a Renaissance goblet, provenance unspecified."

"The description of which would have

been circulated by the police ?"

396

"The goblet would not have been placed

openly on view."

"You think it would have been sufficient

for Sir Reuben to know that he possessed

it?"

"Yes. Moreover, if I had accepted the

Marchese's offer--it would have been

possible for Sir Reuben to conclude a

private arrangement with him later, thus

allowing the goblet to pass legally into his

possession."

He paused a minute and then said:

"But by retaining the legal ownership, there were still possibilities left open to me of recovering my property."

"You mean," said Poirot bluntly, "that

you could arrange for it to be stolen from

Sir Reuben."

"Not stolen, M. Poirot. I should have

been merely recovering my own property."

"But I gather that you were not successful?"

"For a very good reason. Rosenthal has

never had the goblet in his possession!"

"How do you know ?"

"Recently there has been a merger of

oil interests. RosenthaFs interests and

397

mine now coincide. We are allies and not

enemies. I spoke to him frankly on the

subject and he at once assured me that the

cup had never been in his possession."

"And you believe him ?"

"Yes.33

Poirot said thoughtfully:

"Then for nearly ten years you have been, as they say in this country, barking up the mistaken tree ?"

The financier said bitterly:

"Yes, that is exactly what I have been

doing!"

"And now --it is all to start again from

the beginning ?"

The other nodded.

"And that is where I come in ? I am the

dog that you set upon the cold scent --a

very cold scent."

Emery Power said dryly:

"If the affair were easy it would not

have been necessary for me to send for

you. Of course, if you think it impossible

--"

He had found the right word. Hercule

Poirot drew himself up. He said coldly:

"I do not recognise the word impossible, Monsieur! I ask myself only--is this 398

affair sufficiently interesting for me to

undertake ?"

Emery Power smiled again. He said:

"It has this interest--you may name

your own fee."

The small man looked at the big man.

He said softly:

"Do you then desire this work of art so

much ? Surely not!"

Emery Power said:

"Put it that I, like yourself, do not

accept defeat."

Hercule Poirot bowed his head. He said:

"Yes --put that way --I understand.

..."

II

Inspector Wagstaffe was interested.

"The Veratrino cup? Yes, I remember

all about it. I was in charge of the business

this end. I speak a bit of Italiano, you

know, and I went over and had a powwow

with the Macaronis. It's never turned

up from that day to this. Funny thing, that."

"What is your explanation? A private

sale ?"

Wagstaffe shook his head.

399

cc! doubt it. Of course it's remotely

possible. . . . No, my explanation is a good