The Labours of Hercules

‘It must have been returned to the postman, I suppose. I am so sorry. Nothing important, I hope?’

‘No, no, it was of no importance.’

As he moved towards the door, Mrs Harte, enveloped in her pungent odour of violets, pursued him.

‘If your friend should come–’

‘It is most unlikely. I must have made a mistake…’

‘Our terms,’ said Mrs Harte, ‘are very moderate. Coffee after dinner is included. I would like you to see one or two of our bed-sitting-rooms…’

With difficulty Hercule Poirot escaped.

IV

The drawing-room of Mrs Samuelson was larger, more lavishly furnished, and enjoyed an even more stifling amount of central heating than that of Lady Hoggin. Hercule Poirot picked his way giddily amongst gilded console tables and large groups of statuary.

Mrs Samuelson was taller than Lady Hoggin and her hair was dyed with peroxide. Her Pekinese was called Nanki Poo. His bulging eyes surveyed Hercule Poirot with arrogance. Miss Keble, Mrs Samuelson’s companion, was thin and scraggy where Miss Carnaby had been plump, but she also was voluble and slightly breathless. She, too, had been blamed for Nanki Poo’s disappearance.

‘But really, Mr Poirot, it was the most amazing thing. It all happened in a second. Outside Harrods it was. A nurse there asked me the time–’

Poirot interrupted her.

‘A nurse? A hospital nurse?’

‘No, no–a children’s nurse. Such a sweet baby it was, too! A dear little mite. Such lovely rosy cheeks. They say children don’t look healthy in London, but I’m sure–’

‘Ellen,’ said Mrs Samuelson.

Miss Keble blushed, stammered, and subsided into silence.

Mrs Samuelson said acidly:

‘And while Miss Keble was bending over a perambulator that had nothing to do with her, this audacious villain cut Nanki Poo’s lead and made off with him.’

Miss Keble murmured tearfully:

‘It all happened in a second. I looked round and the darling boy was gone–there was just the dangling lead in my hand. Perhaps you’d like to see the lead, Mr Poirot?’

‘By no means,’ said Poirot hastily. He had no wish to make a collection of cut dog leads. ‘I understand,’ he went on, ‘that shortly afterwards you received a letter?’

The story followed the same course exactly–the letter–the threats of violence to Nanki Poo’s ears and tail. Only two things were different–the sum of money demanded–£300 –and the address to which it was to be sent: this time it was to Commander Blackleigh, Harrington Hotel, 76 Clonmel Gardens, Kensington.

Mrs Samuelson went on:

‘When Nanki Poo was safely back again, I went to the place myself, Mr Poirot. After all, three hundred pounds is three hundred pounds.’

‘Certainly it is.’

‘The very first thing I saw was my letter enclosing the money in a kind of rack in the hall. Whilst I was waiting for the proprietress I slipped it into my bag. Unfortunately–’

Poirot said: ‘Unfortunately, when you opened it it contained only blank sheets of paper.’

‘How did you know?’ Mrs Samuelson turned on him with awe.

Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

‘Obviously, che`re Madame, the thief would take care to recover the money before he returned the dog. He would then replace the notes with blank paper and return the letter to the rack in case its absence should be noticed.’

‘No such person as Commander Blackleigh had ever stayed there.’

Poirot smiled.

‘And of course, my husband was extremely annoyed about the whole thing. In fact, he was livid–absolutely livid!’

Poirot murmured cautiously:

‘You did not–er–consult him before dispatching the money?’

‘Certainly not,’ said Mrs Samuelson with decision.

Poirot looked a question. The lady explained.

‘I wouldn’t have risked it for a moment. Men are so extraordinary when it’s a question of money. Jacob would have insisted on going to the police. I couldn’t risk that. My poor darling Nanki Poo. Anything might have happened to him! Of course, I had to tell my husband afterwards, because I had to explain why I was overdrawn at the Bank.’

Poirot murmured:

‘Quite so–quite so.’

‘And I have really never seen him so angry. Men,’ said Mrs Samuelson, rearranging her handsome diamond bracelet and turning her rings on her fingers, ‘think of nothing but money.’

V

Hercule Poirot went up in the lift to Sir Joseph Hoggin’s office. He sent in his card and was told that Sir Joseph was engaged at the moment but would see him presently. A haughty blonde sailed out of Sir Joseph’s room at last with her hands full of papers. She gave the quaint little man a disdainful glance in passing.

Sir Joseph was seated behind his immense mahogany desk. There was a trace of lipstick on his chin.

‘Well, Mr Poirot? Sit down. Got any news for me?’

Hercule Poirot said:

‘The whole affair is of a pleasing simplicity. In each case the money was sent to one of those boarding houses or private hotels where there is no porter or hall attendant and where a large number of guests are always coming and going, including a fairly large preponderance of ex-Service men. Nothing would be easier than for any one to walk in, abstract a letter from the rack, either take it away, or else remove the money and replace it with blank paper. Therefore, in every case, the trail ends abruptly in a blank wall.’

‘You mean you’ve no idea who the fellow is?’

‘I have certain ideas, yes. It will take a few days to follow them up.’

Sir Joseph looked at him curiously.