But I wished he would come forward and say openly that he’d had nothing to do

with it. I knew that he was very fond of Dr. Sheppard, and I fancied that

perhaps Dr. Sheppard might know where he was hiding.”

 

She turned to me.

 

“That’s why I said what I did to you that day. I thought, if you knew where he

was, you might pass on the message to him.”

 

“I?” I exclaimed.

 

“Why should James know where he was?” demanded Caroline sharply.

 

“It was very unlikely, I know,” admitted Ursula, “but Ralph had often spoken of

Dr. Sheppard, and I knew that he would be likely to consider him as his best

friend in King’s Abbot.”

 

“My dear child,” I said, “I have not the least idea where Ralph Paton is at the

present moment.”

 

“That is true enough,” said Poirot.

 

“But——” Ursula held out the newspaper cutting in a puzzled fashion.

 

“Ah! that,” said Poirot, slightly embarrassed; “a _bagatelle_, mademoiselle. A