Poirot Pays A Call

           IwasslightlynervouswhenIrangthebellatMarbyGrangethefollowingafternoon.IwonderedverymuchwhatPoirotexpectedtofindout.Hehadentrustedthejobtome.Why?Wasitbecause,asinthecaseofquestioningMajorBlunt,hewishedtoremaininthebackground?Thewish,intelligibleinthefirstcase,seemedtomequitemeaninglesshere.

           Mymeditationswereinterruptedbytheadventofasmartparlourmaid.

           Yes,Mrs.Folliottwasathome.Iwasusheredintoabigdrawing-room,andlookedroundmecuriouslyasIwaitedforthemistressofthehouse.Alargebareroom,somegoodbitsofoldchina,andsomebeautifuletchings,shabbycoversandcurtains.Alady’sroomineverysenseoftheterm.

           IturnedfromtheinspectionofaBartolozzionthewallasMrs.Folliottcameintotheroom.Shewasatallwoman,withuntidybrownhair,andaverywinningsmile.

           "DrSheppard,"shesaidhesitatingly.

           "Thatismyname,"Ireplied."Imustapologizeforcallinguponyoulikethis,butIwantedsomeinformationaboutaparlourmaidpreviouslyemployedbyyou,UrsulaBourne."Withtheutteranceofthenamethesmilevanishedfromherface,andallthecordialityfrozeoutofhermanner.Shelookeduncomfortableandillatease.

           "UrsulaBourne?"shesaidhesitatingly.

           "Yes,"Isaid."Perhapsyoudon’trememberthename?""Oh,yes,ofcourse.I–Irememberperfectly.""Sheleftyoujustoverayearago,Iunderstand?""Yes.Yes,shedid.