And, in very truth, run and leap , gambolling wildly down the stretch of lawn outside the long window

" your remarkable little friend doing ? '' asked voice behind me, and I turned Mary Cavendish at my elbow She smiled, and so did I " it all about ? ''

"Really, 't tell you He asked Dorcas some question about bell, and appeared so delighted with her answer that capering about as ! ''

Mary laughed

"How ridiculous ! He's going gate Isn't he coming back to-day ? ''

"I don't know I've given up trying to guess what he'll do next ''

"Is he quite mad, Mr Hastings ? ''

"I honestly don't know Sometimes, as mad as hatter; and then, just as at his maddest, method madness ''

" ''

of her laugh, Mary was looking thoughtful She seemed grave, almost sad

It occurred good opportunity to tackle her of Cynthia I began rather tactfully, , but I gone far before she stopped me authoritatively

" an excellent advocate, , Mr Hastings, but in your talents are quite thrown away Cynthia will run no risk of encountering any unkindness from me ''

I began to stammer feebly that I hoped she hadn't thought -- But again she stopped me, and her words were so unexpected quite drove Cynthia, and her troubles, out mind

" Mr Hastings,'' she said, " I and my husband are happy together ? ''

considerably taken aback, and murmured something 's not being my business anything sort

"Well,'' she said quietly, "whether your business or not, tell you that happy ''

nothing, for that she finished

She began slowly, walking up and down the room, her head little bent, slim, supple figure of hers swaying gently as she walked She stopped suddenly, and looked up at me

"You don't know anything about me, ? '' she asked "Where I come from, who before I married John -- anything, ? Well, tell you make father confessor of you kind, -- yes, kind ''

Somehow, not quite as elated as I I remembered that Cynthia had begun her confidences in much the same way Besides, father confessor elderly, at all the r ? le for young man

"My father was English,'' said Mrs Cavendish, "but my mother was Russian ''

"Ah,'' , "now I understand -- ''

"Understand what ? ''

"A hint of something foreign -- different -- that there has always been about you ''

"My mother was very beautiful, I believe I don't know, because I never saw her She died when quite little child I believe some tragedy connected with her death -- she took an overdose of some sleeping draught by mistake However , my father was broken-hearted Shortly afterwards, he went Consular Service Everywhere he went, I went When twenty-three, I nearly all over the world splendid life -- I loved it ''

smile on her face, and her head was thrown back She seemed living memory old glad days

"Then my father died He left me very badly off I had and live with some old aunts in Yorkshire '' She shuddered " understand me when deadly life for girl brought up as I The narrowness, the deadly monotony of it, almost drove me mad '' She paused minute, and added in different tone: "And then I met John Cavendish ''

"Yes ? ''

" imagine that, from my aunts' point of view, match But honestly say not this fact which weighed with me No, simply way of escape insufferable monotony life ''

nothing, and after moment, she went on:

"Don't misunderstand me quite honest him, true, that I liked him , that I hoped to like him more, but that not in what the world calls 'in love' He declared that that satisfied him, and so -- we were married ''

She waited , little frown had gathered on her forehead She seemed looking back earnestly into those past days

" -- -- he cared at first But I suppose we well matched Almost at once, we drifted apart He -- pleasing thing pride, but truth -- tired of me '' made some murmur of dissent, for she went on quickly: "Oh, yes, ! Not matters now -- now that we've come parting ways ''

"What ? ''

She answered quietly:

"I mean that not going to remain at Styles ''

"You and John going to live here ? ''

"John may live here, but ''

" going to leave him ? ''

"Yes ''

"But why ? ''

She paused , and said at last:

"Perhaps -- because -- free ! ''

And, as she spoke, I had sudden vision of broad spaces, virgin tracts of forests, untrodden lands -- and realization of what freedom would mean to such nature as Mary Cavendish I seemed her for moment as she was, proud wild creature, as untamed by civilization as some shy bird hills little cry broke from her lips:

"You don't know, you don't know, how this hateful place prison ! ''

"I understand,'' , "but -- but don't do anything rash ''

"Oh, rash ! '' Her voice mocked at my prudence

Then suddenly thing bitten out my tongue for:

" that Dr Bauerstein arrested ? ''

An instant coldness passed like mask over her face, blotting out all expression

"John was so kind break that ''

"Well, what ? '' I asked feebly

"Of what ? ''

" arrest ? ''

"What should ? Apparently German spy; so the gardener had told John ''

Her face and voice were absolutely cold and expressionless Did she care, or did she not ?

She moved away step or two, and fingered flower vases

"These are quite dead do them again Would you mind moving -- , Mr Hastings '' And she walked quietly past me window, with cool little nod of dismissal

No, surely care for Bauerstein No woman could act her part icy unconcern

Poirot make his appearance the following morning, and no sign Scotland Yard men

But, at lunch-time, there arrived new piece of evidence -- or rather lack of evidence We had vainly tried to trace the fourth letter, which Mrs Inglethorp had written evening preceding her death Our efforts having been in vain, we had abandoned the matter, hoping might turn up of itself one day And just what did happen, shape of communication, which arrived second post from firm of French music publishers, acknowledging Mrs Inglethorp's cheque, and regretting they unable to trace certain series of Russian folksongs So the last hope of solving the mystery, of Mrs Inglethorp's correspondence fatal evening, had abandoned

Just before tea, I strolled down Poirot new disappointment, but found, to my annoyance, that once more out

"Gone to London again ? ''

"Oh, no, monsieur, he has but taken the train to Tadminster ' young lady's dispensary,' ''

"Silly ass ! '' I ejaculated " him Wednesday one day she wasn't there ! Well, tell him to look us up tomorrow morning, ? ''

"Certainly, monsieur ''

But, following day, no sign of Poirot getting angry really treating us most cavalier fashion

After lunch, Lawrence drew me aside, and asked if going down him

"No, I don't think come up here if us ''

"Oh ! '' Lawrence looked indeterminate Something unusually nervous and excited manner roused my curiosity

" it ? '' I asked " go if there's anything special ''

"It's nothing much, but -- well, going, tell him -- '' he dropped his voice to whisper -- " I've found the extra coffee-cup ! ''

I had almost forgotten that enigmatical message of Poirot's, but now my curiosity was aroused afresh

Lawrence would say no more, so I decided that descend from my high horse, and once more seek out Poirot at Leastways Cottage

received with smile Monsieur Poirot was within Would I mount ? I mounted accordingly

Poirot was sitting table, his head buried hands He sprang up at my entrance