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The Under Dog and Other Stories: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition
The Under Dog and Other Stories: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition
The Under Dog and Other Stories: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition
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The Under Dog and Other Stories: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition

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A dead heiress on a train, a murdered recluse, a wealthy playboy slain at a costume ball are but a few of the unfortunate victims of confounding crimes committed in the pages of Agatha Christie’s The Under Dog and Other Stories, a superior collection of short mystery fiction all featuring Hercule Poirot as the investigator. 

A beautiful heiress has been found dead on a train. A playboy has been stabbed through the heart during a costume ball. An elderly woman suspects that she is being slowly poisoned to death. A prince fears for his reputation when his fiancée is embroiled in another man's murder. A forgotten recluse makes headlines after he is shot in the head.

Who but Agatha Christie could concoct such canny crimes? Who but Belgian detective Hercule Poirot could possibly solve them? It's a challenge to be met—in a triumph of detection.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateAug 7, 2012
ISBN9780062244017
Author

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. Her books have sold more than a billion copies in English and another billion in a hundred foreign languages. She died in 1976, after a prolific career spanning six decades.

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Rating: 3.715025813471503 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a collection of previously published short stories. All but the title story are narrated by Hastings, and Inspector Japp appears in a few of the stories. This collection is a representative sample of the Poirot canon and it would be a good introduction for newbies. The audio version is narrated by Hugh Fraser (Hastings in the TV series) and David Suchet (Poirot in the TV series). The stories will sound right to those like me who consider Suchet to be the definitive Poirot.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I didn't realize I read most of the stories in this book. Still, excellent read, as are all of Mrs. Christie's books.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5


    I think I'm just worn out w/ M. Poirot & his arrogant cleverness as well as with Captain Hastings & his blind stupidity

    The Under Dog: When the cruel CEO of a chemical company is bludgeoned to death in his home after the company's formula for a revolutionary new synthetic rubber is targeted by a thief, M. Poirot is called in to investigate

    The Plymouth Express: A young naval officer on the Plymouth express finds the dead body of a woman underneath a seat in his carriage... her money and her jewels are gone. She was married to an unsuitable husband and on her way to a house party to meet up w/ a previous flame of unscrupulous character. Again, M. Poirot solves the case

    The Affair at the Victory Ball: Young Lord Cronshaw and his fiancee Coco Courtenay attended the ball with several friends, all dressed as characters from the Italian Comedy, he as Harlequin, she as Columbine, and both died that night, she from a cocaine overdose in her flat, he with a table knife through his heart at the ball

    The Market Basing Mystery: M. Poirot, on holiday w/ Hastings & Inspector Japp is interrupted by a local constable asking for help. The reclusive owner of a local large mansion, was found dead in his dilapidated house, supposedly by suicide. At the house, they meet with a Doctor, the housekeeper and a contentious couple who rouse M. Poirot's suspicions

    The Lemesurier Inheritance: A family curse, a dreaded inheritance, young heirs dying mysteriously who would not be affected by the curse and another having three very close calls. His mother, not believing in curses calls M. Poirot to investigate

    The Cornish Mystery: Poirot receives a visit from a woman, claiming that she's is afraid that her husband is not only having an affair, but is attempting to murder her. When Poirot arrives to talk to her, he finds that she has died from poisoning. Her niece who had been living with her for 8 years suddenly moves out and is now engaged to her Aunts much younger "friend"

    The King of Clubs: The Oglander family was playing bridge in the drawing room when the French windows burst open and a woman staggered in, blood on her dress. She managed to say, "Murder!" and then collapsed. The family fetched both a doctor and the police who called at the next-door villa to find the body of Henry Reedburn, the theatrical impresario, dead in the library with his skull split open by some unknown weapon. Enter M. Poirot to sort it all out

    The Submarine Plans: The secret plans for the new 'Z'-type of submarine were stolen. The ladies in the party retired at 10:00 pm and the men went into the study to discuss the plans which have been moved from the safe to the table.... A stranger is seen out on the terrace and the plans disappear. M. Poirot searches for footprints to no avail, yet successfully deduces who stole the plans

