She nodded and said: “Yes, yes, I know.” Shortly afterwards we left. Zara’s last words to Valerie were: “Beware of the king of clubs. Danger threatens you!” I questioned Valerie. She would tell me nothing – assured me that all was well. But now, after last night, I am more sure than ever that in the king of clubs Valerie saw Reedburn, and that he was the man she feared.’
The Prince paused abruptly. ‘Now you understand my agitation when I opened the paper this morning. Supposing Valerie, in a fit of madness – oh, it is impossible?
Poirot rose from his seat, and patted the young man kindly on the shoulder. ‘Do not distress yourself, I beg of you. Leave it in my hands.’
‘You will go to Streatham? I gather she is still there, at Daisy mead – prostrated by the shock.’
‘I will go at once.’
‘I have arranged matters – through the embassy. You will be allowed access everywhere.’
‘Then we will depart – Hastings, you will accompany me? Au revoir, M. le Prince.’
Mon Ddsir was an exceptionally fine villa, thoroughly modern and comfortable. A short carriage-drive led upto it from the road, and beautiful gardens extended behind the house for some acres.
On mentioning Prince Paul’s name, the butler who answered the door at once took us to the scene of the tragedy. The library was a magnificent room, running from back to front of the whole building, with a window at either end, one giving on the front carriage-drive, and the other on the garden. It was in the recess of the latter that the body had lain. It had been removed not long before, the police having concluded their examination.
‘That is annoying,’ I murmured to Poirot. ‘Who knows what clues they may have destroyed?’
My little friend smiled. ‘Eh – eh! How often must I tell you that dues come from oithin? In the little grey cells of the brain lies the solution of every mystery.’
He turned to the butler. ‘I suppose, except for the removal of the body, the room has not been touched?’
‘No, sir. It’s just as it was when the police came up last night.’
‘These curtains, now. I see they pull right across the window-recess.
They are the same in the other window. Were they drawn last night?’
‘Yes, sir. I draw them every night.’
‘Then Reedburn must have drawn them back himself?’
‘I suppose so, sir.’
‘Did you know your master expected a visitor last night?’
‘He did not say so, sir. But he gave orders he was not to be disturbed after dinner. You see, sir, there is a door leading out of the library on to the terrace at the side of the house. He could have admitted anyone that way.’
‘Was he in the habit of doing that?’
The butler coughed discreetly. ‘I believe so, sir.’
Poirot strode to the door in question. It was unlocked. He stepped through it on to the terrace which joined the drive on the right; on the left it led up to a red brick wall.
‘The fruit garden, sir. There is a door leading into it farther along, but it was always locked at six o’clock.’
Poirot nodded, and re-entered the library, the butler following.
‘Did you hear nothing of last night’s events?’
‘Well, sir, we heard voices in the library, a little before nine.
But that wasn’t unusual, especially being a lady’s voice. But of course, once we were all in the servants’ hall, right the other side, we didn’t hear anything at all. And then, about eleven o’clock, the police came.’
‘How many voices did you hear?’
‘I couldn’t say, sir. I only noticed the lady’s.’
‘Ahl’
‘I beg pardon, sir, but Dr Ryan is still in the house, if you would care to see him.’
We jumped at the suggestion, and in a few minutes the doctor, a cheery, middle-aged man, joined us, and gave Poirot all the information he required. Reedburn had been lying near the window, his head by the marble window-seat. There were two wounds, one between the eyes, and the other, the fatal one, on the back of the head.