male relation. Ah! but I must go. It is the time of the lunch.”

 

“Stay and lunch with us,” I suggested.

 

Poirot shook his head. A faint twinkle came into his eye.

 

“Not again to-day. I should not like to force Mademoiselle Caroline to adopt a

vegetarian diet two days in succession.”

 

It occurred to me that there was not much which escaped Hercule Poirot.

 

CHAPTER XXI

 

THE PARAGRAPH IN THE PAPER

 

Caroline, of course, had not failed to see Miss Russell come to the surgery

door. I had anticipated this, and had ready an elaborate account of the lady’s

bad knee. But Caroline was not in a cross-questioning mood. Her point of view

was that she knew what Miss Russell had really come for and that _I_ didn’t.

 

“Pumping you, James,” said Caroline. “Pumping you in the most shameless manner,

I’ve not a doubt. It’s no good interrupting. I dare say you hadn’t the least

idea she was doing it even. Men _are_ so simple. She knows that you are in M.

Poirot’s confidence, and she wants to find out things. Do you know what I think,

James?”