been taken out with the other csrds, h was in the box.'
'H'm! All the same, it gave you an ides, didn't it?'
'Yes, my friend. I present my respects to His Majesty.'
'And to Msdsme Zsra!'
'Ah, yes - to the lady also.'
'Well, what are we going to do now?'
'We are going to return to town. But I must have s few words
with a certain lady at Daisymead f'mt.'
l
247
The same little maid opened the door to us.
'They're all at lunch now, sir - unless it's Miss Saintclair you
want to see, and she's resting.'
'It will do if I can see Mrs Oglapxier for a few minutes. Will
you tell her?'
We were led into the ch-awing-room to wait. I had a glimp
of the family in the dining-room as we passed, now reinforced
by the presence of two heavy, solid-looking men, one with a
moustache, the other with a beard also.
In a few minutes Mrs Oglander came into the room, looking
inquiringly at Poirot, who bowed.
'Madame, we, in our country, have a great tenderness, a
great respect for the mother. The nre de famille, she is everything!'
Mrs Oglander looked rather astonished at this opening.
'It is for that reason that I have come - to allay a mother's
anxiety. The murderer of Mr Reedbum will not be discovered.
Have no fear. I, Hercule Poirot, tell you so. I am fight, am I
not? Or is it a wife that I must reassure?'
There was a moment's pause. Mrs Oglander seemed
searching Poirot with her eyes. At last she said quietly: 'I don't
know how you know - but yes, you are right.'
Poirot nodded gravely. 'That is zll, madame. But do not be
uneasy. Your English policemen have not the eyes of Hercuie
Poirot.' He tapped the family portrait on the wall with his
fingernail.
'You had another daughter once. She is dead, madame?'
Again there was a pause, as she searched him with her eyes.
Then she answered: 'Yes, she is dead.'
'Ah!' said Poirot briskly. 'Well, we must return to town. You
permit that I return the king of clubs to the psck? It was your
only slip. You understand, to have played bridge for im hour or
so, with only fifty-one cards - well, no one who knows anything
of the game would credit it for a minute! Bonjour!'
'And now, my friend,' said Poirot as we stepped towards the
.station, 'you see it all!'
'I see nothing! Who killed Reedburn?'
'John Oglander, Junior. I was not quite sure if it was the
. der or the son, but I fixed on the son as being the stronger
d you,gec of the two. It had to be one of them, because of the
,Tere were four exits from the library - two doors, two
evidently only one would do. Three exits gave .on
..Mows; but
.. -r ,,oodv had to occur in
w,,. -'
Ctl¥or mo, lrcc'uy. · -,- --=-a ,
: the
front, dire.
,o it annear that Valcric
came to Daisyme Y
'
'
ad John Oglander carried her across over his shoulders. That
is why I said he must be a strong man.'
'Did they go there together, then?'
·
'Y es. You remember Valerie' s hesitation when I asked her if
. i afraid to go aloneJohn Oglander went with htr -
lshcw, as ,n.i , :---ore Reecibum's temper, I fa.cy.. ,Tbe. Y-
which
dian t mF
.
'
,
the bridge
'
But why
' - -'---ers A simple thing like that
'Bridge presupposes roux pa,·
·alot of conviction. Who would have supposed .tha-tere
carnes · --;- :.- that room all the evenmge
had been onty truce pcot,-. , I
was s611 puzzled.
'There's one thing I don't understand. aat have the
Oglanders to do with the dancer Valerie Saintclair?'
'Ah, that I wonder you did not see. And yet you looked long
Oelandcr's other daughter may. oe.-:-ur,,
wrld knows her as Valerie saintclatr:
'Wtt?'
'Did you not e the resemblance the moment you w the
to sister together?'
'No,' I confessed. 'I only thought how e. xtordinarily
dissimilar they we ·
'That is because your mind is so open to external romantic
impressions, my dear l-Iating. The features re almost
identical. So is the olouring. The interesting thing ia tlt
Valerie is ashamed of her f--mily, and her family is aah-m of
her. Nevertheless, in a moment of peril, she turned to her
249
brother for help, and when things went wrong, they all hung
together in a remarkable way. Family strength is a mamellous
thing. They can aH act, that family. That is where Valefie gets
her histrionic talent from. I, like Prince Paul, believe in
heredity! They deceived me! But for a lucky accident, and test
question to Mrs Oglander by which I got her to contradict her
daughter's account of how they were sitting, the Oglander
family would have put a defeat on Hercule Poirot.'
'What shall you tell the Prince?'
'That Valerie could not possibly have committed the crime,
and that I doubt if that tramp will ever be found. Also, to
convey my compliments to Zara. A curious coincidence, that!
I think I shall call this little affair the Adventure of the King of
Clubs. What do you think, my friend?'
