The crowd obediently bound their eyes

with the green scarves provided for the

purpose. Miss Carnaby, like the rest held

her arm out in front of her.

The Great Shepherd moved along the

lines of his Flock. There were little cries, moans of either pain or ecstasy. Miss Carnaby, to herself, said fiercely:

"Most blasphemous, the whole thing!

This kind of religious hysteria is to be

deplored. I shall remain absolutely calm and

observe the reactions of other people. I will not be carried away --I will not. ..." The Great Shepherd had come to her.

She felt her arm taken, held, there was a

sharp, stinging pain like the prick of a

needle. The Shepherd's voice murmured:

"The Sacrament of Blood that brings

joy. . . ."

He passed on.

Presently there came a command.

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"Unveil and enjoy the pleasures of the

spirit P3

The sun was just sinking. Miss Carnaby

looked round her. At one with the others, she moved slowly out of the Fold. She felt suddenly uplifted, happy. She sank down

on a soft, grassy bank. Why had she ever

thought she was a lonely, unwanted, middleaged

woman? Life was wonderful--she

herself was wonderful! She had the power of

thought --of dreaming. There was nothing

that she could not accomplish!

A great rush of exhilaration surged

through her. She observed her fellow

devotees round her --they seemed suddenly

to have grown to an immense

stature.

"Like trees walking ..." said Miss Carnaby

to herself reverently.

She lifted her hand. It was a purposeful

gesture --with it she could command the

earth. Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler--poor, miserable, little fellows! They knew nothing of what she, Amy Carnaby, could do! Tomorrow

she would arrange for World

Peace, for International Brotherhood.

There should be no more Wars --no

more Poverty--no more Disease. She,

371

Amy Carnaby, would design a New World.

But there need be no hurry. Time was

infinite. . . . Minute succeeded minute, hour succeeded hour! Miss Carnaby's limbs felt heavy, but her mind was delightfully

free. It could roam at will over the

whole universe. She slept--but even as

she slept she dreamt... . Great spaces . . .

vast buildings ... a new and wonderful

world. . . .

Gradually the world shrank. Miss Carnaby

yawned. She moved her stiff limbs.

What had happened since yesterday ? Last

night she had dreamt. . .

There was a moon. By it. Miss Carnaby

could just distinguish the figures on her

watch. To her stupefaction the hands

pointed to a quarter to ten. The sun, as she

knew, had set at eight-ten. Only an hour

and thirty-five minutes ago? Impossible.

And yet - "Very remarkable,33 said Miss Carnaby

to herself.

IV

Hercule Poirot said:

"You must obey my instructions very

carefully. You understand ?"

372

"Oh yes, Mr. Poirot. You may rely on me."

"You have spoken of your intention to

benefit the cult?"

"Yes, Air. Poirot. I spoke to the Master

--excuse me, to Dr. Andersen myself. I