'Wereyouabletoseethefaceofthemaninthecar,monsieur?DiditresemblethatofTredwellinanyway?'

'Itwastoofarawayformetoseehisface.'

'HasTredwellabrother,doyouknow?'

'Hehadseveral,b.u.t.theyarealldead.Thelastonewaskilledinthewar.'

'IamnotyetclearastothegroundsofWaverlyCourt.Thecarwasheadingforthesouthlodge.Isthereanotherentrance?'

'Yes,whatwecalltheeastlodge.Itcanbeseenfromtheothersideofthehouse.'

'Itseemstomestrangethatn.o.bodysawthecarenteringthegrounds.'

'Thereisarightofwaythrough,andaccesstoasmallchapel.Agoodmanycarspa.s.sthrough.Themanmusthavestoppedthecarinaconvenientplaceandrunuptothehousejustasthealarmwasgivenandattentionattractedelsewhere.'

'Unlesshewasalreadyinsidethehouse,'musedPoirot.'Isthereanyplacewherehecouldhavehidden?'

'Well,wecertainlydidn'tmakeathoroughsearchofthehousebeforehand.Thereseemednoneed.Isupposehemighthavehiddenhimselfsomewhere,butwhowouldhavelethimin?'

'Weshallcometothatlater.Onethingatatime-letusbemethodical.Thereisnospecialhiding-placeinthehouse?WaverlyCourtisanoldplace,andtherearesometimes"priests'holes",astheycallthem.'

'Bygad,there'sapriest'shole.Itopensfromoneofthepanelsinthehall.'

'Nearthecouncilchamber?'

'Justoutsidethedoor.'

'Voila!'

'Butn.o.bodyknowsofits.e.xistenceexceptmywifeandmyself.'

'Tredwell?'

'Well-hemighthaveheardofit.'

'MissCollins?'

'Ihavenevermentionedittoher.'

Poirotreflectedforaminute.

'Well,monsieur,thenextthingisformetocomedowntoWaverlyCourt.IfIarrivethisafternoon,willitsuityou?'

'Oh,a.s.soonaspossible,please,MonsieurPoirot!'criedMrsWaverly.'Readthisoncemore.'

ShethrustintohishandsthelastmissivefromtheenemywhichhadreachedtheWaverlysthatmorningandwhichhadsentherpost-hastetoPoirot.Itgavecleverandexplicitdirectionsforthepayingoverofthemoney,andendedwithathreatthattheboy'slifewouldpayforanytreachery.ItwasclearthataloveofmoneywarredwiththeessentialmotherloveofMrsWaverly,andthatthelatterwasatlastgainingtheday.

PoirotdetainedMrsWaverlyforaminutebehindherhusband.

'Madame,thetruth,ifyouplease.Doyoushareyourhusband'sfaithinthebutler,Tredwell?'

'Ihavenothingagainsthim,MonsieurPoirot,Icannotseehowhecanhavebeenconcernedinthis,but-well,Ihaveneverlikedhim-never.'

'Oneotherthing,madame,canyougivemetheaddressofthechild'snurse?'

'149NetherallRoad,Hammersmith.Youdon'timagine-'

'NeverdoIimagine.Only-Iemploythelittlegreycells.Andsometimes,justsometimes,Ihavealittleidea.'

Poirotcamebacktomeasthedoorclosed.

'Somadamehasneverlikedthebutler.Itisinteresting,that,eh,Hastings?'

Irefusedtobedrawn.PoirothasdeceivedmesooftenthatInowgowarily.Thereisalwaysacatchsomewhere.

Aftercompletinganelaborateoutdoortoilet,wesetoffforNetherallRoad.WewerefortunateenoughtofindMissJessieWithersathome.Shewasapleasant-facedwomanofthirty-five,capableandsuperior.Icouldnotbelievethatshecouldbemixedupintheaffair.Shewasbitterlyresentfulofthewayshehadbeendismissed,butadmittedthatshehadbeeninthewrong.Shewasengagedtobemarriedtoapainteranddecoratorwhohappenedtobeintheneighbourhood,andshehadrunouttomeethim.Thethingseemednaturalenough.IcouldnotquiteunderstandPoirot.Allhisquestionsseemedtomequiteirrelevant.TheywereconcernedmainlywiththedailyroutineofherlifeatWaverlyCourt.IwasfranklyboredandgladwhenPoirottookhisdeparture.

'Kidnappingisaneasyjob,monami,'heobserved,ashehailedataxiintheHammersmithRoadandorderedittodrivetoWaterloo.

'Thatchildcouldhavebeenabductedwiththegreatesteaseanydayforthelastthreeyears.'

'Idon'tseethatthatadvancesusmuch,'Iremarkedcoldly.

'Aucontraire,itadvancesusenormously,butenormously!Ifyoumustwearatiepin,Hastings,atleastlet.i.tbeintheexactcentreofyourtie.Atpresent.i.tisatleastasixteenthofaninchtoomuchtotheright.'

