Taken At The Flood Part 23

"And who was with him at a quarter past ten on Tuesday evening?"

"Yes," said Spence. He added with a sigh, "This lets David Hunter out."

"It does?"

"Yes. His lordship has consented to make a statement at last. After his solicitor had been along to make him see reason. Here's his account of solicitor had been along to make him see reason. Here's his account of his own movements." his own movements."

Poirot read a neat typed memorandum.

Left London 4.16 train for Warmsley Heath. Arrived there 5.30. Walked to Furrowbank by footpath. to Furrowbank by footpath.

"His reason for coming down," the Superintendent broke in, "was, according to him, to get certain things he'd left behind, letters and according to him, to get certain things he'd left behind, letters and papers, a chequebook, and to see if some shirts had come back from papers, a chequebook, and to see if some shirts had come back from the laundry - which, of course, they hadn't. My word, laundry's a the laundry - which, of course, they hadn't. My word, laundry's a problem nowadays. Four ruddy weeks since they've been to our place problem nowadays. Four ruddy weeks since they've been to our place -not a clean towel left in our house, and the wife washes all my things herself now." herself now."

After this very human interpolation the Superintendent returned to the itinerary of David's movements. itinerary of David's movements.

"Left Furrowbank at 7.25 and states he went for a walk as he had missed the 7.20 train and there would be no train until the 9.20." missed the 7.20 train and there would be no train until the 9.20."

"In what direction did he go for a walk?" asked Poirot.

The Superintendent consulted his notes.

"Says by Downe Copse, Bats Hill and Long Ridge."

"In fact, a complete circular tour round the White House!"

"My word, you pick up local geography quickly, M. Poirot!"

Poirot smiled and shook his head.

"No, I did not know the places you named. I was making a guess."

"Oh, you were, were you?" The Superintendent c.o.c.ked his head on one side. one side.

"Then, according to him, when he was up on Long Ridge, he realised he was cutting it rather fine and fairly hared it for Warmsley Heath he was cutting it rather fine and fairly hared it for Warmsley Heath station, going across country. He caught the train by the skin of his station, going across country. He caught the train by the skin of his teeth, arrived at Victoria 10.45, walked to Shepherd's Court, arriving teeth, arrived at Victoria 10.45, walked to Shepherd's Court, arriving there at eleven o'clock, which latter statement is confirmed by Mrs there at eleven o'clock, which latter statement is confirmed by Mrs Gordon Cloade." Gordon Cloade."

"And what confirmation have you of the rest of it?"

"Remarkably little - but there is some. Rowley Cloade and others saw him arrive at Warmsley Heath. The maids at Furrowbank were out (he him arrive at Warmsley Heath. The maids at Furrowbank were out (he had his own key of course) so they didn't see him, but they found a had his own key of course) so they didn't see him, but they found a cigarette stump in the library which I gather intrigued them and also cigarette stump in the library which I gather intrigued them and also found a good deal of confusion in the linen cupboard. Then one of the found a good deal of confusion in the linen cupboard. Then one of the gardeners was there working late - shutting up greenhouses or gardeners was there working late - shutting up greenhouses or something and he caught sight of him. Miss Marchmont met him up by something and he caught sight of him. Miss Marchmont met him up by Mardon Wood - when he was running for the train." Mardon Wood - when he was running for the train."

"Did any one see him catch the train?"

"No - but he telephoned from London to Miss Marchmont as soon as he got back - at 11.05." got back - at 11.05."

"That is checked?"

"Yes, we'd already put through an inquiry about calls from that number. There was a Toll call out at 11.04 to Warmsley Vale 36. That's number. There was a Toll call out at 11.04 to Warmsley Vale 36. That's the Marchmonts' number." the Marchmonts' number."

"Very, very interesting," murmured Poirot.

But Spence was going on painstakingly and methodically.

"Rowley Cloade left Arden at five minutes to nine. He's quite definite it wasn't earlier. About 9.10 Lynn Marchmont sees Hunter up at Mardon wasn't earlier. About 9.10 Lynn Marchmont sees Hunter up at Mardon Wood. Granted he's run all the way from the Stag, would he have had Wood. Granted he's run all the way from the Stag, would he have had time to meet Arden, quarrel with him, kill him and get to Mardon Wood? time to meet Arden, quarrel with him, kill him and get to Mardon Wood?

