The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

show you. We'll play one hand."

He dealt the cards rapidly. "Pick up your

hands. Well, what about it?" He laughed at the

bewildered expression on Kitty's face. He laid

down his hand and the others followed suit. Kitty

held the entire club suit, M. Poirot the hearts,

Pam the diamonds and Colonel Clapperton the

spades.

"You see?" he said. "A man who can deal his

partner and his adversaries any hand he pleases

had better stand aloof from a friendly game! If the

luck goes too much his way, ill-natured things

might be said."

"Oh!" gasped Kitty. "How could you do that? ·

It all looked perfectly ordinary."

"The quickness of the hand deceives the eye,"

said Poirot sententiously--and caught the sudden

change in the C6lonel's expression.

It was as though he realized that he had been off

his guard for a moment or two.

Poirot smiled. The conjuror had shown himself

through the mask of the pukka sahib.

The ship reached Alexandria at dawn the fol-

,. morning.

As Poirot came up from breakfast he found the

girls all ready to go on shore. They were talk-to

Colonel Clapperton.

"We ought to get off now," urged Kitty. "The

passport people will be going off the ship presently.

You'll come with us, won't you? You