WE CROSSED FROM ENGLAND by the evening boat, and the following morning saw us in St. Omer, whither Jack Renauld had been taken. Poirot lost no time in visiting M. Hautet. As he did not seem disposed to make any objections to my accompanying him, I bore him company.
After various formalities and preliminaries, we were conducted to the examining magistrate’s room. He greeted us cordially.
“I was told that you had returned to England, Monsieur Poirot. I am glad to find that such is not the case.”
“It is true I went there, monsieur, but it was only for a flying visit. A side issue, but one that I fancied might repay investigation.”
“And it did, eh?”
Poirot shrugged his shoulders.
M. Hautet nodded, sighing.
“We must resign ourselves, I fear. That animal Giraud, his manners are abominable
