Part 26 (1/2)
”Certainly, M. Poirot.”
Very correct, very urbane, Holmes answered the bell.
”You rang, madam?”
Mrs Farley indicated Poirot with a gesture.
Holmes turned politely. ”Yes, sir?”
”What were your instructions, Holmes, on the Thursday night when I came here?”
Holmes cleared his throat, then said: ”After dinner Mr Cornworthy told me that Mr Farley expected a Mr Hercule Poirot at 9:30. I was to ascertain the gentleman's name, and I was to verify the information by glancing at a letter. Then I was to show him up to Mr Cornworthy's room.”
”Were you also told to knock on the door?”
An expression of distaste crossed the butler's countenance.
”That was one of Mr Farley's orders. I was always to knock when introducing visitors - business visitors, that is,” he added.
”Ah, that puzzled me! Were you given any other instructions concerning me?”
”No, sir. When Mr Cornworthy had told me what I have just repeated to you he went out.”
”What time was that?”
”Ten minutes to nine, sir.”
”Did you see Mr Farley after that?”
”Yes, sir, I took him up a gla.s.s of hot water as usual at nine o'clock.”
”Was he then in his own room or in Mr Cornworthy's?”
”He was in his own room, sir.”
”You noticed nothing unusual about that room?”
”Unusual? No, sir.”
”Where were Mrs Farley and Miss Farley?”
”They had gone to the theater, sir.”
”Thank you, Holmes, that will do.”
Holmes bowed and left the room. Poirot turned to the millionaire's widow.
”One more question, Mrs Farley. Had your husband good sight?”
”No. Not without his gla.s.ses.”
”He was very shortsighted?”
”Oh, yes, he was quite helpless without his spectacles.”
”He had several pairs of gla.s.ses?”
”Yes.”
”Ah,” said Poirot. He leaned back. ”I think that that concludes the case...”
There was silence in the room. They were all looking at the little man who sat there complacently stroking his mustache. On the inspector's face was perplexity, Dr Stillingfleet was frowning, Cornworthy merely stared uncomprehendingly, Mrs Farley gazed in blank astonishment, Joanna Farley looked eager.
Mrs Farley broke the silence.
”I don't understand, M. Poirot.” Her voice was fretful. ”The dream -”
”Yes,” said Poirot. ”That dream was very important.”
Mrs Farley s.h.i.+vered. She said: ”I've never believed in anything supernatural before - but now - to dream it night after night beforehand -”
”It's extraordinary,” said Stillingfieet. ”Extraordinary! If we hadn't got your word for it, Poirot, and if you hadn't had it straight from the horse's mouth -” he coughed in embarra.s.sment, and readopting his professional manner, ”I beg your pardon, Mrs Farley. If Mr Farley himself had not told that story -”
”Exactly,” said Poirot. His eyes, which had been half-closed, opened suddenly. They were very green. ”If Benedict Farley hadn't told me -”
He paused a minute, looking round at a circle of blank faces.
”There are certain things, you comprehend, that happened that evening which I was quite at a loss to explain. First, why make such a point of my bringing that letter with me?”
”Identification,” suggested Cornworthy.
”No, no, my dear young man. Really that idea is too ridiculous. There must be some much more valid reason. For not only did Mr Farley require to see that letter produced, but he definitely demanded that I should leave it behind me. And moreover even then he did not destroy it! It was found among his papers this afternoon. Why did he keep it?”
Joanna Farley's voice broke in. ”He wanted, in case anything happened to him, that the facts of his strange dream should be made known.”
Poirot nodded approvingly.
”You are astute, Mademoiselle. That must be - that can only be - the point of the keeping of the letter. When Mr Farley was dead, the story of that strange dream was to be told! That dream was very important. That dream, Mademoiselle, was vital!
”I will come now,” he went on, ”to the second point. After hearing his story I ask Mr Farley to show me the desk and the revolver. He seems about to get up to do so, then suddenly refuses. Why did he refuse?”
This time no one advanced an answer.
”I will put that question differently. What was there in that next room that Mr Farley did not want me to see?”
There was still silence.