She hesitated and then said: "I say, Anne, you didn't mention being at Croftways. Did you forget?"

Anne said slowly: "I didn't think it counted. I was only there a few months. And there's no one to ask about me there. I can write and tell him if you think it matters; but I'm sure it doesn't. Let's leave it."

"Right, if you say so."

Rhoda rose and turned on the wireless.

A raucous voice said: "You have just heard the Black Nubians play 'Why do you tell me lies, Baby?'"

CHAPTER 15

Major Despard

Major Despard came out of the Albany, turned sharply into Regent Street and jumped on a bus.

It was the quiet time of day--the top of the bus had very few seats occupied.

Despard made his way forward and sat down on the front seat.

He had jumped on the bus while it was going. Now it came to a halt, took up pa.s.sengers and made its way once more up Regent Street.

A second traveller climbed the steps, made his way forward and sat down in the front seat on the other side.

Despard did not notice the new-comer, but after a few minutes a tentative voice murmured: "It is a good view of London, is it not, that one gets from the top of a bus?"

Despard turned his head. He looked puzzled for a moment, then his face cleared.

"I beg your pardon, M. Poirot. I didn't see it was you. Yes, as you say, one has a good bird's-eye view of the world from here. It was better, though, in the old days, when there wasn't all this caged-in gla.s.s business."

Poirot sighed.

"Tout de rru2me, it was not always agreeable in the wet weather when the

inside was full. And there is much wet weather in this country."

"Rain? Rain never did any harm to any one."

"You are in error," said Poirot. "It leads often to afluxion de poitrine.' Despard smiled.

"I see you belong to the well-wrapped-up school, M. Poirot."

Poirot was indeed well equipped against any treachery of an autumn day. He wore a greatcoat and a m.u.f.fler.

"Rather odd, running into you like this," said Despard.

He did not see the smile that the m.u.f.fler concealed. There was nothing odd in this encounter. Having ascertained a likely hour for Despard to leave his rooms, Poirot had been waiting for him. He had prudently not risked leaping on the bus, but he had trotted after it to its next stopping-place and boarded it there.

"True. We have not seen each other since the evening at Mr. Shaitana's," he replied.

"Aren't you taking a hand in that business?" asked Despard.

Poirot scratched his ear delicately.

"I reflect," he said. "I reflect a good deal. To run to and fro, to make the

investigations, that, no. It does not suit my age, my temperament, or my figure."

Despard said unexpectedly:

"Reflect, eh? Well, you might do worse. There's too much rushing about nowadays. If people sat tight and thought about a thing before they tackled it, there'd be less mess-ups than there are."

"Is that your procedure in life, Major Despard?"

"Usually," said the other simply. "Get your bearings, figure out your route,

weigh up the pros and cons, make your decision--and stick to it."

His mouth set grimly.

"And, after that, nothing will turn you from your path, eh?" asked Poirot.

"Oh, I don't say that. No use in being pig-headed over things. If you've made a mistake, admit it."

"But I imagine that you do not often make a mistake, Major Despard." "We all make mistakes, M.

Poirot."

"Some of us," said Poirot with a certain coldness, possibly due to the p.r.o.noun the other had used, "make less than others."

Despard looked at him, smiled slightly and said:

"Don't you ever have a failure, M. Poirot?"

"The last time was twenty-eight years ago," said Poirot with dignity. "And

even then, there were circ.u.mstancesbut no matter."

"That seems a pretty good reord," said Despard.

He added: "What about Shaitana's death? That doesn't count, I suppose, since it isn't officially your business."

"It is not my business--no. But, all the same, it offends my amour propre. I consider it an impertinence, you comprehend, for a murder to be committed under my very nose by some one who mocks himself at my ability to solve it!"

"Not under your nose only," said Despard dryly. "Under the nose of the Criminal Investigation Department also."

"That was probably a bad mistake," said Poirot gravely. "The good square Superintendent Battle, he may look wooden, but he is not wooden in the head--not at all."

"I agree," said Despard. "That stolidity is a pose. He's a very clever and able officer."

440

"And I think he is very active in the case."

"Oh, he's active enough. See a nice quiet soldierly-looking fellow on one of the back seats?"

Poirot looked over his shoulder.

"There is no one here now but ourselves."

"Oh, well, he's inside, then. He never loses me. Very efficient fellow. Varies his appearance, too, from time to time. Quite artistic about it."

"Ah, but that would not deceive you. You have the very quick and accurate eye."