Three Blind Mice and Other Stories Part 16

'Thepointis-howarewegoingtogetin?'saidMildred.

Shewasasensiblegirl,whokepttothepoint,butshewasnotnearlysoattractiveastheimpulsiveandtroublesomePat.

Allfourofthemregardedthecloseddoorblankly.

'Couldn'ttheporterhelp?'suggestedJimmy.'Hasn'thegotamasterkeyorsomethingofthatkind?'

Patshookherhead.Therewereonlytwokeys.Onewasinsidetheflathungupinthekitchenandtheotherwas-orshouldbeinthemalignedbag.

'Ifonlytheflatwereonthegroundfloor,'wailedPat.'Wecouldhavebrokenopenawindoworsomething.Donovan,youwouldn'tliketobeacatburglar,wouldyou?'

Donovandeclinedfirmlybutpolitelytobeacatburglar.

'Aflatonthefourthfloorisabitofanundertaking,'saidJimmy.

'Howaboutafire-escape?'suggestedDonovan.

'Thereisn'tone.'

'Thereshouldbe,'saidJimmy.'Abuildingfivestoreyshighoughttohaveafireescape.'

'Idaresay,'saidPat.'Butwhatshouldbedoesn'thelpus.HowamIevertogetintomyflat?'

'Isn'tthereasortofthingummybob?'saidDonovan.'Athingthetradesmensendupchopsandbrusselssproutsin?'

'Theservicelift,'saidPat.'Ohyes,but.i.t'sonlyasortofwire-basketthing.Oh!wait-Iknow.Whataboutthecoallift?'

'Nowthat,'saidDonovan,'isanidea.'

Mildredmadeadiscouragingsuggestion.'It'llbebolted,'shesaid.'InPat'skitchen,Imean,ontheinside.'

b.u.t.theideawasinstantlynegatived.

'Don'tyoubelieveit,'saidDonovan.

'NotinPat'skitchen,'saidJimmy.'Patneverlocksandboltsthings.'

'Idon'tthinkit'sbolted,'saidPat.'Itookthedustbinoffthismorning,andI'msureIneverbolteditafterwards,andIdon'tthinkI'vebeennearitsince.'

'Well,'saidDonovan,'thatfact'sgoingtobeveryusefultoustonight,but,allthesame,youngPat,letmepointouttoyouthattheseslackhabitsareleavingyouatthemercyofburglars-non-feline-everynight.'

Patdisregardedtheseadmonitions.

'Comeon,'shecried,andbeganracingdownthefourflightsofstairs.Theothersfollowedher.Patledthemthroughadarkrecess,apparentlyfulltooverflowingofperambulators,andthroughanotherdoorintothewelloftheflats,andguidedthemtotherightlift.Therewas,atthemoment,adustbinonit.Donovanlifteditoffandsteppedgingerlyontotheplatforminitsplace.Hewrinkleduphisnose.

'Alittlenoisome,'heremarked.'Butwhatofthat?DoIgoaloneonthisventureorisanyonecomingwithme?'

'I'llcome,too,'saidJimmy.

HesteppedonbyDonovan'sside.

'Isupposetheliftwillbearme,'headdeddoubtfully.

'Youcan'tweighmuchmorethanatonofcoal,'saidPat,whohadneverbeenparticularlystrongonherweights-and-measurestable.

'And,anyway,weshallsoonfindout,'saidDonovancheerfully,ashehauledontherope.

Withagrindingnoisetheydisappearedfromsight.

'Thisthingmakesanawfulnoise,'remarkedJimmy,astheypa.s.sedupthroughblackness.'Whatwillthepeopleintheotherflatsthink?'

'Ghostsorburglars,Iexpect,'saidDonovan.'Haulingthisropeisquiteheavywork.TheporterofFriarsMansionsdoesmoreworkthanIeversuspected.Isay,Jimmy,oldson,areyoucountingthefloors?'

'Oh,Lord!No.Iforgotabout.i.t.'

'Well,Ihave,whichisjustaswell.That'sthethirdwe'repa.s.singnow.Thenextisours.'

'Andnow,Isuppose,'grumbledJimmy,'weshallfindthatPatdidboltthedoorafterall.'

b.u.t.thesefearswereunfounded.Thewoodendoorswungbackatatouch,andDonovanandJimmysteppedoutintotheinkyblacknessofPat'skitchen.

'Weoughttohaveatorchforthiswildnightwork,'explainedDonovan.'IfIknowPat,everything'sonthefloor,andweshallsmashendlesscrockerybeforeIcangettothelightswitch.Don'tmoveabout,Jimmy,tillIgetthelighton.'

Hefelthiswaycautiouslyoverthefloor,utteringonefervent'd.a.m.n!'asacornerofthekitchentabletookhimunawaresintheribs.Hereachedtheswitch,andinanothermomentanother'd.a.m.n!'floatedoutofthedarkness.

'What'sthematter?'askedJimmy.

'Lightwon'tcomeon.Dudbulb,Isuppose.Waitaminute.I'llturnthesitting-roomlighton.'

