Hearn nodded.

"He said you were coming over on some

other business, and that you'd give us a

hand with this puzzle. But I didn't expect

you now it's all cleared up. I thought you'd

be busy on your own job."

Hercule Poirot said:

"My own business can wait. It is this

affair here that interests me. You called it a

puzzle, and you say it is now ended. But

the puzzle is still there, it seems."

"Well, sir, we've got the child back.

335

And she's not hurt. That's the main thing."

"But it does not solve the problem of how you got her back, does it ? What does she herself say? A doctor saw her, did

he not ? What did he say ?"

"Said she'd been doped. She was still

hazy with it. Apparently, she can't remember

anything much after starting off from

Cranchester. All later events seem to have

been wiped out. Doctor thinks she might

possibly have had slight concussion.

There's a bruise on the back of her head.

Says that would account for a complete

blackout of memory."

Poirot said:

"Which is very convenient for --someone!"

Inspector Hearn said in a doubtful

voice:

"You don't think she is shamming,

sir ?"

"Do you ?"

"No, I'm sure she isn't. She's a nice

kid --a bit young for her age."

"No, she is not shamming." Poirot

shook his head. "But I would like to know how she got off that train. I want to know who is responsible --and why ?"

336

"As to why, I should say it was an

attempt at kidnapping, sir. They meant to

hold her to ransom.33

"But they didn't!35

"Lost their nerve with the hue and cry

--and planted her by the road quick."

Poirot inquired sceptically:

"And what ransom were they likely to

get from a Canon of Cranchester Cathedral?

English Church dignitaries are not

millionaires.33

Detective Inspector Hearn said cheerfully:

"Made a botch of the whole thing, sir, in my opinion.33

"Ah, that's your opinion.33

Hearn said, his face flushing slightly:

"What's yours, sir ?3'

"I want to know how she was spirited

off that train.33

The policeman's face clouded over.

"That's a real mystery, that is. One

minute she was there, sitting in the

dining-car, chatting to the other girls.

Five minutes later she's vanished--hey

presto --like a conjuring trick.33

"Precisely, like a conjuring trick! Who

else was there in the coach of the train

337

where Miss Pope's reserved compartments

were ?35

Inspector Hearn nodded.

"That's a good point, sir. That's important.

It's particularly important because

it was the last coach on the train and as

soon as all the people were back from the

restaurant car, the doors between the

coaches were locked--actually so as to

prevent people crowding along to the

restaurant car and demanding tea before

they'd had time to clear up lunch and

get ready. Winnie King came back to the

coach with the others --the school had

three reserved compartments there."