to-day. Now, to pass to another subject, had your mistress a
dark green dress in her wardrobe?"

Dorcas was rather startled by the unexpected question.

"No, sir."

"Are you quite sure?"

"Oh, yes, sir."

"Has anyone else in the house got a green dress?"

Dorcas reflected.

"Miss Cynthia has a green evening dress."

"Light or dark green?"

"A light green, sir; a sort of chiffon, they call it."

"Ah, that is not what I want. And nobody else has anything
green?"

"No, sir--not that I know of."

Poirot's face did not betray a trace of whether he was
disappointed or otherwise. He merely remarked:

"Good, we will leave that and pass on. Have you any reason to