Agatha Christie

“ I make a strong point of economy."
"Can you imagine any reason for her leaving you so suddenly?"
"Oh, well," said Mr. Todd vaguely. "Servants, you know. My wife worries too much, Worn out from always worrying. The whole problem’s quife simple really. ‘Get another, my dear,’ I say. ‘Get another.’ That's all there is to it. No good crying over spilt milk."
Mr. Simpson was equally unhelpful. He was a quiet inconspicuous young man with spectacles.
"I must have seen her, I suppose," he said. "Elderly woman, wasn't she? Of course, it's the other one I see always, Annie. Nice girl. Very obliging." ”

“ Poirot asked a few more questions, then declared himself satisfied. Annie departed, and Mrs. Todd hurried in, her face alight with curiosity. She had, I felt certain, bitterly resented her exclusion from the room during our conversation with Annie. Poirot, however, was careful to soothe her feelings tactfully.
"It is difficult," he explained, "for a woman of exceptional intelligence such as yourself, madame, to bear patiently the roundabout methods we poor detectives are forced to use. To have patience with stupidity is difficult for the quick-witted." ”

“ You lack the brains and the imagination of Mr. Simpson, Hastings. See here: On Wednesday evening, Simpson decoys away the cook. A printed card anda printed sheet of notepaper are simple matters to obtain, and he is willing to pay a hundred fifty pounds and a year’s house rent to assure the success of his plan. Miss Dunn doesnot recognize him—the beard and the hat and the slight colonial accent completely deceive her. That is the end of Wednesday—except for the trifling fact that Simpson has helped himself to fifty thousand pounds’ worth of negotiable securities. ”

“ It is the maid’s day out, and Mrs. Todd was at the sales, so there is no one in the house. When the theft is discovered and Davis is missing, the implication will be overwhelming. Davis is the thief! Mr. Simpson will be perfectly safe, and can return to work on the morrow like the honest clerk they think him."
"And Davis?"
Poirot made an expressive gesture, and slowly shook his head.
"It seems too cold-blooded to be believed, and yet what other explanation can there be, mon ami. The one difficulty for a murderer is the disposal of the body—and Simpson had planned that out beforehand. ”

“ On the Wednesday following Mrs. Todd’s visit, our landlady informed us that a person of the name of Eliza Dunn had called.
"Enfin!" cried Poirot. "But make her mount then! At once. Immediately."
Thus admonished, our landlady hurried out and returned a moment or two later, ushering in Miss Dunn. Our quarry was much as described: tall, stout, and eminently respectable. ”

“ But Poirot remained grave.
"He might have done worse," he said reprovingly. "Remember, Hastings, if you are going into exile, a good cook may be of more comfort than a pretty face!" He paused for a moment and then went on. "It is a curious case, full of contradictory features. I arm interested—yes, I am distinctly interested."
That evening we returned to 88 Prince Albert Road and interviewed both Todd and Simpson. The former was a melancholy lantern-jawed man of forty-odd.
"Oh! Yes, yes," he said vaguely. "Eliza. Yes. A good cook, I believe. And economical. ”

“ It was opened and found to contain the body of the unfortunate Davis.
Mrs, Todd's check for a guinea was never cashed. Instead, Poirot had it framed and hung on the wall of our sitting room.
"It is to me a little reminder, Hastings. Never to despise the trivial—the undignified. A disappearing domestic at one end—a cold-blooded murder at the other. ”

“ If you will kindly permit me to continue, Hastings! Simpson knows that the theft will be discovered on Thursday afternoon. He does not go to the bank on Thursday, but he lies in wait for Davis when he comes out to lunch. Perhaps he admits the theft and tells Davis he will return the securities to him—anyhow he succeeds in getting Davis to Come to Clapham with him. ”

“ I'm sorry, I'm sure, but you know what these papers are nowadays. You begin reading a nice article ‘What a bride said to her plain unmarried friend,’ and it’s all about a simple thing you buy at the chemist’s and shampoo your hair with. Nothing but puff. ”

“ Todd. He was not absent on Wednesday, and he bears a good character—so much for him. Then Simpson, on Thursday he was ill and did not come to the bank, but he was there on Wednesday. He was moderately friendly with Davis. Nothing out of the common. There does not seem to be anything there. No. We must place our reliance on the advertisement."
The advertisement duly appeared in all the principal daily papers. By Poirot's orders it was to be continued every day for a week. ”