I say is, that every family has got someone

queer in it. You know, a bit half-witted

or extra clever or something^

Her eyes were appealing.

Hercule Poirot shook his head sadly. He

said:

"I am very sorry for you. Mademoiselle."

Her chin shot out. She cried:

(c! don't want you to be sorry for me!

I want you to do something!"

"What do you want me to do ?"

cc! don't know—but there's something

wrong n

"Will you tell me Mademoiselle, all

about your fiance ?"

Diana spoke rapidly:

"His name's Hugh Chandler. He's

twenty-four. His father is Admiral

Chandler. They live at Lyde Manor. It's

been in the Chandler family since the time

of Elizabeth. Hugh's the only son. He went

into the Navy—all the Chandlers are

sailors — it's a sort of tradition — ever

since Sir Gilbert Chandler sailed with Sir

Walter Raleigh in fifteen-something-orother.

Hugh went into the Navy as a

matter of course. His father wouldn't have

246

heard of anything else. And yet --and yet, it was his father who insisted on getting him out of it!33

"When was that ?"

''Nearly a year ago. Quite suddenly."

"Was Hugh Chandler happy in his

profession ?"

"Absolutely."

"There was no scandal of any land ?"

"About Hugh? Absolutely nothing. He

was getting on splendidly. He--he

couldn't understand his father."

"What reason did Admiral Chandler

himself give ?"

Diana said slowly:

"He never really gave a reason. Oh! he

said it was necessary Hugh should learn

to manage the estate --but --but that was

only a pretext. Even George Frobisher

realised that."

"Who is George Frobisher ?"

"Colonel Frobisher. He's Admiral

Chandler's oldest friend and Hugh's godfather.

He spends most of his time down

at the Manor."

"And what did Colonel Frobisher think

of Admiral Chandler's determination that

his son should leave the Navy ?"

LOH17

247

"He was dumbfounded. He couldn't

understand it at all. Nobody could.59

"Not even Hugh Chandler himself?"

Diana did not answer at once. Poirot

waited a minute, then he went on:

"At the time, perhaps, he, too, was

astonished. But now ? Has he said nothing

--nothing at all ?"

Diana murmured reluctantly:

"He said --about a week ago --that - that his father was right --that it was the only thing to be done."

"Did you ask him why ?"

"Of course. But he wouldn't tell me."

Hercule Poirot reflected for a minute

or two. Then he said:

"Have there been any unusual occurrences

in your part of the world ? Starting, perhaps, about a year ago ? Something that has given rise to a lot of local talk and

surmise ?"

She flashed out: "I don't know what you

mean!"

Poirot said quietly, but with authority

in his voice:

"You had better tell me."

"There wasn't anything--nothing of

the kind you mean."

248

"Of what kind then ?"

"I think you're simply odious! Queer

things often happen on farms. It's revenge

— or the village idiot or somebody."