Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-10
CONTINUED from Yesterdays star,
CHAPTER XXHI.
Poirot's Little Reunion.

"And now" said Caroline, rising
that child is coming upstairs to lie
down Don't you worry. my dear. NJ.
Poirot will do everything he can Tor
you.--be sure of that"
II ought to go back to Fernly," said
Ursula uncertainty.
But Caroline silenced her protests
with a firm hand.
Nonsense. You're in my hands Tor
the time being. You'll stay here Tor
the present, anyway--eh. NJ. Poirot|'
at will be the best plan" agreed the
little Belgian. This evening ] shall
want mademoiselle-- beg her pardon.
madame-to attend my little reunion.
Nine o'clock at my house. 1t Is most
necessary that she should be there.
Caroline nodded, and went with
Ursula out of the room. The door
shut behind them. Poirot dropped
down into chair again.
so far, so good" he said. Things
are Strengthening themselves out.
They're getting to look blacker and
blacker against Ralph Patton" oo'
served gloomily.
Poirot nodded.
Yes, that is so. But 1t was to De
expected, was 1t not?"
looked at him, slightly puzzled by
the remark. He was leaning back in
the chair. his eyes half closed, the tips
of his fingers just touching each other.
Suddenly he sighed and shook his
head
What is it?' | asked.
1T is that there are moments when
a great longing for my friend Hast
ings comes over me. That is the
friend of whom | spoke to you--the
one who resides now in the Argentine.
Always. when have had a big case.
he has been by my side. And he has
helped me-yes, often he has helped
me. For he had a knack, that one. OF
stumbling over the truth unawares---
without noticing it himself. bien en-
tendu. At times he has said some.
thing particularly foolish, and behold
that foolish remark has revealed the
truth to me! And then, too, it was his
practice to keep a written record OF
the cases that proved interesting"
I gave a slight embarrassed cough.
LAS far as that goes" / began. and
then stopped.
Poirot sat upright in his chair. His
eyes sparkled.
But yes? What is it that you
would say"
well, as a matter of fact, I've read
some of Capt. Hastings narratives,
and thought. why not try my hand
at something of the same kind?
Seemed pity not to--unique oppor-
tunity-probably the only time I'll be
mixed up with anything Of this
kind
/ felt myself getting hotter and
hotter and more and more incoherent,
as I fioundered through the above
speech.
Poirot sprang from his chair.
had a moments terror that he was
going to embrace me French fashion,
but mercifully he refrained.
But this is magnificent-you have
then written down your impressions
of the case as you went along?"
I nodded.
''Epatant." cried Poirot. Let me
see them--this instant"
was not quite prepared for such
a sudden demand. I tacked my
brains TO remember certain details.
II hope you won't mind" I stanl-
mered. "T may have been a little
-er-personal now and then"
"Oh. I comprehend perfectly:
you have referred to me as comic
AS, perhaps. ridiculous now and
then? 1t matters not at all. Hast
ings, he also was. not always polite.
Me. have the mind above such
trivialities." ssss..s....
Still somewhat doubtful, + ftirh-
mayed in the drawers of my desk
and produced an untidy pile of
manuscript which / handed over to
him. With an eye on possible publ
cation in the future l had divided
the work into chapters and the night
before / had brought it up to date
with an account of Miss Russells
visit. Poirot had therefore 20
chapters.
| left him with them.
l was obliged to go out 10 case
at some distance away and it was
past O'Clock when got back, TO
be greeted with plate of hot dinner