Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

 

“One must say something,” he remarked. “That particular question did as well as

any other.”

 

I stared at him.

 

“At any rate, my friend,” he said more seriously, “I know now something I wanted

to know. Let us leave it at that.”

 

CHAPTER XVI

 

AN EVENING AT MAH JONG

 

That night we had a little Mah Jong party. This kind of simple entertainment is

very popular in King’s Abbot. The guests arrive in goloshes and waterproofs

after dinner. They partake of coffee and later of cake, sandwiches, and tea.

 

On this particular night our guests were Miss Ganett, and Colonel Carter, who

lives near the church. A good deal of gossip is handed round at these evenings,

sometimes seriously interfering with the game in progress. We used to play

bridge—chatty bridge of the worst description. We find Mah Jong much more

peaceful. The irritated demand as to why on earth your partner did not lead a

certain card is entirely done away with, and though we still express criticisms

frankly, there is not the same acrimonious spirit.