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Read the paragraph from the text, mark the stresses and tunes and be ready to present your reading.

Mr. Bernard Parker was at home. We found him reclining on some cushions, wearing an amazing dressing gown of purple and orange. I have seldom taken a greater dislike to anyone than I did to this particular young man of such effeminacy in face and manners.

"Good morning, monsieur," said Poirot briskly. "I've come from Mr. Hardman. Yesterday, at the party, somebody stole all his jewels. Let me ask you, monsieur, is this your glove?"

Mr. Parker's mental processes did not seem very rapid. He stared at the glove, as though gathering his wits together.

"Where did you find it?" he asked at last.

"Is it your glove, monsieur?"

Mr. Parker appeared to make up his mind.

"No, it isn't," he declared.

II. READING

1. Read the text “The Double Clue” and be ready to do the exercises given after the text.

"But above everything — no publicity," said Mr. Marcus Hardman for perhaps the fourteenth time.

He repeated the word publicity regularly throughout his conversation. Mr. Hardman was a small man, delicately plump, with exquisitely manicured hands and a plaintive tenor voice. He was rich, but not remarkably so. His hobby was collecting. Old lace, old fans, antique jewellry were the focus of his interest.

Poirot and I, obeying Mr. Hardman's urgent call, had arrived at his house.

"My rubies, Monsieur Poirot, and the emerald necklace — said to have belonged to Catherine de Medici.* Oh, the emerald necklace!"

"If you will tell me the circumstances of their disappearance?" suggested Poirot gently.

"You see, yesterday afternoon I had a little tea party — some half a dozen people or so. I have given one or two of them during the season, and they have been quite a success. Some good music — Nacora, the pianist, and Katherine Bird, the Australian contralto — in the big studio. Well, early in the afternoon, I was showing my guests my collection of medieval jewels. I keep them in the small wall safe over there. It is arranged like a cabinet* inside, with coloured velvet background, to display the stones. Afterward we inspected the fans — in that case on the wall. Then we all went to the studio for music. It was not until after everyone had gone that I discovered the safe rifled! I must have failed to shut it properly! The rubies, Monsieur Poirot, the emerald necklace — the collection of a lifetime! What would I not give to recover them! But there must be no publicity! You fully understand that, do you not, Monsieur Poirot? My own guests, my personal friends! It would be a horrible scandal!"

"Who was the last person to leave this room when you went to the studio?"

"Mr. Johnston. You may know him? The South African millionaire. He has just rented the Abbotburys' house in Park Lane. He stayed in the studio a few moments, I remember. But surely, oh, surely it could not be he!"

"Did any of your guests return to this room during the afternoon on any pretext?"



"I was prepared for that question, Monsieur Poirot. Three of them did so. Countess Vera Rossakoff, Mr. Bernard Parker, and Lady Runcorn."

"Let us hear about them."

"The Countess Rossakoff is a very charming Russian lady, a member of the old regime. She has recently come to this country. She had said good-bye, and I was therefore somewhat surprised to find her in this room looking at my cabinet of fans after that. You know, Monsieur Poirot, the more I think of it, the more suspicious it seems to me. Don't you agree?"

"Extremely suspicious; but let us hear about the others.”

"Well, Parker simply came here to fetch a case of miniatures that I was anxious to show to Lady Runcorn."

"And Lady Runcorn herself?"

"Well, Lady Runcorn, she simply returned to take a handbag she had laid down there."

"So we have four possible — suspects. The Russian countess, the English grand dame, the South African millionaire, and Mr. Bernard Parker. Who is Mr. Parker, by the way?"

The question appeared to embarrass Mr. Hardman considerably.

"He is — er — he is a young fellow. Well, in fact, a young fellow I know."

"What does he do, this young fellow? And how did he come to be a friend of yours, may I ask?"

"Well — er — on one or two occasions he has performed certain little commissions for me."

"Continue, monsieur," said Poirot.

Hardman looked piteously at the detective. Evidently the last thing he wanted to do was to continue. But as Poirot maintained silence waiting for the information, Hardman had to go on.

