The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

voice came more faintly but with an even greater

urgency.

"At

once.., it's life or death .... The Jarclin des

Cygnes. . . at once . . . table with yellow irises....

"

There

was a pause--a queer kind of gasp--the line

went dead.

Hercule

Poirot hung up. His face was puzzled. He

murmured between his teeth:

"There

is something here very curious."

In

the doorway of the Jardin des Cygnes, fat Luigi

hurried forward.

"Buona

sera, M. Poirot. You desire a table--yes?"

"No,

no,

my good Luigi. I seek here for some friends. I

will look round--perhaps they are not here yet.

Ah, let me see, that table there in the cor-ner with the

yellow irises--a little question by the way, if it

is not indiscreet. On all the other tables there are

tulips--pink tulips--why on that one

YELLOW IRIS

107

table do you have yellow iris?"