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VII. Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
Itseemedquiteasusual—butthepearlswerenotthere!”
Theinspectorhadbeenbusywithhisnotebook.“Whenhadyoulastseenthem?”heasked.
“TheyweretherewhenIwentdowntodinner.”
“Youaresure?”
“Quitesure.Iwasuncertainwhethertowearthemornot,butintheendIdecidedontheemeralds,andputthembackinthejewel-case.”
“Wholockedupthejewel-case?”
“Idid.Iwearthekeyonachainroundmyneck.”Shehelditupasshespoke.
Theinspectorexaminedit,andshruggedhisshoulders.
“Thethiefmusthavehadaduplicatekey.Nodifficultmatter.Thelockisquiteasimpleone.Whatdidyoudoafteryou’dlockedthejewel-case?”
“IputitbackinthebottomdrawerwhereIalwayskeepit.”
“Youdidn’tlockthedrawer?”
“No,Ineverdo.MymaidremainsintheroomtillIcomeup,sothere’snoneed.”
Theinspector’sfacegrewgraver.
“AmItounderstandthatthejewelsweretherewhenyouwentdowntodinner,andthatsincethenthemaidhasnotlefttheroom?”
Suddenly,asthoughthehorrorofherownsituationforthefirsttimeburstuponher,Célestineutteredapiercingshriek,and,flingingherselfuponPoirot,pouredoutatorrentofincoherentFrench.
Thesuggestionwasinfamous!ThatsheshouldbesuspectedofrobbingMadame!Thepolicewerewellknowntobeofastupidityincredible!ButMonsieur,whowasaFrenchman—
“ABelgian,”interjectedPoirot,butCélestinepaidnoattentiontothecorrection.
Monsieurwouldnotstandbyandseeherfalselyaccused,whilethatinfamouschambermaidwasallowedtogoscot-free.
