'I have glanced at it,' admitted Poirot, blushing slightly.
The Prime Minister said: 'Then you know more or less of what it consists. Semi-libellous matter. Snappy paragraphs hinting at sensational secret history. Some of them true, some of them harmless – but all served up in a spicy manner. Occasionally -'
He paused and then said, his voice altering a little: 'Occasionally something more.'
Hercule Poirot did not speak.
Ferrier went on: 'For two weeks now there have been hints of impending disclosures of a first-class scandal in 'the highest political circles'. 'Astonishing revelations of corruption and jobbery.''
Hercule Poirot said, shrugging his shoulders: 'A common trick. When the actual revelations come they usually disappoint the cravers after sensation badly.'
Ferrier said dryly: 'These will not disappoint them.'
Hercule Poirot asked: 'You know then, what these revelations are going to be?'
'With a fair amount of accuracy.'
Edward Ferrier paused a minute, then he began speaking. Carefully, methodically, he outlined the story.
It was not an edifying story. Accusations of shameless chicanery, of share juggling, of a gross misuse of Party Funds. The charges were levelled against the late Prime Minister, John Hammett. They showed him to be a dishonest rascal, a gigantic confidence trickster, who had used his position to amass for himself a vast private fortune.
The Prime Minister's quiet voice stopped at last.
The Home Secretary groaned. He spluttered out: 'It's monstrous – monstrous! This fellow, Perry, who edits the rag, ought to be shot!'
Hercule Poirot said: 'These so-called revelations are to appear in the X-ray News?'
'Yes.'
'What steps do you propose to take about them?'
Ferrier said slowly: 'They constitute a private attack on John Hammett. It is open to him to sue the paper for libel.'
'Will he do that?'
'No.'
'Why not?'
Ferrier said: 'It is probable that there is nothing the X-ray News would like better. The publicity given them would be enormous. Their defence would be fair comment and that the statements complained of were true. The whole business would be exhaustively held up to view in a blaze of limelight.'
'Still, if the case went against them, the damages would be extremely heavy.'
Ferrier said slowly: 'It might not go against them.'
'Why?'
Sir George said primly, 'I really think that -'
But Edward Ferrier was already speaking.
'Because what they intend to print is – the truth.'
A groan burst from Sir George Conway, outraged at such un-Parliamentary frankness. He cried out: 'Edward, my dear fellow. We don't admit, surely -'
The ghost of a smile passed over Edward Ferrier's tired face. He said: 'Unfortunately, George, there are times when the stark truth has got to be told. This is one of them.'
Sir George exclaimed: 'You understand, M. Poirot, all this is strictly in confidence. Not one word -'
Ferrier interrupted him. He said: 'M. Poirot understands that.' He went on slowly, 'What he may not understand is this: the whole future of the People's Party is at stake. John Hammett, M. Poirot, was the People's Party. He stood for what it represents to the people of England – he stood for Decency and Honesty. No one has ever thought us brilliant. We have muddled and blundered. But we have stood for the tradition of doing one's best – and we have stood, too, for fundamental honesty. Our disaster is this – that the man who was our figure-head, the Honest Man of the People, par excellence – turns out to have been one of the worst crooks of this generation.'
Another groan burst from Sir George.
Poirot asked: 'You knew nothing of all this?'
Again the smile flashed across the weary face. Ferrier said: 'You may not believe me, M. Poirot, but like everyone else, I was completely deceived. I never understood my wife's curious attitude of reserve towards her father. I understand it now. She knew his essential character.'
He paused and then said: 'When the truth began to leak out, I was horrified, incredulous. We insisted on my father-in-law's resignation on the grounds of ill-health and we set to work to – to clean up the mess, shall I say?'
Sir George groaned. 'The Augean Stables!'
Poirot started.
Ferrier said: 'It will prove, I fear, too Herculean a task for us. Once the facts become public, there will be a wave of reaction all over the country. The Government will fall. There will be a General Election and in all probability Everhard and his party will be returned to power. You know Everhard's policy.'
Sir George spluttered. 'A firebrand – a complete firebrand.'
Ferrier said gravely: 'Everhard has ability – but he is reckless, belligerent and utterly tactless. His supporters are inept and vacillating – it would be practically a Dictatorship.'
Hercule Poirot nodded.
Sir George bleated out: 'If only the whole thing can be hushed up…'
Slowly, the Premier shook his head. It was a movement of defeat.
Poirot said: 'You do not believe that it can be hushed up?'
Ferrier said: 'I sent for you, M. Poirot, as a last hope. In my opinion this business is too big, too many people know about it, for it to be successfully concealed. The only two methods open to us which are, to put it bluntly, the use of force, or the adoption of bribery – cannot really hope to succeed. The Home Secretary compared our troubles with the cleansing of the Augean Stables. It needs, M. Poirot, the violence of a river in spate, the disruption of the great natural forces of Nature – nothing less, in fact, than a miracle.'
'It needs, in fact, a Hercules,' said Poirot, nodding his head with a pleased expression.
He added: 'My name, remember, is Hercule…'
Edward Ferrier said: 'Can you perform miracles, M. Poirot?'
'It is why you sent for me, is it not? Because you thought that I might?'
'That is true… I realised that if salvation was to be achieved, it could only come through some fantastic and completely unorthodox suggestion.'
He paused a minute, then he said: 'But perhaps, M. Poirot, you take an ethical view of the situation? John Hammett was a crook, the legend of John Hammett must be exploded. Can one build an honest house on dishonest foundations? I do not know. But I do know that I want to try.' He smiled with a sudden sharp bitterness. 'The politician wants to remain in office – as usual from the highest motives.'
Hercule Poirot rose.
He said: 'Monsieur, my experience in the police force has not, perhaps, allowed me to think very highly of politicians. If John Hammett were in office – I would not lift a finger – no, not a little finger. But I know something about you. I have been told, by a man who is really great, one of the greatest scientists and brains of the day, that you are – a sound man. I will do what I can.'
He bowed and left the room.
Sir George burst out: 'Well, of all the damned cheek -'
But Edward Ferrier still smiling said: 'It was a compliment.'
II
On his way downstairs, Hercule Poirot was intercepted by a tall, fair-haired woman.
She said: 'Please come into my sitting-room, M. Poirot.'
