interfere so violently in what was certainly not her affair."

"Precisely. It was an astonishing thing for a woman of her
breeding to do."

"It is certainly curious," I agreed. "Still, it is unimportant,
and need not be taken into account."

A groan burst from Poirot.

"What have I always told you? Everything must be taken into
account. If the fact will not fit the theory--let the theory
go."

"Well, we shall see," I said, nettled.

"Yes, we shall see."

We had reached Leastways Cottage, and Poirot ushered me upstairs
to his own room. He offered me one of the tiny Russian
cigarettes he himself occasionally smoked. I was amused to
notice that he stowed away the used matches most carefully in a
little china pot. My momentary annoyance vanished.

Poirot had placed our two chairs in front of the open window
which commanded a view of the village street. The fresh air blew
in warm and pleasant. It was going to be a hot day.

Suddenly my attention was arrested by a weedy looking young man
rushing down the street at a great pace. It was the expression