also!

"It was quite a small picture, you see," explained Mr. Simpson. "A man could put it under his arm and walk out while everyone

was looking at those miserable idiots

of unemployed."

The men in question, it was discovered, had been paid for their innocent part in the robbery. They were to demonstrate

at Simpson's Galleries. But they had

known nothing of the reason until afterwards.

326

FR1;Hercule Poirot thought that it was an

amusing trick but did not see what he could

do about it. The police, he pointed out, could be trusted to deal with a straightforward robbery.

Alexander Simpson said:

"Listen to me, Poirot. I know who stole

the picture and where it is going."

According to the owner of Simpson's

Galleries it had been stolen by a gang

of international crooks on behalf of a

certain millionaire who was not above

acquiring works of art at a surprisingly

low price--and no questions asked! The

Rubens, said Simpson, would be smuggled

over to France where it would pass into

the millionaire's possession. The English

and French police were on the alert, nevertheless Simpson was of the opinion that they would fail. "And once it has

passed into this dirty dog's possession, it's going to be more difficult. Rich men have to be treated with respect. That's

where you come in. The situation's going

to be delicate. You're the man for that."

Finally, without enthusiasm, Hercule

Poirot was induced to accept the task. He

agreed to depart for France immediately.

LOH22 3^7

He was not very interested in his quest, but because of it, he was introduced to the case of the Missing Schoolgirl which

interested him very much indeed.

He first heard of it from Chief Inspector

Japp who dropped in to see him just as

Poirot was expressing approval of his

valet's packing.

"Ha," said Japp. "Going to France, aren't you ?" Poirot said:

"Mon cher, you are incredibly well

informed at Scotland Yard."

Japp chuckled. He said:

"We have our spies! Simpson's got you

on to this Rubens business. Doesn't trust

us, it seems! Well, that's neither here nor

there, but what I want you to do is something

quite different. As you're going to

Paris anyway, I thought you might as well

kill two birds with one stone. Detective

Inspector Heam's over there cooperating

with the Frenchies --you know Hearn ?

Good chap --but perhaps not very

imaginative. I'd like your opinion on the

business."

"What is this matter of which you

speak ?"

328

"Child's disappeared. It'll be in the

papers this evening. Looks as though she's

been kidnapped. Daughter of a Canon

down at Cranchester. King, her name is, Winnie King." He proceeded with the story.

Winnie had been on her way to Paris,

to join that select and high-class establishment

for English and American girls - Miss Pope's. Winnie had come up from Cranchester by the early train --had been

seen across London by a member of Elder

Sisters Ltd. who undertook such work