“But you did not see it?”

“No. I⁠—never looked.”

“But I did,” interrupted Lawrence suddenly. “I happened to notice that it was bolted.”

“Ah, that settles it.” And Poirot looked crestfallen.

I could not help rejoicing that, for once, one of his “little ideas” had come to naught.

After lunch Poirot begged me to accompany him home. I consented rather stiffly.

“You are annoyed, is it not so?” he asked anxiously, as we walked through the park.

“Not at all,” I said coldly.