and looked exactly like a butcher's man. At this description Poirot shrugged his shoulders philosophically.

"It is as I tell you, Hastings," he said to me, after the trial. "He is an artist, this one. He disguises himself not with the false beard and the blue spectacles. He alters

his features, yes; but that is the least part. For the time being he is the man he would be. He lives in his part." Certainly I was compelled to admit that the man who

had visited us from Hanwell had fitted in exactly with

my idea of what an Asylum attendant should look like. I

should never for a moment have dreamt of doubting

that he was genuine.

It was all a little discouraging, and our experience on

Dartmoor did not seem to have helped us at all. I said as much to Poirot, but he would not admit that we had

gained nothing.

"We progress," he said; "we progress. At every contact with this man we learn a little of his mind and his

methods. Of us and our plans he knows nothing."

"And there, Poirot." I protested, "he and I seem to be in the same boat. You don't seem to me to have any

plans, you seem to sit and wait for him to do something."

Poirot smiled.

"Mon ami, you do not change. Always the same

Hastings, who would be up and at their throats. Perhaps," he added, as a knock sounded on the door, "you

have here your chance; it may be our friend who

enters." And he laughed at my disappointment when

Inspector Japp and another man entered the room.

"Good evening, moosior," said the Inspector.

"Allow me to introduce Captain Kent of the United

States Secret Service."

Captain Kent was a tall, lean American, with a

FR1;THE BIG FOUR 43

singularly impassive face which looked as though it had

been carved out of wood.

"Pleased to meet you, gentlemen," he murmured, as he shook hands jerkily.

Poirot threw an extra log on the fire, and brought forward more easy-chairs. I brought out glasses and the

whisky and soda. The captain took a deep draught, and

expressed appreciation.

"Legislation in your country is still sound," he observed.

"And now to business," said Japp. "Moosior Poirot here made a certain request to me. He was interested in

some concern that went by the name of the Big Four,

and he asked me to let him know at any time if I came

across a mention of it in my official line of business. I didn't take much stock in the matter, but I remembered

what he said, and when the captain here came over with

rather a curious story, I said at once, 'We'll go round to Moosior Polrot's.' "

Poirot looked across at Captain Kent, and the American

took up the tale.

"You may remember reading, M. Poirot, that a

number of torpedo boats and destroyers were sunk by

being dashed upon the rocks off the American coast. It