The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

the doctor says positively that he was dead at least

two hours before that. That only leaves one alter-native."

"Yes, rnon ami?" said Poirot.

"That in the five minutes Clayton was alone in

the sitting room, someone else came in and killed

him. But there we have the same objection. Only

someone with a key could come in without the

valet's knowing, and in the same way the mur-derer

on leaving would have had to bang the door,

and that again the valet would have heard."

"Exactly," said Poirot. "And therefore--"

"And therefore--nothing," I said. "I can see

no other solution."

"It is a pity," murmured Poirot. "And it is

THE MYSTERY OF THE BAGDAD CHEST

47

really so exceedingly simple--as the clear blue eyes

of Madame Clayton."

"You really believe--"

"I believe nothing--until I have got proof. One

little proof will convince me."

He took up the telephone and called japp at

Scotland Yard.

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Twenty minutes later we were standing before a

little heap of assorted objects laid out on a table.

They were the contents of the dead man's pockets.

There was a handkerchief, a handful of loose

change, a pocketbook containing three pounds ten

shillings, a couple of bills and a worn snapshot of