"These nuns who were collecting in that district, did they return at all at a later date to try again ?"

"As a matter of fact they did come again--about a week later. Actually on the day of the inquest, I believe."

"That fits," said Hercule Poirot. "That fits very well."

Inspector Morton looked at him. "Why this interest in nuns ?"

"They have been forced on my attention whether I will or no. It will not have escaped your attention, Inspector, that the visit of the nuns was the same day that poisoned wedding cake found its way into that cottage."

"You don't think Surely that's a ridiculous idea ?" "My ideas are never ridiculous," said Hercule Poirot severely. "And now, mon cher, I must leave you to your questions and to the inquiries into the attack on Mrs. Abernethie.

I myself must go in search of the late Richard Abernethie's niece."

"Now be careful what you go saying to Mrs. Banks." , "I do not mean Mrs. Banks. I mean Richard Abernethie s other niece."

Poirot found Rosamund sitting on a bench overlooking a little stream that cascaded down in a waterfall and then flowed through rhododendron thickets. She was staring into the water.

"I do not, I trust, disturb an Ophelia," said Poirot as he took his seat beside her. "You are, perhaps, studying the rle ?"

"I've never played in Shakespeare," said Rosamund. "Except once in Rep. I was Jessica in The Merchant. A lousy part."

"Yet not without pathos. ' I am never merry when I hear sweet music.' What a load she carried, poor Jessica, the daughter of the hated and despised Jew. What doubts of herself she must have had when she brought with her her father's ducats when she ran away to her lover. Jessica with gold was one thing--Jessica without gold might have been another."

Rosamund turned her head to look at him.

"I thoughtyou'd gone," she said with a tou,ch of reproach.

She glanced down at her wrist-watch. "It s past twelve o'clock."

x77

"I have missed my train," said Poirot.

"You think I missed it for a reason ?"

"I suppose so. You're rather precise, aren't you ? If

m wanted to catch a train, I should think you'd catch

"Your judgment is admirable. Do you know, Madame, I have been sitting in the little summer-house hoping that

you would, perhaps, pay me a visit there ?"

Rosamund stared at him.

"Why should I ? You more or less said good-bye to us all in the library."

"Quite so. And there was nothing--you wanted to say to

"No." Rosamund shook her head. "I had a lot I wanted

to think about. Important things."

"i see."

"I don't often do much thinking," said Rosamund. "It seems a waste of time. But this is important. I think one

ought to plan one's life just as one wants it to be."

"And that is what you are doing ?"

"Well, yes... I was trying to make a decision about sometking."

"About your husband ?"

"In a way."

Poirot waited a moment, then he said:

"Inspector Morton has just arrived here." He antic.i.p.ated Rosamund's question by going on: "He is the police officer in charge of the inquiries about Mrs. Lansquenet's death. He has come here to get statements from you all about what you were doing on the day she was murdered."

"I see. Alibis," said Rosamund cheerfully.

Her be&utiful face relaxed into an impish glee.

"That WilI be h.e.l.l for Michael," she said. "He thinks I don't really know he went off to be with that woman that

r"How did you know ?

"It was obvious from the way he said he was going to lunch with Oscar. So frightfully casually, you know, and his nose twitching just a tiny bit like it always does when he tells lies."

"How devoutly thankful I am I am not married to you, Madame I"

"And then, of course, I made sure by ringing up Oscar,"

continued Rosamund. "Men always tell such silly Ues."

"He is not, I fear, a very faithful husband ?" Poirot hazarded.

Rosamund, however, did not reject the statement.

"But you do not mind ?"

"Well, it's rather fun in a way," said Rosamund. "I mean, having a husband that all the other women want to s.n.a.t.c.h away from you. I should hate to be married to a man that n.o.body wanted--like poor Susan. Really Greg is so completely wet I"

Poirot was studying her.

"And suppose someone did succeed--in s.n.a.t.c.hing your husband away fr, o,m you ?"

"The won't, ' said Rosamund. "Not now," she added. "You mean "Not now that there's Uncle Richard's money. Michael falls for these creatures in a way--that Sorrel Dainton woman nearly got her hooks into him--wanted him for keeps--but with Michael the show will always come first. He can launch out now in a big way--put his own shows on. Do some production as well as acting. He's ambitious, you know, and he really is good. Not like me, I adore acting---but I'm ham, though I look nice. No, I'm not worried about Michael any more. Because it's my money, you see."

Her eyes met Poirot's calmly. He thought how strange it was that both Richard Abernethie's nieces should have fallen deeply in love with men who were incapable of returning that love. And yet Rosamund was unusually beautiful and Susan was attractive and full of s.e.x appeal. Susan needed and clung to the illusion that Gregory loved her. Rosamund, clearsighted, had no illusions at all, but knew what she wanted.

"The point is," said Rosamund, "that I've got to make a big decision--about the future. Michael doesn't know yet."

Her face curved into a smile. "He found out that I wasn't shopping that day and he's madly suspicious about Regent's Park."

"What is this about Regent's Park ?" Poirot looked puzzled.

"I went there, you see, after Harley Street. Just to walk about and think. Naturally Michael thinks that if I went there at all, I went to meet some man t"

Rosamund smiled beatifically and added: "He didn't like that at all I"

"But why should you not go to Regent's Park ? asked Poirot.

"Just to walk there, you mean ?"