three men. He passed up the broad staircase.

There was no one on the upper floor.

He found Hugh Chandler's room easily

enough. In the corner of the room was a

fitted washbasin with hot and cold water.

Over it, on a glass shelf, were various tubes

and pots and bottles.

Hercule Poirot went quickly and dexterously

to work. . . .

What he had to do did not take him

long. He was downstairs again in the hall

when Diana came out of the library, looking flushed and rebellious.

"It's all right,35 she said.

Admiral Chandler drew Poirot into the

library and closed the door. He said:

"Look here, M. Poirot. I don't like this.35

"What don't you like. Admiral Chandler

?55

'Diana has been insisting that you and

she should both spend the night here. I

don't want to be inhospitable --55

"It is not a question of hospitality.55

275

"As I say, I don't like being inhospitable

--but frankly, I don't like it, M. Poirot.

I --I don't want it. And I don't understand

the reason for it. What good can it

possibly do ?"

"Shall we say that it is an experiment I

am trying ?"

"What kind of an experiment ?"

"That, you will pardon me, is my

business. ..."

"Now look here, M. Poirot, I didn't

ask you to come here in the first place --"

Poirot interrupted.

"Believe me. Admiral Chandler, I quite

understand and appreciate your point of

view. I am here simply and solely because

of the obstinacy of a girl in love. You have

told me certain things. Colonel Frobisher

has told me certain things. Hugh himself

has told me certain things. Now --I want

to see for myself."

"Yes, but see what^ I tell you, there's

nothing to see! I lock Hugh into his room

every night and that's that."

"And yet--sometimes--he tells me

that the door is not locked in the moming?"

"What's

that ?"

276

"Have you not found the door unlocked

yourself?"

Chandler was frowning.

"I always imagined George had unlocked

--what do you mean ?"

"Where do you leave the key --in the

lock ?"

''No, I lay it on the chest outside. I, or

George, or Withers, the valet, take it from

there in the morning. We've told Withers

it's because Hugh walks in his sleep. . . .

I daresay he knows more--but he's a

faithful fellow, been with me for years."

"Is there another key ?"

"Not that I know of."

"One could have been made."

"But who --"

"Your son thinks that he himself has

one hidden somewhere, although he is

unaware of it in his waking state."

Colonel Frobisher, speaking from the

far end of the room, said:

"I don't like it, Charles. . . . The

girl --"

Admiral Chandler said quickly: "Just

what I was thinking. The girl mustn't

come back with you. Come back yourself,

if you like."

277

Poirot said: "Why don't you want Miss

Maberly here tonight ?"