3. Certain Suggestive Points

           Itwasquiteaquarterofanhourbeforeanyonespoke.

           M.BoucandDr.ConstantinehadstartedbytryingtoobeyPoirot’sinstructions.Theyhadendeavouredtoseethroughthemazeofconflictingparticularstoaclearandoutstandingsolution.

           M.Bouc’sthoughtshadrunsomethingasfollows:

           “AssuredlyImustthink.ButasfarasthatgoesIhavealreadythought…PoirotobviouslythinksthisEnglishgirlismixedupinthematter.Icannothelpfeelingthatthatismostunlikely…TheEnglishareextremelycold.Probablyitisbecausetheyhavenofigures…Butthatisnotthepoint.ItseemsthattheItaliancouldnothavedoneit—apity.IsupposetheEnglishvaletisnotlyingwhenhesaidtheotherneverleftthecompartment?Butwhyshouldhe?ItisnoteasytobribetheEnglish,theyaresounapproachable.Thewholethingismostunfortunate.Iwonderwhenweshallgetoutofthis.Theremustbesomerescueworkinprogress.Theyaresoslowinthesecountries…itishoursbeforeanyonethinksofdoinganything.Andthepoliceofthesecountries,theywillbemosttryingtodealwith—puffedupwithimportance,touchy,ontheirdignity.Theywillmakeagrandaffairofallthis.Itisnotoftenthatsuchachancecomestheirway.Itwillbeinallthenewspapers….”

           AndfromthereonM.Bouc’sthoughtswentalongawell-worncoursewhichtheyhadalreadytraversedsomehundredtimes.

           Dr.Constantine’sthoughtsranthus:

           “Heisqueer,thislittleman.Agenius?Oracrank?Willhesolvethismystery?Impossible.Icanseenowayoutofit.