'a.s.suredly,'saidPoirot.'Thatisthebestthingyoucando.M.Faulkener,attendmeherealittleminute.Iwillreturnontheinstant.'

HeaccompaniedDonovantothedoorandbeyond.Theyremainedoutsideonthelandingtalkingforsomeminutes.WhenPoirotatlastre-enteredtheflathefoundJimmystandinginthesitting-roomgazingroundhimwithpuzzledeyes.

'Well,M.Poirot,'hesaid,'whatnext?'

'Thereisnothingnext.Thecaseisfinished.'

'What?'

'Iknoweverything-now.'

Jimmystaredathim.'Thatlittlebottleyoufound?'

'Exactly.Thatlittlebottle.'

Jimmyshookhishead.'Ican'tmakeheadortailofit.ForsomereasonorotherIcanseeyouaredissatisfiedwiththeevidenceagainstthisJohnFraser,whoeverhemaybe.'

'Whoeverhemaybe,'repeatedPoirotsoftly.'Ifheisanyoneatall-well,Ishallbesurprised.'

'Idon'tunderstand.'

'Heisaname-thatisall-anamecarefullymarkedonahandkerchief!'

'Andtheletter?'

'Didyounoticethat.i.twasprinted?Now,why?Iwilltellyou.Handwritingmightberecognized,andatypewrittenletterismoreeasilytracedthanyouwouldimagine-butifarealJohnFraserwrotethatletterthosetwopointswouldnothaveappealedtohim!No,itwaswrittenonpurpose,andputinthedeadwoman'spocketforustofind.ThereisnosuchpersonasJohnFraser.'

Jimmylookedathiminquiringly.

'Andso,'wentonPoirot,'Iwentbacktothepointthatfirststruckme.Youheardmesaythatcertainthingsinaroomwerealwaysinthesameplaceundergivencirc.u.mstances.Igavethreeinstances.Imighthavementionedafourth-theelectric-lightswitch,myfriend.'

Jimmystillstareduncomprehendingly.Poirotwenton.

'YourfriendDonovandidnotgonearthewindow-itwasbyrestinghishandonthistablethathegot.i.tcoveredinblood!ButIaskedmyselfatonce-whydidherest.i.tthere?Whatwashedoinggropingaboutthisroomindarkness?Forremember,myfriend,theelectric-lightswitchisalwaysinthesameplace-bythedoor.Why,whenhecametothisroom,didhenotatoncefeelforthelightandturniton?Thatwasthenatural,thenormalthingtodo.Accordingtohim,hetriedtoturnonthelightinthekitchen,butfailed.YetwhenItriedtheswitchitwasinperfectworkingorder.Didhe,then,notwishthelighttogoonjustthen?Ifithadgoneonyouwouldbothhaveseenatoncethatyouwereinthewrongflat.Therewouldhavebeennoreasontocomeintothisroom.'

'Whatareyoudrivingat,M.Poirot?Idon'tunderstand.Whatdoyoumean?'

'Imean-this.'

PoirotheldupaYaledoorkey.

'Thekeyofthisflat?'

'No,monami,thekeyoftheflatabove.MademoisellePatricia'skey,whichM.DonovanBaileyabstractedfromherbagsometimeduringtheevening.'

'Butwhy-why?'

'Parbleu!Sothathecoulddowhathewantedtodo-gainadmissiontothisflatinaperfectlyunsuspiciousmanner.Hemadesurethattheliftdoorwasunboltedearlierintheevening.'

'Wheredidyougetthekey?'

Poirot'ssmilebroadened.'Ifounditjustnow-whereIlookedforit-inM.Donovan'spocket.Seeyou,thatlittlebottleIpretendedtofindwasaruse.M.Donovanistakenin.HedoeswhatIknewhewoulddo-unstoppersitandsniffs.Andinthatlittlebottleisethylchloride,averypowerfulinstantanaesthetic.ItgivesmejustthemomentortwoofunconsciousnessIneed.ItakefromhispocketthetwothingsthatIknewwouldbethere.Thiskeywasoneofthem-theother-'

Hestoppedandthenwenton.