"You see, Monsieur Poirot—it is well known that I am interested in antique jewels. Sometimes there is a family heirloom* to be disposed of — which would never be sold in the open market or to a dealer. But a private sale to me is a very different matter. Parker arranges the details of such things, he is in touch with both sides, and thus any little embarrassment is avoided. He brings anything of that kind to my notice. For instance, the Countess Rossakoff has brought some family jewels with her from Russia. She is anxious to sell them. Bernard Parker was to have arranged the deal."

"I see," said Poirot thoughtfully. "And you trust him totally?"

"I have had no reason to do otherwise."

"Mr. Hardman, of these four people, which do you yourself suspect?"

"Oh, Monsieur Poirot, what a question! They are my friends, as I told you. I suspect none of them — or all of them, whichever way you like to put it."

"I do not agree. You suspect one of those four. It is not Countess Rossakoff. It is not Mr. Parker. Is it Lady Runcorn or Mr. Johnston?"

"You drive me into a corner, Monsieur Poirot, you do indeed. I am most anxious to have no scandal. Lady Runcorn belongs to one of the oldest families in England; but it is true, it is most unfortunately true, that her aunt, Lady Caroline, suffered from a malady. It was understood, of course, by all her friends, and her maid returned the teaspoons, or whatever it was, as quickly as possible. You see my predicament!"

"So Lady Runcorn had an aunt who was a kleptomaniac?* Very interesting. You permit that I examine the safe?"

Poirot pushed back the door of the safe and examined the inside. The velvet-lined shelves were empty.

"Even now the door does not shut properly," murmured Poirot, as he swung it to and fro. "I wonder why? Ah, what have we here? A glove, caught in the hinge. A man's glove."

He held it out to Mr. Hardman.

"That's not one of my gloves," the latter declared.

"Aha! Something more!" Poirot picked up a small object from the floor of the safe. It was a flat cigarette case made of black moire.

"My cigarette case!" cried Mr. Hardman.

"Yours? Surely not, monsieur. Those are not your initials." He pointed to a monogram of two letters executed in platinum. Hardman took it in his hand.

"You are right," he declared. "It is very like mine, but the initials are different. A P and a B. Good heavens—Parker!"

"It would seem so," said Poirot. "A somewhat careless young man — especially if the glove is his also. That would be a double clue, would it not?"

"Bernard Parker!" murmured Hardman. "What a relief! Well, Monsieur Poirot, I leave it to you to recover the jewels. Place the matter in the hands of the police if you are quite sure that it is he who is guilty."

"See you, my friend," said Poirot to me, as we left the house together, "I have sympathy for this young man. The whole thing was a little curious, was it not? There was Hardman suspecting Lady Runcorn; there was I, suspecting the Countess and Johnston; and all the time, the unclear Mr. Parker was our man."

"Why did you suspect the other two?"

"It is such a simple thing to be a Russian refugee or South African millionaire. Any woman can call herself a Russian count­ess; anyone can buy a house in Park Lane and call himself a South African millionaire. Who is going to contradict them? But I observe that we are passing through Bury Street. Our careless young friend lives here. Let us, as you say, strike while the iron is in the fire."

Mr. Bernard Parker was at home. We found him reclining on some cushions, wearing an amazing dressing gown of purple and orange. I have seldom taken a greater dislike to anyone than I did to this particular young man of such effeminacy in face and manners.

"Good morning, monsieur," said Poirot briskly. "I've come from Mr. Hardman. Yesterday, at the party, somebody stole all his jewels. Let me ask you, monsieur, is this your glove?"

Mr. Parker's mental processes did not seem very rapid. He stared at the glove, as though gathering his wits together.

"Where did you find it?" he asked at last.

"Is it your glove, monsieur?"

Mr. Parker appeared to make up his mind.

"No, it isn't," he declared.

"And this cigarette case, is that yours?"

"Certainly not. I always carry a silver one."

"Very well, monsieur. I go to put matters in the hands of the police."

