the top shelf, the next tallest in the row beneath, and so on. Thus we have

order, _method_, which, as I have often told you, Hastings——”

 

“Exactly,” I said hastily, and put the offending volume in its proper place.

 

• • • • • • •

 

Lord Yardly turned out to be a cheery, loud-voiced sportsman with a rather red

face, but with a good-humoured bonhomie about him that was distinctly attractive

and made up for any lack of mentality.

 

“Extraordinary business this, Monsieur Poirot. Can’t make head or tail of it.

Seems my wife’s been getting odd kind of letters, and that this Miss Marvell’s

had ’em too. What does it all mean?”

 

Poirot handed him the copy of _Society Gossip_.

 

“First, _milord_, I would ask you if these facts are substantially correct?”

 

The peer took it. His face darkened with anger as he read.

 

“Damned nonsense!” he spluttered. “There’s never been any romantic story

attaching to the diamond. It came from India originally, I believe. I never

heard of all this Chinese god stuff.”