anunhappychildhoodatschoolpsychiatristsakeagooddealofthistheyinishedresponsibility,astheycallitnowadays””thatliobethebestchoice,”saidpoirot”youeforsayingthatihopeitsucceed””iagreeostldbloodedkillerbuttheyakechofherexcellentcharacter,herarytovariousedistinguished,ibelieveunterespionage”heletthelasthacertainsignificanceahintofaquestioninhisvoice”sheorebriskly”soyoungbutquitebrilliant,ofgreatusetobothsidesthatetiersheshouldhavestuptationtoplayalonehand,andgainabigprize”headdedsoftly,”averybigprize”poirotnodded
robinsonleanedforward
”poirot”
”ithinkyouknoheyare”
”itutions,aretheynot”
poirotsled
”beataboutthebushreally,needydearfello””ihavebeening”
”ingfor”
”shallions”
”yesisee”
”youunderstandtheydonotbelongtoiovertothepersontheydobelongtobutthat,ifiappraisethepositionrreple””goventsareinsurrobinson”vulnerable,sotospeakatteroftheutstdeliajestysgoventhasabsolutelynoinfortiononthesubject””butiportantdepositatbankindefinitely”
”exae”
”ah,”saidpoirot”why”
”ieexcellentreasonsthesejeercifullyesionablythepersonalpropertyofthelateprincealiyusuf””iunderstandthatisso”
”hishighnesshandedthevertosquadronleaderrobertraat,andtheye””haveyouproofofthat”
”certainly”
robinsondrehispobeforepoirotonthedesk
poirotbentoverthendstudiedthearefully
”itseetobeasyousay”
”hen”
”doyoundifiaskaquestion”
”notatall”
”doyou,personally,getoutofthis”
robinsonlookedsurprised
”dearfellooney”
poirotlookedathihoughtfully
”itisaveryoldtrade,”saidrobinson”andalucrativeonetherearequitealotofus,athefiercelightbeats,asapoethasputitberthis:hourprofitsarelargebutourservicesarestlybute””isee,”saidpoirot”ehbieniagreetoyouask””ientonlonelpikeaterlayatpoirotsrighthand”butjustonelittlentiaunihavecuriosityareyougoingtodohthesejewels”robinsonlookedathithenhislargeyelloileheleanedforward”ishalltellyou”
hetoldhi
ii
childrenhisrolls,
robinsonputthechildasideberofthehouse
no15thishepushedopenthegateandupthethreestepstothefrontdooeatecurtainsattheed,andalittlehouseinaninsignificantstreetinaninsignificantpartoflondon,butitithadselfrespectthedooropenedagirlofabouttedhile
”robinsonein”
shetookhintothesllsittingrooatelevisionset,cretonnesofajabeanpatte,attagepianoagainsttheandagreypullover”youllhavesoteaivegotthekettleon”
”thankyou,butnoineverdrinkteaandieihaveonlyetobringyouietoyouabout””froli”
”yes”
”thereisntthereuldntbeanyhopeianitsreallytruethatheistake””ifraidthereistake,”saidrobinsongently
”nono,isupposenotanyagainidontanithoughtheeanrryoneofhisohat”robinsondreapackageandlaiditdohetable
”openit,please”
herfingersfuledalittleasshetorethehenunfoldedthefinalveringshedrehinsharply
red,blue,green,littleroontoaladdinscaverobinsonanyenlookatjewels
shesaidatlastinabreathlessvoice:
”aretheytheycantbereal”
”theyarereal”
”buttheystbeustbeh”
heriginationfailed
robinsonnodded
”ifyou,youillionpoundsforthe”
”nono,itsnotpossible”
suddenlyshesopedthepinherhandsandrehshakingfingers”icared,”shesaid”theyfrightenitodo”
thedoorburstopenasllboyrushedin
”igotasshingtankoffbillyhe”
hestopped,staringatrobinson
anoliveskinned,darkeyedboy
histhersaid:
”gointhekitilkandbiscuitsandtheresabitofgingerbread””oh,good”hedepartednoisily
”youcallhillen”saidrobinson
sheflushed
”itetoaliiuldntcallhilitood