"Oh, I say, I wouldn't do that, if I were you," cried Mr. Parker in some concern. "Beastly unsympathetic people, the police. Wait a bit. I'll go and see old Hardman."

"We have given him something to think about, have we not?" Poirot noticed when we left the odd young man. "Tomorrow we will see what has occurred."

But we had a reminder of the Hardman case that afternoon. Without the least warning the door flew open, and a whirlwind in human form invaded our privacy. Countess Vera Rossakoff was a somewhat disturbing personality.

"You are Monsieur Poirot? What is this that you have done? You accuse that poor boy! It is unbelievable. I know him. He is a chicken, a lamb — never would he steal —"

"Tell me, madam, is this his cigarette case?" Poirot held out the black moire case interrupting her.

The Countess paused for a moment while she inspected it.

"Yes, it is his. I know it well. What of it? Did you find it in the room? We were all there; he dropped it then, I suppose. Ah, you policemen, you are worse than the Red Guards* —"

"And is this his glove?"

"How should I know? One glove is like another. Do not try to stop me — he must be set free. His character must be cleared. You shall do it. I will sell my jewels and give you much money."

"Madam -"

"It is agreed, then? No, no, do not argue. The poor boy! He came to me, the tears in his eyes. "I will save you," I said. "I will go to this man — this monster! Leave it to Vera." Now it is settled, I go."

With as little ceremony as she had come, she swept from the room, leaving an overpowering perfume of an exotic nature behind her.

"What a woman!" I exclaimed. "And what furs!"

"Ah, yes, they were genuine enough! Could a fake countess have real furs? My little joke, Hastings... No, she is truly Russian, I fancy. Well, well, so Master Bernard went crying to her."

"The cigarette case is his. I wonder if the glove is also—"

With a smile Poirot drew from his pocket a second glove and placed it by the first. There was no doubt of their being a pair.

"Where did you get the second one, Poirot?"

"It was thrown down with a stick on the table in the hall in Bury Street. Truly, a very careless young man. Monsieur Parker. Well, well, ňîď ami—we must be thorough. Just for the form of the thing, I will make a little visit to Park Lane."

Needless to say, I accompanied my friend. Johnston was out, but we saw his private secretary who informed us that Johnston had only recently arrived from South Africa. He had never travelled to England before.

"He is interested in precious stones, is he not?" noticed Poirot.

"Gold mining is nearer the mark," laughed the secretary.

Poirot came away from the conversation thoughtful. Late that evening, to my surprise, I found him studying a Russian grammar. "Good heavens, Poirot!" I cried. "Are you learning Russian in order to converse with the Countess in her own language?"

"She certainly would not listen to my English, my friend!"

"But surely, Poirot, well-born Russians as a rule speak French?"

"You are a mine of information, Hastings! I will give up trying to understand the nuances of the Russian alphabet."

He threw the book from him with a dramatic gesture. I was not entirely satisfied. There was a twinkle in his eye which I knew of old. It was a certain sign that Hercule Poirot was pleased with himself.

"Perhaps," I said guessing, "you doubt her being really a Russian. You are going to test her?"

"Ah, no, no, she is Russian all right." "Well, then- "

"If you really want to try yourself with this case, Hastings, I recommend First Steps in Russian as an invaluable aid."

Then he laughed and would say no more. I picked up the book from the floor and dipped into it curiously, but could make neither head nor tail of Poirot's remarks.

The following morning brought us no news of any kind, but that did not seem to worry my friend. At breakfast, Poirot announced his intention of calling upon Mr. Hardman early in the day.

We found him at home, and he seemed a little calmer than on the previous day.

"Well, Monsieur Poirot, any news?" Hardman demanded eagerly.

My friend handed him a slip of paper.

"That is the person who took the jewels, monsieur. Shall I put matters in the hands of the police? Or would you prefer me to recover the jewels without bringing the police into the matter?"

Mr. Hardman was staring at the paper. At last he found his voice.

