'Did you go into the waiting room again on your way out?'
'No. Because you see, I'd already put on my hat and straightened my hair up in Mr. Morley's room. Some people,' went on Miss Sainsbury Seale, warming to her subject, 'take off their hats downstairs in the waiting room, but I never do. A most distressing thing happened to a friend of mine who did that. It was a new hat and she put it very carefully on a chair, and when she came down, would you believe it, a child had sat on it and squashed it flat. Ruined! Absolutely ruined!'
'A catastrophe,' said Poirot politely.
'I blame the mother entirely,' said Miss Sainsbury Seale judicially. 'Mothers should keep an eye on their children. The little dears do not mean any harm, but they have to be watched.'
Japp said:
'Then this young man with toothache was the only other patient you noticed at 58 Queen Charlotte Street?'
'A gentleman came down the stairs and went out just as I went up to Mr. Morley – Oh! and I remember a very peculiar looking foreigner came out of the house just as I arrived.'
Japp coughed. Poirot said with dignity:
'That was I, Madame.'
'Oh, dear!' Miss Sainsbury Seale peered at him.
'So it was! Do forgive – so short-sighted – and very dark here, isn't it?'
She trailed off into incoherencies.
'And really, you know, I flatter myself that I have a very good memory for faces. But the light here is dim, isn't it? Do forgive my most unfortunate mistake!'
They soothed the lady down, and Japp asked:
'You are quite sure Mr. Morley didn't say anything such as – for instance – that he was expecting a painful interview this morning? Anything of that kind?'
'No, indeed, I'm sure he didn't.'
'He didn't mention a patient by the name of Amberiotis?'
'No, no. He really said nothing – except, I mean, the things that dentists have to say.'
Through Poirot's mind there ran quickly: 'Rinse. Open a little wider, please. Now close gently.'
Japp had proceeded to his next step. It would possibly be necessary for Miss Sainsbury Seale to give evidence at the inquest.
After a first scream of dismay, Miss Sainsbury Seale seemed to take kindly to the idea. A tentative inquiry from Japp produced Miss Sainsbury Seale's whole life history.
She had, it seemed, come from India to England six months ago. She had lived in various hotels and boarding houses and had finally come to the Glengowrie Court which she liked very much because of its homely atmosphere; in India she had lived mostly in Calcutta where she had done mission work and had also taught elocution.
'Pure, well enunciated English – most important, Chief Inspector. You see -' Miss Sainsbury Seale simpered and bridled – 'as a girl I was on the stage. Oh! only in small parts, you know. The provinces! But I had great ambitions. Repertory. Then I went on a world tour – Shakespeare, Bernard Shaw.' She sighed. 'The trouble with us poor women is heart – at the mercy of our hearts. A rash, impulsive marriage. Alas! we parted almost immediately. I had been sadly deceived. I resumed my maiden name. A friend kindly provided me with a little capital and I started my elocution school. I helped to found a very good amateur dramatic society. I must show you some of our notices.'
Chief Inspector Japp knew the dangers of that! He escaped, Miss Sainsbury Seale's last words being, 'and if, by any chance, my name should be in the papers – as a witness at the inquest, I mean – you will be sure that it is spelled right? Mabelle Sainsbury Seale – Mabelle spelt M.A.B.E.L.L.E., and Seale S.E.A.L.E. And of course, if they did care to mention that I appeared in As You like It at the Oxford Repertory Theatre -'
'Of course, of course.' Chief Inspector Japp fairly fled.
In the taxi, he sighed and wiped his forehead.
'If it's ever necessary, we ought to be able to check up on her all right,' he observed, 'unless it was all lies – but that I don't believe!'
Poirot shook his head.
'Liars,' he said, 'are neither so circumstantial nor so inconsequential.'
Japp went on:
'I was afraid she'd jib at the inquest – most middle-aged spinsters do, but her having been an actress accounts for her being eager. Bit of limelight for her!'
Poirot said:
'Do you really want her at the inquest?'
'Probably not. It depends.' He paused and then said: 'I'm more than ever convinced, Poirot. This wasn't suicide.'
'And the motive?'
'Has us beat for the moment. Suppose Morley once seduced Amberiotis's daughter?'
Poirot was silent. He tried to visualize Mr. Morley in the role of seducer to a luscious-eyed Greek maiden, but failed lamentably.
He reminded Japp that Mr. Reilly had said his partner had had no joy of living.
Japp said vaguely:
'Oh, well, you never know what may happen on a cruise!'
And he added with satisfaction, 'We shall know better where we stand when we've talked to this fellow.'
They paid off the taxi and entered the Savoy.
Japp asked for Mr. Amberiotis.
The clerk looked at them rather oddly. He said:
'Mr. Amberiotis? I'm sorry, sir, I'm afraid you can't see him.'
'Oh, yes, I can, my lad,' Japp said grimly. He drew the other a little aside and showed him his credentials.
The clerk said:
'You don't understand, sir. Mr. Amberiotis died half an hour ago.'
To Hercule Poirot it was as though a door had gently but firmly shut.
Chapter 3
FIVE, SIX, PICK UP STICKS
I
Twenty-four hours later Japp rang Poirot up. His tone was bitter.
'Washout! The whole thing!'
'What do you mean, my friend?'
'Morley committed suicide all right. We've got the motive.'
'What was it?'
'I've just had the doctor's report on Amberiotis' death. I won't give you the official jargon but in plain English he died as the result of an overdose of adrenaline and procaine. It acted on his heart, I understand, and he collapsed. When the wretched devil said he was feeling bad yesterday afternoon, he was just speaking the truth. Well, there you are! Adrenaline and procaine is the mixture dentists inject into your gums – local anaesthetic. Morley made an error, injected an overdose, and then after Amberiotis left, he realized what he had done, couldn't face the music and shot himself.'
