“_Mon Dieu!_ It is that in this country you treat the affairs gastronomic with a

criminal indifference.”

 

“There’s another reason why we should get back to London as soon as possible,” I

continued.

 

“What is that, my friend?”

 

“The other diamond,” I said, lowering my voice. “Miss Marvell’s.”

 

“_Eh bien_, what of it?”

 

“Don’t you see?” His unusual obtuseness annoyed me. What had happened to his

usually keen wits? “They’ve got one, now they’ll go for the other.”

 

“_Tiens!_” cried Poirot, stepping back a pace and regarding me with admiration.

“But your brain marches to a marvel, my friend! Figure to yourself that for the

moment I had not thought of that! But there is plenty of time. The full of the

moon, it is not until Friday.”

 

I shook my head dubiously. The full of the moon theory left me entirely cold. I

had my way with Poirot, however, and we departed immediately, leaving behind us

a note of explanation and apology for Lord Yardly.

 

My idea was to go at once to the _Magnificent_, and relate to Miss Marvell what