LABOUR IV

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 1020.

THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR*

I

The accomplishment of the fourth Labour of Hercules has brought Hercule Poirot to Switzerland. He decided, to take advantage of it and visit some places which were un­known" to him. He had spent some days at Chamonix, then went to Aldermatt and finally went on to Rochers Neiges, a little mountain village, ten thousand feet above sea level.

He was mounting to it in a funicular, when the con­ductor approached him and demanded his ticket. After he had inspected it, he returned it with a bow and at the same time Poirot felt a small sheet of paper pressed into his jhand with the ticket. \y "That's for you," whispered the conductor.

Poirot smoothed out the paper. It was a hurriedly scrib­bled note written in pencil.

"Impossible," it ran, "to mistake these moustaches. I salute you, my dear colleague. If you are willing, you can be of great assistance to me. You have, of course, read of the affair of Salley? The killer - Marrascaud - is believed to be meeting there with some members of his gang at Rochers Neiges. So keep your eyes open, my friend. Get in touch with Inspector Drouct who is on the spot. It is important that Marrascaud should be taken-he is a wild boar-one of the most dangerous killers alive to-day. Good hunting! Your old friend Lementcuil." Thoughtfully, Hercule Poirot caressed his moustaches. Yes, indeed, impossible to mistake the moustaches of Her­cule Poirot. But what was all this? He had read in the pa­pers the details of the affair of Salley - the cold-blooded murder of a well-known Parisian bookmaker. The identity of the murderer was known. Marrascaud was a member of a well-known gang. He had been suspected of many killings, but he had got away, out of France, it was thought, and the police in every country in Europe were looking for him.

So Marrascaud was said to have a rendezvous at Rochers Neiges... It seemed a fantastic place to choose as the place for rendezvous of a gang of criminals. Some rea­son unknown was bringing Marrascaud to this meeting-place far above civilization.

Hercule Poirot sighed. To hunt a ruthless killer was not his idea of a pleasant holiday.

A wild boar - that was the term Lementeuil had used. It was certainly an odd coincidence. He murmured to himself: "The fourth Labour of Hercules. The Erymanthian Boar?"

He carefully examined the passengers of the funicular.

On the seat opposite him was an American tourist. The style of his clothes, his manners, even the guide book in his hand - all gave away in him a small town American seeing Europe for the first time. On the other side of the funicular a tall man with greyish hair and a big nose was reading a German book. He had the strong mobile fingers of a musi­cian or a surgeon. Farther away were three men playing cards. There was nothing unusual about them. The only thing that was unusual was the place where they were. One might have seen them* in a train or on a sea liner. But in an almost empty funicular - no!

There was one other passenger there - a woman. She was tall and dark. She looked at no one, staring out at the, valley below.

II

The manager of the hotel was a big handsome man. He was all noHteness, but it seemed to Poirot that this man, for all his easy manner, was not at ease.* He was worried about something. Afterwards, as Poirot was sitting in the chez-longue, the manager came to him and started talking in a confidential manner.

Monsieur must not judge the hotel too hardly. It was out of the season. No one came here till the end of July. That lady. Monsieur had noticed her, perhaps? She came at

this time every year. This was Madame Grandier. Her hus­band had been killed climbing three years ago. It was very ^x sad. They had been very devoted

The elderly gentlemarPwas~a famous doctor, Dr. Karl Lutz, from Vienna. He was a nerve specialist - psycho-ana­lyst - that kind of stuff.* He had come here, so he said, for peace and rest.

"It is peaceful, yes," agreed Hercule Poirot. "And these Messieurs there?" he asked, indicating the three horse-like men at a table. "Do they also seek, peace, you think?"

The manager shrugged his shoulders. Again there ap_: peared in his eyes that worried look.

''Ah, the tourists, they always wish a new experience... The altitude - that alone is a new sensation."

That night, when he went to bed, Poirot read through Lementeuil's letter carefully before putting it in his wallet. As he got into bed he said to himself: "It is curious -1 wonder if..."*

***

Gustave, the waiter, brought Hercule Poirot his breakfast in his room. Then he went to the door, but instead of leaving the room, he took one quick look around, then shut the door again and¹ returned to the bedside. He said:

"Monsieur Hercule Poirot? I am Drouet, Inspector of Police."

"Ah,'"said Poirot, "I had already suspected something like

this."

Drouet lowered his voice.

"M. Poirot, a very bad thing has occurred. There has been an accident to the funicular!"

"An accident? What kind of an accident?"

