... i ^

Shan Tung would be returned the same

evening alive and well, but that if—if

afterwards I went to the police, it would be

Shan Tung who would suffer for it — "

Miss Carnaby murmured tearfully:

"Oh dear, I'm so afraid that even now —

of course, M. Poirot isn't exactly the

police — "

Lady Hoggin said anxiously:

"So you see, Mr. Poirot, you will have to

be very careful."

Hercule Poirot was quick to allay her

anxiety.

"But I, I am not of the police. My

inquiries, they will be conducted very

discreetly, very quietly. You can be assured,

Lady Hoggin, that Shan Tung will be

perfectly safe. That I will guarantee."

Both ladies seemed relieved by the

magic word. Poirot went on: "You have

here the letter?"

Lady Hoggin shook her head.

"No, I was instructed to enclose it with

the money."

"And you did so ?"

"Yes."

"H'm, that is a pity."

Miss Carnaby said brightly:

26

"But I have the dog lead still. Shall I

get it ?"

She left the room. Hercule Poirot profited

by her absence to ask a few pertinent

questions.

"Amy Carnaby ? Oh! she's quite all right.

A good soul, though foolish, of course. I

have had several companions and they have

all been complete fools. But Amy was

devoted to Shan Tung and she was terribly

upset over the whole thing — as well she

might be—hanging over perambulators

and neglecting my little sweetheart! These

old maids are all the same, idiotic over

babies! No, Ym quite sure she had nothing

whatever to do with it."

"It does not seem likely," Poirot agreed.

"But as the dog disappeared when in her

charge one must make quite certain of her

honesty. She has been with you long ?"

"Nearly a year. I had excellent references

with her. She was with old Lady Hartingfield

until she died — ten years, I believe.

After that she looked after an invalid sister

for a while. She is really an excellent

creature — but a complete fool, as I said."

Amy Camaby returned at this minute,

slightly more out of breath, and produced

,. i 27

the cut dog lead which she handed to

Poirot with the utmost solemnity, looking

at him with hopeful expectancy.

Poirot surveyed it carefully.

"Mais oui^ he said. "This has undoubtedly

been cut."

The two women still waited expectantly. He said:

"I will keep this."

Solemnly he put it in his pocket. The

two women breathed a sigh of relief. He had

clearly done what was expected of him.

Ill

It was the habit of Hercule Poirot to leave

nothing untested.

Though on the face of it it seemed

unlikely that Miss Carnaby was anything

but the foolish and rather muddleheaded

woman that she appeared to be, Poirot

nevertheless managed to interview a somewhat

forbidding lady who was the niece of

the late Lady Hartingfield.

"Amy Camaby ?" said Miss Maltravers. "Of course, remember her perfectly. She was a good soul and suited Aunt Julia down