anyway we know they
weren't because they were offered for sale within half an hour of the Olympia's arrival,
long before I got the cables going and the numbers sent out. One
broker swears he bought some of them even before the Olympia got in. But
you can't send bonds by wiles, ah No, not by Wile Lisbon.
Did any tug come alongside? Were only the official ones, and that was
after the alarm was given, when every one was on the lookout. I
was watching out myself for their being passed over to some one that way.
My god, Monsieur Pouarro, this thing will drive me mad. People are
beginning to say I stole them myself. But you are silver searched on landing,
won't you, asked Quiro gently. Yes, The young man stared at
him in a puzzled manner. You do not catch my meaning, I see,
said Quiro, smiling enigmatically. Now I should like to make a few
inquiries at the bank. Ridgeway produced a card and scribbled a few words on
it. Send this in and my uncle will see you at once. Quiro
thanked him bad farewell to miss Baquis, and together we started out for thread
Needle Street in the head office of the London and Scottish Bank. On production
of Ridgeway's card, we were led through the labyrinth of counters and desks,
skirting paying in clerks and paying out clerks, and up to a small office
on the first floor, where the joint general managers received us. They were
two grave gentlemen who had grown gray in the service of the bank. Mister
Vavasar had a short white beard. Mister Shaw was clean shape. I understand
that you are strictly a private inquiry agent, said mister Vavasar. Oh.
Quite so, Quite so, we have of course placed ourselves in the hands
of Scotland Yard Inspector mc neil has charged the case a very able officer.
I believe, I am sure of it, said Quarley politely. And you
will permit a few questions on your nephew's berth about this lock who ordered it
from Hubbs? Oh? I ordered it myself, said mister Shaw. I
would not trust to any clerk in the matter. As to the keys,
mister Ridgway had one, and the other two are held by my colleague and
myself, and no clerk has had access to them. Mister Shaw turned inquiringly
to mister Vavasar. I I think I am correct in saying that they have
remained in the safe where we placed them on the twenty third, said mister
Vavasar. My colleague was unfortunately taken ill a fortnight ago, in fact,
on the very day that Philip left us. Isn't it just recovered? Hmm?
Well, severe bronchidis is no joke to a man of my age,
said mister Ruth Drum of mister Vavas, mister Vavasar, who suffered from the
hard work entailed by my absence, especially with this unexpected worry coming on top
of everything. Quiro asked you moistures he was. I judged that he was
endeavoring to gauge the exact amount of intimacy between uncle and nephew. Mister Vavasar's
answers were brief and punctilious. His nephew was a trusted official of the bank
and had no debts or money difficulties that he knew of. He had been
entrusted with similar missions in the past, and finally we were politely bowed out.
I am disappointed, said Poirot as we emerged into the street. Well,
you hope to discover more. They're such stodgi old men. No,
it is not their studying which disappoints me, Moname, I do not expect
to find in the bank manager a keen financier with an eagle glance, as
your favorite works of fiction put it. No, I am disappointed in the
case. It is too easy easy, Yes, do you not find it
almost childishly simple? Or you know who stole the bonds? I do,
But then we must why do not confuse and fluster yourself as things. We
are not going to do anything at present. But why what are you waiting
for? For the Olympia? She is due on her return trip from New
York on Tuesday. But if you know who stole the bonds, why wait?
He may escape to a sad sea island where there is no extradition,
no money. Me he would find life very uncongineal there As to why I
wait? Yeah, to the intelligence of her cure Perot, the case is
perfectly clear. But for the benefit of others not so greatly gifted by the
good God, the inspector Magneill, for instance, it would be as well
to make a few inquiries to establish the thanks. One must have consideration for
those less gifted than onees. Good Lord Duaro, do you know I'd give
a considerable sum of money to see you make a thorough ass of yourself,
just for once. You're so confoundedly conceited. Do not enrage your said as
things. In verity, I observe that there are times when you almost detest
me, alas I suffer the penalties of greatness. The little man puffed out
his chest and sighed so comically that I was forced to laugh. Tuesday saw
a speeding to Liverpool in a first class railway carriage. Quirew had obstinately refused
to enlighten me as to his suspicions or certainties. He contented himself with,
expressing surprise that I too was not equally o fee with the situation. I
disdained to argue, and intrenched my curiosity behind a rampart of pretended indifference.