"Nobody knows the cause. It happened at night. Now it will take many days to repair it and in the meantime we are cut off up here. So early in the season, when the snow is still heavy, it is impossible to communicate with the val­ley below."

Hercule Poirot sat up in bed. He said softly:

"That is very interesting."

The Inspector nodded.

"Yes," he said. "It shows that our information was cor­rect. Marrascaud has a rendezvous here, and he has ar­ranged that this rendezvous shall not be interrupted."

Poirot said slowly: "But if he has a rendezvous here, on this mass of snow, high above the world, that means that Marrascaud himself is here already, since communications are now cut."

Drouet said quietly: "J know."

Both men were silent for a minute or two. Then Poirot asked:

"Dr. Lutz? Can he be Marrascaud?"

Drouet shook his head.

"I do not think so. He is a real Dr. Lutz -1 have seen his pictures in the papers - a distinguished and well-known man."

Poirot murmured:

"If Marrascaud is an expert in disguise, he can play the part successfully. What about the American, Schwartz?"

"I was going to ask you that. At first glance he seems to be the normal travelling American. It is perhaps strange that he came here - but Americans when travelling are quite unpredictable. What do you think yourself?"

Hercule Poirot thought a little. He said:

"On the surface, at least, he appears to be a harmless man. He may be a bore, but it seems difficult to regard him as a danger." He went on: "But there are three more visitors here."

The Inspector noddefd:

"Yes, and they are the type we are looking for. I'm sure, M. Poirot, that those three men are at any rate mem­bers of Marrascaud's gang, and one of them may be'Mar­rascaud himself."

Hercule Poirot thought it over.

"Yes, one of the three might be Marrascaud, but if so, the question comes instantly, why? Why should Marrascaud and two members of his gang travel together and ascend into a rat-trap on the mountains? A meeting surely could be arranged_in safer and less fantastic sjuroundings_-in a cafe, in a railway station, in a crowded cinema,"rn a public park - somewhere but not here far above the world in a wilderness of snow."

Something of this he tried to tell Inspector Drouet and the latter agreed readily enough. He said, his face worried:

"In that case, we have to examine a second supposition. These three men are members of Marrascaud's gang and they have come here to meet Marrascaud. Who then is Marrascaud?"

Poirot asked: "What about the staff of the hotel?"

Drouet shrugged his shoulders.

"There is no staff to speak of. There is an old woman

who cooks, there is her old husband Jacques, and there is f* the waiter whose place I have taken. That is all."

Poirot said:

"The manager, he knows of course who you are?"

"Naturally. I need his co-operation."

"Have you noticed," said"Hercule Poirot, "that he looks worried? It may be that it is simply the anxiety of being _?-involved in police proceedings. But it may be more than that."

"You think that he may know something?"

"It ^cuxred to me,* that is all. But it would be better, I think, not to let him know of our suspicions. Keep your eye on him,* that is all."

Drouet nodded. He turned to Poirot.

"You've no suggestions. M. Poirot? What can be the reason for a rendezvous in this place? In fact, the reason for a rendezvous at all?"

"Money," said Poirot. "This poor fellow Salley was robbed then as well as murdered. He had a very large sum of money which has disappeared."

"And the rendezvous is for the purpose of sharing this money, you think?"

"It is the most obvious idea."

Ill

The day passed without incident. Hercule Poirot went outside and wandered aimlessly round to the kitchen. He tried to speak to the old man but he was silent and suspi­cious. His wife, the cook, was more communicative. The conversation came round to the subject of the hotel staff.

Poirot asked:

"There was already a waiter here before Gustave came, wasn't there?"

"Yes, indeed, a poor kind of a waiter. No skill, no ex^ perience. No class at all. He was here a few days only be­fore Gustave replaced him. Naturally he was dismissed. We were not surprised. This is a hotel of good class. Clients must have proper service here." -•w-' Poirot nodded. He asked:

"Where did he go?"

"That Robert, you mean?" She shrugged her shoulders. "I think back to the cafe he came from."

"Did anyone see him go?"

She stared at him. "Ah! do you think that one goes to sec off an animal like that? One has one's own affairs to do."

"Certainly," said Hercule Poirot.

He walked slowly away. There was a figure ahead of him-the tall graceful figure of Madame Grandier. Poirot caught her _up. He said:

This accident to the funicular, it is distressing. I hope, Madame, that it has not inconvenienced you?" _

She said: "It is a matter of indifference to me."

She didn't look at Poirot. She turned aside and went into the hotel by a small side door.

IV

Hercule Poirot went to bed early. He was awakened some time after midnight.

