|
`
`
CHAPTER VII. `
`
`
`
POIROT PAYS HIS DEBTS `
`
`
`
`
`
As we came out of the Stylites Arms, Poirot drew me aside by a `
`
gentle pressure of the arm. I understood his object. He was `
`
waiting for the Scotland Yard men. `
`
`
`
In a few moments, they emerged, and Poirot at once stepped `
`
forward, and accosted the shorter of the two. `
`
`
`
"I fear you do not remember me, Inspector Japp." `
`
`
`
"Why, if it isn't Mr. Poirot!" cried the Inspector. He turned to `
`
the other man. "You've heard me speak of Mr. Poirot? It was in `
`
1904 he and I worked together--the Abercrombie forgery case--you `
`
remember, he was run down in Brussels. Ah, those were great `
`
days, moosier. Then, do you remember 'Baron' Altara? There was a `
`
pretty rogue for you! He eluded the clutches of half the police `
`
in Europe. But we nailed him in Antwerp--thanks to Mr. Poirot `
`
here." `
`
`
`
As these friendly reminiscences were being indulged in, I drew `
`
nearer, and was introduced to Detective-Inspector Japp, who, in `
`
his turn, introduced us both to his companion, Superintendent `
`
Summerhaye. `
`
`
`
"I need hardly ask what you are doing here, gentlemen," remarked `
`
Poirot. `
`
`
`
Japp closed one eye knowingly. `
`
`
`
"No, indeed. Pretty clear case I should say." `
`
`
`
But Poirot answered gravely: `
`
`
`
"There I differ from you." `
`
`
`
"Oh, come!" said Summerhaye, opening his lips for the first time. `
`
"Surely the whole thing is clear as daylight. The man's caught `
`
red-handed. How he could be such a fool beats me!" `
`
`
`
But Japp was looking attentively at Poirot. `
`
`
`
"Hold your fire, Summerhaye," he remarked jocularly. "Me and `
`
Moosier here have met before--and there's no man's judgment I'd `
`
sooner take than his. If I'm not greatly mistaken, he's got `
`
something up his sleeve. Isn't that so, moosier?" `
`
`
`
Poirot smiled. `
`
`
`
"I have drawn certain conclusions--yes." `
`
`
`
Summerhaye was still looking rather sceptical, but Japp continued `
`
his scrutiny of Poirot. `
`
`
`
"It's this way," he said, "so far, we've only seen the case from `
`
the outside. That's where the Yard's at a disadvantage in a case `
`
of this kind, where the murder's only out, so to speak, after the `
`
inquest. A lot depends on being on the spot first thing, and `
`
that's where Mr. Poirot's had the start of us. We shouldn't have `
`
been here as soon as this even, if it hadn't been for the fact `
`
that there was a smart doctor on the spot, who gave us the tip `
`
through the Coroner. But you've been on the spot from the first, `
`
and you may have picked up some little hints. From the evidence `
`
at the inquest, Mr. Inglethorp murdered his wife as sure as I `
`
stand here, and if anyone but you hinted the contrary I'd laugh `
`
in his face. I must say I was surprised the jury didn't bring it `
`
in Wilful Murder against him right off. I think they would have, `
`
if it hadn't been for the Coroner--he seemed to be holding them `
`
back." `
`
`
`
"Perhaps, though, you have a warrant for his arrest in your `
`
pocket now," suggested Poirot. `
`
`
`
A kind of wooden shutter of officialdom came down from Japp's `
`
expressive countenance. `
`
`
`
"Perhaps I have, and perhaps I haven't," he remarked dryly. `
`
`
`
Poirot looked at him thoughtfully. `
`
`
`
"I am very anxious, Messieurs, that he should not be arrested." `
`
`
`
"I dare say," observed Summerhaye sarcastically. `
`
`
`
Japp was regarding Poirot with comical perplexity. `
`
`
`
"Can't you go a little further, Mr. Poirot? A wink's as good as a `
`
nod--from you. You've been on the spot--and the Yard doesn't `
`
want to make any mistakes, you know." `
`
`
`
Poirot nodded gravely. `
`
`
`
"That is exactly what I thought. Well, I will tell you this. `
`
Use your warrant: Arrest Mr. Inglethorp. But it will bring you `
`
no kudos--the case against him will be dismissed at once! Comme `
`
ca!" And he snapped his fingers expressively. `
`
`
`
Japp's face grew grave, though Summerhaye gave an incredulous `
`
snort. `
`
`
`
As for me, I was literally dumb with astonishment. I could only `
`
conclude that Poirot was mad. `
`
`
`
Japp had taken out a handkerchief, and was gently dabbing his `
`
