In the novel The A.B.C. Murders, Bert Smith is the brother of the landlady Mrs Marbury. He lives in Canada, but visited arrived unexpectedly in England to visit his sister in 21 June 1935. His sister wanted to give him a bed but had none to spare. Lily Marbury suggested that Bert could take the room of Mr Cust since he was away. Mrs Marnury however refused because that would not be fair to her guest. The incident allowed the police to trace the exact date Cust was away from his lodging by cross-reference the date Bert Smith's ship had docked at Southampton.