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III. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat
”
“Whatinvestigationareyoutalkingabout?”
“Theremarkablecheapnessofyourfriend’s,Mrs.Robinson’s,newflat.”
“Poirot,youarenotserious!”
“Iammostserious.Figuretoyourself,myfriend,thattherealrentofthoseflatsis£350.Ihavejustascertainedthatfromthelandlord’sagents.Andyetthisparticularflatisbeingsubletateightypounds!Why?”
“Theremustbesomethingwrongwithit.Perhapsitishaunted,asMrs.Robinsonsuggested.”
Poirotshookhisheadinadissatisfiedmanner.
“Thenagainhowcuriousitisthatherfriendtellshertheflatislet,and,whenshegoesup,behold,itisnotsoatall!”
“Butsurelyyouagreewithmethattheotherwomanmusthavegonetothewrongflat.Thatistheonlypossiblesolution.”
“Youmayormaynotberightonthatpoint,Hastings.Thefactstillremainsthatnumerousotherapplicantsweresenttoseeit,andyet,inspiteofitsremarkablecheapness,itwasstillinthemarketwhenMrs.Robinsonarrived.”
“Thatshowsthattheremustbesomethingwrongaboutit.”
“Mrs.Robinsondidnotseemtonoticeanythingamiss.Verycurious,isitnot?Didsheimpressyouasbeingatruthfulwoman,Hastings?”
“Shewasadelightfulcreature!”
“Évidemment!sincesherendersyouincapableofreplyingtomyquestion.Describehertome,then.”
“Well,she’stallandfair;herhair’sreallyabeautifulshadeofauburn——”
“Alwaysyouhavehadapenchantforauburnhair!”murmuredPoirot.“Butcontinue.