brow. `
`
`
`
"I daren't do it, Mr. Poirot. I'd take your word, but there's `
`
others over me who'll be asking what the devil I mean by it. `
`
Can't you give me a little more to go on?" `
`
`
`
Poirot reflected a moment. `
`
`
`
"It can be done," he said at last. "I admit I do not wish it. `
`
It forces my hand. I would have preferred to work in the dark `
`
just for the present, but what you say is very just--the word of `
`
a Belgian policeman, whose day is past, is not enough! And Alfred `
`
Inglethorp must not be arrested. That I have sworn, as my friend `
`
Hastings here knows. See, then, my good Japp, you go at once to `
`
Styles?" `
`
`
`
"Well, in about half an hour. We're seeing the Coroner and the `
`
doctor first." `
`
`
`
"Good. Call for me in passing--the last house in the village. I `
`
will go with you. At Styles, Mr. Inglethorp will give you, or if `
`
he refuses--as is probable--I will give you such proofs that `
`
shall satisfy you that the case against him could not possibly be `
`
sustained. Is that a bargain?" `
`
`
`
"That's a bargain," said Japp heartily. "And, on behalf of the `
`
Yard, I'm much obliged to you, though I'm bound to confess I `
`
can't at present see the faintest possible loop-hole in the `
`
evidence, but you always were a marvel! So long, then, moosier." `
`
`
`
The two detectives strode away, Summerhaye with an incredulous `
`
grin on his face. `
`
`
`
"Well, my friend," cried Poirot, before I could get in a word, `
`
"what do you think? Mon Dieu! I had some warm moments in that `
`
court; I did not figure to myself that the man would be so `
`
pig-headed as to refuse to say anything at all. Decidedly, it `
`
was the policy of an imbecile." `
`
`
`
"H'm! There are other explanations besides that of imbecility," I `
`
remarked. "For, if the case against him is true, how could he `
`
defend himself except by silence?" `
`
`
`
"Why, in a thousand ingenious ways," cried Poirot. "See; say `
`
that it is I who have committed this murder, I can think of seven `
`
most plausible stories! Far more convincing than Mr. Inglethorp's `
`
stony denials!" `
`
`
`
I could not help laughing. `
`
`
`
"My dear Poirot, I am sure you are capable of thinking of `
`
seventy! But, seriously, in spite of what I heard you say to the `
`
detectives, you surely cannot still believe in the possibility of `
`
Alfred Inglethorp's innocence?" `
`
`
`
"Why not now as much as before? Nothing has changed." `
`
`
`
"But the evidence is so conclusive." `
`
`
`
"Yes, too conclusive." `
`
`
`
We turned in at the gate of Leastways Cottage, and proceeded up `
`
the now familiar stairs. `
`
`
`
"Yes, yes, too conclusive," continued Poirot, almost to himself. `
`
"Real evidence is usually vague and unsatisfactory. It has to be `
`
examined--sifted. But here the whole thing is cut and dried. `
`
No, my friend, this evidence has been very cleverly `
`
manufactured--so cleverly that it has defeated its own ends." `
`
`
`
"How do you make that out?" `
`
`
`
"Because, so long as the evidence against him was vague and `
`
intangible, it was very hard to disprove. But, in his anxiety, `
`
the criminal has drawn the net so closely that one cut will set `
`
Inglethorp free." `
`
`
`
I was silent. And in a minute or two, Poirot continued: `
`
`
`
"Let us look at the matter like this. Here is a man, let us say, `
`
who sets out to poison his wife. He has lived by his wits as the `
`
saying goes. Presumably, therefore, he has some wits. He is not `
`
altogether a fool. Well, how does he set about it? He goes `
`
boldly to the village chemist's and purchases strychnine under `
`
his own name, with a trumped up story about a dog which is bound `
`
to be proved absurd. He does not employ the poison that night. `
`
No, he waits until he has had a violent quarrel with her, of `
`
which the whole household is cognisant, and which naturally `
`
directs their suspicions upon him. He prepares no defence--no `
`
shadow of an alibi, yet he knows the chemist's assistant must `
`
necessarily come forward with the facts. Bah! do not ask me to `
`
believe that any man could be so idiotic! Only a lunatic, who `
`
wished to commit suicide by causing himself to be hanged, would `
`
|