    The Adventure of the Clapham Cook: Mrs Todd is determined that M. Poirot investigate her missing cook. Also missing from the Bank where Mr. Todd works is a bank clerk (Mr. Davis) who disappears with fifty thousand pounds of securities, a suicidal man and a typist. It is up to M. Poirot to puzzle out how all of these people could possibly have anything in common
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A collection of Christie short stories starring my favorite detective, Hercule Poirot. Most of them were good Poirot mysteries, sometimes with Hastings bumbling along. My least favorite story was probably "The Lemesurier Inheritance". I didn't quite make the connections in that story that Poirot did. I could've used a few more details to help me out. But, it was still a good story. No story stood out as a favorite because I enjoyed so many of them.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Under Dog and Other Stories is solely a Hercule Poirot collection, featuring nine short stories. My favourites were The Under Dog and The Cornish Mystery. My least favourite, The King of Clubs. Overall the collection has a rating of 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 stars. Individual ratings and reviews below. THE UNDER DOG: ****THE PLYMOUTH EXPRESS: ***THE AFFAIR AT THE VICTORY BALL: **THE MARKET BASING MYSTERY: ***THE LEMESURIER INHERITANCE: ***THE CORNISH MYSTERY: ****THE KING OF CLUBS: *THE SUBMARINE PLANS: ***THE ADVENTURE OF THE CLAPHAM COOK: ***THE UNDER DOG: ****A lady hires Poirot to investigate her husband's murder when the man's nephew is accused. I liked this one for the most part. I wasn't a big fan of the whole hypnosis bit, but I enjoyed that Poirot took Lady Astwell's 'intuition' to be her subconscious rather than writing her off. And that George the valet makes an appearance with his usual stiff English upper lip attitude. 4 stars.THE PLYMOUTH EXPRESS: ***A lady is found murdered on a train, her expensive jewellery missing. Her father hires Poirot to investigate. This was alright, pretty straightforward. I sort of guessed where it was going with the woman being impersonated, I didn't guess who the culprit was, although I probably should've. It was the maid. Poor Japp though, he can never get it right. 3 stars.THE AFFAIR AT THE VICTORY BALL: **Inspector Japp comes to ask Poirot's advice about a murder and a suicide that took place on the night of the Victory Ball. I enjoyed this one. Hastings has got the right of it here though; “Poirot,” I cried, “one day I shall murder you! Your habit of finding everything perfectly simple is aggravating to the last degree!” “But when I explain, mon ami, is it not always perfectly simple?” “Yes; that is the annoying part of it! I feel then that I could have done it myself.” “And so you could, Hastings, so you could. (p. 9) I wish I could claim Poirot's little grey cells but unfortunately my own are much more on a par with Hasting's. 2 stars.THE MARKET BASING MYSTERY: ***Poirot, Hastings and Japp are on holiday when the local police ask for some help when they find a dead man in a locked room who couldn't possibly have shot himself. I found this one interesting. It wasn't the best but interesting nonetheless. And I liked Japp's comment on Poirot living a life of crime. “I agree, yes; but it would have been simpler and better to slip the key back inside the room under the door. Then it would look as though it had fallen from the lock.” “Ah, well, you can’t expect everybody to have the bright ideas that you have. You’d have been a holy terror if you’d taken to crime. (p. 190)It kind of makes me wish that Christie had done a Poirot reimagined crime series. 3 stars.THE LEMESURIER INHERITANCE: ***Poirot investigates a family curse that prevents the eldest son from inheriting. This was alright. I liked the fierceness of the mother and her disbelief in the curse when it threatens her son. Interesting twist at the end too. Poirot suspects the son isn't the father's, ergo the curse wins. 3 stars.THE CORNISH MYSTERY: ****A wife asks Poirot to prove that her husband is poisoning her. I liked this one. I totally guessed who was guilty - my little grey cells were right on the money. And I enjoyed Mrs Pengelley's thoughts;“You have contemplated leaving him, then?” “I don’t intend to let him have it all his own way. Women aren’t the downtrodden slaves they were in the old days, M. Poirot.” (pp. 276-277)4 stars.THE KING OF CLUBS: *A dancer is accused of murder and her fiancee hires Poirot (and Hastings) to investigate. “Is this your eloquence, or that of the Daily Newsmonger?” inquired Poirot. “The Daily Newsmonger was in a hurry to go to press, and contented itself with bare facts. But the dramatic possibilities of the story struck me at once.” (p. 29)Honestly Hastings. If Poirot has Order and Method are his gods. (p. 28) You definitely have drama and stupidity. I was a little baffled by this one - I didn't really understand why the dancer and her family are ashamed of each other? This wasn't my favourite beyond Poirot poking fun at Hastings. 