He said: "It was the face that worried me.
Why smash up a dead woman's face?"
Japp said: "My word, I hope old Morley's somewhere where he can know about it.
It's just possible, you know, that he was put out of the way on purpose – so that he couldn't give evidence."
"It would certainly be better if he could have given evidence himself."
"Leatheran will be all right. Morley's successor.
He's a thoroughly capable man with a good manner and the evidence is unmistakable."
The evening papers came out with a sensation the next day.
The dead body found in the Battersea flat, believed to be that of Miss Sainsbury Seale, was positively identified as that of Mrs. Albert Chapman.
Mr. Leatheran, of 58 Queen Charlotte Street, unhesitatingly pronounced it to be Mrs. Chapman on the evidence of the teeth and jaw, full particulars of which were recorded in the late Mr. Morley's professional chart.
Miss Sainsbury Seale's clothes had been found on the body and Miss Sainsbury Seale's handbag with the body – but where was Miss Sainsbury Seale herself?
Chapter 5 NINE, TEN, A GOOD FAT HEN
I As they came away from the inquest Japp said jubilantly to Poirot:
"A smart piece of work, that.
Gave 'em a sensation!"
Poirot nodded.
"You tumbled to it first," said Japp, "but, you know, I wasn't happy about that body myself. After all, you don't go smashing a dead person's face and head about for nothing.
It's messy, unpleasant work, and it was pretty plain there must be some reason for it.
And there's only one reason there could be – to confuse the identity."
He added generously: "But I shouldn't have tumbled so quickly to the fact that it actually was the other woman."
Poirot said with a smile: "And yet, my friend, the actual descriptions of the women were not unlike as regards fundamentals.
Mrs. Chapman was a smart, good looking woman, well made up and fashionably turned out.
Miss Sainsbury Seale was dowdy and innocent of lipstick or rouge.
But the essentials were the same.
Both were women of forty odd. Both were roughly about the same height and build. Both had hair turning grey which they touched up to make it appear golden."
"Yes, of course, when you put it like that.
One thing we've got to admit – the fair Mabelle put it over on both of us, good and proper.
I'd have sworn she was the genuine article."
"But, my friend, she was the genuine article.
We know all about her past life."
"We didn't know she was capable of murder – and that's what it looks like now.
Sylvia didn't murder Mabelle. Mabelle murdered Sylvia."
Hercule Poirot shook his head in a worried fashion.
He still found it difficult to reconcile Mabelle Sainsbury Seale with murder.
Yet in his ears he heard the small, ironic voice of Mr. Barnes:
"Look among the respectable people…"
Mabelle Sainsbury Seale had been eminently respectable.
Japp said with emphasis: "I'm going to get to the bottom of this case, Poirot.
That woman isn't going to put it over on me."
II The following day Japp rang up.
His voice held a curious note.
He said: "Poirot, do you want to hear a piece of news?
It's Na Poo, my lad.
Na Poo!"
"Pardon? – the line is perhaps not very clear. I did not quite catch -"
"It's off, my boy.
O.F.F. Call it a day! Sit down and twiddle our thumbs!"
There was no mistaking the bitterness now.
Poirot was startled. "What is off?"
"The whole ruddy blinking thing!