'Iquestionedatthetimethereasontheinspectorgaveforthebodybeingconcealedbehindthecurtain.Togaintime?No,therewasmorethanthat.AndsoIthoughtofjustonething-thepost,myfriend.Theeveningpostthatcomesathalfpastnineorthereabouts.Saythemurdererdoesnotfindsomethingheexpectstofind,b.u.t.thatsomethingmaybedeliveredbypostlater.Clearly,then,hemustcomeback.b.u.t.thecrimemustnotbediscoveredbythemaidwhenshecomesin,orthepolicewouldtakepossessionoftheflat,sohehidesthebodybehindthecurtain.Andthemaidsuspectsnothingandlaysthelettersonthetableasusual.'

'Theletters?'

'Yes,theletters.'Poirotdrewsomethingfromhispocket.'ThisisthesecondarticleItookfromM.Donovanwhenhewasunconscious.'Heshowedthesuperscription-atypewrittenenvelopeaddressedtoMrsErnestineGrant.'ButIwillaskyouonethingfirst,M.Faulkener,beforewelookatthecontentsofthisletter.AreyouorareyounotinlovewithMademoisellePatricia?'

'IcareforPatd.a.m.nably-butI'veneverthoughtIhadachance.'

'YouthoughtthatshecaredforM.Donovan?Itmaybethatshehadbeguntocareforhim-but.i.twasonlyabeginning,myfriend.Itisforyoutomakeherforget-tostandbyherinhertrouble.'

'Trouble?'saidJimmysharply.

'Yes,trouble.Wewilldoallwecantokeephernameoutofit,but.i.twillbeimpossibletodosoentirely.Shewas,yousee,themotive.'

Herippedopentheenvelopethatheheld.Anenclosurefellout.Thecoveringletterwasbrief,andwasfromafirmofsolicitors.

DearMadam, Thedoc.u.mentyouencloseisquiteinorder,andthefactofthemarriagehavingtakenplaceinaforeigncountrydoesnotinvalidateitinanyway.

Yourstruly,etc.

Poirotspreadouttheenclosure.ItwasacertificateofmarriagebetweenDonovanBaileyandErnestineGrant,datedeightyearsgo.

'Oh,myG.o.d!'saidJimmy.'Patsaidshe'dhadaletterfromthewomanaskingtoseeher,butsheneverdreameditwasanythingimportant.'

Poirotnodded.'M.Donovanknew-hewenttoseehiswifethiseveningbeforegoingtotheflatabove-astrangeirony,bytheway,thatledtheunfortunatewomantocometothisbuildingwhereherrivallived-hemurderedherincoldblood,andthenwentontohisevening'samus.e.m.e.nt.Hiswifemusthavetoldhimthatshehadsentthemarriagecertificatetohersolicitorsandwas.e.xpectingtohearfromthem.Doubtlesshehimselfhadtriedtomakeherbelievethattherewasaflawinthemarriage.'

'Heseemedinquitegoodspirits,too,alltheevening.M.Poirot,youhaven'tlethimescape?'Jimmyshuddered.

'Thereisnoescapeforhim,'saidPoirotgravely.'Youneednotfear.'

'It'sPatI'mthinkingaboutmostly,'saidJimmy.'Youdon'tthink-shereallycared.'

'Monami,thatisyourpart,'saidPoirotgently.'Tomakeherturntoyouandforget.Idonotthinkyouwillfinditverydifficult!'

TheAdventureofJohnnieWaverly

'Youcanunderstandthefeelingsofamother,'saidMrsWaverlyforperhapsthesixthtime.

ShelookedappealinglyatPoirot.Mylittlefriend,alwayssympathetictomotherhoodindistress,gesticulatedrea.s.suringly.

'Butyes,butyes,Icomprehendperfectly.HavefaithinPapaPoirot.'

'Thepolice-'beganMrWaverly.

Hiswifewavedtheinterruptionaside.'Iwon'thaveanythingmoretodowiththepolice.Wetrustedtothemandlookwhathappened!ButI'dheardsomuchofM.Poirotandthewonderfulthingshe'ddone,thatIfelthemightpossiblybeabletohelpus.Amother'sfeelings-'

Poirothastilystemmedthereiterationwithaneloquentgesture.MrsWaverly'semotionwasobviouslygenuine,but.i.ta.s.sortedstrangelywithhershrewd,ratherhardtypeofcountenance.WhenIheardlaterthatshewasthedaughterofaprominentsteelmanufacturerofBirminghamwhohadworkedhiswayupintheworldfromanofficeboytohispresenteminence,Irealizedthatshehadinheritedmanyofthepaternalqualities.

