Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories. Агата Кристи

Poirot seemed sunk in a daydream, I took a sheet of paper, and amused myself by scribbling notes upon it. My friend’s voice aroused me. He had come out of his reverie, and was looking brisk and alert.

      ‘Que faites-vous là, mon ami?’

      ‘I was jotting down what occurred to me as the main points of interest in this affair.’

      ‘You become methodical – at last!’ said Poirot approvingly.

      I concealed my pleasure. ‘Shall I read them to you?’

      ‘By all means.’

      I cleared my throat.

      ‘“One: All the evidence points to Lowen having been the man who forced the safe.

      ‘“Two: He had a grudge against Davenheim.

      ‘“Three: He lied in his first statement that he had never left the study.

      ‘“Four: If you accept Billy Kellett’s story as true, Lowen is unmistakably implicated.”’

      I paused. ‘Well?’ I asked, for I felt that I had put my finger on all the vital facts.

      Poirot looked at me pityingly, shaking his head very gently. ‘Mon pauvre ami! But it is that you have not the gift! The important detail, you appreciate him never! Also, your reasoning is false.’

      ‘How?’

      ‘Let me take your four points.’

      ‘One: Mr Lowen could not possibly know that he would have the chance to open the safe. He came for a business interview. He could not know beforehand that Mr Davenheim would be absent posting a letter, and that he would consequently be alone in the study!’

      ‘He might have seized the opportunity,’ I suggested.

      ‘And the tools? City gentlemen do not carry round housebreaker’s tools on the off chance! And one could not cut into that safe with penknife, bien entendu!’

      ‘Well, what about Number Two?’

      ‘You say Lowen had a grudge against Mr Davenheim. What you mean is that he had once or twice got the better of him. And presumably those transactions were entered into with the view of benefiting himself. In any case you do not as a rule bear a grudge against a man you have got the better of – it is more likely to be the other way about. Whatever grudge there might have been would have been on Mr Davenheim’s side.’

      ‘Well, you can’t deny that he lied about never having left the study?’

      ‘No. But he may have been frightened. Remember, the missing man’s clothes had just been discovered in the lake. Of course, as usual, he would have done better to speak the truth.’

      ‘And the fourth point?’

      ‘I grant you that. If Kellett’s story is true, Lowen is undeniably implicated. That is what makes the affair so very interesting.’

      ‘Then I did appreciate one vital fact?’

      ‘Perhaps – but you have entirely overlooked the two most important points, the ones which undoubtedly hold the clue to the whole matter.’

      ‘And pray, what are they?’

      ‘One, the passion which has grown upon Mr Davenheim in the last few years for buying jewellery. Two, his trip to Buenos Aires last autumn.’

      ‘Poirot, you are joking?’

      ‘I am serious. Ah, sacred thunder, but I hope Japp will not forget my little commission.’

      But the detective, entering into the spirit of the joke, had remembered it so well that a telegram was handed to Poirot about eleven o’clock the next day. At his request I opened it and read it out:

      ‘“Husband and wife have occupied separate rooms since last winter.”’

      ‘Aha!’ cried Poirot. ‘And now we are in mid June! All is solved!’

      I stared at him.

      ‘You have no moneys in the bank of Davenheim and Salmon, mon ami?’

      ‘No,’ I said wondering. ‘Why?’

      ‘Because I should advise you to withdraw it – before it is too late.’

      ‘Why, what do you expect?’

      ‘I expect a big smash in a few days – perhaps sooner. Which reminds me, we will return the compliment of a dépêche to Japp. A pencil, I pray you, and a form. Voilà! “Advise you to withdraw any money deposited with firm in question.” That will intrigue him, the good Japp! His eyes will open wide – wide! He will not comprehend in the slightest – until tomorrow, or the next day!’

      I remained sceptical, but the morrow forced me to render tribute to my friend’s remarkable powers. In every paper was a huge headline telling of the sensational failure of the Davenheim bank. The disappearance of the famous financier took on a totally different aspect in the light of the revelation of the financial affairs of the bank.

      Before we were half-way through breakfast, the door flew open and Japp rushed in. In his left hand was a paper; in his right was Poirot’s telegram, which he banged down on the table in front of my friend.

      ‘How did you know, Monsieur Poirot? How the blazes could you know?’

      Poirot smiled placidly at him. ‘Ah, mon ami, after your wire, it was a certainty! From the commencement, see you, it struck me that the safe burglary was somewhat remarkable. Jewels, ready money, bearer bonds – all so conveniently arranged for – whom? Well, the good Monsieur Davenheim was of those who “look after Number One” as your saying goes! It seemed almost certain that it was arranged for – himself! Then his passion of late years for buying jewellery! How simple! The funds he embezzled, he converted into jewels, very likely replacing them in turn with paste duplicates, and so he put away in a safe place, under another name, a considerable fortune to be enjoyed all in good time when everyone has been thrown off the track. His arrangements completed, he makes an appointment with Mr Lowen (who has been imprudent enough in the past to cross the great man once or twice), drills a hole in the safe, leaves orders that the guest is to be shown into the study, and walks out of the house – where?’ Poirot stopped, and stretched out his hand for another boiled egg. He frowned. ‘It is really insupportable,’ he murmured, ‘that every hen lays an egg of a different size! What symmetry can there be on the breakfast table? At least they should sort them in dozens at the shop!’

      ‘Never mind the eggs,’ said Japp impatiently. ‘Let ’em lay ’em square if they like. Tell us where our customer went to when he left The Cedars – that is, if you know!’

      ‘Eh bien, he went to his hiding place. Ah, this Monsieur Davenheim, there may be some malformation in his grey cells, but they are of the first quality!’

      ‘Do you know where he is hiding?’

      ‘Certainly! It is most ingenious.’

      ‘For the Lord’s sake, tell us, then!’

      Poirot gently collected every fragment of shell from his plate, placed them in the egg-cup, and reversed the empty egg-shell on top of them. This little operation concluded, he smiled on the neat effect, and then beamed affectionately on us both.

      ‘Come, my friends, you are men of intelligence. Ask yourself the question I asked myself. “If I were this man, where should I hide?” Hastings, what do you say?’

      ‘Well,’ I said, ‘I’m rather inclined to think I’d not do a bolt at all. I’d stay in London – in the heart of things, travel by tubes and buses; ten to one I’d never be recognized. There’s safety in a crowd.’

      Poirot turned inquiringly to Japp.

      ‘I don’t agree. Get clear away at once – that’s the only chance. I would have had plenty of time to prepare things beforehand.