Someone was fumbling with the lock of the door. He sat up, putting on the light. At the same moment the door swung open. Three men stood there, the three card-playing men. They were, Poirot thought, a bit drunk. He saw the gleam of a razor blade.

The big thickest man came forward.

"You, damn pig of a detective. Bah!"* The three of them advanced on the dj5fejnc.eJess_.man in the bed.

"We shall do a good job on him, boys. He won't be the first one to-night."

They came on, steadily, purposefully - the razor blades flashed^..

And then a voice said: "Hands up!"

They turned round. Schwartz, dressed in striped pyjamas stood in the doorway. In his hand he held an automatic gun.

"Hands up, boys. I'm pretty good at shooting."

Three pairs of hands were raised rapidly.

Schwartz said:

"Now, march! There's a big cupboard just along the corridor. No window in it. Just.Jhe_jhingj"*

He made them march into it and turned the key on them. He turned to Poirot, his voice breaking with emotion.

"Did you ever see such an ugly bunch of criminals, M. Poirot? Do you know, there were people who laughed at me because I said I was going to take a gun abroad with me. 'Where do you think you're going?' they asked. 'Into i the jungle?' Well, sir, I'd say the laugh is with me."*

Poirot said: "My dear Mr. Schwartz, you appeared just in time. It might have been a drama! I am very much in your debt."

"That's nothing. What shall we do now? We ought to turn these boys over to the police but we can't do that. Maybe we'd better consult the manager."

Poirot said:

"Ah, the manager. I think first we will consult the waiter - Gustave - alias* Inspector Drouet."

Schwartz starejd at him.

"So that's why they did it!"

"That is why who did what?"

"This bunch of criminals got to you second on the list. ' They had already cut up Gustave."

"What?"

"Come with me. The doctor is busy on him now."

Drouet's room was a small one on the top floor. Dr. Lutz was busy bandaging the injured man's face. He turned his head as they entered.

Schwartz asked: "Is he in danger?"

"He will not die if that is what you mean. But he must not speak - there must be no excitement. I have dressed the wounds - there will be no risk of sepsis."

The three men left the room together. Schwartz said to Poirot:

"Did you say Gustave was a police officer?"

Hercule Poirot nodded.

"But what was he doing at Rochers Neiges?"

In a few words Poirot explained the situation.

Dr. Lutz said:

"Marrascaud? I read about the case in the paper. I should like to meet that man. There is some deep abnor­mality there! I should like to know the particulars of his childhood."

"As for me,"* said Hercule Poirot, "I should like to know exactly where he is at this moment."

Schwartz said:

"Isn't he one of the three we locked in the cupboard?"

"It is possible - yes, but I am not sure... I have an idea -..."

He broke off staring down at the carpet.

Hercule Poirot said:

"Footsteps - footsteps, I think, in blood and they lead from the unused wing of the hotel. Come - we must be quick!"

They followed him along a dim, dusty corridor. They turned the corner of it, still following the marks on the carpet until the tracks led them to a half-open doorway.

Poirot pushed the door open and entered.

He uttered a sharp, horrified exclamation. The room was a bedroom. In the middle of the floor lay the body of a man. There were a dozen wounds on his arms and chest and his head and face had been crushed.

Schwartz said faintly:

"Who is this man? Does anyone know?"

"I suppose," said Poirot, "that he was known here as Robert, a rather unskillful waiter."

Lutz had gone nearer, bending over the body. He pointed with a finger.

There was a paper pinned to the dead man's breast. He read:

"Marrascaud will kill no more - nor will he rob his
friends!" ----

Schwartz cried out:

"Marrascaud? So this is Marrascaud! But what brought him up here? And why do you say his name is Robert?"

Poirot said:

"He was here masquerading as a waiter - and of course, he was a very bad waiter. So bad that no one was sur­prised when he was dismissed. And Marrascaud continued to live in this unused wing with no one but the manager knowing about it. Marrascaud must have offered him a big bribe to allow him to remain hidden in tfie unused part of the hotel."

Dr. Lutz said:

"And why was he killed? And who killed him?"

Schwartz said:

"That's easy. He was to .share out the money with his gang. He didn't. He came here, to this out of the way place,* because he thought it was the last place in the world they would think of. He was wrong. Somehow or other they found out where he was and followed him."

He touched the dead body with the tip of his shoe.

"And they settled his account - like this."

V

It was three days later that a little party of men ap­peared in front of the hotel.

It was Hercule Poirot who opened the front door to them.

"Welcome, mon ami."

Monsieur Lementeuil, Commissaire of Police, seized
Poirot by both hands.