250
THE ADVENTURE OF THE CLAPHAM COOK
At the time that I was sharing rooms with my friend Hercule
Poirot, it was my custom to read aloud to him the headlines in
the morning newspaper, the Daily Blare.
The Daily Blare was a paper that made the most of any
opportunity for sensationalism. Robberies and murders did
not lurk obscurely in its back pages. Instead they hit you in the
eye in large type on the front page.
ABSCONDING BANK CLERK DISAPPEARS WITH FIFTY THOUSAND
POUNDS' WORTH OF NEGOTIABIE SECURITIES) I read.
HUSBAND PUTS HIS HEAD IN GAS-OVEN. UNHAPPY HOME
LIFE. MISSING TYPIST. PREIFY GIRL OF TWENTY-ONE. WHERE
IS EDNA FIELD?
'There you are, Poirot, plenty to choose from. An absconding
bank clerk, a mysterious suidde, a missing typist - which
will you have?'
My friend was in a placid mood. He quietly shook his head.
'I am not greatly attracted to any of them, mon am/. Today I
feel inclined for the life of ease. It would have to be a very
interesting problem to tempt me from my chair. See you, I
have affairs of importance of my own to attend m.'
'Such as?'
'My wardrobe, Hastings. If I mistake not, there is on my
new grey suit the spot of grease - only the unique spot, but it is ,ufficient to trouble me. Then there is my winter overcoat I
must lay him aside in the powder of Keatin. And I think yes,
I think - the moment is ripe for the trimmings of my
moustaches - and afterwards I must apply the pomade.'
'Well,' I said, strolling to the window, 'I doubt if you'll be
able to carry out this delirious programme. That wa
s a ring at
the bell. You have a diem.'
251
'Unless the affair is one of national importance,
not,' declared Poirot with dignity.
I touch it
A moment later our privacy was invaded by a stout
lady who panted audibly as a result of her ran:J
aced
stairs.
,pau aSCent of the
'You're M. Poirot?' she demanded, as she sank into chair.
'I am Hercule Poirot, yes, madame.,
a
'.You.'.re not a bit lie whatI thought,,,., ,.-, .
eyem-g him with some disfavour ,,A."."-u--°? S.d the
paper saying what a clever ---' · ",,u ly tot the bit in
it in themselves?'
,-, u=tccuve you were, or did they
'Madame!' said Poirot, drawing himself up.
'I'm sorry, I'm sure, but you know what these papers are
nowadays. You begin reading a nice micle "What a bride Said
to he.r plain unmarried friend", and it's al/about- :
you buy at the chemist's arid sl,
a
.npie
but puff. But no offence taken I hope? I'll
tell you what I want
you to do for me. I want
you to f'md my cook.'
Poirot stared at her; for once his
ready tongue failed him. I
turned aside to hide the broadening
smile I could not control.
'It's all this wicked dole,'
continued the lady. 'Putting ideas
into servants' heads, wanting to be
typists and what nots. Stop
the dole, that's what I say. I'd li
e to know what my sen'ants
have to complain of
- afternoon and evening off a week,
alternate Sundays, washing put out,
same food as we have - and
never a bit of margarine in
the
house, nothing but the very best
butter.'
She paused for
want of breath and Poirot seized his
opportunity. He spoke
in his haughtiest manner, rising
to
his
feet as he did so. .
'I fear you are making
a mistake, madame. I am not holding an inquiry into the conditions
of domestic
service. I am a private detective.'
'I know that,' said our visitor. 'Didn't
I tell you I wanted you to find my cook for me?
Walked out of the house on Wednesday, without so much as a
word
to
me,
and
never
came
back.'
252
'I am sorry, madame, but I do not touch this particular find
of business. I wish you good morning.'
Our visitor snorted with indignation.
'That's it, is it, my frae fellow? Too proud, eh? Only deal
with Government secrets and countesses' jewels? Let mee tell
you a servant's every bit as important as a tiara to a woro. am in
my position. We can't all be fine ladies going out in our motors
with our diamonds and our pearls. A good cook's a good ook - and when you lose her, it's as much to you as her pearl are
to some time lady.'
For a moment or two it appeared to be a toss up bet,,een
Poirot's dignity and his sense of humour. Finally he laughed
and sat down again.
'Madame, you are in the right, and I am in the wrong. ?srour
remarks are just and intelligent. This case will be a novelty.
Never yet have I hunted a missing domestic. Truly here i- s the
.problem of national importance that I was demanding of fate just before your arrival. En avant! You say this jewelofa cook
went out on Wednesday and did not return. That is the day
before yesterday.'
i! 'Yes, it was her day out.'
'But probably, madame, she has met with some acciient.
Have you inquired at any of the hospitals?'
