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“And yet, you know, the name is familiar to me, distinctly familiar. I seem to have seen it somewhere quite lately.”
Japp said drily:
“It’s been in all the papers for some weeks—”
“Of course—some missing person, wasn’t it? And you thought Mrs. Chapman might have known her? No, I’m sure I’ve never heard Sylvia mention that name.”
“Can you tell me anything about Mr. Chapman, Mrs. Merton?”
A rather curious expression came over Mrs. Merton’s face. She said:
“He
was a commercial traveller, I believe, so Mrs. Chapman told me. He travelled abroad for his firm—armaments, I believe. He went all over Europe.”
“Did you ever meet him?”
“No, never. He was at home so seldom, and when he was at home he and Mrs. Chapman didn’t want to bother with outsiders. Very naturally.”
“Do you know if Mrs. Chapman had any near relations or friends?”
“I don’t know about friends. I don’t think she had any near relations. She never spoke of any.”
“Was she ever in India?”
“Not that I know of.”
Mrs. Merton paused, and then broke out:
“But please tell me—why are you asking all these questions? I quite understand that you come from Scotland Yard and all that, but there must be some special reason?”
“Well, Mrs. Merton, you are bound to know some time. As a matter of fact, a dead body has been found in Mrs. Chapman’s flat.”
“Oh—?” Mrs. Merton looked for a moment like the dog whose eyes were as big as saucers.
“A dead body! It wasn’t Mr. Chapman, was it? Or perhaps some foreigner?”
Japp said:
“It wasn’t a man at all—it was a woman.”
“A woman.” Mrs. Merton seemed even more surprised.
Poirot said gently:
“Why should you think it was a man?”
“Oh, I don’t know. It seemed more likely somehow.”
“But why? Was it because Mrs. Chapman was in the habit of receiving gentleman visitors?”
“Oh no—oh no indeed.” Mrs. Merton was indignant. “I never meant anything of that kind. Sylvia Chapman wasn’t in the least that kind of woman—not at all! It was just that, with Mr. Chapman—I mean—”
She came to a stop.
Poirot said:
“I think, Madame, that you know a little more than you have told us.”
