VIII
Alfred Lee and his wife came into the small study where Poirot, Sugden and the chief constable
were standing waiting. Colonel Johnson came forward.
How do you do, Mr. Lee? We’ve never actually met, but as you know, I’m chief constable
of the county. Johnson’s my name. I can’t tell you how distressed I am by this.
Alfred, his brown eyes like those of a suffering dog, said hoarsely
Thank you. It’s terrible—quite terrible. I—this is my wife.
Lydia said in her quiet voice
It has been a frightful shock to my husband—to all of us—but particularly to him.
Her hand was on her husband’s shoulder.
Colonel Johnson said
Won’t you sit down, Mrs. Lee? Let me introduce M. Hercule Poirot.
Hercule Poirot bowed. His eyes went interestedly from husband to wife.
Lydia’s hands pressed gently on Alfred’s shoulder.
Sit down, Alfred.
Alfred sat. He murmured
Hercule Poirot. Now, who—who
He passed his hand in a dazed fashion over his forehead.
Lydia Lee said
Colonel Johnson will want to ask you a lot of questions, Alfred.
The chief constable looked at her with approval. He was thankful that Mrs. Alfred Lee was
turning out to be such a sensible and competent woman.
Alfred said
Of course. Of course . . .
Johnson said to himself
Shock seems to have knocked him out completely. Hope he can pull himself together a bit.
Aloud he said
I’ve got a list here of everybody who was in the house tonight. Perhaps you’ll tell me, Mr.
Lee, if it is correct.
He made a slight gesture to Sugden and the latter pulled out his note-book and once more
recited the list of names.
The businesslike procedure seemed to restore Alfred Lee to something more like his normal
self. He had regained command of himself, his eyes no longer looked dazed and staring. When
Sugden finished, he nodded in agreement.
That’s quite right,” he said.
Do you mind telling me a little more about your guests? Mr. and Mrs. George Lee and Mr.
and Mrs. David Lee are, I gather, relatives
They are my two younger brothers and their wives.
They are staying here only
Yes, they came to us for Christmas.
Mr. Henry Lee is also a brother
Yes.
And your two other guests? Miss Estravados and Mr. Farr
Miss Estravados is my niece. Mr. Farr is the son of my father’s onetime partner in South
Africa.
Ah, an old friend.
Lydia intervened.
No, actually we have never seen him before.
I see. But you invited him to stay with you for Christmas
Alfred hesitated, then looked towards his wife. She said clearly
Mr. Farr turned up quite unexpectedly yesterday. He happened to be in the neighbourhood
and came to call upon my father-in-law. When my father-in-law found he was the son of his old
friend and partner, he insisted on his remaining with us for Christmas.
Colonel Johnson said
I see. That explains the household. As regards the servants, Mrs. Lee, do you consider them
all trustworthy
Lydia considered for a moment before replying. Then she said
Yes. I am quite sure they are all thoroughly reliable. They have mostly been with us for
many years. Tressilian, the butler, has been here since my husband was a young child. The only
newcomers are the betweenmaid, Joan, and the nurse-valet who attended on my father-in-law.
What about them
Joan is rather a silly little thing. That is the worst that can be said of her. I know very little
about Horbury. He has been here just over a year. He was quite competent at his job and my
father-in-law seemed satisfied with him.
Poirot said acutely
But you, madame, were not so satisfied
Lydia shrugged her shoulders slightly.
It was nothing to do with me.
But you are the mistress of the house, madame. The servants are your concern
Oh yes, of course. But Horbury was my father-in-law’s personal attendant. He did not come
under my jurisdiction.
I see.
Colonel Johnson said
We come now to the events of tonight. I’m afraid this will be painful for you, Mr. Lee, but I
would like your account of what happened.
Alfred said in a low voice: “Of course.
Colonel Johnson said, prompting him
When, for instance, did you last see your father
A slight spasm of pain crossed Alfred’s face as he replied in a low voice
It was after tea. I was with him for a short time. Finally I said good night to him and left him
at—let me see—about a quarter to six.
