8. The Evidence of Colonel Arbuthnot

           Poirotrousedhimselfwithaslightstart.HiseyestwinkledalittleastheymettheeageronesofM.Bouc.

           “Ah!mydearoldfriend,”hesaid.“Yousee,Ihavebecomewhattheycallthesnob!Thefirst-class,Ifeelitshouldbeattendedtobeforethesecond-class.Next,Ithink,wewillinterviewthegoodlookingColonelArbuthnot.”

           FindingtheColonel’sFrenchtobeofaseverelylimiteddescription,PoirotconductedhisinterrogationinEnglish.

           Arbuthnot’sname,age,homeaddressandexactmilitarystandingwereallascertained.Poirotproceeded:

           “ItisthatyoucomehomefromIndiaonwhatiscalledtheleave—whatwecallenpermission?”

           ColonelArbuthnot,uninterestedinwhatapackofforeignerscalledanything,repliedwithtrueBritishbrevity:

           “Yes.”

           “ButyoudonotcomehomeontheP.&O.boat?”

           “No.”

           “Whynot?”

           “Ichosetocomebytheoverlandrouteforreasonsofmyown.”

           “Andthat,”hismannerseemedtosay,“isoneforyou,youinterferinglittlejackanapes.”

           “YoucamestraightthroughfromIndia?”

           TheColonelreplieddryly:

           “IstoppedforonenighttoseeUroftheChaldeesandforthreedaysinBaghdadwiththeA.O.C.,whohappenstobeanoldfriendofmine.”

           “YoustoppedthreedaysinBaghdad.IunderstandthattheyoungEnglishlady,MissDebenham,alsocomesfromBaghdad.Perhapsyoumetherthere?”

           “No,Ididnot.IfirstmetMissDebenhamwhensheandIsharedtherailwayconvoycarfromKirkuktoNissibin.”

           Poirotleanedforward.Hebecamepersuasiveandalittlemoreforeignthanheneedhavebeen.