"I understand you are strictly a private inquiry agent?" said Mr Vavasour. "Quite so, quite so. We have, of course, placed ourselves in the hands of Scotland Yard. Inspector McNeil has charge of the case. A very able officer, I believe."

"I am sure of it," said Poirot politely. "You will permit a few questions, on your nephew's behalf?

About this lock, who ordered it from Hubbs's?"

"I ordered it myself," said Mr Shaw. "I would not trust to any clerk in the matter. As to the keys, Mr Ridgeway had one, and the other two are held by my colleague and myself."

"And no clerk has had access to them?"

Mr Shaw turned inquiringly to Mr Vavasour.

"I think I am correct in saying that they have remained in the safe where we placed them on the Z3rd," said Mr Vavasour. "My colleague was unfortunately taken ill a fortnight ago - in fact on the very day that Philip left us. He has only just recovered."

"Severe bronchitis is no joke to a man of my age," said Mr Shaw ruefully. "But I am afraid Mr Vavasour has suffered from the hard work entailed by my absence, especially with this unexpected worry coming on top of everything."

Poirot asked a few more questions. I judged that he was endeavoring to gauge the exact amount of intimacy between uncle and nephew. Mr Vavasour's answers were brief and punctilious. His nephew was a trusted official of the Bank, and had no debts or money difficulties that he knew of. He had been entrusted with similar missions in the past. Finally we were politely bowed out.

"I am disappointed," said Poirot, as we emerged into the street.

"You hoped to discover more? They are such stodgy old men."

"It is not their stodginess which disappoints me, mon ami. I do not expect to find in a Bank manager a 'keen financier with an eagle glance' as your favorite works of fiction put it. No, I am disappointed in the case - it is too easy!"

"Easy?"

"Yes, do you not find it almost childishly simple?"

"You know who stole the bonds?"

"I do."

"But then - we must - why -"

"Do not confuse and fluster yourself, Hastings. We are not going to do anything at present."

"But why? What are you waiting for?"

"For the Olympia. She is due on her return trip from New York on Tuesday."

"But if you know who stole the bonds, why wait? He may escape."

"To a South Sea island where there is no extradition? No, mon ami, he would find life very uncongenial there. As to why I wait - eh bien, to the intelligence of Hercule Poirot the case is perfectly clear, but for the benefit of others, not so greatly gifted by the good God - the Inspector McNeil, for instance - it would be as well to make a few inquiries to establish the facts. One must have consideration for those less gifted than oneself."