Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles Ch.VII-XIII

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` CHAPTER VII. `
` `
` POIROT PAYS HIS DEBTS `
` `
` `
` As we came out of the Stylites Arms, Poirot drew me aside by a `
` gentle pressure of the arm. I understood his object. He was `
` waiting for the Scotland Yard men. `
` `
` In a few moments, they emerged, and Poirot at once stepped `
` forward, and accosted the shorter of the two. `
` `
` "I fear you do not remember me, Inspector Japp." `
` `
` "Why, if it isn't Mr. Poirot!" cried the Inspector. He turned to `
` the other man. "You've heard me speak of Mr. Poirot? It was in `
` 1904 he and I worked together--the Abercrombie forgery case--you `
` remember, he was run down in Brussels. Ah, those were great `
` days, moosier. Then, do you remember 'Baron' Altara? There was a `
` pretty rogue for you! He eluded the clutches of half the police `
` in Europe. But we nailed him in Antwerp--thanks to Mr. Poirot `
` here." `
` `
` As these friendly reminiscences were being indulged in, I drew `
` nearer, and was introduced to Detective-Inspector Japp, who, in `
` his turn, introduced us both to his companion, Superintendent `
` Summerhaye. `
` `
` "I need hardly ask what you are doing here, gentlemen," remarked `
` Poirot. `
` `
` Japp closed one eye knowingly. `
` `
` "No, indeed. Pretty clear case I should say." `
` `
` But Poirot answered gravely: `
` `
` "There I differ from you." `
` `
` "Oh, come!" said Summerhaye, opening his lips for the first time. `
` "Surely the whole thing is clear as daylight. The man's caught `
` red-handed. How he could be such a fool beats me!" `
` `
` But Japp was looking attentively at Poirot. `
` `
` "Hold your fire, Summerhaye," he remarked jocularly. "Me and `
` Moosier here have met before--and there's no man's judgment I'd `
` sooner take than his. If I'm not greatly mistaken, he's got `
` something up his sleeve. Isn't that so, moosier?" `
` `
` Poirot smiled. `
` `
` "I have drawn certain conclusions--yes." `
` `
` Summerhaye was still looking rather sceptical, but Japp continued `
` his scrutiny of Poirot. `
` `
` "It's this way," he said, "so far, we've only seen the case from `
` the outside. That's where the Yard's at a disadvantage in a case `
` of this kind, where the murder's only out, so to speak, after the `
` inquest. A lot depends on being on the spot first thing, and `
` that's where Mr. Poirot's had the start of us. We shouldn't have `
` been here as soon as this even, if it hadn't been for the fact `
` that there was a smart doctor on the spot, who gave us the tip `
` through the Coroner. But you've been on the spot from the first, `
` and you may have picked up some little hints. From the evidence `
` at the inquest, Mr. Inglethorp murdered his wife as sure as I `
` stand here, and if anyone but you hinted the contrary I'd laugh `
` in his face. I must say I was surprised the jury didn't bring it `
` in Wilful Murder against him right off. I think they would have, `
` if it hadn't been for the Coroner--he seemed to be holding them `
` back." `
` `
` "Perhaps, though, you have a warrant for his arrest in your `
` pocket now," suggested Poirot. `
` `
` A kind of wooden shutter of officialdom came down from Japp's `
` expressive countenance. `
` `
` "Perhaps I have, and perhaps I haven't," he remarked dryly. `
` `
` Poirot looked at him thoughtfully. `
` `
` "I am very anxious, Messieurs, that he should not be arrested." `
` `
` "I dare say," observed Summerhaye sarcastically. `
` `
` Japp was regarding Poirot with comical perplexity. `
` `
` "Can't you go a little further, Mr. Poirot? A wink's as good as a `
` nod--from you. You've been on the spot--and the Yard doesn't `
` want to make any mistakes, you know." `
` `
` Poirot nodded gravely. `
` `
` "That is exactly what I thought. Well, I will tell you this. `
` Use your warrant: Arrest Mr. Inglethorp. But it will bring you `
` no kudos--the case against him will be dismissed at once! Comme `
` ca!" And he snapped his fingers expressively. `
` `
` Japp's face grew grave, though Summerhaye gave an incredulous `
` snort. `
` `
` As for me, I was literally dumb with astonishment. I could only `
` conclude that Poirot was mad. `
` `
