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VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister
”
“Letthemmount,”saidPoirot,carefullyfoldinghisgreytrousers.
Inafewminutesthetwovisitorswereusheredin,andmyheartgavealeapasintheforemostIrecognizednolessapersonagethanLordEstair,LeaderoftheHouseofCommons;whilsthiscompanion,Mr.BernardDodge,wasalsoamemberoftheWarCabinet,and,asIknew,aclosepersonalfriendofthePrimeMinister.
“MonsieurPoirot?”saidLordEstairinterrogatively.Myfriendbowed.Thegreatmanlookedatmeandhesitated.“Mybusinessisprivate.”
“YoumayspeakfreelybeforeCaptainHastings,”saidmyfriend,noddingtometoremain.“Hehasnotallthegifts,no!ButIanswerforhisdiscretion.”
LordEstairstillhesitated,butMr.Dodgebrokeinabruptly:
“Oh,comeon—don’tlet’sbeataboutthebush!AsfarasIcansee,thewholeofEnglandwillknowtheholewe’reinsoonenough.Time’severything.”
“Praybeseated,messieurs,”saidPoirotpolitely.“Willyoutakethebigchair,milord?”
LordEstairstartedslightly.“Youknowme?”
Poirotsmiled.“Certainly.Ireadthelittlepaperswiththepictures.HowshouldInotknowyou?”
“MonsieurPoirot,Ihavecometoconsultyouuponamatterofthemostvitalurgency.Imustaskforabsolutesecrecy.”
“YouhavethewordofHerculePoirot—Icansaynomore!”saidmyfriendgrandiloquently.
“ItconcernsthePrimeMinister.Weareingravetrouble.”
“We’reupatree!”interposedMr.Dodge.
“Theinjuryisserious,then?”Iasked.
“Whatinjury?”
“Thebulletwound.”
“Oh,that!”criedMr.Dodgecontemptuously.
