AgathaChristie-HerculePoirotsCasebook

by Hercule Poirot's Casebook (lit)

  wife. He bent over her protectively. Her deck chair - was it in

  the right place? Wouldn't it be better - ? His manner was

  courteous - full of gentle consideration. Clearly an adored wife

  spoilt by an adoring husband.

  Miss Ellie Henderson looked out at the horizon as though

  something about it rather disgusted her.

  Standing in the smoking-room door, Poirot looked on.

  A hoarse quavering voice behind him said:' I'd take a hatchet

  to that woman if I were her husband.' The old gentleman

  known disrespectfully among the younger set on board as the

  Grandfather of All the Tea Planters, had just shttttled in. 'Boy!'

  he called. 'Get me a whisky peg.'

  Poirot stooped to retrieve a torn scrap of notepaper, an

  overlooked item from the contents of Mrs Clapperton's bag.

  Part of a prescription, he noted, containing digitalin. He put it

  in his pocket, meaning to reswre it to Mrs Clapperton later.

  'Yes,' went on the aged passenger. 'Poisonous woman. I

  remember a woman like that in Poona. In '87 that was.'

  'Did anyone take a hatchet to her?' inquired Poirot.

  The old gentleman shook his head sadly.

  'Worried her husband into his grave within the year.

  Clapperton ought to assert himself. Gives his wife her head too

  much.'

  'She holds the purse strings,' said Poirot gravely.

  'Ha, ha!' chuckled the old gentleman. 'You've put the matter

  in a nutshell. Holds the purse strings. Ha, ha!'

  191

  Two girls burst into the smoking-room. One had a r.

  face with freckles and dark hair streaming out in a windsw?pt

  confusion, the other had freckles and curly chestnut hair.

  'A rescue - a rescue!' cried Kitty Mooney. 'Pam and I

  going to rescue Colonel Clapperton.'

  'From his wife,' gasped Pamela Cregan.

  'We think he's a pet...'

  'And she's just awful - she won't let him do anything,' the

  two girls exclaimed.

  'And if he isn't with her, he's usually grabbed by the

  Henderson woman ...'

  'Who's quite nice. But terribly old...'

  They ran out, gasping in between giggles. 'A rescue - a

  rescue...'

  That the rescue of Colonel Clapperton was no isolated sally,

  but a fixed projech was made clear that same evening when the

  eighteen-year-old Para Cregan came up to Hercule Poirot, and

  murmured: 'Watch us, M. Poirot. He's going to be cut out

  from under her nose and taken to walk in the moonlight on the

  boat deck.'

  It was just at that moment that Colonel Clapperton was

  saying: 'I grant you the price of a Rolls-Royce. But it's

  practically good for a lifetime. Now my car '

  'My car, I think, John.' Mrs Clapperton's voice was shrill

  and penetrating.

  He showed no annoyance at her ungradousness. Either :

  was used to it by this time, or else 'Or

  else?' thought Poirot and let himself speculate.

  'Certainly, my dear, your car',' Clapperton bowed to his a s

  and finished what he had been saying, perfectly unrutTled.

  'Voild ce qu'on appelle le pukka sahib,' thought Poirot. 't '

  the General Forbes says that Clapperton is no gentleman at .

  I wonder now.'

  There was a suggestion of bridge. Mrs Clapperton, General

  Forbes and a hawk-eyed couple sat down to it. Miss Henders, '

  had excused herself and gone out on deck.

  192

  'What about your husband?' asked General Forbes,

  hesitating.

  'John won't play,' said Mrs Clapperton. 'Most tiresome of

  him.'

  The four bridge players began shuffling the cards.

  Para and Kitty advanced on Colonel Clappenon. Each one

  took an arm.

  'You're coming with us!' said Pain. 'To the boat deck.

  There's a moon.'

  'Don't be foolish, John,' said Mrs Clapperton. You'll Catch

  a chill.'

  'Not with us, he won't,' said Kitty. 'We're hot smffi.'

  He went with them, laughing.

  Poirot noticed that Mrs Clappenon said No Bid to her initial

  hid of Two Clubs.

  He strolled out on to the promenade deck. Miss Henderson

  was standing by the rail. She looked round expectantly as he

  came to stand beside her and he saw the drop in her expression.

  They chatted for a while. Then presently as he fell silent she

  asked: 'What are you thinking about?'

  Poirot replied: 'I am wondering about my knowledge of

  English. Mrs Clapperton said: "John won't play bridge." Is

  not "can't play" the usual term?'

