In the interval between the omelet and the sole, Fournier turned the pages of the black book. Then he made a penciled entry in his notebook.
He looked across at Poirot.
'You have read through this? Yes?'
'No, I have only glanced at it. You permit?'
He took the book from Fournier.
When the cheese was placed before them, Poirot laid down the book on the table and the eyes of the two men met.
'There are certain entries,' began Fournier.
'Five,' said Poirot.
'I agree. Five.'
He read out from the notebook:
'CL 52. English Peeress. Husband.
'RT 362. Doctor. Harley Street.
'MR 24. Forged Antiquities.
'XVB 724. English. Embezzlement.
'GF 45. Attempted Murder. English.'
'Excellent, my friend,' said Poirot. 'Our minds march together to a marvel. Of all the entries in that little book, those five seem to me to be the only ones that can in any way bear a relation to the persons traveling in the aeroplane. Let us take them one by one.'
''English Peeress. Husband,'' said Fournier. 'That may conceivably apply to Lady Horbury. She is, I understand, a confirmed gambler. Nothing could be more likely than that she should borrow money from Giselle. Giselle's clients are usually of that type. The word 'husband' may have one of two meanings. Either Giselle expected the husband to pay up his wife's debts or she had some hold over Lady Horbury, a secret which she threatened to reveal to the lady's husband.'
'Precisely,' said Poirot. 'Either of those two alternatives might apply. I favor the second one myself, especially as I would be prepared to bet that the woman who visited Giselle the night before the aeroplane journey was Lady Horbury.'
'Ah, you think that, do you?'
'Yes, and I fancy you think the same. There is a touch of chivalry, I think, in our concierge's disposition. His persistence in remembering nothing at all about the visitor seems rather significant. Lady Horbury is an extremely pretty woman. Moreover, I observed his start – oh, a very slight one – when I handed him a reproduction of her in bathing costume from the Sketch. Yes, it was Lady Horbury who went to Giselle's that night.'
'She followed her to Paris from Le Pinet,' said Fournier slowly. 'It looks as though she were pretty desperate.'
'Yes, yes, I fancy that may be true.'
Fournier looked at him curiously.
'But it does not square with your private ideas, eh?'
'My friend, as I tell you, I have what I am convinced is the right clue pointing to the wrong person. I am very much in the dark. My clue cannot be wrong, and yet -'
'You wouldn't like to tell me what it is?' suggested Fournier.
'No, because I may, you see, be wrong. Totally and utterly wrong. And in that case I might lead you, too, astray. No, let us each work according to our own ideas. To continue with our selected items from the little book.'
''RT 362. Doctor. Harley Street,'' read out Fournier.
'A possible clue to Doctor Bryant. There is nothing much to go on, but we must not neglect that line of investigation.'
'That, of course, will be the task of Inspector Japp.'
'And mine,' said Poirot. 'I, too, have my finger in this pie.'
''MR 24. Forged Antiquities,'' read Fournier. 'Farfetched, perhaps, but it is just possible that that might apply to the Duponts. I can hardly credit it. M. Dupont is an archaeologist of world-wide reputation. He bears the highest character.'
'Which would facilitate matters very much for him,' said Poirot. 'Consider, my dear Fournier, how high has been the character, how lofty the sentiments, and how worthy of admiration the life of most swindlers of note – before they are found out!'
'True – only too true,' agreed the Frenchman with a sigh.
'A high reputation,' said Poirot, 'is the first necessity of a swindler's stock in trade. An interesting thought. But let us return to our list.'
''XVB 724' is very ambiguous. 'English. Embezzlement.''
'Not very helpful,' agreed Poirot. 'Who embezzles? A solicitor? A bank clerk? Anyone in a position of trust in a commercial firm. Hardly an author, a dentist or a doctor. Mr James Ryder is the only representative of commerce. He may have embezzled money, he may have borrowed from Giselle to enable his theft to remain undetected. As to the last entry. 'GF 45. Attempted Murder. English.' That gives us a very wide field. Author, dentist, doctor, business man, steward, hairdresser's assistant, lady of birth and breeding – any one of those might be GF 45. In fact, only the Duponts are exempt by reason of their nationality.'
With a gesture he summoned the waiter and asked for the bill.
'And where next, friend?' he inquired.
'To the Surete. They may have some news for me.'
'Good. I will accompany you. Afterwards, I have a little investigation of my own to make in which, perhaps, you will assist me.'
At the Surete, Poirot renewed acquaintance with the chief of the detective force, whom he had met some years previously in the course of one of his cases. M. Gilles was very affable and polite.
'Enchanted to learn that you are interesting yourself in this case, M. Poirot.'
'My faith, my dear M. Gilles, it happened under my nose. It is an insult, that, you agree? Hercule Poirot, to sleep while murder is committed!'
M. Gilles shook his head tactfully.
'These machines! On a day of bad weather, they are far from steady – far from steady. I myself have felt seriously incommoded once or twice.'
'They say that an army marches on its stomach,' said Poirot. 'But how much are the delicate convolutions of the brain influenced by the digestive apparatus? When the mal de mer seizes me, I, Hercule Poirot, am a creature with no gray cells, no order, no method – a mere member of the human race somewhat below average intelligence! It is deplorable, but there it is! And talking of these matters, how is my excellent friend Giraud?'
Prudently ignoring the significance of the words 'these matters,' M. Gilles replied that Giraud continued to advance in his career.
'He is most zealous. His energy is untiring.'
'It always was,' said Poirot. 'He ran to and fro. He crawled on all fours. He was here, there and everywhere. Not for one moment did he ever pause and reflect.'
'Ah, M. Poirot, that is your little foible. A man like Fournier will be more to your mind. He is of the newest school – all for the psychology. That should please you.'
'It does. It does.'
'He has a very good knowledge of English. That is why we sent him to Croydon to assist in this case. A very interesting case, M. Poirot. Madame Giselle was one of the best-known characters in Paris. And the manner of her death, extraordinary! A poisoned dart from a blowpipe in an aeroplane. I ask you! Is it possible that such a thing could happen?'
'Exactly!' cried Poirot. 'Exactly! You hit the nail upon the head. You place a finger unerringly – Ah, here is our good Fournier. You have news, I see.'
The melancholy-faced Fournier was looking quite eager and excited.
'Yes, indeed. A Greek antique dealer, Zeropoulos, has reported the sale of a blowpipe and darts three days before the murder. I propose now, monsieur -' he bowed respectfully to his chief – 'to interview this man.'