WaverlyCourtwasafineoldplaceandhadrecentlybeenrestoredwithtasteandcare.MrWaverlyshowedusthecouncilchamber,theterrace,andallthevariousspotsconnectedwiththecase.Finally,atPoirot'srequest,hepressedaspringinthewall,apanelslidaside,andashortpa.s.sageledusintothepriest'shole.

'Yousee,'saidWaverly.'Thereisnothinghere.'

Thetinyroomwasbareenough,therewasnoteventhemarkofafootsteponthefloor.IjoinedPoirotwherehewasbendingattentivelyoveramarkinthecorner.

'Whatdoyoumakeofthis,myfriend?'

Therewerefourimprintsclosetogether.

'Adog,'Icried.

'Averysmalldog,Hastings.'

'APom.'

'SmallerthanaPom.'

'Agriffon?'Isuggesteddoubtfully.

'Smallereventhanagriffon.AspeciesunknowntotheKennelClub.'

Ilookedathim.Hisfacewasalightwithexcitementandsatisfaction.

'Iwasright,'hemurmured.'IknewIwasright.Come,Hastings.'

Aswesteppedoutintothehallandthepanelclosedbehindus,ayoungladycameoutofadoorfartherdownthepa.s.sage.MrWaverlypresentedhertous.

'MissCollins.'

MissCollinswasaboutthirtyyearsof.a.ge,briskandalertinmanner.Shehadfair,ratherdullhair,andworepince-nez.

AtPoirot'srequest,wepa.s.sedintoasmallmorning-room,andhequestionedhercloselyastotheservantsandparticularlyastoTredwell.Sheadmittedthatshedidnotlikethebutler.

'Hegiveshimselfairs,'sheexplained.

TheythenwentintothequestionofthefoodeatenbyMrsWaverlyonthenightofthe28th.MissCollinsdeclaredthatshehadpartakenofthesamedishesupstairsinhersitting-roomandhadfeltnoilleffects.a.s.shewasdepartingInudgedPoirot.

'Thedog,'Iwhispered.

'Ah,yes,thedog!'Hesmiledbroadly.'Isthereadogkeptherebyanychance,mademoiselle?'

'Therearetworetrieversinthekennelsoutside.'

'No,Imeanasmalldog,atoydog.'

'No-nothingofthekind.'

Poirotpermittedhertodepart.Then,pressingthebell,heremarkedtome,'Shelies,thatMademoiselleCollins.PossiblyIshould,also,inherplace.Nowforthebutler.'

Tredwellwasadignifiedindividual.Hetoldhisstorywithperfectaplomb,anditwasessentiallythesameasthatofMrWaverly.Headmittedthatheknewthesecretofthepriest'shole.Whenhefinallywithdrew,pontificaltothelast,ImetPoirot'squizzicaleyes.

'Whatdoyoumakeofitall,Hastings?'

'Whatdoyou?'Iparried.

'Howcautious...o...b..come.Never,neverwillthegreycellsfunctionunlessyoustimulatethem.Ah,butIwillnotteaseyou!Letusmakeourdeductionstogether.Whatpointsstrikeusspeciallyasbeingdifficult?'

'Thereisonethingthatstrikesme,'Isaid.'Whydidthemanwhokidnappedthechildgooutbythesouthlodgeinsteadofbytheeastlodgewherenoonewouldseehim?'

'Thatisaverygoodpoint,Hastings,anexcellentone.Iwillmatchitwithanother.WhywarntheWaverlysbeforehand?Whynotsimplykidnapthechildandholdhimtoransom?'

'Becausetheyhopedtogetthemoneywithoutbeingforcedtoaction.'

'Surelyitwasveryunlikelythatthemoneywouldbepaidonamerethreat?'

'Alsotheywantedtofocusattentionontwelveo'clock,sothatwhenthetrampmanwa.s.seized,theothercouldemergefromhishiding-placeandgetawaywiththechildunnoticed.'

'Thatdoesnotalterthefactthattheyweremakingathingdifficultthatwasperfectlyeasy.Iftheydonotspecifyatimeordate,nothingwouldbeeasierthantowaittheirchance,andcarryoffthechildinamotoronedaywhenheisoutwithhisnurse.'

'Ye-es,'Iadmitteddoubtfully.

'Infact,thereisadeliberateplayingofthefarce!Nowletusapproachthequestionfromanotherside.Everythinggoestoshowthattherewasanaccompliceinsidethehouse.Pointnumberone,themysteriouspoisoningofMrsWaverly.Pointnumbertwo,theletterpinnedtothepillow.Pointnumberthree,theputtingonoftheclocktenminutes-allinsidejobs.Andanadditionalfactthatyoumaynothavenoticed.Therewasnodustinthepriest'shole.Ithadbeensweptoutwithabroom.

