IV

The drawing-room of Mrs. Samuelson was

larger, more lavishly furnished, and enjoyed

an even more stifling amount of

central heating than that of Lady Hoggin.

Hercule Poirot picked his way giddily

amongst gilded console tables and large

groups of statuary.

Mrs. Samuelson was taller than Lady

Hoggin and her hair was dyed with per34

oxide. Her Pekinese was called Nanki Poo.

His bulging eyes surveyed Hercule Poirot

with arrogance. Miss Keble, Mrs. Samuelson's

companion, was thin and scraggy

where Miss Camaby had been plump, but

she also was voluble and slightly breathless.

She, too, had been blamed for Nanki

Poo's disappearance.

"But really, Mr. Poirot, it was the most

amazing thing. It all happened in a second.

Outside Harrods it was. A nurse there

asked me the time — w

Poirot interrupted her.

"A nurse ? A hospital nurse ?"

"No, no—a children's nurse. Such a

sweet baby it was, too! A dear little mite.

Such lovely rosy cheeks. They say children

don't look healthy in London, but I'm

sure — M

"Ellen,33 said Mrs. Samuelson.

Miss Keble blushed, stammered, and

subsided into silence.

Mrs. Samuelson said acidly:

"And while Miss Keble was bending

over a perambulator that had nothing to do

with her, this audacious villain cut Nanki

Poo's lead and made off with him."

Miss Keble murmured tearfully:

35

"It all happened in a second. I looked

round and the darling boy was gone-there was just the dangling lead in my hand. Perhaps you'd like to see the lead, Mr. Poirot ?33

"By no means,33 said Poirot hastily. He

had no wish to make a collection of cut dog

leads. "I understand,33 he went on, "that

shortly afterwards you received a letter ?33

The story followed the same course

exactly --the letter --the threats of violence

to Nanki Poo's ears and tail. Only two

things were different --the sum of money

demanded--£300--and the address to

which it was to be sent, this time it was to

Commander Blackleigh, Harrington Hotel, 76 Clonmel Gardens, Kensington. Mrs. Samuelson went on:

"When Nanki Poo was safely back again,

I went to the place myself, Mr. Poirot.

After all, three hundred pounds is three

hundred pounds.33

"Certainly it is.33

"The very first thing I saw was my

letter enclosing the money in a kind of rack

in the hall. Whilst I was waiting for the

proprietress I slipped it into my bag.

Unfortunately --33

36

Poirot said: "Unfortunately, when you

opened it it contained only blank sheets of

paper."

"How did you know ?" Mrs. Samuelson

turned on him with awe.

Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

"Obviously, chore Madame, the thief

would take care to recover the money

before he .returned the dog. He would then

replace the notes with blank paper and

return the letter to the rack in case its

absence should be noticed."

"No such person as Commander Blackleigh

had ever stayed there."

Poirot smiled.

"And of course, my husband was extremely

annoyed about the whole thing. In

fact, he was livid --absolutely lividV