Poirot continued in the same slow, grave voice:
The Andover police believe they can put their hand on the man who did it
I felt a second throb of disappointment.
It seems the woman was on bad terms[48] with her husband. He drinks and is by way of being[49] rather a nasty customer. Hes threatened to take her life more than once.
Nevertheless, continued Poirot, in view of what has happened, the police there would like to have another look at the anonymous letter I received. I have said that you and I will go down to Andover at once.
My spirits revived a little. After all, sordid as this crime seemed to be, it was a crime, and it was a long time since I had had any association with crime and criminals.
I hardly listened to the next words Poirot said. But they were to come back to me with significance later.
This is the beginning, said Hercule Poirot.
Chapter 4
Mrs Ascher
We were received at Andover by Inspector Glen, a tall fair-haired man with a pleasant smile.
For the sake of conciseness[50] I think I had better give a brief résumé of the bare facts of the case.
The crime was discovered by Police Constable Dover at 1 a.m. on the morning of the 22nd. When on his round he tried the door of the shop and found it unfastened, he entered and at first thought the place was empty. Directing his torch over the counter, however, he caught sight of the huddled-up body of the old woman. When the police surgeon[51] arrived on the spot it was elicited that the woman had been struck down by a heavy blow on the back of the head, probably while she was reaching down a packet of cigarettes from the shelf behind the counter. Death must have occurred about nine to seven hours previously.
But weve been able to get it down[52] a bit nearer than that, explained the inspector. Weve found a man who went in and bought some tobacco at 5.30. And a second man went in and found the shop empty, as he thought, at five minutes past six. That puts the time at between 5.30 and 6.50. So far I havent been able to find anyone who saw this man Ascher in the neighbourhood, but, of course, its early as yet. He was in the Three Crowns at nine oclock pretty far gone in drink. When we get hold of him hell be detained on suspicion.
Not a very desirable character, inspector? asked Poirot.
Unpleasant bit of goods[53].
He didnt live with his wife?
No, they separated some years ago. Aschers a German. He was a waiter at one time, but he took to drink and gradually became unemployable. His wife went into service for a bit. Her last place was as cook-housekeeper to an old lady, Miss Rose. She allowed her husband so much out of her wages to keep himself, but he was always getting drunk and coming round and making scenes at the places where she was employed. Thats why she took the post with Miss Rose at The Grange. Its three miles out of Andover, dead in the country. He couldnt get at her there so well. When Miss Rose died, she left Mrs Ascher a small legacy, and the woman started this tobacco and newsagent businessquite a tiny placejust cheap cigarettes and a few newspapersthat sort of thing. She just about managed to keep going[54]. Ascher used to come round and abuse her now and again and she used to give him a bit to get rid of[55] him. She allowed him fifteen shillings a week regular.
Had they any children? asked Poirot.
No. Theres a niece. Shes in service near Overton. Very superior, steady young woman.
And you say this man Ascher used to threaten his wife?
Thats right. He was a terror when he was in drinkcursing and swearing that hed bash her head in. She had a hard time, did Mrs Ascher.
What age of woman was she?
Close on sixtyrespectable and hard-working.
Poirot said gravely:
It is your opinion, inspector, that this man Ascher committed the crime?
The inspector coughed cautiously.
Its a bit early to say that, Mr Poirot, but Id like to hear Franz Aschers own account of how he spent yesterday evening. If he can give a satisfactory account of himself, well and goodif not
His pause was a pregnant one.
Nothing was missing from the shop?
Nothing. Money in the till quite undisturbed. No signs of robbery.
You think that this man Ascher came into the shop drunk, started abusing his wife and finally struck her down?
It seems the most likely solution. But I must confess, sir, Id like to have another look at that very odd letter you received. I was wondering if it was just possible that it came from this man Ascher.
Poirot handed over the letter and the inspector read it with a frown.
It doesnt read like Ascher, he said at last. I doubt if Ascher would use the term our British policenot unless he was trying to be extra cunningand I doubt if hes got the wits for that. Then the mans a wreckall to pieces. His hands too shaky to print letters clearly like this. Its good quality notepaper and ink, too. Its odd that the letter should mention the 21st of the month. Of course it might be coincidence.
That is possibleyes.
But I dont like this kind of coincidence, Mr Poirot. Its a bit too pat.
He was silent for a minute or twoa frown creasing his forehead.
