"Oh! Yes, Hastings, we have done a great deal. It is true that I am
not in a position to accuse either Ryland or Madame Olivier--who would
believe me? You remember I thought once I had Ryland successfully
cornered? Nevertheless I have made my suspicions known in certain
quarters--the highest--Lord Aldington, who enlisted my help in the
matter of the stolen submarine plans, is fully cognisant of all my
information respecting the Big Four--and while others may doubt, he
believes. Ryland and Madame Olivier, and Li Chang Yen himself may go
their ways, but there is a searchlight turned on all their movements."
"And Number Four?" I asked.
"As I said just now--I am beginning to know and understand his methods.
You may smile, Hastings--but to penetrate a man's personality, to
know exactly what he will do under any given circumstances--that is
the beginning of success. It is a duel between us, and whilst he is
constantly giving away his mentality to me, I endeavour to let him
know little or nothing of mine. He is in the light, I in the shade. I
tell you, Hastings, that every day they fear me the more for my chosen
inactivity."
"They've let us alone, anyway," I observed. "There have been no more
attempts on your life, and no ambushes of any kind."
"No," said Poirot thoughtfully. "On the whole, that rather surprises
me. Especially as there are one or two fairly obvious ways of getting
at us which I should have thought certain to have occurred to them. You
catch my meaning, perhaps?"
"An infernal machine of some kind?" I hazarded.
Poirot made a sharp click with his tongue expressive of impatience.
"But no! I appeal to your imagination, and you can suggest nothing
more subtle than bombs in the fireplace. Well, well, I have need of
some matches, I will promenade myself despite the weather. Pardon,
my friend, but is it possible that you read _The Future of the
Argentine_, _Mirror of Society_, _Cattle Breeding_, _The
Clue of Crimson_ and _Sport in the Rockies_ at one and the same
time?"
I laughed, and admitted that _The Clue of Crimson_ was at present
engaging my sole attention. Poirot shook his head sadly.
"But replace then the others on the bookshelf! Never, never shall I
see you embrace the order and the method. Mon Dieu, what then is a
bookshelf for?"
I apologised humbly, and Poirot, after replacing the offending volumes,
each in its appointed place, went out and left me to uninterrupted
enjoyment of my selected book.
I must admit, however, that I was half asleep when Mrs. Pearson's knock
at the door aroused me.
"A telegram for you, captain."