'That's exactly what I thought yesterday, but this motoring,
if you please, she sent for her box. And not so much as a Ii-ne to
me! If I'd been at home, I'd not have let it go - treating m-e like
that! But I'd just stepped out to the butcher.'
'Will you describe her to me?'
'She was middle.-aged, stout, black hair turning grey - most
respectable. She'd been ten years in her last place. Eliza lunn,
her name was.'
'And you had had - no disagreement with her oz' the
Wednesday?'
'None whatsoever. That's what makes it all so queer.'
'How many servants do you keep, madame?'
'Two. The house-parlourmaid, Annie, is a very nice -irl. A
bit forgetful and her head full of young men, but a good servant
if you keep her up to her work.'
253
'Did'she and the cook get on well logether?'
'They had their ups and downs, of course - but on t'r:
very well.'
'And the girl can throw no light on the mystery?'
'She says not o but you know what servants are - they 11
hang together.'
'Well, well, we must look into this. Where did you say you
resided, madame?'
'At Clapham; 88 Prince Albert Road.'
'B/m, madame, I will wish you good morning, and you may could upon seeing me at your residence during the course of
the day.'
Mrs Todd, for such was our new friend's name, then
her departure. Poirot looked at me somewhat ruefully.
'Well, well, Hastings, this is a novel affair that we have here,
The Disappearance of the Clapham Cook! Never, never, must
our friend Inspector Japp get to hear of this!'
He then proceeded to heat an iron ava carefully remove¢i
grease spot from his grey suit by means of a piece of blomag-paper.
His moustaches he regretfully postpov, ed to another
day, and we set out for Clapham.
Prince Albert Road proved to be a street of small prim
houses, all exactly alike, with neat lace curtains re'fling the
windows, and well-polished brass knockers on the doors.
We rang the bell at No. 88, and the door was opened by a
neat maid with a pretty face. Mrs Todd crone out in the hall to
greet us.
'Don't go, Annie,' she cried. 'This genflenmn's a detective
and he'll want to ask you some questions.' '
Annie's face displayed a struggle between alarm and a
'leasurable excitement.
'I thank you, madame,' said Poirot bowing. 'I would like to
question your maid now - and to see her alone, if I may.'
We were shown into a small drawing-room, and when Mrs
Todd, with obvious reluctance, had left the room, Poirot
commenced his cross-examination.
'Voyons, MademoiSelle Ann/e, all that you shall tell us will be
254
im trance. You alone can shed any light on the
fthe greatest po
v.- . assistance
1 am u, ,.,,------.
.
.
case. Wtt Y c
--- ,,, oirl's face and the pleasuramc
The alarm vamsn
excitement became more strongly marked.
'I'm sure, sir,' she said 'I'll tell you anything I can.'
'That is good.' Poirot beamed approval on her. 'Now, first of
all what is your own idea? You are a girl of remarkable
telligence. That can be seen at once! What is your own
explanation of FAi's disappearance?'
Thus encouraged, Annie fairly flowed into excited speech.
'White slavers, sir, I've said so all alongt Cook was always
warning me against them. "Don't you sniff no scent, or est any
sweets - no matter how gentlemanly the fellow!" Those were
her words to me. And now they've got her! I'm sure of it. As
likely as not, she's been shipped to Turkey or one of them
Eastern places where I've heard they like them fat?
Poirot preserved an admirable gravity.
'But in that case - and it is indeed an idea! - would she have
sent roi her trunk?'
'Well, I don't know, sir. She'd want her things - even in
those foreign places.'
'Who came for the mmic - a man?'
'It was Carter Paterson, sir.'
'Did you pack it?'
'Nb, sir, it was already packed and corded.'
'Ah! That's interesting. That shows that when she left the
house on Wednesday, she had already determined not to
return. You see that do you not?'
'Yes, sir.' Annie looked slightly taken aback. 'I hadn't
thought of that. But it might still have been white slaver,
mighm't it, sir? she added wistfully.
'Undoubtedly? said Poirot gravely. He went on: 'Did you
both occupy the same bedroom?'
'No, sir, we had separate rooms.'
'And had Eliza expressed any dissatisfaction with her
present post to you at all? Were you both happy here?'
'She'd never mentioned leaving. The place is all right -' The
girl hesitated. 255
'Speak freely,' said Poirot kindly. 'I shall not our StSS.'
'Well, of course, sir, she's a caution, .Missus is. But t ocl's
good. Plenty of it, and no stinting. Something hot for su:per,
good outings, and as much frying-fat as you like. And anyway,
if Eliza did want to make a change, she'd never have gone off
this way, I'm sure. She'd have stayed her month. Why, Missus
could have a month's wages out of her for doing this!'
AgathaChristie-HerculePoirotsCasebook Page 30
