“No, sir.”
“Do you remember reading in the paper of the Armstrong kidnapping case?”
A little colour came into the man’s cheeks.
“Yes, indeed, sir.
A little baby girl, wasn’t it?
A very shocking affair.”
“Did you know that your employer, Mr. Ratchett, was the principal instigator in that affair?”
“No, indeed, sir.” The valet’s tone held positive warmth and feeling for the first time. “I can hardly believe it, sir.”
“Nevertheless, it is true.
Now, to pass to your own movements last night.
A matter of routine, you understand.
What did you do after leaving your master?”
“I told Mr. MacQueen, sir, that the master wanted him.
Then I went to my own compartment and read.”
“Your compartment was–”
“The end second-class one, sir. Next to the dining-car.”
Poirot was looking at his plan.
“I see – and you had which berth?”
“The lower one, sir.”
“That is No. 4?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Is there anyone in with you?”
“Yes, sir.
A big Italian fellow.”
“Does he speak English?”
“Well, a kind of English, sir.” The valet’s tone was deprecating. “He’s been in America – Chicago, I understand.”
“Do you and he talk together much?”
“No, sir.
I prefer to read.”
Poirot smiled.
He could visualize the scene – the large, voluble Italian, and the snub direct administered by the gentleman’s gentleman.
“And what, may I ask, are you reading?” he inquired.
“At present, sir, I am reading Love’s Captive, by Mrs. Arabella Richardson.”
“A good story?”
“I find it highly enjoyable, sir.”
“Well, let us continue.
You returned to your compartment and read Love’s Captive till – when?”
“At about ten thirty, sir, this Italian wanted to go to bed.
So the conductor came and made the beds up.”
“And then you went to bed and to sleep?”
“I went to bed, sir, but I didn’t sleep.”
“Why didn’t you sleep?”
“I had the toothache, sir.”
“Oh, la-la – that is painful.”
“Most painful, sir.”
“Did you do anything for it?”
“I applied a little oil of cloves, sir, which relieved the pain a little, but I was still not able to get to sleep.
I turned the light on above my head and continued to read – to take my mind off, as it were.”
“And did you not go to sleep at all?”
“Yes, sir, I dropped off about four in the morning.”