  'She takes it as a personal insult that he doesn't, I suppose,'

  said Ellie drily. 'The man was a fool ever to have married her.'

  In the darkness Poirot smiled. 'You don't think it's just

  possible that the marriage may be a success?' he asked

  diffidently.

  'With a woman like that?'

  Poirot shrugged his shoulders. 'Many odious women have

  devoted husbands. An enigma of nature. You will amit that

  nothing she says or does appears to gall him.' Miss Henderson

  was considering her reply when Mrs Clappenon's voice floated

  out through the smoking-room window.

  'No - I don't think I will play another rubber. So stuffy. I

  think I'll go up and get some air on the boat deck.'

  'Good night,' said Miss Henderson. 'I'm going to bed.' She

  disappeared abruptly.

  193

  Poirot strolled forward to the lounge - deserted saw: for

  Colonel Clapperton and the two girls. He was doing card t

  for them and noting the dexterity of his shuffling and hans iing

  of the cards, Poirot remembered the General's story of a c: ?eer

  on the music hall stage.

  'I see you enjoy the cards even though you do not play

  bridge,' he remarked.

  'I've my reasons for not playing bridge,' said Clapperton, his

  charming smile breaking out. 'I'll show you. We'll play one

  hand.'

  He dealt the cards rapidly. 'Pick up your hands. Well, what

  about it?' He laughed at the bewildered expression on Kitty's

  face. He laid down his hand and the others followed suit. Kitty

  held the entire club suit, M. Poirot the hearts, Pam the

  diamonds and Colonel Clapperton the spades.

  'You see?' he said. 'A man who can deal his partner and his

  adversaries any hand he pleases had better stand aloof from a

  friendly game! If the luck goes too much his way, ill-natured

  things might be said.'

  'Oh!' gasped Kitty. 'How could you do that? It all looked

  perfect ordinary.'

  'The quickness of the hand deceives the eye,' said Poitot

  sententiously - and caught the sudden change in the Colonel's

  expression.

  It was as though he realized that he had been off his guard

  for a moment or two.

  Poirot smiled. The conjuror had shown himself through the

  mask of the pulO. a sahib.

  The ship reached Alexandria at dawn the following morning.

  As Poirot came up from brealffast he found the two girls all

  Ieady to go on shore. They were talking to Colonel Clapperton.

  'We ought to get offnow,' urged Kitty. 'The passport peorle

 
will be going offthe ship presently. You'll come with us wc,','t

  you? You wouldn't let us go ashore all by ourselves? Ay0 1

  things might happen to us.'

  'I certainly don't think you ought to go by yourselves,' s I

  Clapperton, smiling. 'But I'm not sure my wife feels up to

  194

  'lat's too bad,' said Pam. 'But she can have a nice long

  rest.'

  Colonel Clapperton looked a little irresolute. Ev'ently the

  desire to play truant was strong upon him. He noticed Poirot.

  'Hullo, M. Poirot - you going ashore?'

  'No, I think not,' M. Poirot replied.

  'I'll - I'll - just have a word with Adeline,' decided Colonel

  Clapperton.

  'We'll come with you,' said Pam. She flashed a wink at

  Poirot. 'Perhaps we can persuade her to come too' she added

  gravely.

  Colonel Clapperton seemed to welcome this suggeafion. He

  looked decidedly relieved.

  'Come along then, the pair of you,' he said lightly. They all

  three went along the passage of B deck together.

  Poirot, whose cabin was just opposite the C!appertons',

  followed them out of curiosity.

  Colonel Clapperton rapped a little nervously at the cabin

  door.

  'Adeline, my dear, are you up?'

  The sleepy voice of Mrs Clapperton from within replied:

  'Oh, bother - what is it?'

  'It's John. What about going ashore?'

  'Certainly not.' The voice was shrill and decisive. 'I've had

  a very bad night. I shall stay in bed most of the day.'

  Para nipped in quickly. 'Oh, Mxs Clapperton, I'm so sorry.

  We did so want you to come with us. Are you sure you're not

  up to it?'

  'I'm quite certain.' Mrs Clapperton's voice sounded even

  shriller.

  The Colonel was turning the door-handle without result.

  'What is it, John? The door's locked. I don't want to be

  disturbed by the stewards.'

  'Sorry, my dear, sorry. Just wanted my Baedeker.'

  'Well, you can't have it,' snapped Mrs Clapperton. 'I'm not

  going to get out of bed. Do go away, John, and let me have a

  little peace.'