1 star.THE SUBMARINE PLANS: ***Plans for a new British submarine are stolen at a house party and Poirot and Hastings are called in to retrieve them. This is a pared down version of The Incredible Theft, so I vaguely remembered the solution but it was still enjoyable. 3 stars.THE ADVENTURE OF THE CLAPHAM COOK: ***Poirot on the case of a missing cook and finds a murder, a theft and deceit. This one was alright. I liked Mrs Todd, the woman who hires Poirot. I didn't love the resolution though. The cook's manoeuvred out of her position so that the lodger can have her tin trunk to hide a body. Like why? Why specifically hers? How did he even know she had one that was acceptable? I don't know it was kind of weak. 3 stars.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Collection of short Hercule Poirot stories. The narrator is David Suchet - who is always Hercule Poirot to me.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Underdog and Other Stories is a collection of short stories by Agatha Christie. There are nine different stories in this collection and I would rate them all somewhere between a 3 and a 3.5. I freely admit that short stories are not usually my preferred reading material, but these stories all of which featured Hercule Poirot smugly solving the mysteries, was the perfect reading for me as I was visiting relatives and found myself frequently having to break off my reading.The nine stories that are included in this collection are:The UnderdogPlymouth ExpressVictory Ball Market BasingLemesurier InsuranceCornish MysteryKing of ClubsSubmarine PlansClapham CookBasically I would say if you are a fan of Agatha Christie and her detective Poirot, then you will enjoy this collection. The stories are fairly simple with small twists that are easily predictable. Perhaps not a good place to start reading Christie, but a great companion piece to her more complex mysteries.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The synopsis on the back cover of this book declares that the nine short stories contained within are Hercule Poirot's "Nasty Nine". Agatha Christie's sophisticated Belgian sleuth matches wits against nine of the worst criminals in order to solve these most baffling mysteries. A dead heiress on a train, a murdered recluse, and a wealthy playboy slain at a costume ball are only a few of the unfortunate victims of the confounding crimes committed in the pages of Ms. Christie's The Under Dog and Other Stories, a superior collection of short mystery fiction all featuring Hercule Poirot as the investigator.The reader is invited to accompany Agatha Christie's most famous detective creation on a twisting trail of baffling mystery, shattering violence and delectable deduction as once again Hercule Poirot proves that his magnificent mind is mightier than the swiftest, stealthiest hand of a murderer. Here is Monsieur Poirot at the peak of his powers. Here is Agatha Christie at her spellbinding best.I thought that this book was vintage Agatha Christie - these were nine of perhaps the most intriguing, most perplexing, yet highly entertaining mysteries that I've read in quite a while. I do enjoy Agatha Christie's writing style, but will say that as with many of her stories, I had trouble concluding "who done it." I give The Under Dog and Other Stories by Agatha Christie an A!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The under dog — meh on the murder, but good story
    The Plymouth Express —
    The Affair at the Victory Ball —
    The Market Basing Mystery —
    The Lemesurier Inheritance — Insanity takes the day
    The Cornish Mystery —
    The King of Clubs — Loved it!
    The Submarine Plans — this was solved in a weird way
    The Adventure of the Clapham Cook - oh yeah, the promise of riches will always attract the domestic help
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    If I had to think of one word for this book that word would be "uneven".

