Agatha Christie

“ The last one was killed in the war."
"I am not yet clear as to the grounds of Waverly Court. The car was heading for the south lodge. Is there another entrance?
"Yes, what we call the east lodge. It can be seen from the other side of the house."
"It seems to me strange that nobody saw the car entering the grounds."
"There is a right of way through, and access to a small chapel. A good many cars pass through. The man must have stopped the car in a convenient place and run up to the house just as the alarm was given and attention attracted elsewhere." ”

“ We shall come to that later. One thing at a time-let us be methodical. There is no special hiding place in the house? Waverly Court is an old place, and there are sometimes 'priest's holes,' as they call them. ”

“ A mother's feelings-"
"But we have interrupted monsieur in his history," cried Poirot hastily.
"I expect you know the rest pretty well from the papers," said Mr. Waverly. "Of course, Inspector McNeil got onto the telephone immediately. A description of the car and the man was circulated all round, and it looked at first as though everything was going to turn out all right. A car, answering to the description, with a man and a small boy, had passed through various villages, apparently making for London. ”

“ It was in the same handwriting as the others and contained just three words: 'At twelve o'clock."
"I admit, Monsieur Poirot, that then I saw red! Someone in the house was in this-one of the servants. I had them all up, blackguarded them right and left. They never split on each other; it was Miss Collins, my wife's companion, who informed me that she had seen Johnnie's nurse slip down the drive early that morning. I taxed her with it, and she broke down. She had left the child with the nursery maid and stolen out to meet a friend of hers-a man! Pretty goings-on! ”

“ At Poirot's request, we passed into a small morning room, and he questioned her closely as to the servants and particularly as to Tredwell. She admitted that she did not like the butler.
"He gives himself airs," she explained. ”

“ After completing an elaborate outdoor toilet, we set off for Netherall Road. We were fortunate enough to find Miss Jessie Withers at home. She was a pleasant-faced woman of thirty-five, capable and superior. ”