MrWaverlywasabig,florid,jovial-lookingman.Hestoodwithhislegsstraddledwideapartandlookedthetypeofthecountrysquire.

'Isupposeyouknowallaboutthisbusiness,M.Poirot?'

Thequestionwasalmostsuperfluous.ForsomedayspastthepaperhadbeenfullofthesensationalkidnappingoflittleJohnnieWaverly,thethree-year-oldsonandheirofMarcusWaverly,Esq.,ofWaverlyCourt,Surrey,oneoftheoldestfamiliesinEngland.

'ThemainfactsIknow,ofcourse,butrecounttomethewholestory,monsieur,Ibegofyou.Andindetailifyouplease.'

'Well,IsupposethebeginningofthewholethingwasabouttendaysagowhenIgotananonymousletter-beastlythings,anyway-thatIcouldn'tmakeheadortailof.ThewriterhadtheimpudencetodemandthatIshouldpayhimtwenty-fivethousandpounds-twenty-fivethousandpounds,M.Poirot!Failingmyagreement,hethreatenedtokidnapJohnnie.OfcourseIthrewthethingintothewastepaperbasketwithoutmoreado.Thought.i.twa.s.somesillyjoke.FivedayslaterIgotanotherletter."Unlessyoupay,yoursonwillbekidnappedonthetwenty-ninth."Thatwasonthetwenty-seventh.Adawasworried,butIcouldn'tbringmyselftotreatthematterseriously.d.a.m.nitall,we'reinEngland.n.o.bodygoesaboutkidnappingchildrenandholdingthemuptoransom.'

'Itisnotacommonpractice,certainly,'saidPoirot.'Proceed,monsieur.'

'Well,Adagavemenopeace,so-feelingabitofafool-IlaidthematterbeforeScotlandYard.Theydidn'tseemtotakethethingveryseriously-inclinedtomyviewthat.i.twa.s.somesillyjoke.Onthetwenty-eighthIgotathirdletter."Youhavenotpaid.Yoursonwillbetakenfromyouattwelveo'clocknoontomorrow,thetwenty-ninth.Itwillcostyoufiftythousandpoundstorecoverhim."UpIdrovetoScotlandYardagain.Thistimetheyweremoreimpressed.Theyinclinedtotheviewthattheletterswerewrittenbyalunatic,andthatinallprobabilityanattemptofsomekindwouldbemadeatthehourstated.Theya.s.suredmethattheywouldtakealldueprecautions.InspectorMcNeilandasufficientforcewouldcomedowntoWaverlyonthemorrowandtakecharge.'

'Iwenthomemuchrelievedinmymind.Yetwealreadyhadthefeelingofbeinginastateofsiege.Igaveordersthatnostrangerwastobeadmitted,andthatnoonewastoleavethehouse.Theeveningpa.s.sedoffwithoutanyuntowardincident,butonthefollowingmorningmywifewa.s.seriouslyunwell.Alarmedbyhercondition,IsentforDoctorDakers.Hersymptomsappearedtopuzzlehim.Whilehesitatingtosuggestthatshehadbeenpoisoned,Icouldseethatthatwaswhatwasinhismind.Therewasnodanger,hea.s.suredme,but.i.twouldbeadayortwobeforeshewouldbeabletogetaboutagain.Returningtomyownroom,Iwa.s.startledandamazedtofindanotepinnedtomypillow.Itwasinthesamehandwritingastheothersandcontainedjustthreewords:"Attwelveo'clock".'

'Iadmit,M.Poirot,thatthenIsawred!Someoneinthehousewasinthis-oneoftheservants.Ihadthemallup,blackguardedthemrightandleft.Theyneversplitoneachother;itwasMissCollins,mywife'scompanion,whoinformedmethatshehadseenJohnnie'snurseslipdownthedriveearlythatmorning.Itaxedherwithit,andshebrokedown.Shehadleftthechildwiththenurserymaidandstolenouttomeetafriendofhers-aman!Prettygoingson!Shedeniedhavingpinnedthenotetomypillow-shemayhavebeenspeakingthetruth,Idon'tknow.IfeltIcouldn'ttaketheriskofthechild'sownnursebeingintheplot.Oneoftheservantswasimplicated-ofthatIwa.s.sure.FinallyIlostmytemperandsackedthewholebunch,nurseandall.Igavethemanhourtopacktheirboxesandgetoutofthehouse.'

