Mrs McGinty's Dead - Agatha Christie [67]
‘I’ll do my own ringing up, thank you. It’s all settled. Make the coffee before you go, and leave it by me in the percolator ready to switch on. Oh, and you might as well put out an extra cup—in case I have a visitor.’
Chapter 16
Sitting at lunch in the Blue Cat, Poirot finished outlining his instructions to Maude Williams.
‘So you understand what it is you have to look for?’
Maude Williams nodded.
‘You have arranged matters with your office?’
She laughed.
‘My auntie’s dangerously ill! I sent myself a telegram.’
‘Good. I have one more thing to say. Somewhere, in that village, we have a murderer at large. That is not a very safe thing to have.’
‘Warning me?’
‘Yes.’
‘I can take care of myself,’ said Maude Williams.
‘That,’ said Hercule Poirot, ‘might be classed under the heading of Famous Last Words.’
She laughed again, a frank amused laugh. One or two heads at near tables turned around to look at her.
Poirot found himself appraising her carefully. A strong, confident young woman, full of vitality, keyed up and eager to attempt a dangerous task. Why? He thought again of James Bentley, his gentle defeated voice, his lifeless apathy. Nature was indeed curious and interesting.
Maude said:
‘You’re asking me to do it, aren’t you? Why suddenly try to put me off?’
‘Because if one offers a mission, one must be exact about what it involves.’
‘I don’t think I’m in any danger,’ said Maude confidently.
‘I do not think so at the moment. You are unknown in Broadhinny?’
Maude considered.
‘Ye-es. Yes, I should say so.’
‘You have been there?’
‘Once or twice—for the firm, of course—only once recently—that was about five months ago.’
‘Who did you see? Where did you go?’
‘I went to see an old lady—Mrs Carstairs—or Carlisle—I can’t remember her name for sure. She was buying a small property near here, and I went over to see her with some papers and some queries and a surveyor’s report which we’d got for her. She was staying at that Guest House sort of place where you are.’
‘Long Meadows?’
‘That was it. Uncomfortable-looking house with a lot of dogs.’
Poirot nodded.
‘Did you see Mrs Summerhayes, or Major Summerhayes?’
‘I saw Mrs Summerhayes, I suppose it was. She took me up to the bedroom. The old pussy was in bed.’
‘Would Mrs Summerhayes remember you?’
‘Don’t suppose so. Even if she did, it wouldn’t matter, would it? After all, one changes one’s job quite often these days. But I don’t suppose she even looked at me. Her sort don’t.’
There was a faint bitterness in Maude Williams’ voice.
‘Did you see anyone else in Broadhinny?’
Maude said rather awkwardly:
‘Well, I saw Mr Bentley.’
‘Ah, you saw Mr Bentley. By accident.’
Maude wriggled a little in her chair.
‘No, as a matter of fact, I’d sent him a p.c. Telling him I was coming that day. Asked him if he’d meet me as a matter of fact. Not that there was anywhere to go. Dead little hole. No café or cinema or anything. ’S a matter of fact we just talked in the bus stop. While I was waiting for my bus back.’
‘That was before the death of Mrs McGinty?’
‘Oh yes. But not much before, though. Because it was only a few days later that it was in all the newspapers.’
‘Did Mr Bentley speak to you at all of his landlady?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘And you spoke to no one else in Broadhinny?’
‘Well—only Mr Robin Upward. I’ve heard him talk on the wireless. I saw him coming out of his cottage and I recognized him from his pictures and I did ask him for his autograph.’
‘And he gave it to you?’
‘Oh yes, he was ever so nice about it. I hadn’t my book with me, but I’d got an odd sheet of notepaper, and he whipped out his fountain pen and wrote it at once.’
‘Do you know any of the other people in Broadhinny by sight?’
‘Well, I know the Carpenters, of course. They’re in Kilchester a lot. Lovely car they’ve got, and she wears lovely clothes. She opened a Bazaar about a month ago. They say he’s going to be our next M.P.’
Poirot nodded. Then he took from his pocket the envelope that he always carried about with him. He spread the four photographs on