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I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
CanitbetruethatsomeChinesegangarereallytryingtorecoverthediamonds?Itseemstooincredible.”
Wewentoverthefactsagainandagain,butcouldgetnofurthertowardstheelucidationofthemystery.AtlastLadyYardlyrose.
“Ireallydon’tthinkIneedwaitforMonsieurPoirot.Youcantellhimallthis,can’tyou?Thankyousomuch,Mr.——”
Shehesitated,herhandoutstretched.
“CaptainHastings.”
“Ofcourse!Howstupidofme.You’reafriendoftheCavendishes,aren’tyou?ItwasMaryCavendishwhosentmetoMonsieurPoirot.”
Whenmyfriendreturned,Ienjoyedtellinghimthetaleofwhathadoccurredduringhisabsence.Hecross-questionedmerathersharplyoverthedetailsofourconversationandIcouldreadbetweenthelinesthathewasnotbestpleasedtohavebeenabsent.Ialsofanciedthatthedearoldfellowwasjusttheleastinclinedtobejealous.Ithadbecomeratheraposewithhimtoconsistentlybelittlemyabilities,andIthinkhewaschagrinedatfindingnoloopholeforcriticism.Iwassecretlyratherpleasedwithmyself,thoughItriedtoconcealthefactforfearofirritatinghim.Inspiteofhisidiosyncrasies,Iwasdeeplyattachedtomyquaintlittlefriend.
“Bien!”hesaidatlength,withacuriouslookonhisface.“Theplotdevelops.Passme,Iprayyou,that‘Peerage’onthetopshelfthere.”Heturnedtheleaves.“Ah,hereweare!‘Yardly...10thviscount,servedSouthAfricanWar’...toutçan’apasd’importance...‘mar.1907Hon.MaudeStopperton,fourthdaughterof3rdBaronCotteril’...um,um,um,...
