/> of that foul crime to justice." He paused and
cleared his throat. "We have on board with us M.
Hercule Poirot who is probably known to you all
as a man who has had wide experience in--erin
such matters. I hope you will listen carefully to
what he has to say."
It was at this minute that Colonel Clapperton
who had not been at dinner came in and sat down
next to General Forbes. He looked like a man
bewildered by sorrow--not at all like a man con-scious
of great relief. Either he was a very good
actor or else he had been genuinely fond of his
disagreeable wife.
"M. Hercule Poirot," said the Captain and
stepped down. Poirot took his place. He looked
comically self-important as he beamed on his au-dience.
"Messieurs, Mesdames," he began. "It is most
kind of you to be so indulgent as to listen to me.
M. !e Capitaine has told you that I have had a cer-tain
experience in these matters. I have, it is true, a
little idea of my own about how to get to the bot-tom
of this particular case." He made a sign and a
steward pushed forward and passed up to him a
bulky, shapeless object wrapped in a sheet.
"What I am about to do may surprise you a
212
Agatha Christie
little," Poirot warned them. "It may occur to you
that I am eccentric, perhaps mad. Nevertheless I
assure you that behind my madness there is--as