    Some of the stories are brilliant, some are transparent, some are just not very good. If you average them all out you've got yourself a three star book. If you are a Christie fan and can't imagine yourself going through life and not having read one of her books then by all means read this one and you'll probably enjoy it....otherwise there are better books and better ways to spend your time.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Many of the stories in this collection were "new to me", or perhaps it was that I didn't remember them very well from previous readings.The Under Dog, first published 1926This one is almost a novella, being about 70 pages long and occupying about one third of the novel.There is a discrepancy between the synopsis published on the Christie site which says Poirot is invited to dine with Sir Rueben Astwell who then becomes a murder victim, and the version I have in which Sir Rueben was murdered ten days before, and Poirot is summoned by his grieving widow.It seems that there may be two versions of this story.I also have a copy of THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING and the version of the story that appears in that printing does not coincide with the synopsis on the Christie site either.The remaining 8 stories are all relatively short and include Captain Hastings, and sometimes Inspector Japp. Poirot's interest in the psychology of criminal activities is often flagged.These 8 stories were first published in the US in the monthly Blue Book MagazineThey were also re-published in Poirot's Early Cases published in 1974.The Plymouth Express, published 1924This short story was also included in Poirot's Early Cases, and was later reworked to become THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN. The method of disposal of the body is a little clumsy (stuffed under a seat for another passenger to discover)There is an interesting suggestion by the editors about 2 pages before the end that "the reader pause in his perusal of the story at this point, make his own solution to the mystery - and then see how close he comes to that of the author".The Affair at the Victory Ball, published 1923This story is set immediately after World War One and begins with Hastings reflecting on how Poirot came to England and what brought them together. It also creates an unforgettable image of a young generation that celebrates with lavish parties and cocaine taking, and a society in which the class barriers have already collapsed. In this one the editors also suggest the reader comes up with a solution and then compare it with Poirot's.The Market Basing Mystery, published 1925Hasting, Japp, and Poirot are having a weekend off, brought to an abrupt end when a local gentleman appears to have committed suicide. The holiday makers are drawn to the murder site like bees to honey, all thoughts of a weekend off gone.The King of Clubs, published 1923Poirot has been contacted by Prince Paul of Maurania to investigate a murder case connected to the dancer he is proposing to marry. Poirot discovers Valerie Saintclair has not been entirely truthful to the prince about her origins.The case very nearly defeats Poirot, except for a "lucky accident", and we see another characteristic of his - he has a soft spot for beautiful young ladies, and also a tendency to trim the truth for his audience.The Submarine Plans, published 1925This one reflects English preoccupation with subterfuge, espionage, and state secrets. The plot to deceive an undercover agent almost backfires when the plans to Britain's latest submarine go missing. The story also affirms for us that Poirot is often consulted by heads of governments, and British Prime Ministers in particular are in his debt.The Adventure of the Clapham Cook, published 1925I must confess that the plot of this one, with a missing bank clerk who appears to have absconded with a small fortune in negotiable securities, and a cook who disappears on her day off and then sends for her trunk which has already been packed and roped up, becomes so intricate that I am still not sure whether I understood it all. It certainly defeated Hastings. It was a case that Poirot was originally disinclined to dismiss as a domestic incident and he says it became one of his most interesting cases.The Cornish Mystery, published 1925Mrs Pengelly has been told by her doctor that she has acute gastritis but she has noticed her husband has recently bought a can of weed-killer, and she suspects him of an affair with his dental assistant. Poirot decides to take on her case and to travel to Cornwall to visit but arrives too late. Poirot blames himself for her death.The LeMesurier Inheritance., published 1925The curse says that no LeMesurier first born son shall ever inherit. History shows that the curse has run to form for centuries, but can the curse continue in the twentieth century or has it run out? The current LeMesurier Hugo was the youngest of five sons, and he himself has two sons. Mrs Lemesurier consults Poirot when her eldest son seems to be prone to life threatening accidents. Poirot of course does not believe in the efficacy of curses.I have a soft spot for Agatha Christie's short stories. These, in particular, flesh out the character of Hercule Poirot, highlighting characteristics that will be later focussed on in longer novels: his care of his appearance, his interest in the "psychological", his weakness for beautiful young women (although most of them don't respond in any emotional sense), his liking for the final denouement in which he assembles the characters and gives his verdict, Christie's little word pictures of a social structure that was really dealt a death blow by the the Great War, and much more,
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a collection of short stories with Christie's signature twists and turns.