"Most astonishing. I should infinitely prefer to have no scandal in the matter. I give you carte blanche. Monsieur Poirot, I am sure you will be discreet."

Our next procedure was to take a taxi, which Poirot ordered to drive to the Carlton.* There he inquired for Countess Rossakoff. In a few minutes we were shown up into the lady's suite. She came to meet us with outstretched hands.

"Monsieur Poirot!" she cried. "You have succeeded? You have cleared that poor infant?"

"Madam, your friend Mr. Parker is perfectly safe from arrest."

"Ah, but you are the clever little man! Superb! And so quickly too."

"On the other hand, I have promised Mr. Hardman that the jewels shall be returned to him today."

"So?"

"Therefore, madam, I should be extremely obliged if you would place them in my hands without delay. I am sorry to hurry you, but I am keeping a taxi — in case it should be necessary for me to go on to Scotland Yard; and we Belgians, madam, we practice the thrift."

The Countess had lighted a cigarette. For some seconds she sat perfectly still, blowing smoke rings, and gazing steadily at Poirot. Then she burst into a laugh, and rose. She went across to the bureau, opened a drawer, and took out a black silk handbag. She tossed it lightly to Poirot. Her tone, when she spoke, was perfectly light and unmoved.

"We Russians, on the contrary, practice prodigality," she said. "And to do that, unfortunately, one must have money. You need not look inside. They are all there."

Poirot arose.

"I congratulate you, madam, on your quick intelligence and your directness."

"Ah! But since you were keeping your taxi waiting, what else could I do?"

"It's very nice of you, madam. You are remaining long in London?"

"I am afraid not — owing to you," "Accept my apologies." "We shall meet again elsewhere, perhaps."

"I hope so."

"And I — do not!" exclaimed the Countess with a laugh. "It is a great compliment that I pay you, there are very few men in the world whom I fear. Good-bye, Monsieur Poirot."

"Good-bye, Madam. Ah—pardon me, I forgot! Let me return you your cigarette case."

And with a bow he handed to her the little black moire case we had found in the safe. She accepted it without any change of expression — just a lifted eyebrow and a murmured, "I see!"

"What a woman!" cried Poirot enthusiastically as we went down the stairs. "Not a word of argument — of protestation! One quick glance, and she had sized up the position correctly. I tell you, Hastings, a woman who can accept defeat like that — with a careless smile — will go far! She is dangerous; she has the nerves of steel; she —" He tripped heavily.

"When did you first suspect the Countess, I wonder?"

"Ěîn ami, it was the glove and the cigarette case — the double clue, shall we say? — that worried me. Bernard Parker might easily have dropped one or the other — but hardly both. Ah, no, that would have been too careless! In the same way, if someone else had placed them there to incriminate Parker, one would have been enough — the cigarette case or the glove — again not both. So I was forced to the conclusion that one of the two things did not belong to Parker. I imagined at first that the case was his, and that the glove was not. But when I discovered the fellow to the glove, I saw that it was the other way about. Whose, then, was the cigarette case? Clearly, it could not belong to Lady Runcorn. The initials were wrong. Mr. Johnston? Only if he were under a false name. I interviewed his secretary, and it was obvious at once that everything was clear. There was no secret about Mr. Johnston's past. The Countess, then? She was supposed to have brought jewels with her from Russia; she had only to take the stones from their settings, and it was extremely doubtful if they could ever be identified. What could be easier for her than to pick up one of Parker's gloves from the hall that day and thrust it into the safe? But, she did not intend to drop her own cigarette case."

"But if the case was hers, why did it have B. P. on it? The Countess' initials are V.R"

Poirot smiled gently upon me.

"Exactly, mon ami; but in the Russian alphabet, B is V and P is R".

"Well, you couldn't expect me to guess that. I don't know Russian".

"Neither do I, Hastings. That is why I bought my little book — and urged it on your attention". He sighed.

"A remarkable woman. I have a feeling, my friend — a very decided feeling — I shall meet her again. Where, I wonder?"

 


Date: 2015-12-24; view: 895


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