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VII. Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
Itisafamilyheirloom!JustnowItimedMademoiselle’smovements—herfirstabsencefromtheroomwasoftwelveseconds,hersecondoffifteen.Nowobservemyactions.Madamewillhavethekindnesstogivemethekeyofthejewel-case.Ithankyou.MyfriendHastingswillhavethekindnesstosay‘Go!’”
“Go!”Isaid.
Withalmostincredibleswiftness,Poirotwrenchedopenthedrawerofthedressing-table,extractedthejewel-case,fittedthekeyinthelock,openedthecase,selectedapieceofjewellery,shutandlockedthecase,andreturnedittothedrawer,whichhepushedtoagain.Hismovementswerelikelightning.
“Well,monami?”hedemandedofmebreathlessly.
“Forty-sixseconds,”Ireplied.
“Yousee?”Helookedround.“Therewouldnothavebeentimeforthechambermaideventotakethenecklaceout,farlesshideit.”
“Thenthatsettlesitonthemaid,”saidtheinspectorwithsatisfaction,andreturnedtohissearch.Hepassedintothemaid’sbedroomnextdoor.
Poirotwasfrowningthoughtfully.SuddenlyheshotaquestionatMr.Opalsen.
“Thisnecklace—itwas,withoutdoubt,insured?”
Mr.Opalsenlookedatriflesurprisedatthequestion.
“Yes,”hesaidhesitatingly,“thatisso.”
“Butwhatdoesthatmatter?”brokeinMrs.Opalsentearfully.“It’smynecklaceIwant.Itwasunique.Nomoneycouldbethesame.”
“Icomprehend,madame,”saidPoirotsoothingly.“Icomprehendperfectly.Tolafemmesentimentiseverything—isitnotso?Butmonsieur,whohasnotthesofinesusceptibility,willdoubtlessfindsomeslightconsolationinthefact.
