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I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
“Mylittleideawastobringthingstoahead,”explainedPoirotplacidly.
“Bringthingstoahead!Oh,myGod!”criedLordYardly.
“Andtherusesucceeded,”saidPoirotcheerfully.“Therefore,milord,Ihavemuchpleasureinreturningyou—this!”Withadramaticgestureheproducedaglitteringobject.Itwasagreatdiamond.
“TheStaroftheEast,”gaspedLordYardly.“ButIdon’tunderstand——”
“No?”saidPoirot.“Itmakesnomatter.Believeme,itwasnecessaryforthediamondtobestolen.Ipromisedyouthatitshouldbepreservedtoyou,andIhavekeptmyword.Youmustpermitmetokeepmylittlesecret.Convey,Ibegofyou,theassurancesofmydeepestrespecttoLadyYardly,andtellherhowpleasedIamtobeabletorestoreherjeweltoher.Whatbeautemps,isitnot?Goodday,milord.”
Andsmilingandtalking,theamazinglittlemanconductedthebewilderednoblemantothedoor.Hereturnedgentlyrubbinghishands.
“Poirot,”Isaid.“AmIquitedemented?”
“No,monami,butyouare,asalways,inamentalfog.”
“Howdidyougetthediamond.”
“FromMr.Rolf.”
“Rolf?”
“Maisoui!Thewarningletters,theChinaman,thearticleinSocietyGossip,allsprangfromtheingeniousbrainofMr.Rolf!Thetwodiamonds,supposedtobesomiraculouslyalike—bah!theydidnotexist.Therewasonlyonediamond,myfriend!OriginallyintheYardlycollection,forthreeyearsithasbeeninthepossessionofMr.Rolf.
