Three

THE EVIDENCE OF THE VALET

The American was succeeded by the pale Englishman with the inexpressive face whom Poirot hadalready noticed on the day before. He stood waiting very correctly. Poirot motioned to him to sitdown.

“You are, I understand, the valet of M. Ratchett?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Your name?”

“Edward Henry Masterman.”

“Your age?”

“Thirty-nine.”

“And your home address?”

“21 Friar Street, Clerkenwell.”

“You have heard that your master has been murdered?”

“Yes, sir. A very shocking occurrence.”

“Will you now tell me, please, at what hour you last saw M. Ratchett?”

The valet considered.

“It must have been about nine o’clock, sir, last night. That or a little after.”

“Tell me in your own words exactly what happened.”

“I went in to Mr. Ratchett as usual, sir, and attended to his wants.”

“What were your duties exactly?”

“To fold or hang up his clothes, sir. Put his dental plate in water and see that he had everythinghe wanted for the night.”

“Was his manner much the same as usual?”

The valet considered a moment.

“Well, sir, I think he was upset.”

“In what way—upset?”

“Over a letter he’d been reading. He asked me if it was I who had put it in his compartment¹. Ofcourse I told him I hadn’t done any such thing, but he swore at me and found fault with everythingI did.”

“Was that unusual?”

“Oh, no, sir, he lost his temper easily—as I say, it just depended what had happened to upsethim.”

“Did your master ever take a sleeping draught²?”

Dr. Constantine leaned forward a little.

“Always when travelling by train, sir. He said he couldn’t sleep otherwise.”

“Do you know what drug he was in the habit of taking?”

“I couldn’t say, I’m sure, sir. There was no name on the bottle. Just ‘The Sleeping Draught to betaken at bedtime.’”

“Did he take it last night?”

“Yes, sir. I poured it into a glass and put it on top of the toilet table ready for him.”

“You didn’t actually see him drink it?”

“No, sir.”

“What happened next?”

“I asked if there was anything further, and asked what time M. Ratchett would like to be calledin the morning. He said he didn’t want to be disturbed till he rang.”

“Was that usual?”

“Quite usual, sir. He used to ring the bell for the conductor and then send him for me when hewas ready to get up.”

“Was he usually an early or a late riser?”

“It depended, sir, on his mood. Sometimes he’d get up for breakfast, sometimes he wouldn’t getup till just on lunch time.”

“So that you weren’t alarmed when the morning wore on and no summons came?”

“No, sir.”

“Did you know that your master had enemies?”

“Yes, sir.”

The man spoke³ quite unemotionally.

“How did you know?”

“I had heard him discussing some letters, sir, with Mr. MacQueen.”

“Had you an affection for your employer, Masterman?”

Masterman’s face became, if possible, even more inexpressive than it was normally.

“I should hardly like to say that, sir. He was a generous employer.”

“But you didn’t like him?”

“Shall we put it that I don’t care very much for Americans, sir.”

“Have you ever been in America?”

“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, M. Ratchett, was the principal instigator⁴ in that affair?”

“No, indeed, sir.” The valet’s tone held positive warmth and feeling for the first time. “I canhardly 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 compartmentand 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 berth⁵?”

“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 visualize⁶ the scene—the large voluble Italian, and the snub directadministered 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 thebeds 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, là là—that is painful.”

“Most painful, sir.”

“Did you do anything for it?”

“I applied⁷ a little oil of cloves⁸, sir, which relieved the pain a little, but I was still not able to getto sleep. I turned the light on above my head and continued to read—to take my mind off it, as itwere.”

“And did you not go to sleep at all?”

“Yes, sir, I dropped off about four in the morning.”

“And your companion?”

“The Italian fellow? Oh, he just snored.”

“He did not leave the compartment at all during the night?”

“No, sir.”

“Did you?”

“No, sir.”

“Did you hear anything during the night?”

“I don’t think so, sir. Nothing unusual, I mean. The train being at a standstill made it all veryquiet.”

Poirot was silent a moment or two, then he said:

“Well, I think there is very little more to be said. You cannot throw any light upon the tragedy?”

“I’m afraid not. I’m sorry, sir.”

“As far as you know, was there any quarrel or bad blood between your master and M.

MacQueen?”

“Oh, no, sir. Mr. MacQueen was a very pleasant gentleman.”

“Where were you in service before you came to M. Ratchett?”

“With Sir Henry Tomlinson, sir, in Grosvenor Square.”

“Why did you leave him?”

“He was going to East Africa, sir, and did not require my services any longer. But I am sure hewill speak for me, sir. I was with him some years.”

“And you have been with M. Ratchett—how long?”

“Just over nine months, sir.”

“Thank you, Masterman. By the way, are you a pipe smoker⁹?”

“No, sir. I only smoke cigarettes—gaspers, sir.”

“Thank you. That will do.”

The valet hesitated a moment.

“You’ll excuse me, sir, but the elderly American lady is in what I might describe as a state, sir.

She’s saying she knows all about the murderer. She’s in a very excitable condition, sir.”

“In that case,” said Poirot, smiling, “we had better see her next.”

“Shall I tell her, sir? She’s been demanding to see someone in authority for a long time. Theconductor’s been trying to pacify¹⁰ her.”

“Send her to us, my friend,” said Poirot. “We will listen to her story now.”

 

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