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Authors: Agatha Christie
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same small salon. I was struck anew with the wonderful power of this woman, with her long nun's face and burning eyes - this brilliant successor of Becquerel and the Curies. She came to the point at once.
“Messieurs, you interviewed me yesterday about the disappearance of M. Halliday. I now learn that you returned to the house a second time, and asked to see my secretary, Inez Veroneau. She left the house with you, and has not returned here since.”
“Is that all, madame?”
“No, monsieur, it is not. Last night the laboratory was broken into, and several valuable papers and memoranda were stolen. The thieves had a try for something more precious still, but luckily they failed to open the big safe.”
“Madame, these are the facts of the case. Your late secretary, Madame Veroneau, was really the Countess Rossakoff, an expert thief, and it was she who was responsible for the disappearance of M. Halliday. How long had she been with you?”
“Five months, monsieur. What you say amazes me.”
“It is true, nevertheless. These papers, were they easy to find? Or do you think an inside knowledge was shown?”
“It is rather curious that the thieves knew exactly where to look. You think Inez -”
“Yes, I have no doubt that it was upon her information that they acted. But what is this precious thing that the thieves failed to find? Jewels?”
Madame Olivier shook her head with a faint smile.
“Something much more precious than that, monsieur.”
She looked round her, then bent forward, lowering her voice. “Radium, monsieur.”
“Radium?”
“Yes, monsieur. I am now at the crux of my experiments. I possess a small portion of radium myself - more has been lent to me for the process I am at work upon. Small though the actual quantity is, it comprises a large amount of the world's stock and represents a value of millions of francs.”
“And where is it?”
“In its leaden case in the big safe - the safe purposely appears to be of an old and worn-out pattern, but it is really a triumph of the safe-makers' art. That is probably why the thieves were unable to open it.”
“How long are you keeping this radium in your possession?”
“Only for two days more, monsieur. Then my experiments will be concluded.”
Poirot's eyes brightened.
“And Inez Veroneau is aware of the fact? Good - then our friends will come back. Not a word of me to any one, madame. But rest assured, I will save your radium for you. You have a key of the door leading from the laboratory to the garden?”
“Yes, monsieur. Here it is. I have a duplicate for myself. And here is the key of the garden door leading out into the alleyway between this villa and the next one.”
“I thank you, madame. Tonight, go to bed as usual, have no fears, and leave all to me. But not a word to any one - not to your two assistants - Mademoiselle Claude and Monsieur Henri, is it not? - particularly not a word to them.”
Poirot left the villa rubbing his hands in great satisfaction.
“What are we going to do now?” I asked.
“Now, Hastings, we are about to leave Paris - for England.”
“What?”
“We will pack our effects, have lunch, and drive to the Gare du Nord.”
“But the radium?”
“I said we were going to leave for England - I did not say we were going to arrive there. Reflect a moment, Hastings. It is quite certain that we are being watched and followed. Our enemies must believe that we are going back to England, and they certainly will not believe that unless they see us get on board the train and start.”
“Do you mean we are to slip off again at the last minute?”
“No, Hastings. Our enemies will be satisfied with nothing less than a bonafide departure.”
“But the train doesn't stop until Calais?”
“It will stop if it is paid to do so.”
“Oh, come now, Poirot - surely you can't pay an express to stop - they'd refuse.”
“My dear friend, have you never remarked the little handle - the signale d'arret -
“Messieurs, you interviewed me yesterday about the disappearance of M. Halliday. I now learn that you returned to the house a second time, and asked to see my secretary, Inez Veroneau. She left the house with you, and has not returned here since.”
“Is that all, madame?”
“No, monsieur, it is not. Last night the laboratory was broken into, and several valuable papers and memoranda were stolen. The thieves had a try for something more precious still, but luckily they failed to open the big safe.”
“Madame, these are the facts of the case. Your late secretary, Madame Veroneau, was really the Countess Rossakoff, an expert thief, and it was she who was responsible for the disappearance of M. Halliday. How long had she been with you?”
“Five months, monsieur. What you say amazes me.”
“It is true, nevertheless. These papers, were they easy to find? Or do you think an inside knowledge was shown?”
“It is rather curious that the thieves knew exactly where to look. You think Inez -”
“Yes, I have no doubt that it was upon her information that they acted. But what is this precious thing that the thieves failed to find? Jewels?”
Madame Olivier shook her head with a faint smile.
“Something much more precious than that, monsieur.”
She looked round her, then bent forward, lowering her voice. “Radium, monsieur.”
“Radium?”
“Yes, monsieur. I am now at the crux of my experiments. I possess a small portion of radium myself - more has been lent to me for the process I am at work upon. Small though the actual quantity is, it comprises a large amount of the world's stock and represents a value of millions of francs.”
“And where is it?”
“In its leaden case in the big safe - the safe purposely appears to be of an old and worn-out pattern, but it is really a triumph of the safe-makers' art. That is probably why the thieves were unable to open it.”
“How long are you keeping this radium in your possession?”
“Only for two days more, monsieur. Then my experiments will be concluded.”
Poirot's eyes brightened.
“And Inez Veroneau is aware of the fact? Good - then our friends will come back. Not a word of me to any one, madame. But rest assured, I will save your radium for you. You have a key of the door leading from the laboratory to the garden?”
“Yes, monsieur. Here it is. I have a duplicate for myself. And here is the key of the garden door leading out into the alleyway between this villa and the next one.”
“I thank you, madame. Tonight, go to bed as usual, have no fears, and leave all to me. But not a word to any one - not to your two assistants - Mademoiselle Claude and Monsieur Henri, is it not? - particularly not a word to them.”
Poirot left the villa rubbing his hands in great satisfaction.
“What are we going to do now?” I asked.
“Now, Hastings, we are about to leave Paris - for England.”
“What?”
“We will pack our effects, have lunch, and drive to the Gare du Nord.”
“But the radium?”
“I said we were going to leave for England - I did not say we were going to arrive there. Reflect a moment, Hastings. It is quite certain that we are being watched and followed. Our enemies must believe that we are going back to England, and they certainly will not believe that unless they see us get on board the train and start.”
“Do you mean we are to slip off again at the last minute?”
“No, Hastings. Our enemies will be satisfied with nothing less than a bonafide departure.”
“But the train doesn't stop until Calais?”
“It will stop if it is paid to do so.”
“Oh, come now, Poirot - surely you can't pay an express to stop - they'd refuse.”
“My dear friend, have you never remarked the little handle - the signale d'arret -
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