&ot;it is true, then, that they were stolen?&ot; asked rs allerton

&ot;who told you , ada?&ot;

&ot;fergon said ,&ot; ti vonteered

poirot nodded gravely

&ot;it is ite true&ot;

&ot;i suppose,&ot; said rs allerton nervoly, &ot;that this will an a lot of unpleasantness for all of ti says it will&ot;

ti seed upset by this nt and poirot asked:

&ot;ah, you have had previo experience, perhaps? you have been a hoe where there was a robbery?&ot;

&ot;never,&ot; said ti

&ot;oh, yes, darlg, you were at the portarlgtons that ti - when that awful woans diaonds were stolen&ot;

&ot;you always t thgs hopelessly wrong, other i was there when it was disvered that the diaonds 射 was wearg round her fat neck were only paste! the actual substitution was probably done onths earlier as a atter of fact, a lot of people said 射d had it done herself!&ot;

&ot;joanna said , i expect&ot;

&ot;joanna wasnt there&ot;

&ot;but 射 knew the ite well and its very like her to ake that kd of sugstion&ot;

&ot;youre always down on joanna, other&ot;

poirot hastily 插nd the subject he had it d to ake a really big pur插se at one of the assuan shops very attractive purple and gold aterial at one of the dian r插nts there would, of urse, be the duty to pay, but-

&ot;they tell that they can - how do you say? - expedite it for and that the 插rs will not be too high how thk you, will it arrive all right?&ot;