2. The Evidence of the Secretary

           ForaminuteortwoPoirotremainedlostinthought.

           “Ithink,”hesaidatlast,“thatitwouldbewelltohaveafurtherwordwithM.MacQueen,inviewofwhatwenowknow.”

           TheyoungAmericanappearedpromptly.

           “Well,”hesaid,“howarethingsgoing?”

           “Nottoobadly.SinceourlastconversationIhavelearntsomething—theidentityofM.Ratchett.”

           HectorMacQueenleanedforwardinterestedly.

           “Yes?”hesaid.

           “Ratchett,asyoususpected,wasmerelyanalias.RatchettwasCassetti,themanwhoranthecelebratedkidnappingstunts—includingthefamousaffairoflittleDaisyArmstrong.”

           AnexpressionofutterastonishmentappearedonMacQueen’sface;thenitdarkened.

           “Thedamnedskunk!”heexclaimed.

           “Youhadnoideaofthis,M.MacQueen?”

           “No,sir,”saidtheyoungAmericandecidedly.“IfIhadI’dhavecutoffmyrighthandbeforeithadachancetodosecretarialworkforhim!”

           “Youfeelstronglyaboutthematter,M.MacQueen?”

           “Ihaveaparticularreasonfordoingso.Myfatherwasthedistrictattorneywhohandledthecase,M.Poirot.IsawMrs.Armstrongmorethanonce—shewasalovelywoman.Sogentleandheartbroken.”Hisfacedarkened.“Ifeveramandeservedwhathegot,RatchettorCassettiistheman.I’mrejoicedathisend.Suchamanwasn’tfittolive!”

           “Youalmostfeelasthoughyouwouldhavebeenwillingtodothegooddeedyourself?”

           “Ido.I—”Hepaused,thenflushedratherguiltily.“SeemsI’mkindofincriminatingmyself.”

           “Ishouldbemoreinclinedtosuspectyou,M.