two hours, I should say. You'll notify the proper

people, won't you?"

He took his departure. Poirot did some necessary

telephoning. Finally, somewhat to my surprise, he rang

up our old friend Inspector Japp, and asked him if he

could possibly come round.

No sooner were these proceedings completed than

Mrs. Pearson appeared, her eyes as round as saucers.

"There's a man here from 'Anwell--from the

'Sylum. Did you ever? Shall I show him up?"

We signified assent, and a big burly man in uniform

was ushered in.

THE BIG FOUR 15

" 'Morning, gentlemen," he said cheerfully. "I've got reason to believe you've got one of my birds here.

Escaped last night, he did."

"He was here," said Poirot quietly.

"Not got away again, has he?" asked the keeper, with some concern.

"He is dead."

The man looked more relieved than otherwise.

"You don't say so. Well, I dare say it's best for all parties."

"Was he--dangerous?"

" 'Omicidal, d'you mean? Oh, no. 'Armless enough.

Persecution mania very acute. Full of secret societies

from China that had got him shut up. They're all the

same."

I shuddered.

"How long had he been shut up?" asked Poirot.

"A matter of two years now."

"I see," said Poirot quietly. "It never occurred to anybody that he might--be sane?"

The keeper permitted himself to laugh.

"If he was sane, what would he be doing in a lunatic asylum? They all say they're sane, you know."

Poirot said no more. He took the man in to see the

body. The identification came immediately.

"That's him--right enough," said the keeper callously;

"funny sort of bloke, ain't he? Well, gentlemen,

I had best go off now and make arrangements under the

circumstances. We won't trouble you with the corpse

much longer. If there's a hinquest, you will have to appear at it, I dare say. Good morning, sir."

With a rather uncouth bow he shambled out of the

room.

A few minutes later Japp arrived. The Scotland Yard

Inspector was jaunty and dapper as usual.

16 Agatha Christie

"Here I am Moosior Poirot. What can I do for you?

Thought you were off to the coral strands of somewhere

or other today?"

"My good Japp, I want to know if you have ever seen this man before."

He led Japp into the bedroom. The inspector stared

down at the figure on the bed with a puzzled face.

"Let me see now--he seems sort of familiar--and I

pride myself on my memory, too. Why, God bless my

soul, it's Mayerling!"

"And who is--or was--Mayerling?"

"Secret Service chap--not one of our people. Went to Russia five years ago. Never heard of again. Always

thought the Bolshies had done him in."

"It all fits in," said Poirot, when Japp had taken his leave, "except for the fact that he seems to have died a natural death."

He stood looking down on the motionless figure with

a dissatisfied frown. A puff of wind set the window-curtains flying out, and he looked up sharply.