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The Under Dog and Other Stories - Agatha Christie

The Under Dog

and Other Stories

A Hercule Poirot Collection

Contents

Cover

Title Page

  1   The Under Dog

  2   The Plymouth Express

  3   The Affair at the Victory Ball

  4   The Market Basing Mystery

  5   The Lemesurier Inheritance

  6   The Cornish Mystery

  7   The King of Clubs

  8   The Submarine Plans

  9   The Adventure of the Clapham Cook

About the Author

The Agatha Christie Collection

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Copyright

About the Publisher

One

THE UNDER DOG

The Under Dog was first published in the USA in Mystery Magazine, 1 April 1926, then in London Magazine, October 1926. 

Lily Margrave smoothed her gloves out on her knee with a nervous gesture, and darted a glance at the occupant of the big chair opposite her.

She had heard of M. Hercule Poirot, the well-known investigator, but this was the first time she had seen him in the flesh.

The comic, almost ridiculous, aspect that he presented disturbed her conception of him. Could this funny little man, with the egg-shaped head and the enormous moustaches, really do the wonderful things that were claimed for him? His occupation at the moment struck her as particularly childish. He was piling small blocks of coloured wood one upon the other, and seemed far more interested in the result than in the story she was telling.

At her sudden silence, however, he looked sharply across at her.

Mademoiselle, continue, I pray of you. It is not that I do not attend; I attend very carefully, I assure you.

He began once more to pile the little blocks of wood one upon the other, while the girl’s voice took up the tale again. It was a gruesome tale, a tale of violence and tragedy, but the voice was so calm and unemotional, the recital was so concise that something of the savour of humanity seemed to have been left out of it.

She stopped at last.

I hope, she said anxiously, that I have made everything clear.

Poirot nodded his head several times in emphatic assent. Then he swept his hand across the wooden blocks, scattering them over the table, and, leaning back in his chair, his fingertips pressed together and his eyes on the ceiling, he began to recapitulate.

"Sir Reuben Astwell was murdered ten days ago. On Wednesday, the day before yesterday, his nephew, Charles Leverson, was arrested by the police. The facts against him as far as you know are:—you will correct me if I am wrong, Mademoiselle—Sir Reuben was sitting up late writing in his own special sanctum, the Tower room. Mr. Leverson came in late, letting himself in with a latch-key. He was overheard quarrelling with his uncle by the butler, whose room is directly below the Tower room. The quarrel ended with a sudden thud as of a chair being thrown over and a half-smothered cry.

The butler was alarmed, and thought of getting up to see what was the matter, but as a few seconds later he heard Mr. Leverson leave the room gaily whistling a tune, he thought nothing more of it. On the following morning, however, a housemaid discovered Sir Reuben dead by his desk. He had been struck down by some heavy instrument. The butler, I gather, did not at once tell his story to the police. That was natural, I think, eh, Mademoiselle?

The sudden question made Lily Margrave start.

I beg your pardon? she said.

One looks for humanity in these matters, does one not? said the little man. As you recited the story to me—so admirably, so concisely—you made of the actors in the drama machines—puppets. But me, I look always for human nature. I say to myself, this butler, this—what did you say his name was?

His name is Parsons.

This Parsons, then, he will have the characteristics of his class, he will object very strongly to the police, he will tell them as little as possible. Above all, he will say nothing that might seem to incriminate a member of the household. A house-breaker, a burglar, he will cling to that idea with all the strength of extreme obstinacy. Yes, the loyalties of the servant class are an interesting study.

He leaned back beaming.

In the meantime, he went on, everyone in the household has told his or her tale, Mr. Leverson among the rest, and his tale was that he had come in late and gone up to bed without seeing his uncle.

That is what he said.

And no one saw reason to doubt that tale, mused Poirot, "except, of course, Parsons. Then there comes down an inspector from Scotland Yard, Inspector Miller you said, did you not? I know him, I have come across him once or twice in the past. He is what they call the sharp man, the ferret, the weasel.

"Yes, I know him! And the sharp Inspector Miller, he sees what the local inspector has not seen, that Parsons is ill at ease and uncomfortable, and knows something that he has not told. Eh bien, he makes short work of Parsons. By now it has been clearly proved that no one broke into the house that night, that the murderer must be looked for inside the house and not outside. And Parsons is unhappy and frightened, and feels very relieved to have his secret knowledge drawn out of him.

"He has done his best to avoid scandal, but there are limits; and so Inspector Miller listens to Parsons’ story, and asks a question or two, and then makes some private investigations of his own. The case he builds up is very strong—very strong.

"Blood-stained fingers rested on the corner of the chest in the Tower room, and the fingerprints were those of Charles Leverson. The housemaid told him she emptied a basin of bloodstained water in Mr. Leverson’s room the morning after the crime. He explained to her that he had cut his finger, and he had a little cut there, oh yes, but such a very little cut! The cuff of his evening shirt had been washed, but they found bloodstains in the sleeve of his coat. He was hard pressed for money, and he inherited money at Sir Reuben’s death. Oh, yes, a very strong case, Mademoiselle." He paused.

And yet you come to me today.

Lily Margrave shrugged her slender shoulders.

As I told you, M. Poirot, Lady Astwell sent me.

You would not have come of your own accord, eh?

The little man glanced at her shrewdly. The girl did not answer.

You do not reply to my question.

