The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

said, "that that wall is important."

Stillingfleet looked at him curiously. "You

mean--psychologically?"

Poirot had moved to the desk. Idly, or so it

seemed, he picked up a pair of what are usually

called lazytongs. He pressed the handles; the tongs

shot out to their full length. Delicately, Poirot

picked up a burnt match stump with them from

beside a chair some feet away and conveyed it

carefully to the waste-paper basket.

"When you've finished playing with those

things..." said Stillingfleet irritably.

Hercule Poirot murmured, "An ingenious in-vention,''

and replaced the tongs neatly on the

writing-table. Then he asked:

"Where were Mrs. Farley and Miss Farley at the

time of the--death?"

"Mrs. Farley was resting in her room on the

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Agatha Christie

floor above this. Miss Farley was painting in her

studio at the top of the house."

Hercule Poirot drummed idly with his fingers

on the table for a minute or two. Then he said:

"I should like to see Miss Farley. Do you think

you could ask her to come here for a minute or

two?"

"If you like."

Stillingfleet glanced at him curiously, then left

the room. In another minute or two the door