“In that case, I have a different question for you, mademoiselle. Why did the plan require Mr. Kidd to wait a full hour once Harriet, Ida and Richard were all dead, and once you had left the hotel, before placing the note on the front desk? Why was it not agreed that Mr. Kidd should do this at, for example, a quarter past seven, or even half past seven? Why eight o’clock?”

Jennie recoiled as if from a blow. “Why not eight o’clock?” she said defiantly. “What was the harm in waiting a while?

“You ask some daft questions, Mr. Poirot,” said Sam Kidd.

“No harm whatever in waiting, mademoiselle—I agree entirely. Therefore we must ask ourselves: why leave a note at all? Why not wait for the hotel maids to find the three bodies the following morning? Jennie? Do not look at Samuel Kidd. Look at Hercule Poirot! Answer the question.”

“I . . . I don’t know! I think maybe Richard . . .”

“No! Not maybe Richard!” Poirot spoke over her. “If you will not answer my question, allow me to do so. You told Mr. Kidd to leave the note on the desk just after eight because it was always part of the plan for the murders to appear to have been committed between a quarter past seven and eight o’clock!”

Poirot turned once again to the silent, wide-eyed crowd. “Let us think about the afternoon tea for three that was ordered, and delivered to Room 317—Ida Gransbury’s room. Let us imagine that our three voluntary victims, puzzled by the absence of Jennie Hobbs, were unsure what to do, and so went to Ida Gransbury’s room to discuss the matter. Catchpool, if you were about to allow yourself to be executed for a past sin, would you order scones and cakes immediately beforehand?”

“No. I would be too nervous to eat or drink anything.”

“Perhaps our trio of executioners thought it important to keep up their strength for the important task ahead,” Poirot speculated. “Then, when the food arrived, they could not bring themselves to eat it. But to where did all this food disappear?”

“Are you asking me?” said Jennie. “I’m afraid I don’t know, since I wasn’t there.”