and had an invalid sister. I had only to ask

my invaluable servant to look for a small

flat within a certain radius occupied by an

invalid lady who had a Pekinese dog and a

sister who visited her once a week on her

day out. It was simple."

Amy Carnaby drew herself up. She said:

"You have been very kind. It emboldens

me to ask you a favour. I cannot, I know,

escape the penalty for what I have done.

I shall be sent to prison, I suppose. But if

you could, M. Poirot, avert some of the

publicity. So distressing for Emily — and

for those few who knew us in the old days.

I could not, I suppose, go to prison under

a false name ? Or is that a very wrong thing

to ask ?"

50

Hercule Poirot said:

"I think I can do more than that. But

first of all I must make one thing quite

dear. This ramp has got to stop. There

must be no more disappearing dogs. All

that is finished!"

"Yes! Oh yes!"

"And the money you extracted from

Lady Hoggin must be returned."

Amy Camaby crossed the room, opened

the drawer of a bureau and returned with

a packet of notes which she handed to

Poirot.

"I was going to pay it into the pool

today."

Poirot took the notes and counted them.

He got up.

"I think it possible. Miss Carnaby, that

I may be able to persuade Sir Joseph not

to prosecute."

"Oh, M. Poirot!"

Amy Carnaby clasped her hands. Emily

gave a cry of joy. Augustus barked and

wagged his tail.

"As for you, mon ami," said Poirot

addressing him. "There is one thing that

I wish you would give me. It is your mantle

of invisibility that I need. In all these cases

5i

nobody for a moment suspected that there

was a second dog involved. Augustus

possessed the lion's skin of invisibility.53

"Of course, M. Poirot, according to the

legend, Pekinese were lions once. And they

still have the hearts of lions!"

"Augustus is, I suppose, the dog that

was left to you by Lady Hartingfield and

who is reported to have died? Were you

never afraid of him coming home alone

through the traffic ?"

"Oh no, M. Poirot, Augustus is very

clever about traffic. I have trained him

most carefully. He has even grasped the

principle of One Way Streets."

"In that case," said Hercule Poirot, "he

is superior to most human beings!"

VIII

Sir Joseph received Hercule Poirot in his

study. He said:

"Well, Mr. Poirot? Made your boast

good ?"

"Let me first ask you a question," said

Poirot as he seated himself. "I know who

the criminal is and I think it possible that

I can produce sufficient evidence to convict

this person. But in that case I doubt

52

if you will ever recover your money."

"Not get back my money ?"

Sir Joseph turned purple.

Hercule Poirot went on: