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III. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
Hehardlylookedatusandgruntedout:
“No.4.Secondfloor.”
“Ithankyou.Canyoutellmehowlongtheyhavebeenhere?”
“Sixmonths.”
Istartedforwardinamazement,consciousasIdidsoofPoirot’smaliciousgrin.
“Impossible,”Icried.“Youmustbemakingamistake.”
“Sixmonths.”
“Areyousure?TheladyImeanistallandfairwithreddishgoldhairand——”
“That’s’er,”saidtheporter.“ComeintheMichaelmasquarter,theydid.Justsixmonthsago.”
Heappearedtoloseinterestinusandretreatedslowlyupthehall.IfollowedPoirotoutside.
“Ehbien,Hastings?”myfrienddemandedslyly.“Areyousosurenowthatdelightfulwomenalwaysspeakthetruth?”
Ididnotreply.
PoirothadsteeredhiswayintoBromptonRoadbeforeIaskedhimwhathewasgoingtodoandwhereweweregoing.
“Tothehouseagents,Hastings.IhaveagreatdesiretohaveaflatinMontaguMansions.IfIamnotmistaken,severalinterestingthingswilltakeplacetherebeforelong.”
Wewerefortunateinourquest.No.8,onthefourthfloor,wastobeletfurnishedattenguineasaweek.Poirotpromptlytookitforamonth.Outsideinthestreetagain,hesilencedmyprotests:
“ButImakemoneynowadays!WhyshouldInotindulgeawhim?Bytheway,Hastings,haveyouarevolver?”
“Yes—somewhere,”Ianswered,slightlythrilled.“Doyouthink——”
“Thatyouwillneedit?Itisquitepossible.Theideapleasesyou,Isee.Alwaysthespectacularandromanticappealstoyou.”
Thefollowingdaysawusinstalledinourtemporaryhome.Theflatwaspleasantlyfurnished.
