some time now, we have been engaged on the task of

elimination. And finally we have boiled the whole thing

down to four names. Here they are, my friend."

He tossed me over a sheet of paper. I read its contents

aloud.

"Ernest Luttrell. Son of a North Country parson.

Always had a kink of some kind in his moral makeup.

Was expelled from his public school. Went on the stage

at the age of twenty-three. (There followed a list of parts he had played, with dates and places.) Addicted to

drugs. Supposed to have gone to Australia four years

ago. Cannot be traced after leaving England. Age 32,

height 5 ft. 10 Vi in., clean-shaven, hair brown, nose

straight, complexion fair, eyes gray.

"John St. Maur. Assumed name. Real name not

known. Believed to be of cockney extraction. On stage

since quite a child. Did music hall impersonations. Not

been heard of for three years. Age, about 33, height 5 ft. 10 in., slim build, blue eyes, fair colouring.

"Austen Lee. Assumed name. Real name Austen

Foly. Good family. Always had taste for acting and distinguished himself in that way at Oxford. Brilliant war

record. Acted in--(The usual list followed. It included

many Repertory plays.) An enthusiast on criminology.

Had bad nervous breakdown as the result of a motor

accident three and a half years ago, and has not appeared on the stage since. No clue to his present whereabouts.

Age 35, height 5 ft. 9Vi in., complexion fair,

eyes blue, hair brown.

"Claud Darrell. Supposed to be real name. Some

mystery about his origin. Played at music halls, and also in Repertory plays. Seems to have had no intimate

friends. Was in China in 1919. Returned by way of

|»j America. Played a few parts in New York. Did not appear on the stage one night, and has never been heard of

since. New York police say most mysterious disappearance. Age about 33, hair brown, fair complexion,

gray eyes. Height 5 ft. 10 Vi in.

"Most interesting," I said, as I laid down the paper.

"And so this is the result of the investigation of

months? These four names. Which of them are you inclined to suspect?"

Poirot made an eloquent gesture.

"Mon ami, for the moment it is an open question. I

would just point out to you that Claud Darrell has been

in China and America--a fact not without significance,

perhaps, but we must not allow ourselves to be unduly

biased by that point. It may be a mere coincidence."

"And the next step?" I asked eagerly.

"Affairs are already in train. Every day cautiously worded advertisements will appear. Friends and relatives of one or the other will be asked to communicate

with my solicitor at his office. Even to-day we might-Aha, the telephone! Probably it is, as usual, the wrong number, and they will regret to have troubled us, but it may be--yes, it may be--that something has arisen." I crossed the room and picked up the receiver.