ere was a knock at the door and the anar entered he carried his hand a drippg bundle

&ot;weve got it, lonel&ot;

race took the packa he unwrapped fold after fold of dden velvet out of it fell a arse handkerchief, fatly staed with pk, wrapped round a sall pearl-handled pistol

race gave poirot a glance of slightly alicio triuph

&ot;you see,&ot; he said, &ot;y idea was right it was thrown overboard&ot;

he held the pistol out on the pal of his hand

&ot;what do you say, onsieur poirot? is this the pistol you saw at the cataract hotel that night?&ot;

poirot exaed it carefully; then he said ietly: &ot;yes - that is it there is the ornantal work on it - and the itials jb it is an article de xe, a very fee production, but it is none the less a lethal weapon&ot;

&ot;enty-o,&ot; urured race he took out the clip &ot;o bullets fired yes, there doesnt see uch doubt about it&ot;

iss van schuyler ughed significantly

&ot;and what about y stole?&ot; 射 deanded

&ot;your stole, adeoiselle?&ot;

&ot;yes, that is y velvet stole you have here&ot;

race picked up the drippg folds of aterial

&ot;this is yours, iss van schuyler?&ot;

&ot;certaly its e!&ot; the old lady snapped &ot;i issed it last night i was askg everyone if theyd seen it&ot;

poirot estioned race with a glance, and the latter gave a slight nod of assent &ot;where did you see it last, iss van schuyler?&ot;

&ot;i had it th