Agatha Christie – Poirot’s Early Cases

‘Was Lord Cronshaw himself addicted to the drug?’

‘Very far from it. He held unusually strong views on the subject of dope.’

Poirot nodded thoughtfully.

‘But since the box was in his possession, he knew that Miss

Courtenay took it. Suggestive, that, is it not, my good Japp?’ ‘Ah!’ said Japp rather vaguely.

I smiled.

‘Well,’ said Japp, ‘that’s the case. What do you think of it?’ ‘You found no clue of any kind that has not been reported?’ ‘Yes, there was this.’ Japp took a small object from his pocket and handed it over to Poirot. It was a small pompon of emerald green silk, with some ragged threads hanging from it, as though it had been wrenched violently away.

‘We found it in the dead man’s hand, which was tightly clenched over it,’ explained the inspector.

Poirot handed it back without any comment and asked: ‘Had Lord Cronshaw any enemies?’

‘None that anyone knows of. He seemed a popular young fellow.’

‘Who benefits by his death?’

‘His uncle, the Honourable Eustace Beltane, comes into the title and estates. There are one or two suspicious facts against him.

Several people declare that they heard a violent altercation going on in the little supper-room, and that Eustace Beltane was one of the disputants. You see, the table-knife being snatched up off the table would fit in with the murder being done in the heat of a quarrel.’

‘What does Mr Beltane say about the matter?’

‘Declares one of the waiters was the worse for liquor, and that he was giving him a dressing down. Also that it was nearer to one than half past. You see, Captain Digby’s evidence fixes the time pretty accurately. Only about ten minutes elapsed between his speaking to Cronshaw and the finding of the body.’

‘And in any case I suppose Mr Beltane, as Punchinello, was wearing a hump and a ruffle?’

‘I don’t know the exact details of the costumes,’ said Jap. p, looking curiously at Poirot. ‘And anyway, I don’t quite see what that has got to do with it?’

‘No?’ There was a hint of mockery in Poirot’s smile. He con-tinued quietly, his eyes shining with the green light I had learned to recognize so well: ‘There was a curtain in this little supper room, was there not?’

‘Yes, but – ‘

‘With a space behind it sufficient to conceal a man?’

‘Yes – in fact, there’s a small recess, but how you knew about it – you haven’t been to the place, have you, Monsieur Poirot?’

‘No, my good Japp, I supplied the curtain from my brain.

Without it, the drama is not reasonable. And always one must be reasonable. But tell me, did they not send for a doctor?’

‘At once, of course. But there was nothing to be done. Death must have been instantaneous.’ Poirot nodded rather impatiently.

‘Yes, yes, I understand. This doctor, now, he gave evidence at the inquest?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Did he say nothing of any unusual symptom – was there nothing about the appearance of the body which struck him as being abnormal?’ Japp stared hard at the little man.

‘Yes, Monsieur Poirot. I don’t know what you’re getting at, but he did mention that there was a tension and stiffness about the limbs which he was quite at a loss to account for.’ ‘Aha!’ said Poirot. ‘Aha[ Mon Dieul Japp, that gives one to think, does it not?’ I saw that it had certainly not given Japp to think.

‘If you’re thinking of poison, monsieur, who on earth would poison a man first and then stick a knife into him?’ ‘In truth that would be ridiculous,’ agreed Poirot placidly.

‘Now is there anything you want to see, monsieur? If you’d like to examine the room where the body was found – ‘ Poirot waved his hand.

‘Not in the least. You have told me the only thing that interests me – Lord Cronshaw’s views on the subject of drug-taking.’ ‘Then there’s nothing you want to see?’ ‘Just one thing.’ ‘What is that?’ ‘The set of china figures from which the costumes were copied.’ Japp stared.

‘Well, you’re a funny one!’ ‘You can manage that for me?’ ‘Come round to Berkely Square now if you like. Mr Beltane or His Lordship, as I should say now – won’t object.’