The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

diameter- and certainly had the effect of having

been freshly made.

Poirot bent down to examine them, looking in-quiringly

at the valet.

"It's certainly curious, sir. I don't remember

ever seeing those holes in the past, though maybe I

wouldn't notice them."

"It makes no matter," said Poirot.

Closing the lid of the chest, he stepped back into

the room until he was standing with his back

against the window. Then he suddenly asked a

question.

"Tell me," he said. "When you brought the x

cigarettes into your master that night,, was there

not something out of place in the room?"

Burgoyne hesitated for a minute, then with

some slight reluctance he replied,

"It's odd your saying that, sir. Now you come

to mention it, there was. That screen there that

cuts off the draft from the bedroom door--it was

moved a bit more to the left."

"Like this?"

Poirot darted nimbly forward and pulled at the

screen. It was a handsome affair of painted

leather. It already slightly obscured the view of the

chest, and as Poirot adjusted it, it hid the chest

altogether.

"That's right, sir," said the valet. "It was like

that."

"And the next morning?"