employers, madame?"

Again I saw that deathly pallor creep over her face,

but she left his question unanswered.

Instead, "You permit me to telephone?" she asked, and crossing to the instrument she rang up a number.

"The number of the villa," she explained, "where our friend is now imprisoned. You may give it to the

police--the nest will be empty when they arrive. Ah! I

am through. Is that you, Andre? It is I, Inez. The little Belgian knows all. Send Halliday to the hotel, and clear out."

She replaced the receiver, and came towards us, smiling.

"You will accompany us to the hotel, madame."

THE BIG FOUR 57

"Naturally. I expected that."

I got a taxi, and we drove off together. I could see by

Poirot's face that he was perplexed. The thing was

almost too easy. We arrived at the hotel. The porter

came up to us.

"A gentleman has arrived. He is in your rooms. He

seems very ill. A nurse came with him, but she has left."

"That is all right," said Poirot, "he is a friend of mine."

We went upstairs together. Sitting in a chair by the

window was a haggard young fellow who looked in the

last stages of exhaustion. Poirot went over to him.

"Are you John Halliday?" The man nodded. "Show me your left arm. John Halliday has a mole just below

the left elbow."

The man stretched out his arm. The mole was there.

Poirot bowed to the countess. She turned and left the

room.

A glass of brandy revived Halliday somewhat.

"My God!" he muttered. "I have been through hell

--hell. . . . Those fiends are devils incarnate. My wife, where is she? What does she think? They told me that

she would believe--would believe--"

"She does not," said Poirot firmly. "Her faith in you has never wavered. She is waiting for you--she and the

child."

"Thank God for that. I can hardly believe that I am free once more."

"Now that you are a little recovered, monsieur, I

should like to hear the whole story from the beginning." Halliday looked at him with an indescribable expression.

"I remember--nothing," he said.

"What?"

"Have you ever heard of the Big Four?"

58 Agatha Christie

"Something of them," said Poirot dryly.

"You do not know what I know. They have unlimited

power. If I remain silent, I shall be safe--if I say one word--not only I, but my nearest and dearest will suffer unspeakable things. It is no good arguing with me. / know.... I remember--nothing." And, getting up, he walked from the room.

Poirot's face wore a baffled expression.

"So it is like that, is it?" he muttered. "The Big Four win again. What is that you are holding in your hand,

Hastings?"

I handed it to him.

"The countess scribbled it before she left," I explained.

He read it.

"Aurevoir.--I.V."

"Signed with her initials--I.V. Just a coincidence, perhaps, that they also stand for Four. \ wonder,

Hastings, I wonder."