  195

  'Certainly, certainly, my dear.' The Colonel backed w%.

  from the door. Pam and Kitty closed in on him.

  'Let's start at once. Thank goodness your hat's on your head.

  Oh, gracious - your passport isn't in the cabin, is it?'

  'As a matter of fact it's in my pocket -' began the Col,)nel.

  Kitty squeezed his arm. 'Glory be!' she exclaimed. '?;ow,

  come on.'

  Leaning over the rail, Poirot watched the three of them ieave

  the ship. He heard a faint intake of brea/h beside him and

  turned to see Miss Henderson. Her eyes were fastened on the

  three retreating figures.

  'So they've gone ashore,' she said flatly.

  'Yes. Are you going?'

  She had a shade hat, he noticed, and a smart bag and shoes.

  There was a shore-going appearance about her. Nevertheless

  after the most infinitesimal of pauses, she shook her head.

  'No,' she said. 'I think I'll stay on board. I have a lot of letters

  to write.'

  She turned and left him.

  Puff'rog after his morning tour of forty-eight rounds of the

  deck, General Forbes took her place. 'Aha!' he exclaimed as his

  eyes noted the retreating figures of the Colonel and the two

  girls. 'So that's the game! Where's the Madam?'

  Poirot explained that Mrs Clapperton was having a quiet

  day in bed.

  'Don't you believe it!' the old warrior closed one knowing

  eye. 'She'll be up for tiffin - and if the poor devil's found to be

  absent without leave, there'll be ructions.'

  But the General's prognostications were not fulfilled, b rs

  Clapperton did not appear at lunch and by the time the Colocl

  and his attendant damsels returned to the ship at four o'cl. ,

  she had not shown herself.

  Poirot was in his cabin and heard the husband's slighi'

  guilty knock on his cabin door. Heard the knock repeated, ti.s

  cabin door tried, and finally heard the Colonel's call to ,2

  steward.

  'Look here, I can't get an answer. Have you a key?'

  196

  poirot rose quickly from his bunk and came out into the

  passage.

  The news went like wildfire round the ship. With horrified

  incredulity people heard that Mrs Clapperton had been found

  dead in her bunk - a native dagger driven through her heart. A

  string of amber beads was found on the floor of her cabin.

  Rumour succeeded mmour. All bead sellers who had been

  allowed on board that day were being rounded up and

  questioned! A large sum in cash had disap from a drawer

  in the cabin! The notes had been traced! They had not been

  traced! Jewe!lery worth a fortune had been taken! No jewellery

  had been taken at all! A steward had been arrested and had

  confessed to the murder!

  'What is the truth of it all?' demanded Miss Ellie Henderson

  waylaying Poirot. Her face was pale and troubled.

  'My dear lady, how should I know?'

  '

  you know' said Miss Henderson.

  Of course ,

  .

  .

  It was late in the evening. Most people had retired to.thetr

  cabins. Miss Henderson led Poirot to a couple of deck chairs 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 she had some very valuable iewellery stolen?'

  Poirot shook his head. 'No. No jewellery was taken. A small

  amount of loose cash that was in a drawer has disappeared,

  though.'

  'I'll never feel safe on a ship again,' said Miss Henderson

  with a shiver. 'Any clue as to which of those coffee-coloured

  brutes did it?'

  'No,' said Hercule Poirot. 'The whole thing is rather strange.'

  'What do you mean?' asked Eilie sharply.

  Poirot spread out his hands. *Eh bien - take the facts. Mrs

  CJapperton had been dead at least five hours when she was

  found. Some money had disappeared. A string of beads was on

  the floor by her bed. The door was locked and the key was

  197

  missing. The window - w/ndow, 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 circumstances? 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 him, for it wasn't discov
ered 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 - and there

  were people passing up and down the deck all the time,

  remember.'

  'Then through the door,' said Miss Henderson impatieiy.

  'But you forget, mademoiselle. Mrs Clapperton had locke, ht

  door on the inside. She had done so before Colonel Clappe. :n

  left the boat this morning. He actually tried it- so we know that

  is SO.'

  Nonsense. It probably stuck - or he didn't turn the handle

  properly.'

  'But it does not rest on his word. We actually heard ;4rs

  Clapperton herself say so.'

  'We?'

  'Miss Mooney, Miss Cregan, Colonel Clapl2rton md

  myself.'

  198

  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 Mss

  Clapperton could lock the door she could unlock it too, I

  suppose.'

  'Precisely, precisely.' Poirot turned a beaming face upon