Free Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie Page A

Master Bob,” he observed.
    “Ah, well, he don't know no better, sir,” said the woman in an indulgent voice. “Nearly human he may be, but you can't have everything. The mistress, you see, usedn't to sleep well at nights and often she'd get up and wander downstairs and round and about the house.”
    “She did that often?”
    “Most nights. But she wouldn't have Miss Lawson or any one fussing after her.”
    Poirot had turned into the drawing-room again.
    “A beautiful room this,” he observed. “I wonder, would there be space in this recess for my bookcase? What do you think, Hastings?”
    Quite fogged I remarked cautiously that it would be difficult to say.
    “Yes, sizes are so deceptive. Take, I pray you, my little rule and measure the width of it and I will write it down.”
    Obediently I took the folding rule that Poirot handed me and took various measurements under his direction whilst he wrote on the back of an envelope.
    I was just wondering why he adopted such an untidy and uncharacteristic method of making a neat entry in his little pocketbook when he handed the envelope to me, saying:
    “That is right, is it not? Perhaps you had better verify it.”
    There were no figures on the envelope. Instead was written: “When we go upstairs again, pretend to remember an appointment and ask if you can telephone. Let the woman come with you and delay her as long as you can.”
    “That's all right,” I said, pocketing the envelope. “I should say both bookcases would go in perfectly.”
    “It is as well to be sure, though. I think, if it is not too much trouble, I would like to look at the principal bedroom again. I am not quite sure of the wall space there.”
    “Certainly, sir. It's no trouble.”
    We went up again. Poirot measured a portion of wall, and was just commenting aloud on the respective possible positions of bed, wardrobe and writing table when I looked at my watch, gave a somewhat exaggerated start and exclaimed:
    “By Jove, do you know it's three o'clock already? What will Anderson think? I ought to telephone to him.” I turned to the woman. “I wonder if I might use your telephone if you have one.”
    “Why, certainly, sir. It's in the little room off the hall. I'll show you.”
    She bustled down with me, indicating the instrument, and then I got her to help me in finding a number in the telephone directory.
    In the end I made a call - to a Mr Anderson in the neighbouring town of Harchester. Fortunately he was out and I was able to leave a message saying it was unimportant and that I would ring up later!
    When I emerged Poirot had descended the staircase and was standing in the hall. His eyes had a slightly green tinge. I had no clue to his excitement, but I realized that he was excited. Poirot said:
    “That fall from the top of the stairs must have given your mistress a great shock. Did she seem perturbed about Bob and his ball after it?”
    “It's funny your saying that, sir. It worried her a lot. Why, just as she was dying, she was delirious and she rambled on a lot about Bob and his ball and something about a picture that was ajar.”
    “A picture that was ajar,” said Poirot thoughtfully.
    “Of course, it didn't make sense, sir, but she was rambling, you see.”
    “One moment - I must just go into the drawing-room once more.”
    He wandered round the room, examining the ornaments. In especial, one big jar with a lid on it seemed to attract him. It was not, I fancy, a particularly good bit of china. A piece of Victorian humour - it had on it a rather crude picture of a bulldog sitting outside a front door with a mournful expression on its face. Below was written: Out all night and no key.
    Poirot, whose taste I have always been convinced is hopelessly bourgeois, seemed lost in admiration.
    “Out all night and no key,” he murmured. “It is amusing, that! Is that true of our Master Bob? Does he sometimes stay out all night?”
    “Very occasional, sir. Oh, very occasional. He's a