“Nearly lunch time,” he said. “We’d better be getting back to the house.”

 

“You will lunch with us, M. Poirot?” asked Flora. “I should like you to meet my

mother. She is—very fond of Ralph.”

 

The little man bowed.

 

“I shall be delighted, mademoiselle.”

 

“And you will stay, too, won’t you, Dr. Sheppard?”

 

I hesitated.

 

“Oh, do!”

 

I wanted to, so I accepted the invitation without further ceremony.

 

We set out towards the house, Flora and Blunt walking ahead.

 

“What hair,” said Poirot to me in a low tone, nodding towards Flora. “The real

gold! They will make a pretty couple. She and the dark, handsome Captain Paton.

Will they not?”

 

I looked at him inquiringly, but he began to fuss about a few microscopic drops