10. Gabriel Stonor

           Themanwhoenteredtheroomwasastrikingfigure.Verytall,withawellknitathleticframe,andadeeplybronzedfaceandneck,hedominatedtheassembly.EvenGiraudseemedanaemicbesidehim.WhenIknewhimbetterIrealizedthatGabrielStonorwasquiteanunusualpersonality.Englishbybirth,hehadknockedaboutallovertheworld.HehadshotbiggameinAfrica,travelledinKorea,ranchedinCalifornia,andtradedintheSouthSeaIslands.HehadbeensecretarytoaNewYorkrailwaymagnate,andhadspentayearencampedinthedesertwithafriendlytribeofArabs.

           HisunerringeyepickedoutM.Hautet.

           “Theexaminingmagistrateinchargeofthecase?Pleasedtomeetyou,M.lejuge.Thisisaterriblebusiness.How’sMrs.Renauld?Isshebearingupfairlywell?Itmusthavebeenanawfulshocktoher.”

           “Terrible,terrible,”saidM.Hautet.“PermitmetointroduceM.Bex—ourcommissaryofpolice,M.GiraudoftheSûreté.ThisgentlemanisM.HerculePoirot.M.Renauldsentforhim,buthearrivedtoolatetodoanythingtoavertthetragedy.AfriendofM.Poirot’s,CaptainHastings.”

           StonorlookedatPoirotwithsomeinterest.

           “Sentforyou,didhe?”

           “Youdidnotknow,then,thatM.Renauldcontemplatedcallinginadetective?”interposedM.Bex.

           “No,Ididn’t.Butitdoesn’tsurprisemeabit.”

           “Why?”

           “Becausetheoldmanwasrattled!Idon’tknowwhatitwasallabout.Hedidn’tconfideinme.Weweren’tonthoseterms.Butrattledhewas—andbadly!”

           “H’m!”saidM.Hautet.“Butyouhavenonotionofthecause?”

           “That’swhatIsaid,sir.