Chase without taking the diamond with you?”

 

A shrewd, hard look came into Miss Marvell’s eyes which belied their childlike

appearance. She looked suddenly a good deal older.

 

“I want to wear it down there.”

 

“Surely” I said suddenly, “there are some very famous jewels in the Yardly

collection, a large diamond amongst them?”

 

“That’s so,” said Miss Marvell briefly.

 

I heard Poirot murmur beneath his breath: “Ah, _c’est comme ça_!” Then he said

aloud, with his usual uncanny luck in hitting the bull’s-eye (he dignifies it by

the name of psychology): “Then you are without doubt already acquainted with

Lady Yardly, or perhaps your husband is?”

 

“Gregory knew her when she was out West three years ago,” said Miss Marvell. She

hesitated a moment, and then added abruptly: “Do either of you ever see _Society

Gossip_?”

 

We both pleaded guilty rather shamefacedly.

 

“I ask because in this week’s number there is an article on famous jewels, and

it’s really very curious——” She broke off.