Answers had been chanted.

"Are you prepared for the Sacrament ?"

"We are."

"Bind your eyes and hold out your right

arm.53

The Great Shepherd, magnificent in his

green robe, moved along the waiting lines.

The cabbage-eating, vision-seeing Mr.

381

"You were magnificent,3' said Poirot

warmly. "For a moment I thought that

either you or I had taken leave of our senses.

I thought for one little minute that you meant it."

"It was such a shock," said Miss Carnaby.

"Just when we had been talking confidentially.

I saw in the glass that Lipscomb,

who keeps the Lodge of the Sanctuary, was sitting at the table behind me. I don't know now if it was an accident or if he

had actually followed me. As I say, I had to

do the best I could on the spur of the

minute and trust that you would understand."

Poirot smiled.

"I did understand. There was only one

person sitting near enough to overhear

anything we said and as soon as I left the

teashop I arranged to have him followed

when he came out. When he went straight

back to the Sanctuary I understood that I

could rely on you and that you would not

let me down --but I was afraid because it

increased the danger for you."

"Was --was there really danger ? What

was there in the syringe ?"

Japp said:

384

"Will you explain, or shall I ?"

Poirot said gravely:

"Mademoiselle, this Dr. Andersen had

perfected a scheme of exploitation and

murder --scientific murder. Most of his

life has been spent in bacteriological research.

Under a different name he has a

chemical laboratory in Sheffield. There he

makes cultures of various bacilli. It was his

practice, at the Festivals, to inject into his

followers a small but sufficient dose of

Cannabis Indica --which is also known by

the names of Hashish or Blang. This gives

delusions of grandeur and pleasurable enjoyment.

It bound his devotees to him.

These were the Spiritual Joys that he

promised them."

"Most remarkable," said Miss Carnaby.

"Really a most remarkable sensation."

Hercule Poirot nodded.

"That was his general stock in trade - a dominating personality, the power of creating mass hysteria and the reactions

aim in view.

"Lonely women, in their gratitude and

fervour, made wills leaving their money to

the Cult. One by one, these women died.

385

"You were magnificent," said Poirolt

warmly. "For a raomoent I thought that

either you or I had takem leave of our senses^ I thought for one litttle minute that yoix meant it."

"It was such a shocck,35 said Miss Carnaby.

"Just when we h^ad been talking confidentially.

I saw in tdie glass that Lipscomb,

who keeps the Lodge of the Sanctuary, was sitting at the table behind me. I don't know now ifitwaxs an accident or if he?

had actually followed nxie. As I say, I had to>

do the best I could »on the spur of the?

minute and trust that^ you would understand."