powerful asset to a schoolmistress.

Her grey hair was dressed with distinction, her costume was severe but chic. She was competent and omniscient.

The room in which she received Poirot

was the room of a woman of culture. It

had graceful furniture, flowers, some

framed, signed photographs of those of

Miss Pope's pupils who were of note in the

world--many of them in their presentation

gowns and feathers. On the walls

hung reproductions of the world's artistic

masterpieces and some good water-colour

sketches. The whole place was clean and

polished to the last degree. No speck of

341

dust, one felt, would have the temerity to

deposit itself in such a shrine.

Miss Pope received Poirot with the competence

of one whose judgment seldom fails.

"M. Hercule Poirot ? I know your name, of course. I suppose you have come about this very unfortunate affair of Winnie

King. A most distressing incident.55

Miss Pope did not look distressed. She

took disaster as it should be taken, dealing

with it competently and thereby reducing

it almost to insignificance.

"Such a thing," said Miss Pope, "has

never occurred before."

"And never will again!" her manner

seemed to say.

Hercule Poirot said:

"It was the girl's first term here, was it

not ?"

"It was."

"You had a preliminary interview with

Winnie --and with her parents ?"

"Not recently. Two years ago, I was

staying near Cranchester --with the Bishop, as a matter of fact --" Miss Pope's manner said:

("Mark this, please. I am the kind of

person who stays with Bishops py)

342

"While I was there I made the acquaintance

of Canon and Mrs. King. Mrs. King, alas, is an invalid. I met Winnie then. A very well brought up girl, with a decided

taste for art. I told Mrs. King that I

should be happy to receive her here in a

year or two--when her general studies

were completed. We specialise here, M.

Poirot, in Art and Music. The girls are

taken to the Opera, to the Comedie

Fran^aise, they attend lectures at the

Louvre. The very best masters come here

to instruct them in music, singing, and

painting. The broader culture, that is our

aim.33

Miss Pope remembered suddenly that

Poirot was not a parent and added abruptly:

"What can I do for you, M. Poirot ?"

cc! would be glad to know what is the

present position regarding Winnie ?"

"Canon King has come over to Amiens

and is taking Winnie back with him. The

wisest thing to do after the shock the child has sustained." She went on:

"We do not take delicate girls here. We

have no special facilities for looking after

invalids. I told the Canon that in my

LOH23 343

opinion he would do well to take the child

home with him."

Hercule Poirot asked bluntly:

^What in your opinion actually occurred, Miss Pope ?"

"I have not the slightest idea, M. Poirot.

The whole thing, as reported to me, sounds

quite incredible. I really cannot see that