'Nowthen,wehavefourpeopleinthehouse.Wecanexcludethenurse,sinceshecouldnothavesweptoutthepriest'shole,thoughshecouldhaveattendedtotheotherthreepoints.Fourpeople,MrandMrsWaverly,Tredwell,thebutler,andMissCollins.WewilltakeMissCollinsfirst.Wehavenothingmuchagainsther,exceptthatweknowverylittleabouther,thatsheisobviouslyanintelligentyoungwoman,andthatshehasonlybeenhereayear.'

'Sheliedaboutthedog,yousaid,'Iremindedhim.

'Ah,yes,thedog.'Poirotgaveapeculiarsmile.'Nowletuspa.s.stoTredwell.Thereareseveralsuspiciousfactsagainsthim.Foronething,thetrampdeclaresthat.i.twasTredwellwhogavehimtheparcelinthevillage.'

'b.u.t.tredwellcanprovea.n.a.libionthatpoint.'

'Eventhen,hecouldhavepoisonedMrsWaverly,pinnedthenotetothepillow,putontheclock,andsweptoutthepriest'shole.Ontheotherhand,hehasbeenbornandbredintheserviceoftheWaverlys.Itseemsunlikelyinthelastdegreethatheshouldconniveattheabductionofthesonofthehouse.Itisnotinthepicture!'

'Well,then?'

'Wemustproceedlogically-howeverabsurditmayseem.WewillbrieflyconsiderMrsWaverly.Butsheisrich,themoneyishers.Itishermoneywhichhasrestoredthisimpoverishedestate.Therewouldbenoreasonforhertokidnaphersonandpayoverhermoneytoherself.Herhusband,now,isinadifferentposition.Hehasarichwife.Itisnotthesamethingasbeingrichhimself-infactIhavealittleideathattheladyisnotveryfondofpartingwithhermoney,exceptonaverygoodpretext.ButMrWaverly,youcanseeatonce,heisbonviveur.'

'Impossible,'Ispluttered.

'Notatall.Whosendsawaytheservants?MrWaverly.Hecanwritethenotes,drughiswife,putonthehandsoftheclock,andestablishanexcellentalibiforhisfaithfulretainerTredwell.TredwellhasneverlikedMrsWaverly.Heisdevotedtohismasterandiswillingtoobeyhisordersimplicitly.Therewerethreeoftheminit.Waverly,Tredwell,andsomefriendofWaverly.Thatisthemistakethepolicemade,theymadenofurtherinquiriesaboutthemanwhodrovethegreycarwiththewrongchildinit.Hewasthethirdman.Hepicksupachildinavillagenearby,aboywithflaxencurls.Hedrivesinthroughtheeastlodgeandpa.s.sesoutthroughthesouthlodgejustattherightmoment,wavinghishandandshouting.Theycannotseehisfaceorthenumberofthecar,soobviouslytheycannotseethechild'sface,either.ThenhelaysafalsetrailtoLondon.Inthemeantime,Tredwellhasdonehispartinarrangingfortheparcelandnotetobedeliveredbyarough-lookinggentleman.Hismastercanprovidea.n.a.libiintheunlikelycaseofthemanrecognizinghim,inspiteofthefalsemoustachehewore.AsforMrWaverly,a.s.soonasthehullabaloooccursoutside,andtheinspectorrushesout,hequicklyhidesthechildinthepriest'shole,andfollowshimout.Laterintheday,whentheinspectorisgoneandMissCollinsisoutoftheway,itwillbeeasyenoughtodrivehimofftosomesafeplaceinhisowncar.'

'Butwhataboutthedog?'Iasked.'AndMissCollinslying?'

'Thatwasmylittlejoke.Iaskedheriftherewereanytoydoginthehouse,andshesaidno-butdoubtlesstherearesome-inthenursery!Yousee,MrWaverlyplacedsometoysinthepriest'sholetokeepJohnnieamusedandquiet.'

'M.Poirot-'MrWaverlyenteredtheroom-'haveyoudiscoveredanything?Haveyouanycluetowheretheboyhasbeentaken?'

Poirothandedhimapieceofpaper.'Hereistheaddress.'

'b.u.t.thisisablanksheet.'

'BecauseIamwaitingforyoutowriteitdownforme.'

'Whatthe-'MrWaverly'sfaceturnedpurple.

'Iknoweverything,monsieur.Igiveyoutwenty-fourhourstoreturntheboy.Youringenuitywillbeequaltothetaskofexplaininghisreappearance.Otherwise,MrsWaverlywillbeinformedoftheexactsequenceofevents.'

MrWaverlysankdowninachairandburiedhisfaceinhishands.'Heiswithmyoldnurse,tenmilesaway.Heishappyandwellcaredfor.'

'Ihavenodoubtofthat.IfIdidnotbelieveyoutobeagoodfatheratheart,Ishouldnotbewillingtogiveyouanotherchance.'

'Thescandal-'

'Exactly.Yournameisanoldandhonouredone.Donotjeopardizeitagain.Goodevening,MrWaverly.Ah,bytheway,onewordofadvice.Alwayssweepinthecorners!'

FourandTwentyBlackbirds