Once arrived at the quay, alongside which lay the big Transatlantic liner, Puio
became brisk and alert. Our proceedings consisted in interviewing four successive Stewards and inquiring
after a friend of Quaro's who had crossed to New York on the twenty third
ern A little gentleman wearing glasses, a great invalid hardly mould'alto his cabin.
The description appeared to tally with one mister Ventnor, who had occupied the cabin
c. Twenty four, which was next to that of Philip Ridgeway. Although
unable to see how Poirot had deduced mister Ventnor's existence and personal appearance, I
was keenly excited. Tell me, I cried, was this gentleman one of
the first to land. When you got to New York, the steward shook
his head. Now, indeed, sir, he was one of the last
of the boat. I retired crestfallen, and observed Puio grinning at me.
He thanked the steward, a note changed hands, and we took our departure.
Well, it's all very well, I remarked heatedly. But that last
answer must have damned your precious theory. Grin as you please, Ah,
as usual, you see nothing as things. That last answer is, on
the contrary, the copping stone of my theory. I flung up my hands
in despair. I give up. When we were in the train speeding towards
London, Puio wrote busily for a few minutes, sealing up the result in
an envelope. Ah, this is for the good Inspector mac neil. We
will leave it at Scotland Yard in Passing, and then to the Rendezvous restaurant,
where I have asked miss Ismey Faqui to doors the honor of dining with
us. Well, what about Bridgeway or what about him? Asked Parrot with
a twinkle. Why you surely don't think what you can't The habit of incoherence
is growing upon you as things. At a matter of fact, I did
think if a which way had been the thief, which was perfectly possible,
the case would have been charming, a piece of neat methodical work, yes,
but not so charming for miss Faqua. Oh possibly you are right.
Therefore all is for the best. Now, Hastings, let us review the
case. You can sit and see that you are dying to do so.
Now the sealed package is removed from the trunk and vanishes as Missakua puts it
puff into thin air. Now we will dismiss the thin air theory, which
is not practical as the present stage of science, and consider what is likely
to have become of it. Everyone asserted the incredulity of its being smuggled as
show. Yes, but me know you may know his things. I do
not. I take of you that since it seemed incredible, it was incredible.
Two possibilities remain. It was hidden on board, also rather difficult.
Or it was thrown overboard, but with a cork on it. You mean
without a cork. I stared. But if the bonds were thrown overboard,
they couldn't have been sold in New York. I admire theological mind based things.
The bonds were sold in New York, therefore they were not thrown overboard.
You see where that leads us well where we were when we started gemmade
the levy. If the package was thrown overboard and the bonds were sold in
New York, the package could not have contained a bonds. Is there any
evidence that the package did contain the bonds? Remember mister Ridgway never opened it
from the time it was placed in his hands in London. Yes, but
then Quaro waved an impatient hand. Permit me to continue. The last moment
that the bones are seen as bones is in the office of the London and
Scottish Bank on the morning of the twenty third. They reappear in New York
half an hour after the Olympia gets in, and according to one man whom
nobody listens to, actually before she gets in. No, supposing then that
they have never been on the Olympia at all, is there any other way
they could get to New York? Yes? The Gigantic leaves Southampton on the
same day as the Olympia, and she holds the record for the Atlantic nailed
by the Gigantique. The bonds would be in New York the day before the
Olympia arrived. All is clear. The case begins to explain itself. The
sealed packet is only a dummy, and the moment of his substitution must be
in the office in the tank. It would be an easy matter for any
of the three men present to have prepared a duplicate package which could be substituted
for the genuine one. Cribier. The bonds are mailed to a confederate in
New York with instructions to sell as soon as the Olympia is in But some
one must travel on the Olympia to engineer out a supposed moment of robbery.
But why Because if Ridgeway merely opens the packet and finds it a dummy,
suspicion flies at once to London. No. No, the man on board
in the cabin next door does his work, pretends to force the lock in
the obvious manner so as to draw immediate attention to the theft, really unlocks
the trunk with a duplicate key, throws the package overboard, and waits until
the last to leave the boat. Naturally, he wears glasses to conceal his
eyes and is an invalid. Since he does not want to run the risk
of meeting Ridgway, he steps ashore in New York and returns by the first
boat available. But who which was he? The man who had a duplicate
key, the man who ordered the luck, the man who has not been
severely ill with bronchitis at his home in the country alphint the study old man,
mister Shaw, there are criminals in my places sometimes, my friend Ah,
here we are, mademoelselle, I have succeeded you, permit and beaming
Quaro kissed the astonished girl lightly on either cheek. End of disc four.
Please continue with the next disc