The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

And pretty maids all in a row.

Only they are not cockle shells, are they, madame?

They are oyster shells." His hand pointed.

He heard her catch her breath and then stay

very still. Her eyes asked a question.

He nodded. "Mais, oui, I know! The maid left

the dinner ready--she will swear and Katrina will

swear that that is all you had. Only you and your

husband know that you brought back a dozen and

a half oysters--a little treat pour la bonne tante.

So easy to put the strychnine in an oyster. It is

swallowed--comme qa.t But there remain the

shells--they must not go in the bucket. The maid

would see them. And so you thought of making an

edging of them to a bed. But there were not

enough--the edging is not complete. The effect is

bad--it spoils the symmetry of the otherwise

charming garden. Those few oyster shells struck

an alien note--they displeased my eye on my first

visit."

Mary Delafontaine said, "I suppose you

guessed from the letter.' I knew she had written

--but I didn't know how much she'd said."

Poirot answered evasively, "I knew at least that

Agatha Christie

it was a family matter. If it had been a question of

Katrina there would have been no point in hushing

things up. I understand that you or your husband

handled Miss Barrowby's securities to your own