Part 22 (1/2)

”Yes - there is something. I can see there is something.”

When he wished, Poirot's voice could a.s.sume an almost hypnotic quality. Dr Cloade frowned a little, then he said hesitatingly: quality. Dr Cloade frowned a little, then he said hesitatingly: ”I've no experience, of course, of police cases. And anyway medical evidence isn't the hard-and-fast, cast-iron business that laymen or evidence isn't the hard-and-fast, cast-iron business that laymen or novelists seem to think. We're fallible - medical science is fallible. novelists seem to think. We're fallible - medical science is fallible. What's diagnosis? A guess, based on a very little knowledge, and some What's diagnosis? A guess, based on a very little knowledge, and some indefinite clues which point in more than one direction. I'm pretty indefinite clues which point in more than one direction. I'm pretty sound, perhaps, at diagnosing measles because, at my time of life, I've sound, perhaps, at diagnosing measles because, at my time of life, I've seen hundreds of cases of measles and I know an extraordinary wide seen hundreds of cases of measles and I know an extraordinary wide variation of signs and symptoms. You hardly ever get what a text book variation of signs and symptoms. You hardly ever get what a text book tells you is a 'typical case' of measles. But I've known some queer tells you is a 'typical case' of measles. But I've known some queer things in my time - I've seen a woman practically on the operating table things in my time - I've seen a woman practically on the operating table ready for her appendix to be whipped out - and paratyphoid diagnosed ready for her appendix to be whipped out - and paratyphoid diagnosed just in time! I've seen a child with skin trouble p.r.o.nounced as a case of just in time! I've seen a child with skin trouble p.r.o.nounced as a case of serious vitamin deficiency by an earnest and conscientious young serious vitamin deficiency by an earnest and conscientious young doctor - and the local vet comes along and mentions to the mother that doctor - and the local vet comes along and mentions to the mother that the cat the child is hugging has got ringworm and that the child has the cat the child is hugging has got ringworm and that the child has caught it! caught it!

”Doctors, like every one else, are victims of the preconceived idea. Here's a man, obviously murdered, lying with a bloodstained pair of Here's a man, obviously murdered, lying with a bloodstained pair of fire-tongs beside him. It would be nonsense to say he was. .h.i.t with fire-tongs beside him. It would be nonsense to say he was. .h.i.t with anything else, and yet, speaking out of complete inexperience of anything else, and yet, speaking out of complete inexperience of people with their heads smashed in, I'd have suspected something people with their heads smashed in, I'd have suspected something rather different - something not so smooth and round - something - oh, rather different - something not so smooth and round - something - oh, I don't know, something with a more cutting edge - a brick, something I don't know, something with a more cutting edge - a brick, something like that.” like that.”

”You did not say so at the inquest?”

”No - because I don't really know. Jenkins, the police surgeon, was satisfied, and he's the fellow who counts. But there's the preconceived satisfied, and he's the fellow who counts. But there's the preconceived idea - weapon lying beside the body. Could the wound have been idea - weapon lying beside the body. Could the wound have been inflicted with that? Yes, it could. But if you were shown the wound and inflicted with that? Yes, it could. But if you were shown the wound and asked what made it - well, I don't know whether you'd say it, because it asked what made it - well, I don't know whether you'd say it, because it really doesn't make sense - I mean if you had two fellows, one hitting really doesn't make sense - I mean if you had two fellows, one hitting him with a brick and one with the tongs -” him with a brick and one with the tongs -”

The doctor stopped, shook his head in a dissatisfied way.

”Doesn't make sense, does it?” he said to Poirot.

”Could he have fallen on some sharp object?”

Dr Cloade shook his head.

”He was lying face down in the middle of the floor - on a good thick old- fas.h.i.+oned Axminster carpet.” fas.h.i.+oned Axminster carpet.”

He broke off as his wife entered the room.

”Here's Kathie with the cat-lap.” he remarked.

Aunt Kathie was balancing a tray covered with crockery, half a loaf of bread and some depressing-looking jam in the bottom of a 2-lb. pot. bread and some depressing-looking jam in the bottom of a 2-lb. pot.

”I think the kettle was boiling,” she remarked doubtfully as she raised the lid of the teapot and peered inside. the lid of the teapot and peered inside.

Dr Cloade snorted again and muttered: ”Cat-lap,” with which explosive word he left the room. word he left the room.

