Page 80 (1/1)

Dear old Dorcas! As she stood there, with her honest face upturned to ht what a fine speci out

I thought I e at once, and look up Poirot; but I ave hie

"Ah, the brave Dorcas! We will look at the chest, although-- but no matter--ill examine it all the same"

We entered the house by one of the s There was no one in the hall, and ent straight up to the attic

Sure enough, there was the chest, a fine old piece, all studded with brass nails, and full to overfloith every i out on the floor with scant cere shades; but Poirot shook his head over theh he expected no great results froave an exclamation

"What is it?"

"Look!"

The chest was nearly enificent black beard

"Oho!" said Poirot "Oho!" He turned it over in his hands, exa it closely "New," he remarked "Yes, quite new"

After a moment's hesitation, he replaced it in the chest, heaped all the other things on top of it as before, and ht to the pantry, where we found Dorcas busily polishing her silver

Poirot wished her goodwith Gallic politeness, and went on: "We have been looking through that chest, Dorcas I a it There is, indeed, a fine collection there Are they often used, h froentleht' And very funny it is sometimes, sir Mr Lawrence, he's wonderful Most coht he came down as the Char of Persia, I think he called it--a sort of Eastern King it was He had the big paper knife in his hand, and 'Mind, Dorcas,' he says, 'you'll have to be very respectful This is my specially sharpened scimitar, and it's off with your head if I'm at all displeased with you!' Miss Cynthia, she hat they call an Apache, or some such name--a Frenchified sort of cut-throat, I take it to be A real sight she looked You'd never have believed a pretty young lady like that could have made herself into such a ruffian Nobody would have known her"