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VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
“Whendidyoufirstbegintosuspectthetruthofthematter?”
“WhenIbegantoworktherightway—fromwithin!Icouldnotmakethatshootingaffairfitin—butwhenIsawthatthenetresultofitwasthatthePrimeMinisterwenttoFrancewithhisfaceboundupIbegantocomprehend!AndwhenIvisitedallthecottagehospitalsbetweenWindsorandLondon,andfoundthatnooneansweringtomydescriptionhadhadhisfaceboundupanddressedthatmorning,Iwassure!Afterthat,itwaschild’s-playforamindlikemine!”
•••••••
Thefollowingmorning,Poirotshowedmeatelegramhehadjustreceived.Ithadnoplaceoforigin,andwasunsigned.Itran:
“Intime.”
LaterinthedaytheeveningpaperspublishedanaccountoftheAlliedConference.TheylaidparticularstressonthemagnificentovationaccordedtoMr.DavidMacAdam,whoseinspiringspeechhadproducedadeepandlastingimpression.