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VII. Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan
Apuncturedtyredelayedus,anditwaspasteightwhenIgotbacktotheGrandMetropolitan.
ThefirstsightthatmetmyeyeswasPoirot,lookingevenmorediminutivethanusual,sandwichedbetweentheOpalsens,beaminginastateofplacidsatisfaction.
“MonamiHastings!”hecried,andsprangtomeetme.“Embraceme,myfriend;allhasmarchedtoamarvel!”
Luckily,theembracewasmerelyfigurative—notathingoneisalwayssureofwithPoirot.
“Doyoumean——”Ibegan.
“Justwonderful,Icallit!”saidMrs.Opalsen,smilingalloverherfatface.“Didn’tItellyou,Ed,thatifhecouldn’tgetbackmypearlsnobodywould?”
“Youdid,mydear,youdid.Andyouwereright.”
IlookedhelplesslyatPoirot,andheansweredtheglance.
“MyfriendHastingsis,asyousayinEngland,allattheseaside.Seatyourself,andIwillrecounttoyoualltheaffairthathassohappilyended.”
“Ended?”
“Butyes.Theyarearrested.”
“Whoarearrested?”
“Thechambermaidandthevalet,parbleu!Youdidnotsuspect?NotwithmypartinghintabouttheFrenchchalk?”
“Yousaidcabinet-makersusedit.”
“Certainlytheydo—tomakedrawersslideeasily.Somebodywantedthatdrawertoslideinandoutwithoutanynoise.Whocouldthatbe?Obviously,onlythechambermaid.Theplanwassoingeniousthatitdidnotatonceleaptotheeye—noteventotheeyeofHerculePoirot.
“Listen,thiswashowitwasdone.Thevaletwasintheemptyroomnextdoor,waiting.TheFrenchmaidleavestheroom.
