After The Funeral Part 29

"A mechanic drove her out to it, made an investigation and said they'd have to tow it in and it would be a long job--couldn't promise to finish it that day. The lady was very put out, but went to a small inn, arranged to stay the night, and asked for some sandwiches as she said she'd like to see some~ thing of the countryside--it's on the edge of the moorland country. She didn't come back to the inn till quite late that evening. My informant said he didn't wonder. It's a sordid little place I"

"And the times ?"

"She got the sandwiches at eleven. If she'd walked to the main road, a mile, she could have hitch-hiked into Wallcaster and caught a special South Coast express which stops at Reading West. I won't go into details of buses etcetera. It could just have been done if you could make the--er--attack fairly late in the afternoon.

"I understand the doctor stretched the time limit to possibly 4.30."

"Mind you," said Mr. Goby," I shouldn't say it was likely.

She seems to be a nice lady, liked by every,body.

She's devoted to her husband, treats him like a child.

"Yes, yes, the maternal complex."

"She's strong and hefty, chops the wood and often hauls

in great baskets of logs. Pretty good with the inside of a car,

tO0."

"I was coming to that. What exactly was wrong with the car ?"

"Do you want the exact details, M. Poirot ?"

"Heaven forbid. I have no mechanical knowledge."

"It was a difficult thing to spot. And also to put right.

And it could have been done maliciously by someone without

very much trouble. By someone who was familiar with the

insides of a car."

"C'est magniique I" said Poirot with bitter enthusiasm.

11 so convenient, all so possible. Bon deu, can we chromate

n.o.body ? And Mrs. Leo Abernethie ?"

xo5

"She's a very nice lady, too. Mr. Abernethie deceased was very fond of her. She came there to stay about a fortnight before he died."

"After he had been to Lytchett St. Mary to see his sister ?"

"No, just before. Her income is a good deal reduced since the war. She gave up her house in England and took a small flat in London. She has a villa in Cyprus and spends part of the year there. She has a young nephew whom she is helping to educate, and there seems to be one or two, young artists whom she helps financially from time to time. '

"St. Helen of the blameless life," said Po[rot, shutting his eyes. "And it was quite impossible for her to have left Enderby that day without the servants knowing ? Say that that is so, I implore you I"

Mr. Goby brought his glance acrdss to rest apologetically on Poirot's polished patent leather shoe, the nearest he had come to a direct encounter, and murmured: "I'm afraid I can't say that, M. Poirot. Mrs. Abernethie went to London to fetch some extra clothes and belongings as she had agreed with Mr. Entwhistle to stay on and see to things."

"Il ne manquait que fa I" said Poirot with strong feeling.

CHAPTER XIII

WEN TIE CAR) of Inspector Morton of the Berks.h.i.+re County Police was brought to Hercule Poirot, his eyebrows went up. "Show him in, Georges, show him in. And bring--what is it that the police prefer ?"

"I would suggest beer, sir."

"How horrible I But how British. Bring beer, then."

Inspector Morton came straight to the point.

"I had to come to London," he said. "And I got hold of your address, M. Po[rot. I was interested to see you at the request on Thursday."

"So you saw me there ?"

"Yes. I was surprised--and, as I say, interested. You won't remember me but I remember you very well. In that Pangbourne Case."

"Ah, you were connected with that ?"

"Only in a very junior, capacity. It's a long time ago but I've never forgotten you.

"And you recognised me at once the other day ?"

lO6

"That wasn't difficult, sir." Inspector Morton repressed a slight smile. "Your appearance is-rather unusual."

His gaze took in Poirot's sartorial perfection and rested finally on the curving moustaches.

"You stick out in a country place," he smd.

"It is possible, it is possible," said Poirot with com-placency.

"It interested me wh, you should be there. That sort of c ',r,m, , erobbery--a.s.sault--doesn't usually interest you."

' Was !t the us,u, al ordinary brntM type of crime ?"

"That s what I ye been wondering."

"You have wondered from the beginning, have you not ?"

"Yes, M. Poirot. There were some unusual features. Since then we've worked along the routine lines. Pulled in one or two people for questioning, but everyone has been able to

accou, nt quite satisfactori!y for his ,time that afternoon. It wasn t what you'd call an ordinary crime, M. Poirot--we're

quite sure of that. The Chief Constable rees. It was done by someone who wished to make it appear that way. It could have been the Gilchrist woman, but there doesn't seem to be any motive---and there wasn't any emotional back-ground.

Mrs. Lansquenet was perhaps a bit mental--or ' simple,' if yon like to put it that way, but it was a household of mistress and dosbody with no feverish feminine friends.h.i.+p about it. There are dozens of Miss Gfichrists about, and the're not usuMly the murdering type."

He paused.

"So it looks as though we'd have to look farther afield.

I came to ask if you could help us at all. Something must have brouht you down there, M. Poirot."

"Yes, yes, something did. An excellent Daimler car. But not only that."

"You had--information ?"

"Hardly in your sense of the word. Nothing that could be used as evidence."

"But something that could bea pointer ?"

"Yes."

"You see, M. Poirot, there have been developments."

Meticulously, in detail, he told of the poisoned wedge of wedding cake.

Poirot took a deep hissing breath.

ngemous--yes, ngemous... I warned Mr. Entwhistle to look after Miss Gilchrist. An attack on her was always a