Poirot observed: “You said good night to him? You did not then expect to see him again that
evening
No. My father’s supper, a light meal, was always brought to him at seven. After that he
sometimes went to bed early or sometimes sat up in his chair, but he did not expect to see any
members of the family again unless he specially sent for them.
Did he often send for them
Sometimes. If he felt like it.
But it was not the ordinary procedure
No.
Go on, please, Mr. Lee.
Alfred continued
We had our dinner at eight o’clock. Dinner was over and my wife and the other ladies had
gone into the drawing room.” His voice faltered. His eyes began to stare again. “We were sitting
there — at the table . . . Suddenly there was the most astounding noise overheard. Chairs
overturning, furniture crashing, breaking glass and china, and then—Oh, God”—he shuddered—“I
can hear it still—my father screamed—a horrible, long-drawn scream—the scream of a man in
mortal agony. . . .
He raised shaking hands to cover his face. Lydia stretched out her hand and touched his
sleeve. Colonel Johnson said gently: “And then
Alfred said in a broken voice
I think—just for a moment we were stunned. Then we sprang up and went out of the door
and up the stairs to my father’s room. The door was locked. We couldn’t get in. It had to be
broken open. Then, when we did get in, we saw
His voice died away.
Johnson said quickly
There’s no need to go into that part of it, Mr. Lee. To go back a little, to the time you were
in the dining room. Who was there with you when you heard the cry
Who was there? Why, we were all—No, let me see. My brother was there—my brother
Harry.
Nobody else
No one else.
Where were the other gentlemen
Alfred sighed and frowned in an effort of remembrance.
Let me see—it seems so long ago—yes, like years—what did happen? Oh, of course
George had gone to telephone. Then we began to talk of family matters, and Stephen Farr said
something about seeing we wanted to discuss things, and he took himself off. He did it very nicely
and tactfully.
And your brother David
Alfred frowned.
David? Wasn’t he there? No, of course, he wasn’t. I don’t quite know when he slipped
away.
Poirot said gently
So you had the family matters to discuss
Er—yes.
That is to say, you had matters to discuss with one member of your family
Lydia said
What do you mean, M. Poirot
He turned quickly to her.
Madame, your husband says that Mr. Farr left them because he saw they had affairs of the
family to discuss. But it was not a conseil de famille, since M. David was not there and M. George
was not there. It was, then, a discussion between two members of the family only.
Lydia said
My brother-in-law, Harry, had been abroad for a great number of years. It was natural that
he and my husband should have things to talk over.
Ah! I see. It was like that.
She shot him a quick glance, then turned her eyes away.
Johnson said
Well, that seems clear enough. Did you notice anyone else as you ran upstairs to your
father’s room
I—really I don’t know. I think so. We all came from different directions. But I’m afraid I
didn’t notice—I was so alarmed. That terrible cry . . .
Colonel Johnson passed quickly to another subject.
Thank you, Mr. Lee. Now, there is another point. I understand that your father had some
valuable diamonds in his possession.
Alfred looked rather surprised.
Yes,” he said. “That is so.
Where did he keep them
In the safe in his room.
Can you describe them at all
They were rough diamonds—that is, uncut stones.
Why did your father have them there
It was a whim of his. They were stones he had brought with him from South Africa. He
never had them cut. He just liked keeping them in his possession. As I say, it was a whim of his.
I see,” said the chief constable.
From his tone it was plain that he did not see. He went on: “Were they of much value
My father estimated their value at about ten thousand pounds.
In fact, they were very valuable stones
Yes.
It seems a curious idea to keep such stones in a bedroom safe.
Lydia interposed.
My father-in-law, Colonel Johnson, was a somewhat curious man. His ideas were not the
conventional ones. It definitely gave him pleasure to handle those stones.
They recalled, perhaps, the past to him,” said Poirot.
She gave him a quick appreciative look.
Yes,” she said. “I think they did.
Were they insured?” asked the chief constable.
I think not.
Johnson leaned forward. He asked quietly
Did you know, Mr. Lee, that those stones had been stolen
What?” Alfred Lee stared at him.
