Part 24 (1/2)

”I don't believe that man is going to London for the reason he said. I don't believe all that about Gordon's having made a will. Do you believe don't believe all that about Gordon's having made a will. Do you believe it, Jeremy?” it, Jeremy?”

A hopeless, rather tired voice answered her: ”No, Frances. No - he's going for some other reason.”

”What reason?”

”I've no idea.”

Frances said, ”What are we going to do, Jeremy? What are we going to do?” do?”

Presently he answered: ”I think, Frances, there's only one thing to be done -”

Chapter 9.

Armed with the necessary credentials from Jeremy Cloade, Poirot had got the answers to his questions. They were very definite. The house got the answers to his questions. They were very definite. The house was a total wreck. The site had been cleared only quite recently in was a total wreck. The site had been cleared only quite recently in preparation for rebuilding. preparation for rebuilding.

There had been no survivors except for David Hunter and Mrs Cloade. There had been three servants in the house: Frederick Game, There had been three servants in the house: Frederick Game, Elizabeth Game and Eileen Corrigan. All three had been killed Elizabeth Game and Eileen Corrigan. All three had been killed instantly. Gordon Cloade had been brought out alive, but had died on instantly. Gordon Cloade had been brought out alive, but had died on the way to hospital without recovering consciousness. the way to hospital without recovering consciousness.

Poirot took the names and addresses of the three servants' next-of-kin.

”It is possible,” he said, ”that they may have spoken to their friends something in the way of gossip or comment that might give me a something in the way of gossip or comment that might give me a pointer to some information I badly need.” pointer to some information I badly need.”

The official to whom he was speaking looked sceptical. The Games had come from Dorset, Eileen Corrigan from County Cork. had come from Dorset, Eileen Corrigan from County Cork.

Poirot next bent his steps towards Major Porter's rooms. He remembered Porter's statement that he himself was a Warden and he remembered Porter's statement that he himself was a Warden and he wondered whether he had happened to be on duty on that particular wondered whether he had happened to be on duty on that particular night and whether he had seen anything of the incident in Sheffield night and whether he had seen anything of the incident in Sheffield Terrace. Terrace.

He had, besides, other reasons for wanting a word with Major Porter.

As he turned the corner of Edge Street he was startled to see a policeman in uniform standing outside the particular house for which policeman in uniform standing outside the particular house for which he was making. There was a ring of small boys and other people he was making. There was a ring of small boys and other people standing staring at the house. standing staring at the house.

Poirot's heart sank as he interpreted the signs.

The constable intercepted Poirot's advance.

”Can't go in here, sir,” he said.

”What has happened?”

”You don't live in the house, do you, sir?”

Poirot shook his head.

”Who was it you were wis.h.i.+ng to see?”

”I wished to see a Major Porter.”

”You a friend of his, sir?”

”No, I should not describe myself as a friend. What has happened?”

”Gentleman has shot himself, I understand. Ah, here's the Inspector.”

The door had opened and two figures came out. One was the local Inspector, the other Poirot recognised as Sergeant Graves from Inspector, the other Poirot recognised as Sergeant Graves from Warmsley Vale. The latter recognised him and promptly made himself Warmsley Vale. The latter recognised him and promptly made himself known to the Inspector. known to the Inspector.

”Better come inside,” said the latter.

The three men re-entered the house.

”They telephoned through to Warmsley Vale,” Graves explained. ”And Superintendent Spence sent me up.” Superintendent Spence sent me up.”

”Suicide?”

The Inspector answered: ”Yes. Seems a clear case. Don't know whether having to give evidence at the inquest preyed upon his mind. People are funny that way at the inquest preyed upon his mind. People are funny that way sometimes, but I gather he's been depressed lately. Financial sometimes, but I gather he's been depressed lately. Financial difficulties and one thing and another. Shot himself with his own difficulties and one thing and another. Shot himself with his own revolver.” revolver.”

Poirot asked: ”Is it permitted that I go up?”

”If you like, M. Poirot. Take M. Poirot up, Sergeant.”

”Yes, sir.”

Graves led the way up to the first-floor room. It was much as Poirot remembered it: the dim colours of the old rugs, the books. Major remembered it: the dim colours of the old rugs, the books. Major Porter was in the big arm-chair. His att.i.tude was almost natural, just Porter was in the big arm-chair. His att.i.tude was almost natural, just the head slumped forward. His right arm hung down at his side - below the head slumped forward. His right arm hung down at his side - below it, on the rug, lay the revolver. There was still a very faint smell of acrid it, on the rug, lay the revolver. There was still a very faint smell of acrid gunpowder in the air. gunpowder in the air.

”About a couple of hours ago, they think,” said Graves. ”n.o.body heard the shot. The woman of the house was out shopping.” the shot. The woman of the house was out shopping.”

Poirot was frowning, looking down on the quiet figure with the small scorched wound in the right temple. scorched wound in the right temple.

”Any idea why he should do it, M. Poirot?” asked Graves.

He was respectful to Poirot because he had seen the Superintendent being respectful - though his private opinion was that Poirot was one being respectful - though his private opinion was that Poirot was one of these frightful old dugouts. of these frightful old dugouts.

Poirot replied absently: ”Yes - yes, there was a very good reason. That is not the difficulty.”

His glance s.h.i.+fted to a small table at Major Porter's left hand. There was a big solid gla.s.s ashtray on it, with a pipe and a box of matches. was a big solid gla.s.s ashtray on it, with a pipe and a box of matches. Nothing there. His eyes roamed round the room. Then he crossed to Nothing there. His eyes roamed round the room. Then he crossed to an open roll-top desk. It was very tidy. Papers neatly pigeon-holed. A an open roll-top desk. It was very tidy. Papers neatly pigeon-holed. A small leather blotter in the centre, a pen-tray with a pen and two small leather blotter in the centre, a pen-tray with a pen and two pencils, a box of paper-clips and a book of stamps. All very neat and pencils, a box of paper-clips and a book of stamps. All very neat and orderly. An ordinary life and an orderly death - of course - that was it - orderly. An ordinary life and an orderly death - of course - that was it - that was what was missing! that was what was missing!

He said to Graves: ”Didn't he leave any note - any letter for the coroner?”

Graves shook his head.

”No, he didn't - sort of thing one would have expected an ex-Army man to do.” to do.”

”Yes, that is very curious.”

Punctilious in life. Major Porter had not been punctilious in death. It was all wrong, Poirot thought, that Porter had left no note. was all wrong, Poirot thought, that Porter had left no note.

”Bit of a blow for the Cloades this,” said Graves. ”It will set them back. They'll have to hunt about for someone else who knew Underhay They'll have to hunt about for someone else who knew Underhay intimately.” intimately.”