44
Agatha Christie
"It was still like that. I remember. I moved it
away and it was then I saw the stain. The carpet's
gone to be cleaned, sir. That's why the boards are
bare."
Poirot nodded.
"I see," he said. "I thank you."
He placed a crisp piece of paper in the valet's
palm.
"Thank you, sir."
"Poirot," I said when we were out in the street,
"that point about the screen--is that a point
helpful to Rich?"
"It is a further point against him," said Poirot
ruefully. "The screen hid the chest from the room.
It also hid the stain on the carpet. Sooner or later
the blood was bound to soak through the wood
and stain the carpet. The screen would prevent
discovery for the moment. Yes--but there is some-thing
there that I do not understand. The valet,
Hastings, the valet."
"What about the valet? He seemed a most in-telligent
fellow."
"As you say, most intelligent. Is it credible,
then, that Major Rich failed to realize that the
valet would certainly discover the body in the
morning? Immediately after the deed he had no
time for anything--granted. He shoves the body
into the chest, pulls the screen in front of it and