Lily Margrave began smoothing her gloves again.

It is rather difficult for me, M. Poirot. I have my loyalty to Lady Astwell to consider. Strictly speaking, I am only her paid companion, but she has treated me more as though I were a daughter or a niece. She has been extraordinarily kind and, whatever her faults, I should not like to appear to criticize her actions, or—well, to prejudice you against taking up the case.

"Impossible to prejudice Hercule Poirot, cela ne ce fait pas, declared the little man cheerily. I perceive that you think Lady Astwell has in her bonnet the buzzing bee. Come now, is it not so?"

If I must say—

Speak, Mademoiselle.

I think the whole thing is simply silly.

It strikes you like that, eh?

I don’t want to say anything against Lady Astwell—

I comprehend, murmured Poirot gently. I comprehend perfectly. His eyes invited her to go on.

She really is a very good sort, and frightfully kind, but she isn’t—how can I put it? She isn’t an educated woman. You know she was an actress when Sir Reuben married her, and she has all sorts of prejudices and superstitions. If she says a thing, it must be so, and she simply won’t listen to reason. The inspector was not very tactful with her, and it put her back up. She says it is nonsense to suspect Mr. Leverson and just the sort of stupid, pigheaded mistake the police would make, and that, of course, dear Charles did not do it.

But she has no reasons, eh?

None whatever.

Ha! Is that so? Really, now.

I told her, said Lily, that it would be no good coming to you with a mere statement like that and nothing to go on.

You told her that, said Poirot, did you really? That is interesting.

His eyes swept over Lily Margrave in a quick comprehensive survey, taking in the details of her neat black suit, the touch of white at her throat and the smart little black hat. He saw the elegance of her, the pretty face with its slightly pointed chin, and the dark-blue, long-lashed eyes. Insensibly his attitude changed; he was interested now, not so much in the case as in the girl sitting opposite him.

Lady Astwell is, I should imagine, Mademoiselle, just a trifle inclined to be unbalanced and hysterical?

Lily Margrave nodded eagerly.

That describes her exactly. She is, as I told you, very kind, but it is impossible to argue with her or to make her see things logically.

Possibly she suspects someone on her own account, suggested Poirot, someone quite absurd.

That is exactly what she does do, cried Lily. "She has taken a great dislike to Sir Reuben’s secretary, poor man. She says she knows he did it, and yet it has been proved quite conclusively that poor Owen Trefusis cannot possibly have done it."

And she has no reasons?

Of course not; it is all intuition with her.

Lily Margrave’s voice was very scornful.

I perceive, Mademoiselle, said Poirot, smiling, that you do not believe in intuition?

I think it is nonsense, replied Lily.

Poirot leaned back in his chair.

Les femmes, he murmured, they like to think that it is a special weapon that the good God has given them, and for every once that it shows them the truth, at least nine times it leads them astray.

I know, said Lily, but I have told you what Lady Astwell is like. You simply cannot argue with her.

"So you, Mademoiselle, being wise and discreet, came along to me as you were bidden, and have managed to put me au courant of the situation."

Something in the tone of his voice made the girl look up sharply.

Of course, I know, said Lily apologetically, how very valuable your time is.

You are too flattering, Mademoiselle, said Poirot, but indeed—yes, it is true, at this present time I have many cases of moment on hand.

I was afraid that might be so, said Lily, rising. I will tell Lady Astwell—

But Poirot did not rise also. Instead he lay back in his chair and looked steadily up at the girl.

You are in haste to be gone, Mademoiselle? Sit down one more little moment, I pray of you.

He saw the colour flood into her face and ebb out again. She sat down once more slowly and unwillingly.

Mademoiselle is quick and decisive, said Poirot. She must make allowances for an old man like myself, who comes to his decisions slowly. You mistook me, Mademoiselle. I did not say that I would not go down to Lady Astwell.

You will come, then?

The girl’s tone was flat. She did not look at Poirot, but down at the ground, and so was unaware of the keen scrutiny with which he regarded her.

Tell Lady Astwell, Mademoiselle, that I am entirely at her service. I will be at—Mon Repos, is it not?—this afternoon.

He rose. The girl followed suit.

I—I will tell her. It is very good of you to come, M. Poirot. I am afraid, though, you will find you have been brought on a wild goose chase.

Very likely, but—who knows?

He saw her out with punctilious courtesy to the door. Then he returned to the sitting room, frowning, deep in thought. Once or twice he nodded his head, then he opened the door and called to his valet.