We're going into it and I don't think it can be done. However, now we're starting again. Far from Arden being killed at nine o'clock, he was alive starting again. Far from Arden being killed at nine o'clock, he was alive at ten minutes past ten - that is unless your old lady is dreaming. He at ten minutes past ten - that is unless your old lady is dreaming. He was either killed by the woman who dropped the lipstick, the woman in was either killed by the woman who dropped the lipstick, the woman in the orange scarf - or by somebody who came in after that woman left. the orange scarf - or by somebody who came in after that woman left. And whoever did it, deliberately put the hands of the watch back to And whoever did it, deliberately put the hands of the watch back to nine-ten." nine-ten."

"Which if David Hunter had not happened to meet Lynn Marchmont in a very unlikely place would have been remarkably awkward for him?" very unlikely place would have been remarkably awkward for him?" said Poirot. said Poirot.

"Yes, it would. The 9.20 is the last train up from Warmsley Heath. It was growing dark. There are always golfers going back by it. n.o.body was growing dark. There are always golfers going back by it. n.o.body would have noticed Hunter - indeed the station people don't know him would have noticed Hunter - indeed the station people don't know him by sight. And he didn't take a taxi at the other end. So we'd only have by sight. And he didn't take a taxi at the other end. So we'd only have his sister's word for it that he arrived back at Shepherd's Court when his sister's word for it that he arrived back at Shepherd's Court when he said he did." he said he did."

Poirot was silent and Spence asked: "What are you thinking about, M. Poirot?"

Poirot said, "A long walk round the White House. A meeting in Mardon Woods. A telephone call later... And Lynn Marchmont is engaged to Woods. A telephone call later... And Lynn Marchmont is engaged to Rowley Cloade... I should like very much to know what was said over Rowley Cloade... I should like very much to know what was said over that telephone call." that telephone call."

"It's the human interest that's getting you?"

"Yes," said Poirot. "It is always the human interest."

Chapter 8.

It was getting late, but there was still one more call that Poirot wanted to make. He went along to Jeremy Cloade's house. to make. He went along to Jeremy Cloade's house.

There he was shown into Jeremy Cloade's study by a small intelligent- looking maid. looking maid.

Left alone, Poirot gazed interestedly round him. All very legal and dry as dust, he thought, even in his home. There was a large portrait of as dust, he thought, even in his home. There was a large portrait of Gordon Cloade on the desk. Another faded one of Lord Edward Gordon Cloade on the desk. Another faded one of Lord Edward Trenton on a horse, and Poirot was examining the latter when Jeremy Trenton on a horse, and Poirot was examining the latter when Jeremy Cloade came in. Cloade came in.

"Ah, pardon." Poirot put the photoframe down in some confusion.

"My wife's father," said Jeremy, a faint self-congratulatory note in his voice. "And one of his best horses. Chestnut Trenton. Ran second in voice. "And one of his best horses. Chestnut Trenton. Ran second in the Derby in 1924. Are you interested in racing?" the Derby in 1924. Are you interested in racing?"

"Alas, no."

"Runs away with a lot of money," said Jeremy dryly. "Lord Edward came a crash over it - had to go and live abroad. Yes, an expensive came a crash over it - had to go and live abroad. Yes, an expensive sport." sport."

But there was still the note of pride in his voice.

He himself, Poirot judged, would as soon throw his money in the street as invest it in horseflesh, but he had a secret admiration and respect as invest it in horseflesh, but he had a secret admiration and respect for those who did. for those who did.

Cloade went on: "What can I do for you, M. Poirot? As a family, I feel we owe you a debt of grat.i.tude - for finding Major Porter to give evidence of of grat.i.tude - for finding Major Porter to give evidence of identification." identification."

"The family seems very jubilant about it," said Poirot.

"Ah," said Jeremy dryly. "Rather premature to rejoice. Lot of water's got to pa.s.s under the bridge yet. After all, Underhay's death was got to pa.s.s under the bridge yet. After all, Underhay's death was accepted in Africa. Takes years to upset a thing of this kind - and accepted in Africa. Takes years to upset a thing of this kind - and Rosaleen's evidence was very positive - very positive indeed. She Rosaleen's evidence was very positive - very positive indeed. She made a good impression you know." made a good impression you know."

It seemed almost as though Jeremy Cloade was unwilling to bank upon any improvement in his prospects. any improvement in his prospects.

"I wouldn't like to give a ruling one way or the other," he said.

"Couldn't say how a case would go."

Then, pushing aside some papers with a fretful, almost weary gesture, he said: he said: "But you wanted to see me?"

"I was going to ask you, Mr Cloade, if you are really quite certain your brother did not leave a will? A will made subsequent to his marriage, I brother did not leave a will? A will made subsequent to his marriage, I mean?" mean?"

