Part 11 (1/2)
”A great precaution, but perhaps a day late,” suggested Poirot gently.
”You always will have your joke, Monsieur Poirot. Well, I'm off to Paddington. Bristol, Weston, Taunton, that's my beat. So long.”
”You will come round and see me this evening, and tell me the result?”
”Sure thing, if I'm back.”
”The good inspector believes in matter in motion,” murmured Poirot as our friend departed. ”He travels; he measures footprints; he collects mud and cigarette as.h.!.+ He is extremely busy! He is zealous beyond words! And if I mentioned psychology to him, do you know what he would do, my friend? He would smile! He would say to himself: 'Poor old Poirot! He ages! He grows senile!' j.a.pp is the 'younger generation knocking on the door.' And ma foi! They are so busy knocking that they do not notice that the door is open!”
”And what are you going to do?”
”As we have carte blanche, I shall expend threepence in ringing up the Ritz-where you may have noticed our Count is staying. After that, as my feet are a little damp, and I have sneezed twice, I shall return to my rooms and make myself a tisane over the spirit lamp!”
V.
I did not see Poirot again until the following morning. I found him placidly finis.h.i.+ng his breakfast.
”Well?” I inquired eagerly. ”What has happened?”
”Nothing.”
”But j.a.pp?”
”I have not seen him.”
”The Count?”
”He left the Ritz the day before yesterday.”
”The day of the murder?”
”Yes.”
”Then that settles it! Rupert Carrington is cleared.”
”Because the Count de la Rochefour has left the Ritz? You go too fast, my friend.”
”Anyway, he must be followed, arrested! But what could be his motive?”
”One hundred thousand dollars' worth of jewellery is a very good motive for anyone. No, the question to my mind is: why kill her? Why not simply steal the jewels? She would not prosecute.”
”Why not?”
”Because she is a woman, mon ami. She once loved this man. Therefore she would suffer her loss in silence. And the Count, who is an extremely good psychologist where women are concerned-hence his successes-would know that perfectly well! On the other hand, if Rupert Carrington killed her, why take the jewels which would incriminate him fatally?”
”As a blind.”
”Perhaps you are right, my friend. Ah, here is j.a.pp! I recognize his knock.”
The inspector was beaming good-humouredly.
”Morning, Poirot. Only just got back. I've done some good work! And you?”
”Me, I have arranged my ideas,” replied Poirot placidly.
j.a.pp laughed heartily.
”Old chap's getting on in years,” he observed beneath his breath to me. ”That won't do for us young folk,” he said aloud.
”Quel dommage?” Poirot inquired.
”Well, do you want to hear what I've done?”
”You permit me to make a guess? You have found the knife with which the crime was committed, by the side of the line between Weston and Taunton, and you have interviewed the paperboy who spoke to Mrs. Carrington at Weston!”
j.a.pp's jaw fell. ”How on earth did you know? Don't tell me it was those almighty 'little grey cells' of yours!”
”I am glad you admit for once that they are all mighty! Tell me, did she give the paperboy a s.h.i.+lling for himself?”
”No, it was half a crown!” j.a.pp had recovered his temper, and grinned. ”Pretty extravagant, these rich Americans!”
”And in consequence the boy did not forget her?”
”Not he. Half-crowns don't come his way every day. She hailed him and bought two magazines. One had a picture of a girl in blue on the cover. 'That'll match me,' she said. Oh, he remembered her perfectly. Well, that was enough for me. By the doctor's evidence, the crime must have been committed before Taunton. I guessed they'd throw the knife away at once, and I walked down the line looking for it; and sure enough, there it was. I made inquiries at Taunton about our man, but of course it's a big station, and it wasn't likely they'd notice him. He probably got back to London by a later train.”
Poirot nodded. ”Very likely.”
”But I found another bit of news when I got back. They're pa.s.sing the jewels, all right! That large emerald was p.a.w.ned last night-by one of the regular lot. Who do you think it was?”
”I don't know-except that he was a short man.”
j.a.pp stared. ”Well, you're right there. He's short enough. It was Red Narky.”
”Who is Red Narky?” I asked.
”A particularly sharp jewel thief, sir. And not one to stick at murder. Usually works with a woman-Gracie Kidd; but she doesn't seem to be in it this time-unless she's got off to Holland with the rest of the swag.”
”You've arrested Narky?”
”Sure thing. But mind you, it's the other man we want-the man who went down with Mrs. Carrington in the train. He was the one who planned the job, right enough. But Narky won't squeal on a pal.”
I noticed Poirot's eyes had become very green.
”I think,” he said gently, ”that I can find Narky's pal for you, all right.”
”One of your little ideas, eh?” j.a.pp eyed Poirot sharply. ”Wonderful how you manage to deliver the goods sometimes, at your age and all. Devil's own luck, of course.”