Chapter 28 chapter 2

Down a narrow staircase, a door leads to a large living room - actually converted from a stable.Inside the rooms, walls are stuccoed to a rough effect and hung with etched woodcuts.There are two people sitting in the room. A dark-skinned, shrewd-looking young woman in her mid-twenties sat on a chair near the fireplace, holding out her hands to warm herself.The other woman was older and wider, carrying a woven bag.She was panting and talking when two men came in. "...As I said, miss, such a turn of events nearly knocked me down, thinking that this morning, of all the mornings..."

Another interrupted her, "It'll be over, Mrs. Pierce. These gentlemen are inspectors, I suppose." "Miss Prenderless?" asked Japp, coming forward. The girl nodded. "It's me. This is Mrs. Pierce. She comes to work for us every day." Mrs. Pierce couldn't help talking again. "As I said to Miss Prenderlais, think of all the mornings this morning, it would have been appropriate to bring my sister Louisa Maud, only to find an odd job, I mean. After all, relatives are relatives, and I don't think Mrs. Allen would mind, although I never like to disappoint my mistress..."

Japp deftly changed the subject. "Indeed, Mrs. Pierce. Now perhaps you would like to take Inspector Jameson into the kitchen to take a statement." Dismissing the talkative Mrs. Pierce—who was babbling again with Inspector Jameson as she walked out—Japp turned his attention to the girl. "I am Chief Inspector Japp. Now, Miss Prenderless, I would very much like to know all about the matter." "Of course, where do I start?" She was calm, without the slightest hint of sadness or shock in her manner, which made her seem unnaturally stiff. "What time did you come back this morning?"

"I think it was before ten-thirty. Mrs. Pierce, the old liar, I found out she wasn't here..." "Does this happen often?" Jane Prenderless shrugged her shoulders. "About twice a week she can come here at twelve o'clock—or not at all. She's supposed to be here at nine. Actually, like I said, there must be twice a week, and she doesn't 'Dizziness' is when someone in the family falls ill. These hourly workers are always like this-stop coming now and then. She is not bad among these people." "Have you employed her long?" "Just over a month ago, the previous one stole things."

"Go on, please, Miss Prenderless." "I paid the taxi driver, took my suitcase, looked around for Mrs. Pierce, couldn't find her, then went upstairs to my room, and after a little tidying, I went to Barbara - Mrs. Allen — and found the door locked. I turned the handle and knocked, but no one answered, so I went downstairs and hung up the police station." "Parton! (French for: I'm sorry.)" Poirot put in a question deftly and quickly, "didn't you try to knock down that door—perhaps ask some driver in the alley to help you? " Her eyes turned to him--a pair of cold, gray-green eyes that scanned him quickly and critically.

"No, I didn't think of that. If something happens, I think people should go to the police." "So do you think—excuse me, miss—what's going on here?" "Of course." "Because you knocked and no one answered? But maybe your friend is dead asleep or something like that..." "She wouldn't sleep so dead." she answered immediately. "Maybe she went out and locked the door?" "Why did she lock the door? She should have left me a note anyway." "So she didn't leave a note for you? Are you sure?" "Of course I do, otherwise I'll see it right away."

She answered faster. Japp said: "Didn't you try to look in through the keyhole, Miss Prenderless?" "No," thought Prendley, "I never thought of it that way. But I might as well see nothing, since the key should be in there?" She fixed Japp with probing, innocent eyes, and Poirot suddenly smiled to himself. "You're quite right, of course, Miss Prenderless," said Japp. "I don't think you believe your friend committed suicide?" "Oh no." "Didn't she appear unusually anxious or depressed?" The girl paused a moment before answering.

"No." "Did you know she had a pistol?" Jane Prenderless nodded. "Yes. She brought it from India. She used to keep it in a drawer in her room." "Well, do you have a gun license?" "I guess so, I'm not sure." "Now, Miss Prenderless, will you tell me all you know about Mrs. Allen? How long have you known her? What are her connections—all the facts." Jane Prenderless nodded. "I've known Barbara for about five years and I met her while traveling abroad - in Egypt to be exact. She was on her way home from India. I was at the British School in Athens for a while. Coming home We were in Egypt a few weeks ago. We did a Nile cruise together. We made friends and liked each other. I was looking for someone to share an apartment or a small house with me. Barbara was alone. We I think we'll have a great time together."