”Poor Lionel, his nerves are in a terrible state since the war. He worked much too hard. So many doctors away. He gave himself no worked much too hard. So many doctors away. He gave himself no rest. Out morning, noon, and night. I wonder he didn't break down rest. Out morning, noon, and night. I wonder he didn't break down completely. Of course he looked forward to retiring as soon as peace completely. Of course he looked forward to retiring as soon as peace came. That was all fixed up with Gordon. His hobby, you know, is came. That was all fixed up with Gordon. His hobby, you know, is botany with special reference to medicinal herbs in the Middle Ages. botany with special reference to medicinal herbs in the Middle Ages. He's writing a book on it. He was looking forward to a quiet life and He's writing a book on it. He was looking forward to a quiet life and doing the necessary research. But then, when Gordon died like that - doing the necessary research. But then, when Gordon died like that - well, you know what things are, M. Poirot, nowadays. Taxation and well, you know what things are, M. Poirot, nowadays. Taxation and everything. He can't afford to retire and it's made him very bitter. And everything. He can't afford to retire and it's made him very bitter. And really it does seem unfair. Gordon's dying like that, without a will - well, really it does seem unfair. Gordon's dying like that, without a will - well, it really quite shook my faith. I mean, I really couldn't see the purpose it really quite shook my faith. I mean, I really couldn't see the purpose in that. It seemed, I couldn't help feeling, a mistake.” in that. It seemed, I couldn't help feeling, a mistake.”

She sighed, then cheered up a little.

”But I get some lovely rea.s.surances from the other side. 'Courage and patience and a way will be found.' And really, when that nice Major patience and a way will be found.' And really, when that nice Major Porter stood up today and said in such a firm manly way that the poor Porter stood up today and said in such a firm manly way that the poor murdered man was Robert Underhay - well, I saw that a way had been murdered man was Robert Underhay - well, I saw that a way had been found! It's wonderful, isn't it, M. Poirot, how things do turn out for the found! It's wonderful, isn't it, M. Poirot, how things do turn out for the best?” best?”

”Even murder,” said Hercule Poirot.

Chapter 7.

Poirot entered the Stag in a thoughtful mood, and s.h.i.+vering slightly for there was a sharp east wind. The hall was deserted. He pushed open there was a sharp east wind. The hall was deserted. He pushed open the door of the lounge on the right. It smelt of stale smoke and the fire the door of the lounge on the right. It smelt of stale smoke and the fire was nearly out. Poirot tiptoed along to the door at the end of the hall was nearly out. Poirot tiptoed along to the door at the end of the hall labelled ”Residents Only.” Here there was a good fire, but in a large labelled ”Residents Only.” Here there was a good fire, but in a large arm-chair, comfortably toasting her toes, was a monumental old lady arm-chair, comfortably toasting her toes, was a monumental old lady who glared at Poirot with such ferocity that he beat an apologetic who glared at Poirot with such ferocity that he beat an apologetic retreat. retreat.

He stood for a moment in the hall looking from the gla.s.s-enclosed empty office to the door labelled in firm old-fas.h.i.+oned style Coffee- empty office to the door labelled in firm old-fas.h.i.+oned style Coffee- Room. By experience of country hotels Poirot knew well that the only Room. By experience of country hotels Poirot knew well that the only time coffee was served there was somewhat grudgingly for breakfast time coffee was served there was somewhat grudgingly for breakfast and that even then a good deal of watery hot milk was its princ.i.p.al and that even then a good deal of watery hot milk was its princ.i.p.al component. Small cups of a treacly and muddy liquid called Black component. Small cups of a treacly and muddy liquid called Black Coffee were served not in the Coffee-Room but in the lounge. The Coffee were served not in the Coffee-Room but in the lounge. The Windsor Soup, Vienna Steak and Potatoes, and Steamed Pudding Windsor Soup, Vienna Steak and Potatoes, and Steamed Pudding which comprised Dinner would be obtainable in the Coffee-Room at which comprised Dinner would be obtainable in the Coffee-Room at seven sharp. Until then a deep peace brooded over the residential seven sharp. Until then a deep peace brooded over the residential area of the Stag. area of the Stag.

Poirot went thoughtfully up the staircase. Instead of turning to the left where his own room. No. 11, was situated, he turned to the right and where his own room. No. 11, was situated, he turned to the right and stopped before the door of No. 5. He looked round him. Silence and stopped before the door of No. 5. He looked round him. Silence and emptiness. He opened the door and went in. emptiness. He opened the door and went in.

The police had done with the room. It had clearly been freshly cleaned and scrubbed. There was no carpet on the floor. Presumably the ”old- and scrubbed. There was no carpet on the floor. Presumably the ”old- fas.h.i.+oned Axminster” had gone to the cleaners. The blankets were fas.h.i.+oned Axminster” had gone to the cleaners. The blankets were folded on the bed in a neat pile. folded on the bed in a neat pile.

Closing the door behind him, Poirot wandered round the room. It was clean and strangely barren of human interest. Poirot took in its clean and strangely barren of human interest. Poirot took in its furnis.h.i.+ngs - a writing-table, a chest of drawers of good old-fas.h.i.+oned furnis.h.i.+ngs - a writing-table, a chest of drawers of good old-fas.h.i.+oned mahogany, an upright wardrobe of the same (the one presumably that mahogany, an upright wardrobe of the same (the one presumably that masked the door into No. 4), a large bra.s.s double bed, a basin with hot masked the door into No. 4), a large bra.s.s double bed, a basin with hot and cold water - tribute to modernity and the servant shortage - a large and cold water - tribute to modernity and the servant shortage - a large but rather uncomfortable arm-chair, two small chairs, an old-fas.h.i.+oned but rather uncomfortable arm-chair, two small chairs, an old-fas.h.i.+oned Victorian grate with a poker and a pierced shovel belonging to the Victorian grate with a poker and a pierced shovel belonging to the same set as the fire-tongs, a heavy marble mantelpiece and a solid same set as the fire-tongs, a heavy marble mantelpiece and a solid marble firecurb with squared corners. marble firecurb with squared corners.

