thing. There are four daughters and they

are all a bit wild--driven to it with a

father like that, I should say. And it's a

bad part of the county where they live - armaments works nearby and a lot of money--none of the old-fashioned

country feeling--a rich crowd and most

of them pretty vicious. The girls have got

in with a bad set.33

Hercule Poirot looked at him thoughtfully

for some minutes. Then he said:

"I perceive now why you desired my

presence. You want me to take the affair

in hand ?33

"Would you ? I feel I ought to do something

about it --but I confess I'd like to

keep Sheila Grant out of the limelight if

I could.33

"That can be managed I fancy. I should

like to see the young lady."

"Come along.33

He led the way out of the room. A voice

called fretfully from the door opposite.

"Doctor--for God's sake, doctor, I'm

going crazy.33

297

Stoddart went into the room. Poirot

followed. It was a bedroom in a complete

state of chaos --powder spilled on the

floor --pots and jars everywhere, clothes

flung about. On the bed was a woman with

unnaturally blonde hair and a vacant, vicious face. She called out:

"I've got insects crawling all over me.

... I have. I swear I have. I'm going mad.

. . . For God's sake, give me a shot of

something."

Dr. Stoddart stood by the bed, his tone

was soothing --professional.

Hercule Poirot went quietly out of the

room. There was another door opposite

him. He opened that.

It was a tiny room --a mere slip of a

room--plainly furnished. On the bed a

slim, girlish figure lay motionless.

Hercule Poirot tip-toed to the side of

the bed and looked down upon the girl.

Dark hair, a long, pale face--and-yes, young --very young.... A gleam of white showed between the

girl's lids. Her eyes opened, startled, frightened eyes. She stared, sat up, tossing her head in an effort to throw back the

thick mane of blue-black hair. She looked

298

like a frightened filly—she shrank away

a little—as a wild animal shrinks when

it is suspicious of a stranger who offers it

food.

She said—and her voice was young

and thin and abrupt:

"Who the hell are you ?"

"Do not be afraid. Mademoiselle."

"Where's Dr. Stoddart ?"

That young man came into the room at

that minute. The girl said with a note of

relief in her voice:

"Oh! there you are! Who's this ?"

"This is a friend of mine, Sheila. How

are you feeling now ?"

The girl said:

"Awful. Lousy. . . . Why did I take that

foul stuff?"

Stoddart said dryly:

"I shouldn't do it again, if I were you."

"I — I shan't."

Hercule Poirot said:

"Who gave it to you ?"

Her eyes widened, her upper lip twitched

a little. She said:

"It was here — at the party. We all tried

it. It — it was wonderful at first."