Chapter VII. Poirot Pays His Debts

           AswecameoutoftheStylitesArms,Poirotdrewmeasidebyagentlepressureofthearm.Iunderstoodhisobject.HewaswaitingfortheScotlandYardmen.

           Inafewmoments,theyemerged,andPoirotatoncesteppedforward,andaccostedtheshorterofthetwo.

           “Ifearyoudonotrememberme,InspectorJapp.”

           “Why,ifitisn’tMr.Poirot!”criedtheInspector.Heturnedtotheotherman.“You’veheardmespeakofMr.Poirot?Itwasin1904heandIworkedtogether—theAbercrombieforgerycase—youremember,hewasrundowninBrussels.Ah,thoseweregreatdays,moosier.Then,doyouremember‘Baron’Altara?Therewasaprettyrogueforyou!HeeludedtheclutchesofhalfthepoliceinEurope.ButwenailedhiminAntwerp—thankstoMr.Poirothere.”

           Asthesefriendlyreminiscenceswerebeingindulgedin,Idrewnearer,andwasintroducedtoDetective-InspectorJapp,who,inhisturn,introducedusbothtohiscompanion,SuperintendentSummerhaye.

           “Ineedhardlyaskwhatyouaredoinghere,gentlemen,”remarkedPoirot.

           Jappclosedoneeyeknowingly.

           “No,indeed.PrettyclearcaseIshouldsay.”

           ButPoirotansweredgravely:

           “ThereIdifferfromyou.”

           “Oh,come!”saidSummerhaye,openinghislipsforthefirsttime.“Surelythewholethingisclearasdaylight.Theman’scaughtred-handed.Howhecouldbesuchafoolbeatsme!”

           ButJappwaslookingattentivelyatPoirot.

           “Holdyourfire,Summerhaye,”heremarkedjocularly.