Пуаро ведёт следствие

           Toallourexpostulations,Poirotturnedadeafear,andreiteratedagainandagainthattostartatthebeginningwasnotawasteoftime,buttheonlyway.Onthewayover,hehadconferredwithNormaninalowvoice,andthelatterhaddespatchedasheafoftelegramsfromDover.

           OwingtothespecialpassesheldbyNorman,wegotthrougheverywhereinrecordtime.InLondon,alargepolicecarwaswaitingforus,withsomeplain-clothesmen,oneofwhomhandedatypewrittensheetofpapertomyfriend.Heansweredmyinquiringglance.

           “AlistofthecottagehospitalswithinacertainradiuswestofLondon.IwiredforitfromDover.”

           WewerewhirledrapidlythroughtheLondonstreets.WewereontheBathRoad.Onwewent,throughHammersmith,ChiswickandBrentford.Ibegantoseeourobjective.ThroughWindsorandontoAscot.Myheartgavealeap.AscotwaswhereDanielshadanauntliving.Wewereafterhim,then,notO’Murphy.

           Wedulystoppedatthegateofatrimvilla.Poirotjumpedoutandrangthebell.Isawaperplexedfrowndimmingtheradianceofhisface.Plainly,hewasnotsatisfied.Thebellwasanswered.Hewasusheredinside.Inafewmomentshereappeared,andclimbedintothecarwithashort,sharpshakeofhishead.Myhopesbegantodiedown.Itwaspastfournow.EvenifhefoundcertainevidenceincriminatingDaniels,whatwouldbethegoodofit,unlesshecouldwringfromsomeonetheexactspotinFrancewheretheywereholdingthePrimeMinister?

           OurreturnprogresstowardsLondonwasaninterruptedone.