in my book. The symbolism is unmistakable.

Trouble about the vests for instance--for

vest read hair shirt with all

its associations --and the whole thing

becomes quite plain. You may say that he's

a definitely criminal type but a cure can be effected --"

"That she can reform a rake,-" said

Poirot, "has always been one of woman's

dearest illusions I"

Alice Cunningham looked at him coldly.

"There is nothing personal about this, M. Poirot."

"There never is," said Poirot. "It is

452

always pure disinterested altruism --but

the object of it is usually an attractive

member of the opposite sex. Are you

interested, for instance, in where I went

to school, or what was the attitude of the

matron to me ?"

"You are not a criminal type," said Miss

Cunningham.

"Do you know a criminal type when you

see one ?"

"Certainly I do."

Professor Liskeard joined them. He sat

down by Poirot.

"Are you talking about criminals ? You

should study the criminal code of Hammurabi,

M. Poirot. 1800 BE. Most interesting.

The man who is caught stealing during

afire shall be thrown into the fire."

He stared pleasurably ahead of him

towards the electric grill.

"And there are older, Sumerian laws. If a wife hateth her husband and saith unto him, ^Thou art not my husband" they shall

throw her into the river. Cheaper and easier

than the divorce court. But if a husband

says that to his wife he only has to pay

her a certain measure of silver. Nobody

throws him in the river."

453

"The same old story,53 said Alice Cunningham.

"One law for the man and one

for the woman.53

"Women, of course, have a greater

appreciation of monetary value,3' said the

Professor thoughtfully. "You know,53 he

added, "I like this place. I come here

most evenings. I don't have to pay. The

Countess arranged that --very nice of her

--in consideration of my having advised

her about the decorations, she says. Not

that they're anything to do with me really

--I'd no idea what she was asking me

questions for --and naturally she and the

artist have got everything quite wrong.

I hope nobody will ever know I had the

remotest connection with the dreadful

things. I should never live it down. But

she's a wonderful woman--rather like a

Babylonian, I always think. The Babylonians

were good women of business, you know --"

The Professor's words were drowned

in a sudden chorus. The word 'Police'

was heard--women rose to their feet, there was a babel of sound. The lights went out and so did the electric grill.

As an undertone to the turmoil the

454

Professor's voice went on tranquilly reciting

various excerpts from the laws of Hammurabi.

When

the lights went on again Hercule

Poirot was halfway up the wide, shallow

steps. The police officers by the door

saluted him, and he passed out into the

street and strolled to the corner. Just round

the corner, pressed against the wall was