Death in the Clouds (Hercule Poirot 12)

Pockets.—Handkerchief (ink-stained). Fountain-pen (leaking). Notecase containing £4 and 100 francs. Three newspaper cuttings dealing with recent crimes (one poisoning by arsenic and two embezzlement). Two letters from house agents with details of country properties. Engagement book. Four pencils. Pen-knife. Three receipted and four unpaid bills. Letter from ‘Gordon’ headed S.S. Minotaur. Half-done crossword puzzle cut from Times. Notebook containing suggestions for plots. Loose change in Italian, French, Swiss and English money. Receipted hotel bill, Naples. Large bunch of keys.

In overcoat pocket.—Manuscript notes of Murder on Vesuvius. Continental Bradshaw. Golf ball. Pair of socks. Toothbrush. Receipted hotel bill, Paris.

Miss Kerr.

Vanity bag.—Lipstick. Two cigarette-holders (one ivory and one jade). Flapjack. Cigarette-case. Match-folder. Handkerchief. £2 English. Loose change. One half letter of credit. Keys.

Dressing-case.—Shagreen fitted. Bottles, brushes, combs, etc. Manicure outfit. Washing bag containing toothbrush, sponge, toothpowder, soap. Two pairs of scissors. Five letters from family and friends in England. Two Tauchnitz novels. Photograph of two spaniels.

Carried Vogue and Good Housekeeping.

Miss Grey.

Handbag.—Lipstick, rouge, flapjack. Yale key and one trunk key. Pencil. Cigarette-case. Holder. Match-folder. Two handkerchiefs. Receipted hotel bill, Le Pinet. Small book, French Phrases. Notecase, 100 francs and 10s. Loose French and English change. One Casino counter value 5 francs.

In pocket of travelling coat.—Six postcards of Paris, two handkerchiefs and silk scarf. Letter signed ‘Gladys’. Tube of aspirin.

Lady Horbury.

Vanity bag.—Two lipsticks, rouge, flapjack. Handkerchief. Three mille notes. £6 English. Loose change (French). A diamond ring. Five French stamps. Two cigarette-holders. Lighter with case.

Dressing-case.—Complete makeup outfit. Elaborate manicure set (gold). Small bottle labelled (in ink) Boracic Powder.

As Poirot came to the end of the list, Japp laid his finger on the last item.

‘Rather smart of our man. He thought that didn’t seem quite in keeping with the rest. Boracic powder my eye! The white powder in that bottle was cocaine.’

Poirot’s eyes opened a little. He nodded his head slowly.

‘Nothing much to do with our case, perhaps,’ said Japp. ‘But you don’t need me to tell you that a woman who’s got the cocaine habit hasn’t got much moral restraint. I’ve an idea anyway that her ladyship wouldn’t stick at much to get what she wanted, in spite of all that helpless feminine business. All the same, I doubt if she’d have the nerve to carry a thing like this through; and, frankly, I can’t see that it was possible for her to do it. The whole thing is a bit of a teaser.’

Poirot gathered up the loose typewritten sheets and read them through once again. Then he laid them down with a sigh.

‘On the face of it,’ he said, ‘it seems to point very plainly to one person as having committed the crime. And yet, I cannot see why, or even how.’

Japp stared at him.

‘Are you pretending that by reading all this stuff you’ve got an idea who did it?’

‘I think so.’

Japp seized the papers from him and read them through, handing each sheet over to Fournier as he had finished with it. Then he slapped them down on the table and stared at Poirot.

‘Are you pulling my leg, Moosior Poirot?’

‘No, no. Quelle idée!’

The Frenchman in his turn laid down the sheets.

‘What about you, Fournier?’

The Frenchman shook his head. ‘I may be stupid,’ he said, ‘but I cannot see that this list advances us much.’

‘Not by itself,’ said Poirot. ‘But taken in conjunction with certain features of the case, no? Well, it may be that I am wrong—quite wrong.’

‘Well, come out with your theory,’ said Japp. ‘I’ll be interested to hear it at all events.’

Poirot shook his head.