She spoke with intensity.

Poirot said quickly:

‘I comprehend, mademoiselle. It is most understandable—most natural. To sit in this house and think—no, it would not be pleasant.’

‘So long as you understand,’ said Jane shortly.

‘You belong to a club?’

‘Yes, I play at Wentworth.’

‘It has been a pleasant day,’ said Poirot.

‘Alas, there are few leaves left on the trees now! A week ago the woods were magnificent.’

‘It was quite lovely today.’

‘Good afternoon, Miss Plenderleith,’ said Japp formally. ‘I’ll let you know when there’s anything definite. As a matter of fact we have got a man detained on suspicion.’

‘What man?’

She looked at them eagerly.

‘Major Eustace.’

She nodded and turned away, stooping down to put a match to the fire.

‘Well?’ said Japp as the car turned the corner of the mews.

Poirot grinned.

‘It was quite simple. The key was in the door this time.’

‘And—?’

Poirot smiled.

‘Eh, bien, the golf clubs had gone—’

‘Naturally. The girl isn’t a fool, whatever else she is. Anything else gone?’

Poirot nodded his head.

‘Yes, my friend—the little attaché-case!’

The accelerator leaped under Japp’s foot.

‘Damnation!’ he said. ‘I knew there was something. But what the devil is it? I searched that case pretty thoroughly.’

‘My poor Japp—but it is—how do you say, “obvious, my dear Watson”?’

Japp threw him an exasperated look.

‘Where are we going?’ he asked.

Poirot consulted his watch.

‘It is not yet four o’clock. We could get to Wentworth, I think, before it is dark.’

‘Do you think she really went there?’

‘I think so—yes. She would know that we might make inquiries. Oh, yes, I think we will find that she has been there.’

Japp grunted.

‘Oh well, come on.’ He threaded his way dexterously through the traffic. ‘Though what this attaché-case business has to do with the crime I can’t imagine. I can’t see that it’s got anything at all to do with it.’

‘Precisely, my friend, I agree with you—it has nothing to do with it.’

‘Then why—No, don’t tell me! Order and method and everything nicely rounded off! Oh, well, it’s a fine day.’

The car was a fast one. They arrived at Wentworth Golf Club a little after half-past four. There was no great congestion there on a week day.

Poirot went straight to the caddie-master and asked for Miss Plenderleith’s clubs. She would be playing on a different course tomorrow, he explained.

The caddie-master raised his voice and a boy sorted through some golf clubs standing in a corner. He finally produced a bag bearing the initials, J.P.

‘Thank you,’ said Poirot. He moved away, then turned carelessly and asked, ‘She did not leave with you a small attaché-case also, did she?’

‘Not today, sir. May have left it in the clubhouse.’

‘She was down here today?’

‘Oh, yes, I saw her.’

‘Which caddie did she have, do you know? She’s mislaid an attaché-case and can’t remember where she had it last.’

‘She didn’t take a caddie. She came in here and bought a couple of balls. Just took out a couple of irons. I rather fancy she had a little case in her hand then.’