It was at these last that Poirot bent and looked. Moistening his finger he rubbed it along the right-hand corner and then inspected the result. he rubbed it along the right-hand corner and then inspected the result. His finger was slightly black. He repeated the performance with His finger was slightly black. He repeated the performance with another finger on the left-hand corner of the curb. This time his finger another finger on the left-hand corner of the curb. This time his finger was quite clean. was quite clean.

”Yes,” said Poirot thoughtfully to himself. ”Yes.”

He looked at the fitted washbasin. Then he strolled to the window. It looked out over some leads - the roof of a garage, he fancied, and then looked out over some leads - the roof of a garage, he fancied, and then to a small back alley. An easy way to come and go unseen from room to a small back alley. An easy way to come and go unseen from room No. 5. But then it was equally easy to walk upstairs to No. 5 unseen. He No. 5. But then it was equally easy to walk upstairs to No. 5 unseen. He had just done it himself. had just done it himself.

Quietly, Poirot withdrew, shutting the door noiselessly behind him. He went along to his own room. It was decidedly chilly. He went went along to his own room. It was decidedly chilly. He went downstairs again, hesitated, and then, driven by the chill of the downstairs again, hesitated, and then, driven by the chill of the evening, boldly entered the Residents Only, drew up a second arm- evening, boldly entered the Residents Only, drew up a second arm- chair to the fire and sat down. chair to the fire and sat down.

The monumental old lady was even more formidable seen close at hand. She had iron-grey hair, a nouris.h.i.+ng moustache and, when hand. She had iron-grey hair, a nouris.h.i.+ng moustache and, when presently she spoke, a deep and awe-inspiring voice. presently she spoke, a deep and awe-inspiring voice.

”This lounge,” she said, ”is Reserved for persons staying in the hotel.”

”I am staying in the Hotel,” replied Hercule Poirot.

The old lady meditated for a moment or two before returning to the attack. attack.

Then she said accusingly: ”You're a foreigner.”

”Yes,” replied Hercule Poirot.

”In my opinion,” said the old lady, ”you should all go back.”

”Go back where?” inquired Poirot.

”To where you came from,” said the old lady firmly.

She added as a kind of rider, sotto voce: ”Foreigners!” and snorted.

”That,” said Poirot mildly, ”would be difficult.”

”Nonsense,” said the old lady. ”That's what we fought the war for, isn't it? So that people could go back to their proper places and stay there.” it? So that people could go back to their proper places and stay there.”

Poirot did not enter into a controversy. He had already learnt that every single individual had a different version of the theme. ”What did every single individual had a different version of the theme. ”What did we fight the war for?” we fight the war for?”

A somewhat hostile silence reigned.

”I don't know what things are coming to,” said the old lady. ”I really don't. Every year I come and stay in this place. My husband died here don't. Every year I come and stay in this place. My husband died here sixteen years ago. He's buried here. I come every year for a month.” sixteen years ago. He's buried here. I come every year for a month.”

”A pious pilgrimage,” said Poirot politely.

”And every year things get worse and worse. No service! Food uneatable! Vienna steaks indeed! A steak's either Rump or Fillet steak uneatable! Vienna steaks indeed! A steak's either Rump or Fillet steak -not chopped-up horse!”

Poirot shook his head sadly.

”One good thing - they've shut down the aerodrome,” said the old lady.

”Disgraceful it was, all those young airmen coming in here with those dreadful girls. Girls, indeed! I don't know what their mothers are dreadful girls. Girls, indeed! I don't know what their mothers are thinking of nowadays. Letting them gad about as they do. I blame the thinking of nowadays. Letting them gad about as they do. I blame the Government. Sending the mothers to work in factories. Only let 'em off Government. Sending the mothers to work in factories. Only let 'em off if they've got young children. Young children, stuff and nonsense! Any if they've got young children. Young children, stuff and nonsense! Any one can look after a baby! A baby doesn't go running round after one can look after a baby! A baby doesn't go running round after soldiers. Girls from fourteen to eighteen, they're the ones that need soldiers. Girls from fourteen to eighteen, they're the ones that need looking after! Need their mothers. It takes a mother to know just what looking after! Need their mothers. It takes a mother to know just what a girl is up to. Soldiers! Airmen! That's all they think about. Americans! a girl is up to. Soldiers! Airmen! That's all they think about. Americans!