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basilisk eyes looked, not at Sarah, but oddly over her shoulder. She seemed to address, not Sarah, but some familiar spirit.
    â€˜ I never forget, ’ she said. ‘ Remember that. I’ve never forgotten anything—not an action, not a name, not a face… ’
    There was nothing in the words themselves, but the venom with which they were spoken made Sarah retreat a step. And then Mrs Boynton laughed—it was, definitely, rather a horrible laugh.
    Sarah shrugged her shoulders. ‘You poor old thing,’ she said.
    She turned away. As she went towards the lift she almost collided with Raymond Boynton. On an impulse she spoke quickly.
    â€˜Goodbye. I hope you’ll have a lovely time. Perhaps we’ll meet again some day.’ She smiled at him, a warm, friendly smile, and passed quickly on.
    Raymond stood as though turned to stone. So lost in his own thoughts was he that a small man with big moustaches, endeavouring to pass out of the lift, had to speak several times.
    â€˜Pardon.’
    At last it penetrated. Raymond stepped aside.
    â€˜So sorry,’ he said. ‘I—I was thinking.’
    Carol came towards him.
    â€˜Ray, get Jinny, will you? She went back to her room. We’re going to start.’
    â€˜Right. I’ll tell her she’s got to come straight away.’
    Raymond walked into the lift.
    Hercule Poirot stood for a moment looking after him, his eyebrows raised, his head a little on one side as though he was listening.
    Then he nodded his head as though in agreement. Walking through the lounge, he took a good look at Carol, who had joined her mother.
    Then he beckoned the head waiter who was passing.
    â€˜ Pardon . Can you tell me the name of those people over there?’
    â€˜The name is Boynton, monsieur; they are Americans.’
    â€˜Thank you,’ said Hercule Poirot.
    On the third floor Dr Gerard, going to his room, passed Raymond Boynton and Ginevra walking towards the waiting lift. Just as they were about to get into it, Ginevra said: ‘Just a minute, Ray, wait for me in the lift.’
    She ran back, turned a corner, caught up with the walking man. ‘Please—I must speak to you.’
    Dr Gerard looked up in astonishment.
    The girl came up close to him and caught his arm.
    â€˜They’re taking me away! They may be going to kill me…I don’t really belong to them, you know. My name isn’t really Boynton…’
    She hurried on, her words coming fast and tumbling over each other.
    â€˜I’ll trust you with the secret. I’m—I’m royal , really! I’m the heiress to a throne. That’s why—there are enemies all round me. They try to poison me—all sorts of things…If you could help me—to get away—’
    She broke off. Footsteps. ‘Jinny—’
    Beautiful in her sudden startled gesture, the girl put a finger to her lips, threw Gerard an imploring glance, and ran back.
    â€˜I’m coming, Ray.’
    Dr Gerard walked on with his eyebrows raised. Slowly he shook his head and frowned.

Chapter 10
    It was the morning of the start to Petra.
    Sarah came down to find a big masterful woman with a rocking-horse nose, whom she had already noticed in the hotel, outside the main entrance, objecting fiercely to the size of the car.
    â€˜A great deal too small! Four passengers? And a dragoman? Then, of course, we must have a much larger saloon. Please take that car away and return with one of an adequate size.’
    In vain did the representative of Messrs Castle raise his voice in explanation. That was the size of car always provided. It was really a most comfortable car. A larger car was not suitable for desert travel. The large woman, metaphorically speaking, rolled over him like a large steamroller.
    Then she turned her attention to Sarah.
    â€˜Miss King? I am Lady Westholme. I am sure youagree with me that that car was grossly inadequate as to