Thesitting-roomwasthedoorimmediatelyacrossthepa.s.sage.JimmyheardDonovangooutofthedoor,andpresentlyfreshm.u.f.fledcursesreachedhim.Hehimselfedgedhiswaycautiouslyacrossthekitchen.

'What'sthematter?'

'Idon'tknow.Roomsgetbewitchedatnight,Ibelieve.Everythingseemstobeinadifferentplace.Chairsandtableswhereyouleastexpectedthem.Oh,h.e.l.l!Here'sanother!'

ButatthismomentJimmyfortunatelyconnectedwiththeelectric-lightswitchandpresseditdown.Inanotherminutetwoyoungmenwerelookingateachotherinsilenthorror.

ThisroomwasnotPat'ssitting-room.Theywereinthewrongflat.

Tobeginwith,theroomwasabouttentimesmorecrowdedthanPat's,whichexplainedDonovan'spatheticbewildermentatrepeatedlycannoningintochairsandtables.Therewasalargeroundtableinthecentreoftheroomcoveredwithabaizecloth,andtherewasanaspidistrainthewindow.Itwas,infact,thekindofroomwhoseowner,theyoungmenfeltsure,wouldbedifficulttoexplainto.Withsilenthorrortheygazeddownatthetable,onwhichlayalittlepileofletters.

'MrsErnestineGrant,'breathedDonovan,pickingthemupandreadingthename.'Oh,help!Doyouthinkshe'sheardus?'

'It'samiracleshehasn'theardyou,'saidJimmy.'Whatwithyourlanguageandthewayyou'vebeencrashingintothefurniture.Comeon,fortheLord'ssake,let'sgetoutofherequickly.'

Theyhastilyswitchedoffthelightandretracedtheirstepsontiptoetothelift.Jimmybreathedasighofreliefastheyregainedthefastnessofitsdepthswithoutfurtherincident.

'Idolikeawomantobeagood,soundsleeper,'hesaidapprovingly.'MrsErnestineGranthasherpoints.'

'Iseeitnow,'saidDonovan;'whywemadethemistakeinthefloor,Imean.Outinthatwellwestartedupfromthebas.e.m.e.nt.'Heheavedontherope,andtheliftshotup.'We'rerightthistime.'

'Idevoutlytrustweare,'saidJimmyashesteppedoutintoanotherinkyvoid.'Mynerveswon'tstandmanymoreshocksofthiskind.'

Butnofurthernervestrainwasimposed.ThefirstclickofthelightshowedthemPat'skitchen,andinanotherminutetheywereopeningthefrontdoorandadmittingthetwogirlswhowerewaitingoutside.

'Youhavebeenalongtime,'grumbledPat.'MildredandIhavebeenwaitinghereages.'

'We'vehadanadventure,'saidDonovan.'Wemighthavebeenhauledofftothepolice-stationasdangerousmalefactors.'

Pathadpa.s.sedonintothesitting-room,wheresheswitchedonthelightanddroppedherwraponthesofa.ShelistenedwithlivelyinteresttoDonovan'saccountofhisadventures.

'I'mgladshedidn'tcatchyou,'shecommented.'I'msureshe'sanoldcurmudgeon.Igotanotefromherthismorning-wantedtoseemesometime-somethingshehadtocomplainabout-mypiano,Isuppose.Peoplewhodon'tlikepianosovertheirheadsshouldn'tcomeandliveinflats.Isay,Donovan,you'vehurtyourhand.It'salloverblood.Goandwas.h.i.tunderthetap.'

Donovanlookeddownathishandinsurprise.HewentoutoftheroomobedientlyandpresentlyhisvoicecalledtoJimmy.

'Hullo,'saidtheother,'what'sup?Youhaven'thurtyourselfbadly,haveyou?'

'Ihaven'thurtmyselfatall.'

Therewa.s.somethingsoqueerinDonovan'svoicethatJimmystaredathiminsurprise.DonovanheldouthiswashedhandandJimmysawthattherewasnomarkorcutofanykindonit.

'That'sodd,'hesaid,frowning.'Therewasquitealotofblood.Wherediditcomefrom?'Andthensuddenlyherealizedwhathisquicker-wittedfriendhadalreadyseen.'ByJove,'hesaid.'Itmusthavecomefromthatflat.'Hestopped,thinkingoverthepossibilitieshiswordsimplied.'You'resureitwas-er-blood?'hesaid.'Notpaint?'

Donovanshookhishead.'Itwasblood,allright,'hesaid,andshivered.

Theylookedateachother.Thesamethoughtwasclearlyineachoftheirminds.ItwasJimmywhovoiceditfirst.

'Isay,'hesaidawkwardly.'Doyouthinkweoughtto-wellG.o.downagain-andhave-a-alookaround?Seeit'sallright,youknow?'

'Whataboutthegirls?'

'Wewon'tsayanythingtothem.Pat'sgoingtoputonanap.r.o.nandmakeusanomelette.We'llbebackbythetimetheywonderwhereweare.'

