Poirot Investigates Agatha Christie (fb2 epub reader .txt) đ
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- Author: Agatha Christie
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I laughed, embarrassed but not wholly displeased with the role thrust upon me.
âOh, not really queer, Captain Hastings, but when we went to the agents, Stosser and Paulâ âwe hadnât tried them before because they only have the expensive Mayfair flats, but we thought at any rate it would do no harmâ âeverything they offered us was four and five hundred a year, or else huge premiums, and then, just as we were going, they mentioned that they had a flat at eighty, but that they doubted if it would be any good our going there, because it had been on their books some time and they had sent so many people to see it that it was almost sure to be takenâ ââsnapped upâ as the clerk put itâ âonly people were so tiresome in not letting them know, and then they went on sending, and people get annoyed at being sent to a place that had, perhaps, been let some time.â
Mrs. Robinson paused for some much needed breath, and then continued:
âWe thanked him, and said that we quite understood it would probably be no good, but that we should like an order all the sameâ âjust in case. And we went there straight away in a taxi, for, after all, you never know. No. 4 was on the second floor, and just as we were waiting for the lift, Elsie Fergusonâ âsheâs a friend of mine, Captain Hastings, and they are looking for a flat tooâ âcame hurrying down the stairs. âAhead of you for once, my dear,â she said. âBut itâs no good. Itâs already let.â That seemed to finish it, butâ âwell, as John said, the place was very cheap, we could afford to give more, and perhaps if we offered a premium.â âA horrid thing to do, of course, and I feel quite ashamed of telling you, but you know what flat-hunting is.â
I assured her that I was well aware that in the struggle for houseroom the baser side of human nature frequently triumphed over the higher, and that the well-known rule of dog eat dog always applied.
âSo we went up and, would you believe it, the flat wasnât let at all. We were shown over it by the maid, and then we saw the mistress, and the thing was settled then and there. Immediate possession and fifty pounds for the furniture. We signed the agreement next day, and we are to move in tomorrow!â Mrs. Robinson paused triumphantly.
âAnd what about Mrs. Ferguson?â asked Parker. âLetâs have your deductions, Hastings.â
âââObvious, my dear Watson,âââ I quoted lightly. âShe went to the wrong flat.â
âOh, Captain Hastings, how clever of you!â cried Mrs. Robinson admiringly.
I rather wished Poirot had been there. Sometimes I have the feeling that he rather underestimates my capabilities.
The whole thing was rather amusing, and I propounded the thing as a mock problem to Poirot on the following morning. He seemed interested, and questioned me rather narrowly as to the rents of flats in various localities.
âA curious story,â he said thoughtfully. âExcuse me, Hastings, I must take a short stroll.â
When he returned, about an hour later, his eyes were gleaming with a peculiar excitement. He laid his stick on the table, and brushed the nap of his hat with his usual tender care before he spoke.
âIt is as well, mon ami, that we have no affairs of moment on hand. We can devote ourselves wholly to the present investigation.â
âWhat investigation are you talking about?â
âThe remarkable cheapness of your friendâs, Mrs. Robinsonâs, new flat.â
âPoirot, you are not serious!â
âI am most serious. Figure to yourself, my friend, that the real rent of those flats is ÂŁ350. I have just ascertained that from the landlordâs agents. And yet this particular flat is being sublet at eighty pounds! Why?â
âThere must be something wrong with it. Perhaps it is haunted, as Mrs. Robinson suggested.â
Poirot shook his head in a dissatisfied manner.
âThen again how curious it is that her friend tells her the flat is let, and, when she goes up, behold, it is not so at all!â
âBut surely you agree with me that the other woman must have gone to the wrong flat. That is the only possible solution.â
âYou may or may not be right on that point, Hastings. The fact still remains that numerous other applicants were sent to see it, and yet, in spite of its remarkable cheapness, it was still in the market when Mrs. Robinson arrived.â
âThat shows that there must be something wrong about it.â
âMrs. Robinson did not seem to notice anything amiss. Very curious, is it not? Did she impress you as being a truthful woman, Hastings?â
âShe was a delightful creature!â
âĂvidemment! since she renders you incapable of replying to my question. Describe her to me, then.â
âWell, sheâs tall and fair; her hairâs really a beautiful shade of auburnâ ââ
âAlways you have had a penchant for auburn hair!â murmured Poirot. âBut continue.â
âBlue eyes and a very nice complexion andâ âwell, thatâs all, I think,â I concluded lamely.
âAnd her husband?â
âOh, heâs quite a nice fellowâ ânothing startling.â
âDark or fair?â
âI donât knowâ âbetwixt and between, and just an ordinary sort of face.â
Poirot nodded.
âYes, there are hundreds of these average menâ âand, anyway, you bring more sympathy and appreciation to your description of women. Do you know anything about these people? Does Parker know them well.â
âThey are just recent acquaintances, I believe. But surely, Poirot, you donât think for an instantâ ââ
Poirot raised his hand.
âTout doucement, mon ami. Have I said that I think anything? All I say isâ âit is a curious story. And there is nothing to throw light upon it; except perhaps the ladyâs name, eh, Hastings?â
âHer name is Stella,â I said stiffly, âbut I donât seeâ ââ
Poirot interrupted me with a tremendous chuckle. Something seemed to be amusing him vastly.
âAnd Stella means a star, does it not? Famous!â
âWhat on earthâ ââ
âAnd stars give light! VoilĂ ! Calm yourself, Hastings. Do not put on that air of injured dignity. Come, we will go to Montagu Mansions and make a few inquiries.â
I accompanied him, nothing loath. The Mansions were a handsome block of
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