‘Oh, it has indeed, sir. Thank you, sir.’ Snell sat down with such a discreet air that it was practically the same as though he had remained on his feet.

‘Been here a good long time, haven’t you?’

‘Sixteen years, sir, ever since Sir Gervase—er—settled down, so to speak.’

‘Ah, yes, of course, your master was a great traveller in his day.’

‘Yes, sir. He went on an expedition to the Pole and many other interesting places.’

‘Now, Snell, can you tell me when you last saw your master this evening?’

‘I was in the dining-room, sir, seeing that the table arrangements were all complete. The door into the hall was open, and I saw Sir Gervase come down the stairs, cross the hall and go along the passage to the study.’

‘That was at what time?’

‘Just before eight o’clock. It might have been as much as five minutes before eight.’

‘And that was the last you saw of him?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Did you hear a shot?’

‘Oh, yes, indeed, sir; but of course I had no idea at the time—how should I have had?’

‘What did you think it was?’

‘I thought it was a car, sir. The road runs quite near the park wall. Or it might have been a shot in the woods—a poacher, perhaps. I never dreamed—’

Major Riddle cut him short.

‘What time was that?’

‘It was exactly eight minutes past eight, sir.’

The chief constable said sharply:

‘How is it you can fix the time to a minute?’

‘That’s easy, sir. I had just sounded the first going.’

‘The first gong?’

‘Yes, sir. By Sir Gervase’s orders, a gong was always to be sounded seven minutes before the actual dinner gong. Very particular he was, sir, that everyone should be assembled ready in the drawing-room when the second gong went. As soon as I had sounded the second gong, I went to the drawing-room and announced dinner, and everyone went in.’

‘I begin to understand,’ said Hercule Poirot, ‘why you looked so surprised when you announced dinner this evening. It was usual for Sir Gervase to be in the drawing-room?’

‘I’d never known him not be there before, sir. It was quite a shock. I little thought—’

Again Major Riddle interrupted adroitly:

‘And were the others also usually there?’

Snell coughed.

‘Anyone who was late for dinner, sir, was never asked to the house again.’

‘H’m, very drastic.’

‘Sir Gervase, sir, employed a chef who was formerly with the Emperor of Moravia. He used to say, sir, that dinner was as important as a religious ritual.’

‘And what about his own family?’

‘Lady Chevenix-Gore was always very particular not to upset him, sir, and even Miss Ruth dared not be late for dinner.’

‘Interesting,’ murmured Hercule Poirot.

‘I see,’ said Riddle. ‘So, dinner being at a quarter past eight, you sounded the first gong at eight minutes past as usual?’

‘That is so, sir—but it wasn’t as usual. Dinner was usually at eight. Sir Gervase gave orders that dinner was to be a quarter of an hour later this evening, as he was expecting a gentleman by the late train.’