My good George, prepare me, I pray of you, a little valise. I go down to the country this afternoon.

Very good, sir, said George.

He was an extremely English-looking person. Tall, cadaverous and unemotional.

A young girl is a very interesting phenomenon, George, said Poirot, as he dropped once more into his armchair and lighted a tiny cigarette. Especially, you understand, when she has brains. To ask someone to do a thing and at the same time to put them against doing it, that is a delicate operation. It requires finesse. She was very adroit—oh, very adroit—but Hercule Poirot, my good George, is of a cleverness quite exceptional.

I have heard you say so, sir.

It is not the secretary she has in mind, mused Poirot. Lady Astwell’s accusation of him she treats with contempt. Just the same she is anxious that no one should disturb the sleeping dogs. I, my good George, I go to disturb them, I go to make the dog fight! There is a drama there, at Mon Repos. A human drama, and it excites me. She was adroit, the little one, but not adroit enough. I wonder—I wonder what I shall find there?

Into the dramatic pause which succeeded these words George’s voice broke apologetically:

Shall I pack dress clothes, sir?

Poirot looked at him sadly.

Always the concentration, the attention to your own job. You are very good for me, George.

When the 4:55 drew up at Abbots Cross station, there descended from it M. Hercule Poirot, very neatly and foppishly attired, his moustaches waxed to a stiff point. He gave up his ticket, passed through the barrier, and was accosted by a tall chauffeur.

M. Poirot?

The little man beamed upon him.

That is my name.

This way, sir, if you please.

He held open the door of the big Rolls-Royce.

The house was a bare three minutes from the station. The chauffeur descended once more and opened the door of the car, and Poirot stepped out. The butler was already holding the front door open.

Poirot gave the outside of the house a swift appraising glance before passing through the open door. It was a big, solidly built red-brick mansion, with no pretensions to beauty, but with an air of solid comfort.

Poirot stepped into the hall. The butler relieved him deftly of his hat and overcoat, then murmured with that deferential undertone only to be achieved by the best servants:

Her ladyship is expecting you, sir.

Poirot followed the butler up the soft-carpeted stairs. This, without doubt, was Parsons, a very well-trained servant, with a manner suitably devoid of emotion. At the top of the staircase he turned to the right along a corridor. He passed through a door into a little anteroom, from which two more doors led. He threw open the left-hand one of these, and announced:

M. Poirot, m’lady.

The room was not a very large one, and it was crowded with furniture and knickknacks. A woman, dressed in black, got up from a sofa and came quickly towards Poirot.

M. Poirot, she said with outstretched hand. Her eye ran rapidly over the dandified figure. She paused a minute, ignoring the little man’s bow over her hand, and his murmured Madame, and then, releasing his hand after a sudden vigorous pressure, she exclaimed:

I believe in small men! They are the clever ones.

Inspector Miller, murmured Poirot, is, I think, a tall man?

He is a bumptious idiot, said Lady Astwell. Sit down here by me, will you, M. Poirot?

She indicated the sofa and went on:

Lily did her best to put me off sending for you, but I have not come to my time of life without knowing my own mind.

A rare accomplishment, said Poirot, as he followed her to the settee.

Lady Astwell settled herself comfortably among the cushions and turned so as to face him.

Lily is a dear girl, said Lady Astwell, "but she thinks she knows everything, and as often as not in my experience those sort of people are wrong. I am not clever, M. Poirot, I never have been, but I am right where many a more stupid person is wrong. I believe in guidance. Now do you want me to tell you who is the murderer, or do you not? A woman knows, M. Poirot."

Does Miss Margrave know?

What did she tell you? asked Lady Astwell sharply.

She gave me the facts of the case.

"The facts? Oh, of course they are dead against Charles, but I tell you, M. Poirot, he didn’t do it. I know he didn’t!" She bent upon him an earnestness that was almost disconcerting.

You are very positive, Lady Astwell?

Trefusis killed my husband, M. Poirot. I am sure of it.

Why?

"Why should he kill him, do you mean, or why am I sure? I tell you I know it! I am funny about those things. I make up my mind at once, and I stick to it."

Did Mr. Trefusis benefit in any way by Sir Reuben’s death?

Never left him a penny, returned Lady Astwell promptly. Now that shows you dear Reuben couldn’t have liked or trusted him.

"Had

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