are only two nights on which the radium will be there." Very cautiously we turned the key in the garden door.

It opened noiselessly and we stepped into the garden.

And then, with complete unexpectedness, the blow

fell. In a minute we were surrounded, gagged and

bound. At least ten men must have been waiting for us.

Resistance was useless. Like two helpless bundles we

were lifted up and carried along. To my intense astonishment, they took us towards the house and not away

from it. With a key they opened the door into the laboratory and carried us into it. One of the men stooped

down before the big safe. The door of it swung open. I

THE BIG FOUR 69

felt an unpleasant sensation down my spine. Were they

going to bundle us into it, and leave us there to asphyxiate slowly?

However, to my amazement, I saw that from the inside

of the safe steps led down beneath the floor. We

were thrust down this narrow way and eventually came

out into a big subterranean chamber. A woman stood

there, tall and imposing, with a black velvet mask covering her face. She was clearly in command of the situation

by her gestures of authority. The men slung us

down on the floor and left us--alone with the mysterious creature in the mask. I had no doubt who she was.

This was the unknown Frenchwoman--Number Three

of the Big Four.

She knelt down beside us and removed the gags, but

left us bound, then rising and facing us, with a sudden

swift gesture she removed her mask.

It was Madame Olivier!

"M. Poirot," she said, in a low mocking tone. "The great, the wonderful, the unique M. Poirot. I sent a

warning to you yesterday morning. You chose to disregard it--you thought you could pit your wits against

US. And now, you are here!"

There was a cold malignity about her that froze me to

the marrow. It was so at variance with the burning fire

of her eyes. She was mad--mad--with the madness of

genius!

Poirot said nothing. His jaw had dropped, and he was

staring at her.

"Well," she said softly, "this is the end. WE cannot permit our plans to be interfered with. Have you any

last request to make?"

Never before, or since, have I felt so near death.

Poirot was magnificent. He neither flinched nor paled,

just stared at her with unabated interest.

70 Agatha Christie

"Your psychology interests me enormously, madame," he said quietly. "It is a pity that I have so short a time to devote to studying it. Yes, I have a request

to make. A condemned man is always allowed a last

smoke, I believe. I have my cigarette case on me. If you would permit--" He looked down at his bonds.

"Ah, yes!" she laughed. "You would like me to untie your hands, would you not? You are clever, M. Hercule

Poirot, I know that. I shall not untie your hands--but I will find you a cigarette."