Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie

comingdown again this weekend. And there’s a stock exchange gentleman after it too. People want quiet nowadays when they come to the country, want to be well away from main roads. That’s all very well for some people, but we attract class here. And that’s what that house has got. Class! You’ve got to admit, they knew how to build for gentlemen in those days. Yes, we shan’t have Littlegreen long on our books.”
    Mr. Gabler, who, it occurred to me, lived up to his name very happily, paused for breath.
    â€œHas it changed hands often in the last few years?” inquired Poirot.
    â€œOn the contrary. Been in one family over fifty years. Name of Arundell. Very much respected in the town. Ladies of the old school.”
    He shot up, opened the door and called:
    â€œParticulars of Littlegreen House, Miss Jenkins. Quickly now.”
    He returned to the desk.
    â€œI require a house about this distance from London,” said Poirot. “In the country, but not in the dead country, if you understand me—”
    â€œPerfectly—perfectly. Too much in the country doesn’t do. Servants don’t like it for one thing. Here, you have the advantages of the country but not the disadvantages.” Miss Jenkins flitted in with a typewritten sheet of paper which she placed in front of her employer who dismissed her with a nod.
    â€œHere we are,” said Mr. Gabler, reading with practised rapidity. “Period House of character: four recep., eight bed and dressing, usual offices, commodious kitchen premises, ample outbuildings, stables, etc. Main water, old-world gardens, inexpensive upkeep,amounting in all to three acres, two summerhouses, etc., etc. Price £2,850 or near offer.”
    â€œYou can give me an order to view?”
    â€œCertainly, my dear sir.” Mr. Gabler began writing in a flourishing fashion. “Your name and address?”
    Slightly to my surprise, Poirot gave his name as Mr. Parotti.
    â€œWe have one or two other properties on our books which might interest you,” Mr. Gabler went on.
    Poirot allowed him to add two further additions.
    â€œLittlegreen House can be viewed anytime?” he inquired.
    â€œCertainly, my dear sir. There are servants in residence. I might perhaps ring up to make certain. You will be going there immediately? Or after lunch?”
    â€œPerhaps after lunch would be better.”
    â€œCertainly—certainly. I’ll ring up and tell them to expect you about two o’clock—eh? Is that right?”
    â€œThank you. Did you say the owner of the house—a Miss Arundell, I think you said?”
    â€œLawson. Miss Lawson. That is the name of the present owner. Miss Arundell, I am sorry to say, died a short time ago. That is how the place has come into the market. And I can assure you it will be snapped up. Not a doubt of it. Between you and me, just in confidence, if you do think of making an offer I should make it quickly. As I’ve told you, there are two gentlemen after it already, and I shouldn’t be surprised to get an offer for it any day from one or other of them. Each of them knows the other’s after it, you see. And there’s no doubt that competition spurs a man on. Ha, ha! I shouldn’t like you to be disappointed.”
    â€œMiss Lawson is anxious to sell, I gather.”
    Mr. Gabler lowered his voice confidentially.
    â€œThat’s just it. The place is larger than she wants—one middle-aged lady living by herself. She wants to get rid of this and take a house in London. Quite understandable. That’s why the place is going so ridiculously cheap.”
    â€œShe would be open, perhaps, to an offer?”
    â€œThat’s the idea, sir. Make an offer and set the ball rolling. But you can take it from me that there will be no difficulty in getting a price very near the figure named. Why, it’s ridiculous! To build a house like that nowadays would cost every