hercule poirot is a private detective. >> i know that. and i just told you i want you to find my cook for me. walked out of the house on wednesday without so much as a bye-your-leave and never came back. >> i am sorry, madame, but i do not touch that particular kind of business. i wish you good day. >> so that's it, is it? too proud, eh? only deal with government secrets and countesses' jewels? well let me tell you, mr. high and mighty poirot, a good cook's a good cook. and when you lose one, it's as much to you as pearls are to some fine lady. >> madame, you are in the right and i am in the wrong. your remarks are just and intelligent. this case will be a novelty, hastings. never before have we hunted a missing domestique. truly here is the problem of national importance. wonderful. where do you reside, mrs. todd? >> 88 prince albert rd., clapham. >> you said this jewel of a cook, went out on wednesday and did not return? >> wednesday, yes. it was her day off. >> and the day before yesterday. has it occurred to you, madame, that she migh

>> i am hercule poirot. who are you? >> sarge, there's some french gent at the door. >> no, no, no, no, no. i am not some french gent. i am some belgian gent. >> oh, well, well. if it isn't mr. poirot. >> it is. is the lady of the house in? >> the chief inspector's here. >> mr. poirot! >> ah, mrs. todd, good morning. >> i don't know how you have the impertinence to show your face here again. >> but, mrs. todd-- >> you were paid off, mr. poirot. you were paid off handsomely. >> well... >> and then look at this. we've got police who are crawling all over the house. >> you're not so popular in clapham this morning, poirot. a bit of a wild goose chase this. as far as we can ascertain, this mr. simpson of yours is a perfect and respectable young bank employee who happens to have gone home to his family. we have the shropshire constabulary checking that at the moment. >> i only wanted to ask-- >> no! >> well, perhaps you'll be interested to know-- >> no, i wouldn't! good day, mr. poirot. >> poirot. >> annie, i need to ask you