VIII. The Kidnapped Prime Minister

           Nowthatwarandtheproblemsofwararethingsofthepast,IthinkImaysafelyventuretorevealtotheworldthepartwhichmyfriendPoirotplayedinamomentofnationalcrisis.Thesecrethasbeenwellguarded.NotawhisperofitreachedthePress.But,nowthattheneedforsecrecyhasgoneby,IfeelitisonlyjustthatEnglandshouldknowthedebtitowestomyquaintlittlefriend,whosemarvellousbrainsoablyavertedagreatcatastrophe.

           Oneeveningafterdinner—Iwillnotparticularizethedate;itsufficestosaythatitwasatthetimewhen“Peacebynegotiation”wastheparrot-cryofEngland’senemies—myfriendandIweresittinginhisrooms.AfterbeinginvalidedoutoftheArmyIhadbeengivenarecruitingjob,andithadbecomemycustomtodropinonPoirotintheeveningsafterdinnerandtalkwithhimofanycasesofinterestthathemighthaveonhand.

           Iwasattemptingtodiscusswithhimthesensationalnewsofthatday—nolessthananattemptedassassinationofMr.DavidMacAdam,England’sPrimeMinister.Theaccountinthepapershadevidentlybeencarefullycensored.Nodetailsweregiven,savethatthePrimeMinisterhadhadamarvellousescape,thebulletjustgrazinghischeek.

           Iconsideredthatourpolicemusthavebeenshamefullycarelessforsuchanoutragetobepossible.IcouldwellunderstandthattheGermanagentsinEnglandwouldbewillingtoriskmuchforsuchanachievement.“FightingMac,”ashisownpartyhadnicknamedhim,hadstrenuouslyandunequivocallycombatedthePacifistinfluencewhichwasbecomingsoprevalent.