The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

chest, the final touch of moving the screen. Not so

that Clayton can raise the lid a little and get

relief--no, so that he, Curtiss, can raise that lid

unobserved. The plan is Curtiss', and observe the

beauty of it, Hastings. If Rich had observed the

screen was out of place and moved it back--well,

no harm is done. He can make another plan.

Clayton hides in the chest, the mild narcotic that

Curtiss had administered takes effect. He sinks

into unconsciousness. Curtiss lifts up the lid and

strikes--and the phonograph goes on playing

Walking My Baby Back Home."

I found my voice. "Why? But why?"

Poirot shrugged his shoulders.

"Why did a man shoot himself? Why did two

Italians fight a duel? Curtiss is of a dark passion-ate

temperament. He wanted Marguerita Clayton.

With her husband and Rich out of the way, she

would, or so he thought, turn to him."

He added musingly:

"These simple childlike women . . . they are

very dangerous. But mon Dieu.t what an artistic

masterpiece! It goes to my heart to hang a man

like that. I may be a genius myself, but I am

capable of recognizing genius in other people. A

perfect murder, mon ami. I, Hercule Poirot, say it

to you. A perfect murder, tpatant,t''

How Does your

Garden Grow?

Hercule Poirot arranged his letters in a neat pile in