the cravers after sensation badly.35

Ferrier said dryly: "These will not

disappoint them."

Hercule Poirot asked:

"You know then, what these revelations

are going to be ?"

"With a fair amount of accuracy."

Edward Ferrier paused a minute, then

he began speaking. Carefully, methodically, he outlined the story. 178

It was not an edifying story. Accusations

of shameless chicanery, of share juggling, of a gross misuse of Party Funds. The charges were levelled against the late

Prime Minister, John Hammett. They

showed him to be a dishonest rascal, a

gigantic confidence trickster, who had

used his position to amass for himself a

vast private fortune.

The Prime Minister's quiet voice

stopped at last. The Home Secretary

groaned. He spluttered out:

"It's monstrous --monstrous! This fellow, Perry, who edits the rag, ought to be shot!35

Hercule Poirot said:

"These so-called revelations are to appear

in the X-ray News ?"

"Yes."

"What steps do you propose to take

about them ?"

Ferrier said slowly:

"They constitute a private attack on

John Hammett. It is open to him to sue the

paper for libel."

"Will he do that ?"

"No."

"Why not ?"

k 179

Ferrier said:

"It is probable that there is nothing the X-ray News would like better. The publicity given them would be enormous. Their

defence would be fair comment and that

the statements complained of were true.

The whole business would be exhaustively

held up to view in a blaze of limelight.35

"Still, if the case went against them, the

damages would be extremely heavy.39

Ferrier said slowly: "It might not go

against them.3'

"Why ?33

Sir George said primly, "I really think

that --"

But Edward Ferrier was already speaking.

"Because what they intend to print is - the truth.39

A groan burst from Sir George Conway,

outraged at such un-Parliamentary frankness.

He cried out:

"Edward, my dear fellow. We don't

admit, surely --"

The ghost of a smile passed over Edward

Ferrier's tired face. He said:

"Unfortunately, George, there are times

180

when the stark truth has got to be told.

This is one of them.3'

Sir George exclaimed:

"You understand, M. Poirot, all this is

strictly in confidence. Not one word --"

Ferrier interrupted him. He said:

"M. Poirot understands that." He went

on slowly, "What he may not understand is

this: the whole future of the People's

Party is at stake. John Hammett, M.

Poirot, was the People's Party. He stood

for what it represents to the people of

England--he stood for Decency and

Honesty. No one has ever thought us

brilliant. We have muddled and blundered.

But we have stood for the tradition of

doing one's best --and we have stood, too, for fundamental honesty. Our disaster is this --that the man who was our figurehead, the Honest Man of the People, par excellence --turns out to have been one of

the worst crooks of this generation.35

Another groan burst from Sir George.

Poirot asked:

"You knew nothing of all this ?"

Again the smile flashed across the weary