Jeremy looked surprised.

"I don't think there's ever been any idea of such a thing. He certainly didn't make one before leaving New York." didn't make one before leaving New York."

"He might have made one during the two days he was in London."

"Gone to a lawyer there?"

"Or written one out himself."

"And got it witnessed? Witnessed by whom?"

"There were three servants in the house," Poirot reminded him. "Three servants who died the same night he did." servants who died the same night he did."

"H'm - yes - but if by any chance he did do what you suggest, well, the will was destroyed too." will was destroyed too."

"That is just the point. Lately a great many doc.u.ments believed to have perished completely have actually been deciphered by a new process. perished completely have actually been deciphered by a new process. Incinerated inside home safes, for instance, but not so destroyed that Incinerated inside home safes, for instance, but not so destroyed that they cannot be read." they cannot be read."

"Well, really, M. Poirot, that is a most remarkable idea of yours... Most remarkable. But I don't think - no, I really don't believe there is remarkable. But I don't think - no, I really don't believe there is anything in it... So far as I know there was no safe in the house in anything in it... So far as I know there was no safe in the house in Sheffield Terrace. Gordon kept all valuable papers, etc., at his office - Sheffield Terrace. Gordon kept all valuable papers, etc., at his office - and there was certainly no will there." and there was certainly no will there."

"But one might make inquiries?" Poirot was persistent. "From the A.R.P. officials, for instance? You would authorise me to do that?" A.R.P. officials, for instance? You would authorise me to do that?"

"Oh, certainly - certainly. Very kind of you to offer to undertake such a thing. But I haven't any belief whatever, I'm afraid, in your success. thing. But I haven't any belief whatever, I'm afraid, in your success. Still - well, it is an off chance, I suppose. You - you'll be going back to Still - well, it is an off chance, I suppose. You - you'll be going back to London at once, then?" London at once, then?"

Poirot's eyes narrowed. Jeremy's tone had been unmistakably eager. Going back to London... Did they all want him out of the way? Going back to London... Did they all want him out of the way?

Before he could answer, the door opened and Frances Cloade came in. in.

Poirot was struck by two things. First, by the fact that she looked shockingly ill. Secondly, by her very strong resemblance to the shockingly ill. Secondly, by her very strong resemblance to the photograph of her father. photograph of her father.

"M. Hercule Poirot has come to see us, my dear," said Jeremy rather unnecessarily. unnecessarily.

She shook hands with him and Jeremy Cloade immediately outlined to her Poirot's suggestion about a will. her Poirot's suggestion about a will.

Frances looked doubtful.

"It seems a very outside chance."

"M. Poirot is going up to London and will very kindly make inquiries."

"Major Porter, I understand, was an Air Raid Warden in that district," said Poirot. said Poirot.

A curious expression pa.s.sed over Mrs Cloade's face. She said: "Who is Major Porter?"

Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

"A retired Army Officer, living on his pension."

"He really was in Africa?"

Poirot looked at her curiously.

"Certainly, Madame. Why not?"

She said almost absently, "I don't know. He puzzled me."

"Yes, Mrs Cloade," said Poirot. "I can understand that."

She looked sharply at him. An expression almost of fear came into her eyes. eyes.

Turning to her husband she said: "Jeremy, I feel very much distressed about Rosaleen. She is all alone at Furrowbank and she must be frightfully upset over David's arrest. at Furrowbank and she must be frightfully upset over David's arrest. Would you object if I asked her to come here and stay?" Would you object if I asked her to come here and stay?"

"Do you really think that is advisable, my dear?" Jeremy sounded doubtful. doubtful.

"Oh - advisable? I don't know! But one is human. She is such a helpless creature." creature."

"I rather doubt if she will accept."

"I can at any rate make the offer."

The lawyer said quietly: "Do so if it will make you feel happier."

"Happier!"

The word came out with a strange bitterness. Then she gave a quick doubtful glance at Poirot. doubtful glance at Poirot.

Poirot murmured formally: "I will take my leave now."

She followed him out into the hall.

"You are going up to London?"

"I shall go up tomorrow, but for twenty-four hours at most. And then I return to the Stag - where you will find me, Madame, if you want me." return to the Stag - where you will find me, Madame, if you want me."

She demanded sharply: "Why should I want you?"

Poirot did not reply to the question, merely said: "I shall be at the Stag."

Later that night out of the darkness Frances Cloade spoke to her husband. husband.