Alice Adams

In the novel One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, Mrs Alice Adams is a friend of Mabelle Sainsbury Seale. After Mabelle's disappearance, the police found letters from some of Mabelle's friends including one from Mrs Adams. Chief Inspector Japp and Poirot called on the Adams at their address in West Hampstead to get some background information on Mabelle.

The Adams had lived in India for a number of years and knew Mabelle well. They spoke warmly of her but had not seen her for more than a month. At that time, Mabelle had been staying at a hotel in Russell Square. The Adams also gave the addresses of some other friends of Mabelle who lived in Streatham but these contacts could not add much to what was already known about her.

Poirot called on Mrs Adams a second time to understand more about Mabelle's character. According to Mrs Adams, Mabelle had never mentioned her friend Sylvia Chapman to her. Nor did Mrs Adams think that Mabelle knew Alistair Blunt or had met him in India. If Mabelle had known someone of this importance, this would be something she was sure to mention. Mrs Adams did not recommend the dentist Henry Morley to Mabelle. Her own dentist was Mr French of Harley Street. Had Mabelle wanted a recommendation, she would have suggested Mr French.

On Mabelle's character, Mrs Adams told Poirot that she said that Mabelle always appeared to be "so much in earnest over everything". Mabelle was constantly lamenting how difficult it was to get subscriptions out of people for her charitable works. Significantly. Mrs Adams related a remark of Mabelles to the effect that if only people knew what good money could do. Mabelle had added: "... sometimes Alice, I feel I would commit a crime to get it."