have stolen the jade and made off with it instead of

committing a brutal and quite purposeless murder. Ah,

yes; I fear our Devonshire friend has not used his little gray cells. He has measured footprints, and has omitted

to reflect and arrange his ideas with the necessary order and method."

^<«-<«->»>»<

4

^e Importance of a JLeQ of .Mutton

The Inspector drew a key from his pocket and unlocked

the door of Granite Bungalow. The day had been fine

and dry, so our feet were not likely to leave any prints; nevertheless, we wiped them carefully on the mat before

entering.

A woman came up out of the gloom and spoke to the

Inspector, and he turned aside. Then he spoke over his

shoulder.

"Have a good look round, Mr. Poirot, and see all

there is to be seen. I'll be back in about ten minutes. By the way, here's Grant's boot. I brought it along with me for you to compare the impressions."

We went into the living-room, and the sound of the

Inspector's footsteps died away outside. Ingles was attracted immediately by some Chinese curios on a table

in the corner, and went over to examine them. He

seemed to take no interest in Poirot's doings. I, on the 31

32 Agatha Christie

other hand, watched him with breathless interest. The

floor was covered with a dark-green linoleum which

was ideal for showing up footprints. A door at the farther end led into the small kitchen. From there another

door led into the scullery (where the back door was

situated), and another into the bedroom which had been

occupied by Robert Grant. Having explored the ground,

Poirot commented upon it in a low running monologue.

"Here is where the body lay; that big dark stain and the splashes all around mark the spot. Traces of carpet

slippers and 'number nine' boots, you observe, but all

very confused. Then two sets of tracks leading to and

from the kitchen; whoever the murderer was, he came in

that way. You have the boot, Hastings? Give it to me." He compared it carefully with the prints. "Yes, both made by the same man, Robert Grant. He came in that

way, killed the old man, and went back to the kitchen.

He had stepped in the blood; see the stains he left as he went out? Nothing to be seen in the kitchen--all the

village has been walking about in it. He went into his

own room--no, first he went back again to the scene of

the crime--was that to get the little jade figures? Or had he forgotten something that might incriminate him?"

"Perhaps he killed the old man the second time he

went in?" I suggested.

"Mais non, you do not observe. On one of the outgoing footmarks stained with blood there is superimposed

an ingoing one. I wonder what he went back for--the

little jade figures as an afterthought? It is all ridiculous

--stupid."

"Well, he's given himself away pretty hopelessly."