outsider—but not to a man who was a

policeman himself.

"And so, at once, I was suspicious. That

evening, I did not drink my coffee. I

poured it away. And I was wise. Late that

evening a man came into my room, came in

with the easy confidence of one who knows

lhat the man whose room he is searching is

drugged. He looked through my affairs and

he found the letter in my wallet — where I

169

had left it for him to find! The next morning

Gustave comes into my room with

my coffee. He greets me by name and

acts his part with complete assurance.

But he is anxious--horribly anxious-for somehow or other the police have got on his track! They have learnt where he is

and that is for him a terrible disaster. It

upsets all his plans. He is caught up here

like a rat in a trap.55

Schwartzsaid:

"The damn fool thing was ever to come

here! Why did he?53

Poirot said gravely:

"It is not so foolish as you think. He had

need, urgent need, of a retired spot, away

from the world, where he could meet a

certain person, and where a certain happening

could take place."

"What person ?"

"Dr. Lutz."

"Dr. Lutz ? Is he a crook too ?"

"Dr. Lutz is really Dr. Lutz --but he is not a nerve specialist--not a psychoanalyst. He is a surgeon, my friend, a

surgeon who specialises in facial surgery. That is why he was to meet Marrascaud here. He is poor now, turned out of his

170

country. He was offered a huge fee to meet a man here and change that man's appearance by means of his surgical skill.

He may have guessed that that man was a

criminal, but if so, he shut his eyes to the

fact. Realise this, they dared not risk a

nursing home in some foreign country.

No, up here, where no one ever comes so

early in the season except for an odd visit,

where the manager is a man in need of

money who can be bribed, was an ideal spot.

"But, as I say, matters went wrong.

Marrascaud was betrayed. The three men,

his bodyguard, who were to meet him

here and look after him had not yet

arrived, but Marrascaud acts at once. The

police officer who is pretending to be a

waiter is kidnapped and Marrascaud takes

his place. The gang arrange for the funicular

to be wrecked. It is a matter of time. The

following evening Drouet is killed and a

paper is pinned on the dead body. It is

hoped that by the time that communications

are established with the world

Drouet's body may have been buried as

that of Marrascaud. Dr. Lutz performs

his operation without delay. But one man

niust be silenced --Hercule Poirot. So

171

the gang are sent to attack me. Thanks to

you, my friend --"

Hercule Poirot bowed gracefully to

Schwartz who said: