Prevention, always, is betaer than cure. We want to prevent murders-not wait until they have been committed.” He bowed and spread out his hands.
“There, I have wearied you long enough.” The students clapped him vigorously. Poirot bowed.
And then, as he was about to sit down, Colin Mcationabb took his pipe from between his teeth and observed, “And now, perhaps, you’ll talk about what you’re really here for!” There was a momentary silence and then Patricia said reproachfully, “Colin.” “Well, we can all guess, can’t we?” He looked round scornfully. “M. Poirot’s given us a very amusing little talk, but that’s not what he came for. He’s on the job. You don’t really think, Mr. Poirot, that we’re not wise to that?” “You speak for yourself, Colin,” said Sally.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” said Colin.
Again Poirot spread out his hands in a graceful acknowledging gesture.
“I will admit,” he said, “that my kind hostess has confided to me that certain events have caused herworry.” Len Bateson got up, his face heavy and truculent.
“Look here,” he said, “what’s all this? Has this been planted on us?” “Have you really only just tumbled to that, Bateson?” asked Nigel sweetly.
Celia gave a frightened gasp and said, “Then I was right!” Mrs. Hubbard spoke with decisive authority.
“I asked Mr. Poirot to give us a talk, but I also wanted to ask him his advice about various things that have happened lately. Something’s got to be done and it seems to me that the only other alternative is-the police.” At once a violent altercation broke out.
Genevieve burst into heated French. “It was a disgrace, shameful, to go to the police!” Other voices chimed in, for or against. In a final lull Leonard Bateson’s voice was raised with decision.
“Let’s hear what Mr. Poirot has to say about our trouble.” Mrs. Hubbard said, “I’ve given Mr. Poirot all the facts.
If he wants to ask any questions, I’m sure none of you will object.” Poirot bowed to her.
“Thank you.” With the air of a conjurer he brought out a pair of evening shoes and handed them to Sally Finch.
“Your shoes, Mademoiselle?” “Why-yes-both of them? Where did the missing one come from?” “From the Lost Property Office at Baker Street Station.” “But what made you think it might be there, M.
Poirot?” “A very simple process of deduction. Someone takes a shoe from your room. Why? Not to wear and not to sell. And since the house will be searched by everyone to try and find it, then the shoe must be got out of the house, or destroyed. But it is not so easy to destroy a shoe. The easiest way is to take it in a bus or train in a parcel in the rush hour and leave it thrust down under a seat. That was my first guess and it proved right-so I knew that I was on safe groundthe shoe was taken, as your poet says, ‘ffannoy, because he knows it teases.” his Valerie gave a short laugh.
“That points to you, Nigel, my love, with an unerring finger.” Nigel said, smirking a little, “If the shoe fits, wear it.” “Nonsense,” said Sally. “Nigel didn’t take my shoe.” “Of course he didn’t,” said Patricia angrily. “It’s the most absurd idea.” “I don’t know about absurd,” said Nigel.
“Actually I didn’t do anything of the kind-ag no doubt we shall all say.” It was as thou hid Poirot had been waiting for just those words as an actor waits for his cue. His eyes rested thoughtfully on Len Bateson’s flushed face, then they swept inquiringly over the rest of the students.
He said, using his hands in a deliberately foreign gesture, ,’my position is delicate. I am a guest here. I have come at the invitation of Mrs.
Hubbard-to spend a pleasant evening, that is all.
And also, of course, to return a very charming pair of evening shoes to Mademoiselle. For anything further-was he paused. “Monsieur-Bateson? yes, Bateson-has asked me to say what I myself think of this-trouble. But it would be an impertinence for me to speak unless I were invited so to do not by one person alone, but by you all.” Mr. Akibombo was seen to nod his black curled head in vigorous asseveration.