Your father said nothing to you of their disappearance
Not a word.
You did not know that he had sent for Superintendent Sugden here and had reported the loss
to him
I hadn’t the faintest idea of such a thing
The chief constable transferred his gaze.
What about you, Mrs. Lee
Lydia shook her head.
I heard nothing about it.
As far as you knew, the stones were still in the safe
Yes.
She hesitated and then asked
Is that why he was killed? For the sake of those stones
Colonel Johnson said
That is what we are going to find out
He went on
Have you any idea, Mrs. Lee, who could have engineered such a theft
She shook her head.
No, indeed. I am sure the servants are all honest. In any case, it would be very difficult for
them to get at the safe. My father-in-law was always in his room. He never came downstairs.
Who attended to the room
Horbury. He made the bed and dusted. The second housemaid went in to do the grate and
lay the fire every morning, otherwise Horbury did everything.
Poirot said
So Horbury would be the person with the best opportunity
Yes.
Do you think that it was he who stole the diamonds, then
It is possible. I suppose . . . He had the best opportunity. Oh! I don’t know what to think.
Colonel Johnson said
Your husband has given us his account of the evening. Will you do the same, Mrs. Lee
When did you last see your father-in-law
We were all up in his room this afternoon—before tea. That was the last time I saw him.
You did not see him later to bid him good night
No.
Poirot said
Do you usually go and say good night to him
Lydia said sharply
No.
The chief constable went on
Where were you when the crime took place
In the drawing room.
You heard the noise of the struggle
I think I heard something heavy fall. Of course my father-in-law’s room is over the dining
room, not the drawing room, so I shouldn’t hear so much.
But you heard the cry
Lydia shuddered.
Yes, I heard that . . . It was horrible—like—like a soul in hell. I knew at once something
dreadful had happened. I hurried out and followed my husband and Harry up the stairs.
Who else was in the drawing room at the time
Lydia frowned.
Really—I can’t remember. David was next door in the music-room, playing Mendelssohn. I
think Hilda had gone to join him.
And the other two ladies
Lydia said slowly
Magdalene went to telephone. I can’t remember whether she had come back or not. I don’t
know where Pilar was.
Poirot said gently
In fact, you may have been quite alone in the drawing room
Yes—yes—as a matter of fact, I believe I was.
Colonel Johnson said
About these diamonds. We ought, I think, to make quite sure about them. Do you know the
combination of your father’s safe, Mr. Lee? I see it is of a somewhat old-fashioned pattern.
You will find it written down in a small notebook he carried in the pocket of his dressing
gown.
Good. We will go and look presently. It will be better, perhaps, if we interview the other
members of the house party first. The ladies may want to get to bed.
Lydia stood up.
Come, Alfred.” She turned to them. “Shall I send them in to you
One by one, if you wouldn’t mind, Mrs. Lee.
Certainly.
She moved towards the door. Alfred followed her.
Suddenly, at the last moment, he swung round.
Of course,” he said. He came quickly back to Poirot. “You are Hercule Poirot! I don’t know
where my wits have been. I should have realized at once.
He spoke quickly, in a low, excited voice.
It’s an absolute godsend your being here! You must find out the truth, M. Poirot. Spare no
expense! I will be responsible for any expense. But find out . . . My poor father — killed by
someone—killed with the utmost brutality! You must find out, M. Poirot. My father has got to be
avenged.
Poirot answered quietly
I can assure you, M. Lee, that I am prepared to do my utmost to assist Colonel Johnson and
Superintendent Sugden.
Alfred Lee said
I want you to work for me. My father has got to be avenged.
He began to tremble violently. Lydia had come back. She went up to him and drew his arm
through hers.
Come, Alfred,” she said. “We must get the others.
Her eyes met Poirot’s. They were eyes that kept their own secrets. They did not waver.
Poirot said softly
Who would have thought the old man
She interrupted him
Stop! Don’t say that
Poirot murmured
You said it, madame.
She breathed softly
I know . . . I remember . . . It was—so horrible.
Then she went abruptly out of the room, her husband beside her.
