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"Itthe thing for a minute or two "It certainly isn't a J"

"Good," replied Poirot, folding up the paper again "I, also, a It is an L, depend upon it!"

"Where did it come from?" I asked curiously "Is it important?"

"Moderately so It confir deduced its existence, I set Miss Howard to search for it, and, as you see, she has been successful"

"What did she mean by 'On the top of the wardrobe'?"

"She meant," replied Poirot promptly, "that she found it on top of a wardrobe"

"A funny place for a piece of brown paper," I mused

"Not at all The top of a wardrobe is an excellent place for brown paper and cardboard boxes I have kept the to offend the eye"

"Poirot," I asked earnestly, "have you made up your mind about this crime?"

"Yes--that is to say, I believe I knoas committed"

"Ah!"

"Unfortunately, I have no proof beyond htout in French in his excitement: "Mademoiselle Dorcas, Mademoiselle Dorcas, un moment, s'il vous plait!"

Dorcas, quite flurried by the noise, caood Dorcas, I have an idea--a little idea--if it should prove justified, what nificent chance! Tell me, on Monday, not Tuesday, Dorcas, but Monday, the day before the tragedy, did anything go wrong with Mrs Inglethorp's bell?"

Dorcas looked very surprised

"Yes, sir, now you h I don't kno you came to hear of it A h Thedrawn excla-room

"See you, one should not ask for outside proof--no, reason should be enough But the flesh is weak, it is consolation to find that one is on the right track Ah, iant refreshed I run! I leap!"

And, in very truth, run and leap he did, ga

"What is your re?" asked a voice behind me, and I turned to find Mary Cavendish at my elbow She smiled, and so did I "What is it all about?"