4. The Grease Spot on a Hungarian Passport

           PoirotsharedatablewithM.Boucandthedoctor.

           Thecompanyassembledintherestaurantcarwasaverysubduedone.Theyspokelittle.EventheloquaciousMrs.Hubbardwasunnaturallyquiet.Shemurmuredasshesat:

           “Idon’tfeelasthoughI’vegotthehearttoeatanything,”andthenpartookofeverythingofferedher,encouragedbytheSwedishlady,whoseemedtoregardherasaspecialcharge.

           BeforethemealwasservedPoirothadcaughtthechiefattendantbythesleeveandmurmuredsomethingtohim.Constantinehadaprettygoodguesswhattheinstructionshadbeen,ashenoticedthattheCountandCountessAndrenyiwerealwaysservedlastandthatattheendofthemealtherewasadelayinmakingouttheirbill.ItthereforecameaboutthattheCountandCountesswerethelastleftintherestaurantcar.

           Whentheyroseatlengthandmovedinthedirectionofthedoor,Poirotsprangupandfollowedthem.

           “Pardon,Madame,youhavedroppedyourhandkerchief.”

           Hewasholdingouttoherthetinymonogrammedsquare.

           Shetookit,glancedatit,thenhandeditbacktohim.

           “Youaremistaken,Monsieur,thatisnotmyhandkerchief.”

           “Notyourhandkerchief?Areyousure?”

           “Perfectlysure,Monsieur.”

           “Andyet,Madame,ithasyourinitial—theinitialH.”

           TheCountmadeasuddenmovement.Poirotignoredhim.HiseyeswerefixedontheCountess’sface.

           Lookingsteadilyathimshereplied:

           “Idonotunderstand,Monsieur.MyinitialsareE.A.”

           “Ithinknot.YournameisHelena—notElena.HelenaGoldenberg,theyoungerdaughterofLindaArden—HelenaGoldenberg,thesisterofMrs.