TO my extreme annoyance, Poirot was not in, old Belgian who answered my knock informed me that he believed he had gone to London

dumbfounded What on earth could Poirot be doing in London ! sudden decision part, or had he already made up his mind when he parted from me few hours earlier ?

I retraced my steps to Styles in some annoyance With Poirot away, uncertain how to act Had he foreseen this arrest ? Had he not, in all probability, been the cause of it ? Those questions resolve But meantime I ? Should I announce the arrest openly at Styles, or not ? Though acknowledge it to myself, the thought of Mary Cavendish was weighing on me Would it not be terrible shock to her ? moment, I set aside utterly any suspicions of her implicated -- otherwise heard some hint of it

, no possibility of being able permanently to conceal Dr Bauerstein's arrest from her It announced in every newspaper morrow Still, I shrank from blurting it out If only Poirot accessible, asked his advice What possessed him posting off to London unaccountable way ?

of myself, my opinion sagacity was immeasurably heightened never have dreamt of suspecting the doctor, Poirot put it into my head Yes, decidedly, the little man was clever

After some reflecting, I decided John into my confidence, and leave him to matter public or not, as he thought fit

vent to prodigious whistle, as I imparted the news

"Great Scot ! You were right, then I couldn't believe it ''

"No, astonishing until you get used idea, how it makes everything fit in Now, we ? , generally known to-morrow ''

John reflected

"Never mind,'' at last, "we won't say anything at present no need say, known soon enough ''

But to my intense surprise, on getting down early the next morning, and eagerly opening the newspapers, not word arrest ! column of mere padding about "The Styles Poisoning Case,'' but nothing further rather inexplicable, but I supposed that, for some reason or other, Japp wished it papers It worried me just little, suggested the possibility that further arrests

After breakfast, I decided down village, if Poirot had returned yet; but, before start, well-known face blocked windows, well-known voice said:

"Bon jour, mon ami ! ''

"Poirot,'' I exclaimed, with relief, and seizing him by both hands, I dragged him room " never so anyone Listen, said nothing to anybody but John right ? ''

"My friend,'' replied Poirot, " know what talking about ''

"Dr Bauerstein's arrest, ,'' I answered impatiently

"Is Bauerstein arrested, then ? ''

"Did you not know it ? ''

"Not the least '' But, pausing moment, he added: "Still, it surprise me After all, only four miles coast ''

"The coast ? '' I asked, puzzled "What got with it ? ''

Poirot shrugged his shoulders

"Surely, obvious ! ''

"Not very dense, but I what the proximity coast has got murder of Mrs Inglethorp ''

"Nothing at all, ,'' replied Poirot, smiling "But we were speaking arrest of Dr Bauerstein ''

"Well, arrested murder of Mrs Inglethorp -- -- ''

"What ? '' cried Poirot, in apparently lively astonishment "Dr Bauerstein arrested murder of Mrs Inglethorp ? ''

"Yes ''

"Impossible ! too good farce ! Who told you that, my friend ? ''

"Well, no one exactly told me,'' I confessed "But arrested ''

"Oh, yes, very likely But for espionage, mon ami ''

"Espionage ? '' I gasped

"Precisely ''

"Not for poisoning Mrs Inglethorp ? ''

"Not unless our friend Japp has taken leave senses,'' replied Poirot placidly

"But -- but you thought so too ? ''

Poirot one look, which conveyed wondering pity, full sense utter absurdity an idea

" ,'' I asked, slowly adapting myself new idea, "that Dr Bauerstein is spy ? ''

Poirot nodded

" never suspected it ? ''

"It never entered my head ''

"It strike you as peculiar that famous London doctor should bury himself in little village like this, and habit of walking about at all hours night, fully dressed ? ''

"No,'' I confessed, "I never thought thing ''

" , , German by birth,'' said Poirot thoughtfully, "though he has practiced country that nobody thinks of him as anything but an Englishman naturalized about fifteen very clever man -- Jew, ''

"The blackguard ! '' I cried indignantly

"Not at all , contrary, patriot Think what he stands to lose I admire the man myself ''

But look at it in Poirot's philosophical way

"And man Mrs Cavendish wandering about all over the country ! '' I cried indignantly

"Yes fancy he had found her very useful,'' remarked Poirot " as gossip busied itself in coupling their names together, vagaries doctor's passed unobserved ''

"Then he never really cared for her ? '' I asked eagerly -- rather too eagerly, perhaps, under the circumstances

"That, , I , but -- shall I tell you my own private opinion, Hastings ? ''

"Yes ''

"Well, it : that Mrs Cavendish care, and never has cared one little jot about Dr Bauerstein ! ''

" really think so ? '' disguise my pleasure

" of it tell you why ''

"Yes ? ''

"Because she cares for some one else, mon ami ''

"Oh ! '' What did he mean ? of myself, an agreeable warmth spread over me not vain man where women are concerned, but I remembered certain evidences, too lightly thought of , perhaps, but which certainly seemed to indicate -- --

My pleasing thoughts were interrupted sudden entrance of Miss Howard She glanced round hastily sure no one else room, and quickly produced an old sheet of brown paper This she handed to Poirot, murmuring as she did so the cryptic words:

"On top wardrobe '' Then she hurriedly left the room

Poirot unfolded the sheet of paper eagerly, and uttered an exclamation of satisfaction He spread it out table

"Come here, Hastings Now tell me, what initial -- J or L ? ''

medium sized sheet of paper, rather dusty, it had lain by for But it label that was attracting Poirot's attention top, it bore the printed stamp of Messrs Parkson's, the well-known theatrical costumiers, and addressed to " -- (the debatable initial) Cavendish, Esq , Styles Court, Styles St Mary, Essex ''

"It T , or it L ,'' , after studying the thing for minute or two "It certainly isn't J ''

"Good,'' replied Poirot, folding up the paper again "I, also, am of your way of thinking an L , depend upon it ! ''

"Where did it come from ? '' I asked curiously " important ? ''

"Moderately so It confirms surmise Having deduced its existence, I set Miss Howard to search , and, as , she successful ''

"What did she mean by ' top wardrobe' ? ''

"She meant,'' replied Poirot promptly, "that she found it on top of wardrobe ''

"A funny place for piece of brown paper,'' I mused

"Not at all The top of wardrobe is an excellent place for brown paper and cardboard boxes kept them there myself Neatly arranged, nothing to offend the eye ''

"Poirot,'' I asked earnestly, " up your mind crime ? ''

"Yes -- , I believe how committed ''

"Ah ! ''

"Unfortunately, no proof beyond my surmise, unless -- -- '' With sudden energy, he caught me arm, and whirled me down the hall, calling out in French excitement: "Mademoiselle Dorcas, Mademoiselle Dorcas, un moment, s'il vous pla ? t ! ''

Dorcas, quite flurried noise, came hurrying pantry

"My good Dorcas, an idea -- little idea -- should prove justified, what magnificent chance ! Tell me, on Monday, not Tuesday, Dorcas, but Monday, the day tragedy, did anything go wrong with Mrs Inglethorp's bell ? ''

Dorcas looked very surprised

"Yes, sir, now you mention it, it did; though I don't know how you came to hear of it mouse, or some such, nibbled the wire through The man came and put it right on Tuesday morning ''

With long drawn exclamation of ecstasy, Poirot led the way back morning-room

"See you, one ask for outside proof -- no, reason enough But the flesh is weak, consolation that one is right track Ah, my friend, like giant refreshed I run ! I leap ! ''