The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

front of him. He picked up the topmost letter,

studied the address for a moment, then neatly slit

the back of the envelope with a little paper knife

that he kept on the breakfast table for that express

purpose and extracted the contents. Inside was yet

another envelope, carefully sealed with purple wax

and marked "Private and Confidential."

Hercule Poirot's eyebrows rose a little on his

egg-shaped head. He murmured, "Patience! Nous

allons arriver!" and once more brought the little

paper knife into play. This time the envelope

yielded a letter--written in a rather shaky and

spiky handwriting. Several words were heavily

underlined.

Hercule Poirot unfolded it and read. The letter

was headed once again "Private and Confiden

tial." On the right-hand side was the address

Agatha Christie

--Rosebank, Charman's Green, Bucks--and the

date--March twenty-first.

Dear M. Poirot: I have been recommended

to you by an old and valued friend of mine

who knows the worry and distress I have been

in lately. Not that this friend knows the actual

circumstances--those I have kept entirely to

myself--the matter being strictly private. My

friend assures me that you are discretion

itself--and that there will be no fear of my

being involved in a police matter which, if my