Agatha Christie - Death in the Clouds

"It is certainly necessary for a writer to have ideas in his head," agreed Poirot.

Japp returned to his plan of the plane.

"No. 4 was Ryder – the seat slap in front of the dead woman. Don't think he did it. But we can't leave him out. He went to the wash room, he could have taken a pot shot on the way back from fairly close quarters. The only thing is, he'd be right up against the archaeologist fellows when he did so. They'd notice it – couldn't help it."

Poirot shook his head thoughtfully.

"You are not, perhaps, acquainted with many archaeologists? If these two were having a really absorbing discussion on some point at issue – eh bien, my friend, their concentration would be such that they could be quite blind and deaf to the outside world. They would be existing, you see, in 5000 or so b.c. Nineteen hundred and thirty-four a.d. would have been nonexistent for them."

Japp looked a little skeptical.

"Well, we'll pass on to them. What can you tell us about the Duponts, Fournier?"

"M. Armand Dupont is one of the most distinguished archaeologists in France."

"Then that doesn't get us anywhere much. Their position in the car is pretty good from my point of view – across the gangway, but slightly farther forward than Giselle. And I suppose that they've knocked about the world and dug things up in a lot of queer places; they might easily have got hold of some native snake poison."

"It is possible, yes," said Fournier.

"But you don't believe it's likely?"

Fournier shook his head doubtfully.

"M. Dupont lives for his profession. He is an enthusiast. He was formerly an antique dealer. He gave up a flourishing business to devote himself to excavation. Both he and his son are devoted heart and soul to their profession. It seems to me unlikely – I will not say impossible; since the ramifications of the Stavisky business, I will believe anything! – unlikely that they are mixed up in this business."

"All right," said Japp.

He picked up the sheet of paper on which he had been making notes and cleared his throat.

"This is where we stand: Jane Grey. Probability, poor. Possibility, practically nil. Gale. Probability, poor. Possibility, again practically nil. Miss Kerr. Very improbable. Possibility, doubtful. Lady Horbury. Probability, good. Possibility, practically nil. M. Poirot, almost certainly the criminal; the only man on board who could create a psychological moment."

Japp enjoyed a good laugh over his little joke and Poirot smiled indulgently and Fournier a trifle diffidently. Then the detective resumed:

"Bryant. Probability and possibility, both good. Clancy. Motive doubtful, probability and possibility very good indeed. Ryder. Probability uncertain, possibility, quite fair. The two Duponts. Probability poor as regards motive, good as to means of obtaining poison. Possibility, good.

"That's a pretty fair summary, I think, as fair as we can go. We'll have to do a lot of routine inquiry. I shall take on Clancy and Bryant first; find out what they've been up to; if they've been hard up at any time in the past; if they've seemed worried or upset lately; their movement in the last year – all that sort of stuff. I'll do the same for Ryder. Then it won't do to neglect the others entirely. I'll get Wilson to nose round there. M. Fournier, here, will undertake the Duponts."

The man from the Sûreté nodded.

"Be well assured, that will be attended to. I shall return to Paris tonight. There may be something to be got out of Élise, Giselle's maid, now that we know a little more about the case. Also, I will check up Giselle's movements very carefully. It will be well to know where she has been during the summer. She was, I know, at Le Pinet once or twice. We may get information as to her contacts with some of the English people involved. Ah, yes, there is much to do."

They both looked at Poirot, who was absorbed in thought.

"You going to take a hand at all, M. Poirot?" asked Japp.

Poirot roused himself.

"Yes, I think I should like to accompany M. Fournier to Paris."

"Enchanté," said the Frenchman.

"What are you up to, I wonder?" asked Japp. He looked at Poirot curiously. "You've been very quiet over all this. Got some of your little ideas, eh?"

"One or two – one or two – but it is very difficult."

"Let's hear about it."

"One thing that worries me," said Poirot slowly, "is the place where the blowpipe was found."

"Naturally! It nearly got you locked up."

Poirot shook his head.

"I do not mean that. It is not because it was found pushed down beside my seat that it worries me – it was its being pushed down behind any seat."

"I don't see anything in that," said Japp. "Whoever did it had got to hide the thing somewhere. He couldn't risk its being found on him."

"Évidemment. But you may have noticed, my friend, when you examined the plane, that although the windows cannot be opened, there is in each of them a ventilator – a circle of small, round holes in the glass which can be opened or closed by turning a fan of glass. These holes are of a sufficient circumference to admit the passage of our blowpipe. What could be simpler than to get rid of the blowpipe that way? It falls to the earth beneath and it is extremely unlikely that it will ever be found."

"I can think of an objection to that – the murderer was afraid of being seen. If he pushed the blowpipe through the ventilator, someone might have noticed."

"I see," said Poirot. "He was not afraid of being seen placing the blowpipe to his lips and dispatching the fatal dart, but he was afraid of being seen trying to push the blowpipe through the window!"

"Sounds absurd, I admit," said Japp, "but there it is. He did hide the blowpipe behind the cushion of a seat. We can't get away from that."

Poirot did not answer, and Fournier asked curiously:

"It gives you an idea, that?"

Poirot bowed his head assentingly.

"It gives rise to, say, a speculation in my mind."

With absent-minded fingers he straightened the unused ink-stand that Japp's impatient hand had set a little askew.

Then lifting his head sharply, he asked:

"А propos, have you that detailed list of the belongings of the passengers that I asked you to get me?"

"I'm a man of my word, I am," said Japp.

He grinned and dived his hand into his pocket, bringing out a mass of closely typewritten paper.

"Here you are. It's all here, down to the minutest detail! And I'll admit that there is one rather curious thing in it. I'll talk to you about it when you've finished reading the stuff."

Poirot spread out the sheets on the table and began to read. Fournier moved up and read them over his shoulder.

Pockets. Linen handkerchief marked J. Pigskin note case – seven ₤1 notes, three business cards. Letter from partner, George Elbermann, hoping "loan has been successfully negotiated… otherwise we're in Queer Street." Letter signed Maudie making appointment Trocadero following evening. Cheap paper, illiterate handwriting. Silver cigarette case. Match folder. Fountain pen. Bunch of keys. Yale door key. Loose change in French and English money.

Attaché Case. Mass of papers concerning dealings in cement. Copy of "Bootless Cup" (banned in this country). A box of Immediate Cold Cures.

Pockets. Two linen handkerchiefs. Note case containing ₤20 and 500 francs. Loose change in French and English money. Engagement book. Cigarette case. Lighter. Fountain pen. Yale door key. Bunch of keys.

Flute in case. Carrying "Memoirs of Benvenuto Cellini" and "Les Maux de l'Oreille."

Pockets. Silk handkerchief. Wallet containing ₤1 in English money and 600 francs. Loose change. Business cards of two French firms, makers of dental instruments. Bryant May match box, empty. Silver lighter. Briar pipe. Rubber tobacco pouch. Yale door key.