MrWaverly'sredfacewasquitetwoshadesredderasherememberedhisjustwrath.

'Wasnotthatalittleinjudicious,monsieur?'suggestedPoirot.'Forallyouknow,youmighthavebeenplayingintotheenemy'shands.'

MrWaverlystaredathim.'Idon'tseethat.Sendthewholelotpacking,thatwasmyidea.IwiredtoLondonforafreshlottobesentdownthatevening.Inthemeantime,there'dbeonlypeopleIcouldtrustinthehouse:mywife'ssecretary,MissCollins,andTredwell,thebutler,whohasbeenwithmesinceIwasaboy.'

'AndthisMissCollins,howlongha.s.shebeenwithyou?'

'Justayear,'saidMrsWaverly.'Shehasbeeninvaluabletomeasasecretary-companion,andisalsoaveryefficienthousekeeper.'

'Thenurse?'

'Shehasbeenwithmesixmonths.Shecametomewithexcellentreferences.Allthesame,Ineverreallylikedher,althoughJohnniewasquitedevotedtoher.'

'Still,Igathershehadalreadyleftwhenthecatastropheoccurred.Perhaps,MonsieurWaverly,youwillbesokindastocontinue.'

MrWaverlyresumedhisnarrative.

'InspectorMcNeilarrivedaboutten-thirty.Theservantshadallleftbythen.Hedeclaredhimselfquitesatisfiedwiththeinternalarrangements.Hehadvariousmenpostedintheparkoutside,guardingalltheapproachestothehouse,andhea.s.suredmethatifthewholethingwerenotahoax,weshouldundoubtedlycatchmymysteriouscorrespondent.'

'IhadJohnniewithme,andheandIandtheinspectorwenttogetherintoaroomwecallthecouncilchamber.Theinspectorlockedthedoor.Thereisabiggrandfatherclockthere,andasthehandsdrewneartotwelveIdon'tmindconfessingthatIwasasnervousasacat.Therewasawhirringsound,andtheclockbegantostrike.IclutchedJohnnie.Ihadafeelingamanmightdropfromtheskies.Thelaststrokesounded,andasitdidso,therewasagreatcommotionoutside-shoutingandrunning.Theinspectorflungupthewindow,andaconstablecamerunningup.'

'"We'vegothim,sir,"hepanted."Hewa.s.sneakingupthroughthebushes.He'sgotawholedopeoutfitonhim."'

'Wehurriedoutontheterracewheretwoconstableswereholdingaruffianly-lookingfellowinshabbyclothes,whowastwistingandturninginavainendeavourtoescape.Oneofthepolicemenheldoutanunrolledparcelwhichtheyhadwrestedfromtheircaptive.Itcontainedapadofcottonwoolandabottleofchloroform.Itmademybloodboiltoseeit.Therewasanote,too,addressedtome.Itoreitopen.Itborethefollowingwords:"Youshouldhavepaidup.Toransomyoursonwillnowcostyoufiftythousand.Inspiteofallyourprecautionshehasbeenabductedattwelveo'clockonthetwenty-ninthasIsaid."'

'Igaveagreatlaugh,thelaughofrelief,butasIdidsoIheardthehumofamotorandashout.Iturnedmyhead.Racingdownthedrivetowardsthesouthlodgeatafuriousspeedwasalow,longgreycar.Itwasthemanwhodroveitwhohadshouted,b.u.t.thatwasnotwhatgavemeashockofhorror.ItwasthesightofJohnnie'sflaxencurls.Thechildwasinthecarbesidehim.'

'Theinspectorrippedoutanoath."Thechildwasherenotaminuteago,"hecried.Hiseyessweptoverus.Wewereallthere:myself,Tredwell,MissCollins."Whendidyouseehimlast,MrWaverly?"'

'Icastmymindback,tryingtoremember.Whentheconstablehadcalledus,Ihadrunoutwiththeinspector,forgettingallaboutJohnnie.'