"And do you get on well together?" asked Poirot. "Very well, we both have our own friends—Barbara is more gregarious, and mine are mostly in the art world. Maybe it's easier that way." Poirot nodded, and Japp continued: "Do you know anything about Mrs. Allen's former family and life?" Jane Prenderless shrugged. "Not much. I think her maiden name was Armitage." "Where's her husband?" "I imagined him to be one of those homeless people, I think he was an alcoholic. I guess he died a year or two after we got married. They had kids once, a little girl who also died at three. Barbara rarely As for her husband, I'm sure she married him in India when she was seventeen or so. Then they went to Borneo or some dreary place where you always send some useless people—but It's obviously a distressing topic and I never bring it up."

"Do you know if Mrs. Allen has any financial difficulties?" "No, definitely not." "No troubles like debt?" "No! I'm sure she's not in that kind of trouble." "Now I must ask you another question—I hope you will not be offended by it, Miss Prenderless. Does Mrs. Allen have any special beaus or male friends?" Jane Prenderless answered calmly: "Well, she's engaged and soon to be married, if that answers your question." "What was the name of the man she was engaged to?" "Charles Laverton-West, MP for somewhere in Hampshire."

"How long has she known him?" "Two-no-three months or so." "As far as you know there was no quarrel between them?" Miss Prenderless shook her head. "No, I'd be surprised if something like that happened. Barbara isn't the quarrelsome type." "When was the last time you saw Mrs. Allen?" "Last Friday, just before I went out for the weekend." "Mrs. Allen stayed in the city?" "Yes, she's going out with her fiancé on Sunday." "So where did you spend your weekends yourself?" "Rydles, Lydles, Essex." "Who are you with?" "Mr. and Mrs. Bentinck." "You left them only this morning?" "yes." "You left early, didn't you?" "Mr. Bentinck drove me back. We started early because he had to be in town by ten o'clock." "I see." Japp nodded in satisfaction.Miss Prenderlais answered both crisply and convincingly. Poirot then asked another question. "What do you personally think of Mr. Laverton-West?" The girl shrugged. "Is it important?" "No, it doesn't matter, maybe, but I want your opinion." "I don't know what I think of him. He's young—thirty or twelve at the most—enterprising—a fine speaker—promising." "That counts as a positive—what about the negative?" "Well," said Miss Prenderless, after a moment's consideration, "he seems to me to be very ordinary—his views are not original—and he is a little pompous." "That's not a very serious defect, mademoiselle," said Poirot, smiling. "Don't you think so?" Her tone was slightly mocking. "It may be a disadvantage to you." Seeing a trace of uneasiness in her, he seized the opportunity: "But for Mrs. Allen - no, she won't notice those shortcomings." "You're quite right that Barbara thinks he's fantastic--just look at him on his own terms." Poirot asked softly, "You like your friend very much, don't you?" He saw her hands clutching her knees, her jaw tensed, but her voice was dry and emotionless when she answered. "You're right, I like it very much." Japp said: "One more thing, Miss Prenderlais, have you ever had a quarrel with her? There was nothing unpleasant between you?" "never." "Not because of this engagement..." "Of course not. I'm glad she's so happy." After a short pause, Japp asked again: "As far as you know, does Mrs. Allen have any old enemies?" This time it was quite a while before Miss Prenderlais answered, and her tone changed slightly. "I don't understand what you mean by old enemy?" "Anyone, for example, who would benefit from her death?" "Oh no, that's ridiculous, her income is very small." "Then who will inherit her property?" Jane Prenderless said with moderate surprise in her voice: "You know, I really don't know anything, and if I knew whether she made a will or not, I wouldn't be offended." "Then there are no enemies in any other sense?" Japp quickly turned to the other side. "Is there anyone who hates her?" "I don't think anyone would hate her, she's a very polite person and always trying to please. She's just a soft, sweet personality by nature." For the first time there was a change in her dry, dry tone, and Poirot nodded kindly. Japp said: "To sum it up, then - Mrs. Allen is in a good mood these days, she's not in any financial trouble, she's engaged, she's going to be married, and she's happy about it. There's absolutely no reason for her to kill herself." .Is that so?" After a short silence, Jane replied: "yes." Japp stood up. "Excuse me, I have to speak to Inspector Jameson." He leaves the room. Hercule Poirot remained alone with Jane Prenderless.