'Oh,well,comeon,'saidDonovan.'Isupposewe'vegottogothroughwithit.Idaresaythereisn'tanythingreallywrong.'Buthistonelackedconviction.Theygotintotheliftanddescendedtothefloorbelow.Theyfoundtheirwayacrossthekitchenwithoutmuchdifficultyandoncemoreswitchedonthesitting-roomlight.

'Itmusthavebeeninhere,'saidDonovan,'that-thatIgotthestuffonme.Inevertouchedanythinginthekitchen.'

Helookedroundhim.Jimmydidthesame,andtheybothfrowned.Everythinglookedneatandcommonplaceandmilesremovedfromanysuggestionofviolenceorgore.

SuddenlyJimmystartedviolentlyandcaughthiscompanion'sarm.

'Look!'

Donovanfollowedthepointingfinger,andinhisturnutteredanexclamation.Frombeneaththeheavyrepcurtainsthereprotrudedafoot-awoman'sfootinagapingpatent-leathershoe.

Jimmywenttothecurtainsanddrewthemsharplyapart.Intherecessofthewindowawoman'shuddledbodylayonthefloor,astickydarkpoolbesideit.Shewasdead,therewasnodoubtofthat.JimmywasattemptingtoraiseherupwhenDonovanstoppedhim.

'You'dbetternotdothat.Sheoughtn'ttobetouchedtillthepolicecome.'

'Thepolice.Oh,ofcourse.Isay,Donovan,whataghastlybusiness.Whodoyouthinksheis?MrsErnestineGrant?'

'Lookslikeit.Atanyrate,ifthere'sanyoneelseintheflatthey'rekeepingjollyquiet.'

'Whatdowedonext?'askedJimmy.'RunoutandgetapolicemanorringupfromPat'sflat?'

'Ishouldthinkringingupwouldbebest.Comeon,wemightaswellgooutthefrontdoor.Wecan'tspendthewholenightgoingupanddowninthatevil-smellinglift.'

Jimmyagreed.Justastheywerepa.s.singthroughthedoorhehesitated.'Lookhere;doyouthinkoneofusoughttostay-justtokeepaneyeonthings-tillthepolicecome?'

'Yes,Ithinkyou'reright.Ifyou'llstayI'llrunupandtelephone.'

Heranquicklyupthestairsandrangthebelloftheflatabove.Patcametoopenit,averyprettyPatwithaflushedfaceandacookingap.r.o.non.Hereyeswidenedinsurprise.

'You?Buthow-Donovan,whatisit?Isanythingthematter?'

Hetookbothherhandsinhis.'It'sallright,Pat-onlywe'vemaderatheranunpleasantdiscoveryintheflatbelow.Awoman-dead.'

'Oh!'Shegavealittlegasp.'Howhorrible.Ha.s.shehadafitorsomething?'

'No.Itlooks-well-itlooksratherasthoughshehadbeenmurdered.'

'Oh,Donovan!'

'Iknow.It'sprettybeastly.'

Herhandswerestillinhis.Shehadleftthemthere-wasevenclingingtohim.DarlingPat-howhelovedher.Didshecareatallforhim?Sometimeshethoughtshedid.SometimeshewasafraidthatJimmyFaulkener-remembrancesofJimmywaitingpatientlybelowmadehimstartguiltily.

'Pat,dear,wemusttelephonetothepolice.'

'Monsieurisright,'saidavoicebehindhim.'Andinthemeantime,whilewearewaitingtheirarrival,perhapsIcanbeofsomeslighta.s.sistance.'

Theyhadbeenstandinginthedoorwayoftheflat,andnowtheypeeredoutontothelanding.Afigurewa.s.standingonthestairsalittlewayabovethem.Itmoveddownandintotheirrangeofvision.

Theystoodstaringatalittlemanwithaveryfiercemoustacheandanegg-shapedhead.Heworearesplendentdressing-gownandembroideredslippers.HebowedgallantlytoPatricia.

'Mademoiselle!'hesaid.'Iam,asperhapsyouknow,thetenantoftheflatabove.Iliketobeuphigh-theair-theviewoverLondon.ItaketheflatinthenameofMrO'Connor.ButIamnotanIrishman.Ihaveanothername.ThatiswhyIventuretoputmyselfatyourservice.Permitme.'WithaflourishhepulledoutacardandhandedittoPat.Shereadit.

'M.HerculePoirot.Oh!'Shecaughtherbreath.'TheM.Poirot!Thegreatdetective?Andyouwillreallyhelp?'

'Thatismyintention,mademoiselle.Inearlyofferedmyhelpearlierintheevening.'

Patlookedpuzzled.

'Iheardyoudiscussinghowtogainadmissiontoyourflat.Me,Iamverycleveratpickinglocks.Icould,withoutdoubt,haveopenedyourdoorforyou,butIhesitatedtosuggest.i.t.Youwouldhavehadthegravesuspicionsofme.'

Patlaughed.

'Now,monsieur,'saidPoirottoDonovan.'Goin,Iprayofyou,andtelephonetothepolice.Iwilldescendtotheflatbelow.'