Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-27
CONTINUED from Yesterdays star
CHAPTER Nv.
Geo6pey RAYMOND.

GeonPey Raymond.
I was to have a further proof that
day Of the success of Poirot's tactics
That challenge of his had been a
subtle touch born of his knowledge OF
human nature. mixture of rear
and guilt had wrung the truth from
Mrs. Ackroyd. She was the first 10
react.
That afternoon when | returned
from seeing my patients, Caroline told
me that Godfrey Raymond had just
left.
did he want to see me-" l asked,
as 1 hung up my coat in the hall.
Caroline was lowering by my elbow.
1T was NJ, Poirot he wanted to
see." she said. He'd just come from
The Larehes. NJ. Poirot was out. Mr..
Raymond thought that he might be
here, or that you might know where
he was"
II haven't the least idea
II tried to make him wait" said
Caroline, but he said he would call
hack at The Larches in half an hour,
and went away down the village. A
great pity, because NJ. Poirot came
in practically the minute after he
left
Came in heree'' Q
NO. to his own house,
How do you know"
briefly.
It seemed to nae that we had now
exhausted the topic. Caroline thought
otherwise.
Aren't you going across"
Across where?"
ITO The Larches. of course
MY dear Caroline l said, what
for?"
Mr.. Raymond wanted to see him
very particularly" said Caroline.
"You might hear what it's all about"
l raised my eyebrows.
Curiosity is not my besetting sin,
] remarked coldly. Il can exist COM
fertably without knowing exactly
what my neighbors are doing and
thinking
Stuff and nonsense, James," said
as much as I do. You're not so
honest. that's all. You always have
to pretend"
Really, Caroline" I said, and re,
tired into my surgery.
Ten minutes later Caroline tapped
at the door and entered, In her hand
she held what seemed to be a pct of
jam.
II wonder, James," she said, IF
you would mind taking this pot of
nedlar. jelly across to NJ. Peiret? I
promised it to him. He has never
tasted any home made medlar jelly"
why can't Annie go:" l asked
eeldly.
She's doing some mending. 1
can't spare her.
Caroline and 1 looked at each other.
Very well,' / said, rising. But
Il I take the beastly thing, shall
Just leave 1t at the door. You under
stand that?" =
My sister raised her eyebrows,
Naturally" she said. who sug-
gested you should do anything elseen
The honors were with Caroline
IF you do happen to see NJ. Poiret,"
she said, as l opened the front door,
'you might tell him about the boots"
1t was most subtle parting shot.
] wanted dreadfully to understand
the enigma of the bots. When the
cid lady with the Breton cap opened
the door to me, / found myself ask
Ing If NJ. Poiret was in, quite auto.
Haatically.
Poiret sprang up to meet me. with
every appearance of pleasure.
sit down, my good friend he
said. 1.-THE big ehairs This small
one? The room is net too hot. ne?,,,.
/ thought it wasb stiffiins, but re-
Trained from saying 90. The windows
were closed. and large fire harned
in the crate.
The English people. they have a
mania for the fresh air. declared
Poirot. The big air, it is all very
well outside, where it belongs. Why
admit it to the house? But let us
not discuss such banalities. You have
something for me, yese"
Two things" I said "First-this
pot of nledlar jelly.
How kind of Mademoiselle Caro-
line. She has remembered her prom
ise. And the second thing?"
'Information-of a kind
And ! told him of my interview
with Mrs. Ackroyd. He listened with
interest, but not much excitement. !
1T clears the ground" he said
thoughtfully. And it has certain
value as confirming the evidence of
the housekeeper. She said, you re-
member, that she found the silver
table lid open and closed 1t down IN
passing"
What about her statement that
she went into the drawing-roem to
zee II the flowers were fresh?"
'Ah! we never took that very
seriously, did we. my friende It was
patiently an excuse, trumped UP in
q hurry, by a woman who felt it
which, by the way, you would prob
ably never have thought of question
ing. 1 considered 1t possible that her
agitation might arise from the fact
that she had been tampering with the
silver table, but ! think now that we
must look for another cause"
Yes" I said. when did she go
out to meet? And why?"
You think she went to meet some
one?"
81 do"
Poirot nodded
so do l." he said theushtfully.
There was pause.
BY the way" / said. I've got
Ralph Paton's boots were black, not
brown"
I was watching him closely as
gave the message. and / fancied that
] saw a momentary flicker OF dis
composure. If SO. 1t passed almost
Immediately.
She is absolutely positive they are
not brown"
Absolutely"
"Ah!' said Peiret regretfully.
That is pity
And he scented quite crestfallen.
He entered into no explanations,
but at once started new subject of
conversation. :,
The housekesper. Miss Russell,
who came to consult you on that
Friday mornipg--is II indiscreet to
ask what passed at the interview
apart from the medical details,
Anean?"
Not at ALL" 1 said. when the
professional part of the conversation
was over, we talked for few minutes
about peisons, and the ease or diff
Guilty of detecting them, and about