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VII. Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
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“Woulditbetroublingyoutoomuch,mademoiselle,toaskyoutorepeatthosetwoactions?Youweresittingherewithyourwork,yousay?”
Célestinesatdown,andthen,atasignfromPoirot,rose,passedintotheadjoiningroom,tookupanobjectfromthechestofdrawers,andreturned.
Poirotdividedhisattentionbetweenhermovementsandalargeturnipofawatchwhichheheldinthepalmofhishand.
“Again,ifyouplease,mademoiselle.”
Attheconclusionofthesecondperformance,hemadeanoteinhispocket-book,andreturnedthewatchtohispocket.
“Thankyou,mademoiselle.Andyou,monsieur,”—hebowedtotheinspector—“foryourcourtesy.”
Theinspectorseemedsomewhatentertainedbythisexcessivepoliteness.Célestinedepartedinafloodoftears,accompaniedbythewomanandtheplain-clothesofficial.
Then,withabriefapologytoMrs.Opalsen,theinspectorsettoworktoransacktheroom.Hepulledoutdrawers,openedcupboards,completelyunmadethebed,andtappedthefloor.Mr.Opalsenlookedonsceptically.
“Youreallythinkyouwillfindthem?”
“Yes,sir.Itstandstoreason.Shehadn’ttimetotakethemoutoftheroom.Thelady’sdiscoveringtherobberysosoonupsetherplans.No,they’rehererightenough.Oneofthetwomusthavehiddenthem—andit’sveryunlikelyforthechambermaidtohavedoneso.”
“Morethanunlikely—impossible!”saidPoirotquietly.
“Eh?”Theinspectorstared.
Poirotsmiledmodestly.
“Iwilldemonstrate.Hastings,mygoodfriend,takemywatchinyourhand—withcare.
