We were in the lift now, ascending rapidly to the second floor, on which Flat 11 was situated.

‘I didn’t see them myself, sir, but I understand that they were foreign gentlemen.’

He pulled back the iron door, and we stepped out on the landing. No. 11 was opposite to us. The doctor rang the bell. There was no reply, and we could hear no sound from within. The doctor rang again and again; we could hear the bell trilling within, but no sign of life rewarded us.

‘This is getting serious,’ muttered the doctor. He turned to the lift attendant.

‘Is there any pass-key to this door?’

‘There is one in the porter’s office downstairs.’

‘Get it, then, and, look here, I think you’d better send for the police.’

Poirot approved with a nod of the head.

The man returned shortly; with him came the manager.

‘Will you tell me, gentlemen, what is the meaning of all this?’

‘Certainly. I received a telephone message from Count Foscatini stating that he had been attacked and was dying. You can understand that we must lose no time—if we are not already too late.’

The manager produced the key without more ado, and we all entered the flat.

We passed first into the small square lounge hall. A door on the right of it was half open. The manager indicated it with a nod.

‘The dining room.’

Dr Hawker led the way. We followed close on his heels. As we entered the room I gave a gasp. The round table in the centre bore the remains of a meal; three chairs were pushed back, as though their occupants had just risen. In the corner, to the right of the fireplace, was a big writing-table, and sitting at it was a man—or what had been a man. His right hand still grasped the base of the telephone, but he had fallen forward, struck down by a terrific blow on the head from behind. The weapon was not far to seek. A marble statue stood where it had been hurriedly put down, the base of it stained with blood.

The doctor’s examination did not take a minute. ‘Stone dead. Must have been almost instantaneous. I wonder he even managed to telephone. It will be better not to move him until the police arrive.’

On the manager’s suggestion we searched the flat, but the result was a foregone conclusion. It was not likely that the murderers would be concealed there when all they had to do was to walk out.