` Japp had taken out a handkerchief, and was gently dabbing his `
` brow. `
` `
` "I daren't do it, Mr. Poirot. I'd take your word, but there's `
` others over me who'll be asking what the devil I mean by it. `
` Can't you give me a little more to go on?" `
` `
` Poirot reflected a moment. `
` `
` "It can be done," he said at last. "I admit I do not wish it. `
` It forces my hand. I would have preferred to work in the dark `
` just for the present, but what you say is very just--the word of `
` a Belgian policeman, whose day is past, is not enough! And Alfred `
` Inglethorp must not be arrested. That I have sworn, as my friend `
` Hastings here knows. See, then, my good Japp, you go at once to `
` Styles?" `
` `
` "Well, in about half an hour. We're seeing the Coroner and the `
` doctor first." `
` `
` "Good. Call for me in passing--the last house in the village. I `
` will go with you. At Styles, Mr. Inglethorp will give you, or if `
` he refuses--as is probable--I will give you such proofs that `
` shall satisfy you that the case against him could not possibly be `
` sustained. Is that a bargain?" `
` `
` "That's a bargain," said Japp heartily. "And, on behalf of the `
` Yard, I'm much obliged to you, though I'm bound to confess I `
` can't at present see the faintest possible loop-hole in the `
` evidence, but you always were a marvel! So long, then, moosier." `
` `
` The two detectives strode away, Summerhaye with an incredulous `
` grin on his face. `
` `
` "Well, my friend," cried Poirot, before I could get in a word, `
` "what do you think? Mon Dieu! I had some warm moments in that `
` court; I did not figure to myself that the man would be so `
` pig-headed as to refuse to say anything at all. Decidedly, it `
` was the policy of an imbecile." `
` `
` "H'm! There are other explanations besides that of imbecility," I `
` remarked. "For, if the case against him is true, how could he `
` defend himself except by silence?" `
` `
` "Why, in a thousand ingenious ways," cried Poirot. "See; say `
` that it is I who have committed this murder, I can think of seven `
` most plausible stories! Far more convincing than Mr. Inglethorp's `
` stony denials!" `
` `
` I could not help laughing. `
` `
` "My dear Poirot, I am sure you are capable of thinking of `
` seventy! But, seriously, in spite of what I heard you say to the `
` detectives, you surely cannot still believe in the possibility of `
` Alfred Inglethorp's innocence?" `
` `
` "Why not now as much as before? Nothing has changed." `
` `
` "But the evidence is so conclusive." `
` `
` "Yes, too conclusive." `
` `
` We turned in at the gate of Leastways Cottage, and proceeded up `
` the now familiar stairs. `
` `
` "Yes, yes, too conclusive," continued Poirot, almost to himself. `
` "Real evidence is usually vague and unsatisfactory. It has to be `
` examined--sifted. But here the whole thing is cut and dried. `
` No, my friend, this evidence has been very cleverly `
` manufactured--so cleverly that it has defeated its own ends." `
` `
` "How do you make that out?" `
` `
` "Because, so long as the evidence against him was vague and `
` intangible, it was very hard to disprove. But, in his anxiety, `
` the criminal has drawn the net so closely that one cut will set `
` Inglethorp free." `
` `
` I was silent. And in a minute or two, Poirot continued: `
` `
` "Let us look at the matter like this. Here is a man, let us say, `
` who sets out to poison his wife. He has lived by his wits as the `
` saying goes. Presumably, therefore, he has some wits. He is not `
` altogether a fool. Well, how does he set about it? He goes `
` boldly to the village chemist's and purchases strychnine under `
` his own name, with a trumped up story about a dog which is bound `
` to be proved absurd. He does not employ the poison that night. `
` No, he waits until he has had a violent quarrel with her, of `
` which the whole household is cognisant, and which naturally `
` directs their suspicions upon him. He prepares no defence--no `
` shadow of an alibi, yet he knows the chemist's assistant must `
` necessarily come forward with the facts. Bah! do not ask me to `
` believe that any man could be so idiotic! Only a lunatic, who `
` wished to commit suicide by causing himself to be hanged, would `
`