'Andthentherecameasoundthatstartledus,thechimingofachurchclockfromthevillage.Withanexclamationtheinspectorpulledouthiswatch.Itwas.e.xactlytwelveo'clock.Withonecommonaccordwerantothecouncilchamber;theclocktheremarkedthehourastenminutespast.Someonemusthavedeliberatelytamperedwithit,forIhaveneverknownitgainorlosebefore.Itisaperfecttime-keeper.'

MrWaverlypaused.Poirotsmiledtohimselfandstraightenedalittlematwhichtheanxiousfatherhadpushedaskew.

'Apleasinglittleproblem,obscureandcharming,'murmuredPoirot.'Iwillinvestigateitforyouwithpleasure.Trulyitwasplannedamerveille.'

MrsWaverlylookedathimreproachfully.'Butmyboy,'shewailed.

Poirothastilycomposedhisfaceandlookedthepictureofearnestsympathyagain.'Heissafe,madame,heisunharmed.Resta.s.sured,thesemiscreantswilltakethegreatestcareofhim.Ishenottothemtheturkey-no,thegoose-thatlaysthegoldenegg?'

'M.Poirot,I'msurethere'sonlyonethingtobedone-payup.Iwasallagainst.i.tatfirst-butnow!Amother'sfeelings-'

'Butwehaveinterruptedmonsieurinhishistory,'criedPoirothastily.

'Iexpectyouknowtherestprettywellfromthepapers,'saidMrWaverly.'Ofcourse,InspectorMcNeilgotontothetelephoneimmediately.Adescriptionofthecarandthemanwascirculatedallround,anditlookedatfirstasthougheverythingwasgoingtoturnoutallright.Acar,answeringtothedescription,withamanandasmallboy,hadpa.s.sedthroughvariousvillages,apparentlymakingforLondon.Atoneplacetheyhadstopped,anditwasnoticedthatthechildwascryingandobviouslyafraidofhiscompanion.WhenInspectorMcNeilannouncedthatthecarhadbeenstoppedandthemanandboydetained,Iwasalmostillwithrelief.Youknowthesequel.TheboywasnotJohnnie,andthemanwasanardentmotorist,fondofchildren,whohadpickedupasmallchildplayinginthestreetsofEdenswell,avillageaboutfifteenmilesfromus,andwaskindlygivinghimaride.Thankstothec.o.c.ksureblunderingofthepolice,alltraceshavedisappeared.Hadtheynotpersistentlyfollowedthewrongcar,theymightbynowhavefoundtheboy.'

'Calmyourself,monsieur.Thepoliceareabraveandintelligentforceofmen.Theirmistakewasaverynaturalone.Andaltogetheritwasacleverscheme.Astothemantheycaughtinthegrounds,Iunderstandthathisdefencehasconsistedallalongofapersistentdenial.HedeclaresthatthenoteandparcelweregiventohimtodeliveratWaverlyCourt.Themanwhogavethemtohimhandedhimaten-shillingnoteandpromisedhimanotherifitweredeliveredatexactlytenminutestotwelve.Hewastoapproachthehousethroughthegroundsandknockatthesidedoor.'

'Idon'tbelieveawordofit,'declaredMrsWaverlyhotly.'It'sallaparceloflies.'

'Enverite,itisathinstory,'saidPoirotreflectively.'Butsofartheyhavenotshakenit.Iunderstand,also,thathemadeacertainaccusation?'

HisglanceinterrogatedMrWaverly.Thelattergotratherredagain.

'ThefellowhadtheimpertinencetopretendthatherecognizedinTredwellthemanwhogavehimtheparcel."Onlytheblokeha.s.shavedoffhismoustache."Tredwell,whowasbornontheestate!'

Poirotsmiledalittleatthecountrygentleman'sindignation.

'Yetyouyourselfsuspectaninmateofthehousetohavebeenaccessorytotheabduction.'

'Yes,butnotTredwell.'

'Andyou,madame?'askedPoirot,suddenlyturningtoher.

'ItcouldnothavebeenTredwellwhogavethistramptheletterandparcel-ifanybodyeverdid,whichIdon'tbelieve.Itwasgivenhimatteno'clock,hesays.Atteno'clockTredwellwaswithmyhusbandinthesmoking-room.'