He seemed an intelligent man. A certain primness of

manner went well with his pince-nez, but I fancied that

he would be thoroughly modern in his methods.

"I wish I could remember about the window," he said frankly. "But it's dangerous to think back, one becomes quite positive about something that never

existed. That's psychology, isn't it, M. Poirot? You see, I've read all about your methods, and I may say I'm an

enormous admirer of yours. No, I suppose it's pretty

certain that the Chinaman put the powdered opium in

the curry, but he'll never admit it, and we shall never

know why. But holding a man down in a fire—that's

not in keeping with our Chinese friend's character, it

seems to me."

I commented on this last point to Poirot as we walked

down the main street of Market Handford.

"Do you think he let a confederate in?" I asked. "By the way, I suppose Japp can be trusted to keep an eye on him?" (The Inspector had passed into the police station on some business or other.) "The emissaries of the Big Four are pretty spry."

"Japp is keeping an eye on both of them," said Poirot grimly. "They have been closely shadowed ever since the body was discovered."

THE BIG FOUR 103

"Well, at any rate we know that Gerald Paynter had

nothing to do with it."

"You always know so much more than I do, Hastings,

that it becomes quite fatiguing."

"You old fox," I laughed. "You never will commit yourself."

"To be honest, Hastings, the case is now quite clear to me--all but the words, Yellow Jasmine--and I am

coming to agree with you that they have no bearing on

the crime. In a case of this kind, you have got to make up your mind who is lying. I have done that. And yet-"

He suddenly darted from my side and entered an adjacent

bookshop. He emerged a few minutes later, hugging

a parcel. Then Japp rejoined us, and we all sought

quarters at the inn.

I slept late the next morning. When I descended to the

sitting-room reserved for us, I found Poirot already

there, pacing up and down, his face contorted with

agony.

"Do not converse with me," he cried, waving an agitated hand. "Not until I know that all is well--that the

arrest is made. Ah! but my psychology has been weak.

Hastings, if a man writes a dying message, it is because it is important. Every one has said--'Yellow Jasmine?

There is yellow jasmine growing up the house--it means

nothing.' "

"Well, what does it mean? Just what it says. Listen." He held up a little book he was holding.

"My friend, it struck me that it would be well to inquire into the subject. What exactly is yellow jasmine?

This little book has told me. Listen."

He read.

" 'Gelsemini Radix. Yellow Jasmine. Composition:

ll^l

104 Agatha Christie

Alkaloids gelseminine CziHigNiOa, a potent poison

acting like coniine; gelsemine CnH^NOi, acting like