There was a moon. By it, Miss Carnaby could just distinguish the figures on her watch. To her stupefaction the hands pointed to a quarter to ten. The sun, as she knew, had set at eight-ten. Only an hour and thirty-five minutes ago? Impossible. And yet—

‘Very remarkable,’ said Miss Carnaby to herself.

Hercule Poirot said:

‘You must obey my instructions very carefully. You understand?’

‘Oh yes, M. Poirot. You may rely on me.’

‘You have spoken of your intention to benefit the cult?’

‘Yes, M. Poirot. I spoke to the Master—excuse me, to Dr Andersen myself. I told him very emotionally what a wonderful revelation the whole thing had been—how I had come to scoff and remained to believe. I—really it seemed quite natural to say all these things. Dr Andersen, you know, has a lot of magnetic charm.’

‘So I perceive,’ said Hercule Poirot drily.

‘His manner was most convincing. One really feels he doesn’t care about money at all. “Give what you can,” he said smiling in that wonderful way of his, “if you can give nothing, it does not matter. You are one of the Flock just the same.” “Oh, Dr Andersen,” I said, “I am not so badly off as that. I have just inherited a considerable amount of money from a distant relative and though I cannot actually touch any of the money until the legal formalities are all complied with, there is one thing I want to do at once.” And then I explained that I was making a will and that I wanted to leave all I had to the Brotherhood. I explained that I had no near relatives.’

‘And he graciously accepted the bequest?’

‘He was very detached about it. Said it would be many long years before I passed over, that he could tell I was cut out for a long life of joy and spiritual fulfilment. He really speaks most movingly.’

‘So it would seem.’

Poirot’s tone was dry. He went on:

‘You mentioned your health?’

‘Yes, M. Poirot. I told him that I had had lung trouble, and that it had recurred more than once, but that a final treatment in a Sanatorium some years ago had, I hoped, quite cured me.’

‘Excellent!’

‘Though why it is necessary for me to say that I am consumptive when my lungs are as sound as a bell I really cannot see.’

‘Be assured it is necessary. You mentioned your friend?’

‘Yes. I told him (strictly in confidence) that dear Emmeline, besides the fortune she had inherited from her husband, would inherit an even larger sum shortly from an aunt who was deeply attached to her.’

‘Eh bien, that ought to keep Mrs Clegg safe for the time being!’

‘Oh, M. Poirot, do you really think there is anything wrong?’

‘That is what I am going to endeavour to find out. Have you met a Mr Cole down at the Sanctuary?’

‘There was a Mr Cole there last time I went down. A most peculiar man. He wears grass-green shorts and eats nothing but cabbage. He is a very ardent believer.’