Raglan brought his fist down with a thump on the table.

 

“I’ll not believe it,” he said. “It’s—it’s not credible. And you—you’ve known

this all along?”

 

“The possibility has been in my mind from the first,” admitted Poirot. “I was

always convinced that Mademoiselle Flora was hiding something from us. To

satisfy myself, I made the little experiment I told you of.

 

Dr. Sheppard accompanied me.”

 

“A test for Parker, you said it was,” I remarked bitterly.

 

“_Mon ami_,” said Poirot apologetically, “as I told you at the time, one must

say something.”

 

The inspector rose.

 

“There’s only one thing for it,” he declared. “We must tackle the young lady

right away. You’ll come up to Fernly with me, M. Poirot?”

 

“Certainly. Dr. Sheppard will drive us up in his car.”

 

I acquiesced willingly.