Poirot investigates - Agatha Christie [49]
‘And they have found nothing else?’
‘No.’
‘Not the Prime Minister’s dead body? Then, there is hope. But it is strange. Why, after trying to shoot him this morning, are they now taking so much trouble to keep him alive?’
Dodge shook his head. ‘One thing’s quite certain. They’re determined at all costs to prevent his attending the Conference.’
‘If it is humanly possible, the Prime Minister shall be there. God grant it is not too late. Now, messieurs, recount to me everything–from the beginning. I must know about this shooting affair as well.’
‘Last night, the Prime Minister, accompanied by one of his secretaries, Captain Daniels–’
‘The same who accompanied him to France?’
‘Yes. As I was saying, they motored down to Windsor, where the Prime Minister was granted an Audience. Early this morning he returned to town, and it was on the way that the attempted assassination took place.’
‘One moment, if you please. Who is this Captain Daniels? You have his dossier?’
Lord Estair smiled. ‘I thought you would ask me that. We do not know very much of him. He is of no particular family. He has served in the English Army, and is an extremely able secretary, being an exceptionally fine linguist. I believe he speaks seven languages. It is for that reason that the Prime Minister chose him to accompany him to France.’
‘Has he any relatives in England?’
‘Two aunts. A Mrs Everard, who lives at Hampstead, and a Miss Daniels, who lives near Ascot.’
‘Ascot? That is near to Windsor, is it not?’
‘That point has not been overlooked. But it has led to nothing.’
‘You regard the Capitaine Daniels, then, as above suspicion?’
A shade of bitterness crept into Lord Estair’s voice, as he replied:
‘No, Monsieur Poirot. In these days, I should hesitate before I pronounced anyone above suspicion.’
‘Très bien. Now I understand, milord, that the Prime Minister would, as a matter of course, be under vigilant police protection, which ought to render any assault upon him an impossibility?’
Lord Estair bowed his head. ‘That is so. The Prime Minister’s car was closely followed by another car containing detectives in plain clothes. Mr MacAdam knew nothing of these precautions. He is personally a most fearless man, and would be inclined to sweep them away arbitrarily. But, naturally, the police make their own arrangements. In fact, the Premier’s chauffeur, O’Murphy, is a CID man.’
‘O’Murphy? That is a name of Ireland, is it not so?’
‘Yes, he is an Irishman.’
‘From what part of Ireland?’
‘County Clare, I believe.’
‘Tiens! But proceed, milord.’
‘The Premier started for London. The car was a closed one. He and Captain Daniels sat inside. The second car followed as usual. But, unluckily, for some unknown reason, the Prime Minister’s car deviated from the main road–’
‘At a point where the road curves?’ interrupted Poirot.
‘Yes–but how did you know?’
‘Oh, c’est évident! Continue!’
‘For some unknown reason,’ continued Lord Estair, ‘the Premier’s car left the main road. The police car, unaware of the deviation, continued to keep to the high road. At a short distance down the unfrequented lane, the Prime Minister’s car was suddenly held up by a band of masked men. The chauffeur–’
‘That brave O’Murphy!’ murmured Poirot thoughtfully.
‘The chauffeur, momentarily taken aback, jammed on the brakes. The Prime Minister put his head out of the window. Instantly a shot rang out–then another. The first one grazed his cheek, the second, fortunately, went wide. The chauffeur, now realizing the danger, instantly forged straight ahead, scattering the band of men.’
‘A near escape,’ I ejaculated, with a shiver.
‘Mr MacAdam refused to make any fuss over the slight wound he had received. He declared it was only a scratch. He stopped at a local cottage hospital, where it was dressed and bound up–he did not, of course, reveal his identity. He then drove, as per schedule, straight