him, and I’ll tell you. I’m perfectly certain the dagger was _not_ there. He

thinks it was and that Ralph sneaked it later in the evening.

 

And—and he doesn’t believe me. He thinks I’m saying it to—to shield Ralph.”

 

“And aren’t you?” I asked gravely.

 

Flora stamped her foot.

 

“You, too, Dr. Sheppard! Oh! it’s too bad.”

 

Poirot tactfully made a diversion.

 

“It is true what I heard you say, Major Blunt. There is something that glitters

in this pond. Let us see if I can reach it.”

 

He knelt down by the pond, baring his arm to the elbow, and lowered it in very

slowly, so as not to disturb the bottom of the pond. But in spite of all his

precautions the mud eddied and swirled, and he was forced to draw his arm out

again empty-handed.

 

He gazed ruefully at the mud upon his arm. I offered him my handkerchief, which

he accepted with fervent protestations of thanks.

 

Blunt looked at his watch.