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There was a pause, and then Dr Bauerstein dreo keys from his pocket, and handed them to John

"These are the keys of the two rooms I have locked them and, in my opinion, they would be better kept locked for the present"

The doctors then departed

I had been turning over an idea in my head, and I felt that the moment had now co so John, I knew, had a horror of any kind of publicity, and was an easygoing optiht be difficult to convince him of the soundness ofless conventional, and having ht count upon as an ally There was no doubt that the moment had co to ask you so of ian who is here? He has been a most famous detective"

"Yes"

"I want you to let ate this matter"

"What--now? Before the post-e if--if--there has been foul play"

"Rubbish!" cried Lawrence angrily "Inis a mare's nest of Bauerstein's! Wilkins hadn't an idea of such a thing, until Bauerstein put it into his head But, like all specialists, Bauerstein's got a bee in his bonnet Poisons are his hobby, so of course he sees them everywhere"

I confess that I was surprised by Lawrence's attitude He was so seldo

John hesitated

"I can't feel as you do, Lawrence," he said at last "I'h I should prefer to wait a bit We don't want any unnecessary scandal"

"No, no," I cried eagerly, "you need have no fear of that Poirot is discretion itself"

"Very well, then, have it your oay I leave it in your hands Though, if it is as we suspect, it see him!"

I looked at my watch It was six o'clock I determined to lose no time

Five minutes' delay, however, I allowedthe library until I discovered a