А В C. Who the devil could А В C be? Well see if Mary Drower (thats the niece) can give us any help. Its an odd business. But for this letter Id have put my money on Franz Ascher for a certainty.
Do you know anything of Mrs Aschers past?
Shes a Hampshire woman[56]. Went into service as a girl up in Londonthats where she met Ascher and married him. Things must have been difficult for them during the war. She actually left him for good[57] in 1922. They were in London then. She came back here to get away from him, but he got wind[58] of where she was and followed her down here, pestering her for money A constable came in. Yes, Briggs, what is it?
Do you know anything of Mrs Aschers past?
Shes a Hampshire woman[56]. Went into service as a girl up in Londonthats where she met Ascher and married him. Things must have been difficult for them during the war. She actually left him for good[57] in 1922. They were in London then. She came back here to get away from him, but he got wind[58] of where she was and followed her down here, pestering her for money A constable came in. Yes, Briggs, what is it?
Its the man Ascher, sir. Weve brought him in.
Right. Bring him in here. Where was he?
Hiding in a truck on the railway siding.
He was, was he? Bring him along.
Franz Ascher was indeed a miserable and unprepossessing specimen. He was blubbering and cringing and blustering alternately[59]. His bleary eyes moved shiftily from one face to another.
What do you want with me? I have not done nothing. It is a shame and a scandal to bring me here! You are swine, how dare you? His manner changed suddenly. No, no, I do not mean thatyou would not hurt a poor old mannot be hard on[60] him. Everyone is hard on poor old Franz. Poor old Franz.
Mr Ascher started to weep.
Thatll do[61], Ascher, said the inspector. Pull yourself together. Im not charging you with anythingyet. And youre not bound to make a statement unless you like. On the other hand, if youre not concerned in the murder of your wife
Ascher interrupted himhis voice rising to a scream.
I did not kill her! I did not kill her! It is all lies! You are goddamned English pigsall against me. I never kill hernever.
You threatened to often enough, Ascher.
No, no. You do not understand. That was just a jokea good joke between me and Alice. She understood.
Funny kind of joke! Do you care to say where you were yesterday evening, Ascher?
Yes, yesI tell you everything. I did not go near Alice. I am with friendsgood friends. We are at the Seven Starsand then we are at the Red Dog
He hurried on, his words stumbling over each other.
Dick Willowshe was with meand old Curdieand Georgeand Platt and lots of the boys. I tell you I do not never go near Alice. Ach Gott[62], it is the truth I am telling you.
His voice rose to a scream. The inspector nodded to his underling.
Take him away. Detained on suspicion.
I dont know what to think, he said as the unpleasant, shaking old man with the malevolent, mouthing jaw was removed. If it wasnt for the letter[63], Id say he did it. What about the men he mentions?
A bad crowdnot one of them would stick at perjury. Ive no doubt he was with them the greater part of the evening. A lot depends on whether any one saw him near the shop between half-past five and six.
Poirot shook his head thoughtfully.
You are sure nothing was taken from the shop?
The inspector shrugged his shoulders.
That depends. A packet or two of cigarettes might have been takenbut youd hardly commit murder for that.
And there was nothinghow shall I put itintroduced into the shop? Nothing that was odd thereincongruous?
There was a railway guide, said the inspector.
A railway guide?
Yes. It was open and turned face downward on the counter. Looked as though someone had been looking up the trains from Andover. Either the old woman or a customer.
Did she sell that type of thing?
The inspector shook his head.
She sold penny time-tables. This was a big onekind of thing only Smiths or a big stationer would keep.
A light came into Poirots eyes. He leant forward.
A light came into the inspectors eye also.
A railway guide, you say. A Bradshawor an ABC[64]?
By the Lord[65], he said. It was an A B C.
Chapter 5
Mary Drower
I think that I can date my interest in the case from that first mention of the ABC railway guide. Up till then I had not been able to raise much enthusiasm. This sordid murder of an old woman in a back-street shop was so like the usual type of crime reported in the newspapers that it failed to strike a significant note[66]. In my own mind I had put down the anonymous letter with its mention of the 21st as a mere coincidence. Mrs Ascher, I felt reasonably sure, had been the victim of her drunken brute of a husband. But now the mention of the railway guide (so familiarly known by its abbreviation of А В C, listing as it did all railway stations in their alphabetical order) sent a quiver of excitement through me. Surelysurely this could not be a second coincidence?
The sordid crime took on a new aspect.
Who was the mysterious individual who had killed Mrs Ascher and left an А В C railway guide behind him?