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I. The Adventure of “The Western Star”
’Itisthepropertyofthecelebratedfilmactress,MissMaryMarvell.Acomparisonofthetwostoneswouldbeinteresting.”
Shestopped.
“Épatant!”murmuredPoirot.“Withoutdoubtaromanceofthefirstwater.”HeturnedtoMaryMarvell.“Andyouarenotafraid,madame?Youhavenosuperstitiousterrors?YoudonotfeartointroducethesetwoSiamesetwinstoeachotherlestaChinamanshouldappearand,heypresto!whiskthembothbacktoChina?”
Histonewasmocking,butIfanciedthatanundercurrentofseriousnesslaybeneathit.
“Idon’tbelievethatLadyYardly’sdiamondisanythinglikeasgoodastoneasmine,”saidMissMarvell.“Anyway,I’mgoingtosee.”
WhatmorePoirotwouldhavesaidIdonotknow,foratthatmomentthedoorflewopen,andasplendid-lookingmanstrodeintotheroom.Fromhiscrisplycurlingblackhead,tothetipsofhispatent-leatherboots,hewasaherofitforromance.
“IsaidI’dcallroundforyou,Mary,”saidGregoryRolf,“andhereIam.Well,whatdoesMonsieurPoirotsaytoourlittleproblem?Justonebighoax,sameasIdo?”
Poirotsmiledupatthebigactor.Theymadearidiculouscontrast.
“Hoaxornohoax,Mr.Rolf,”hesaiddryly,“IhaveadvisedMadameyourwifenottotakethejewelwithhertoYardlyChaseonFriday.”
“I’mwithyouthere,sir.I’vealreadysaidsotoMary.Butthere!She’sawomanthroughandthrough,andIguessshecan’tbeartothinkofanotherwomanoutshiningherinthejewelline.”
“Whatnonsense,Gregory!”saidMaryMarvellsharply.Butsheflushedangrily.
