II

Poirot considered for a moment. Then he dialled a number. Presently hesaid: “Mr. Goby? Hercule Poirot here. Are you very fully occupied at thismoment?”

“Middling,” said the voice of Mr. Goby. “Middling to fair. But to obligeyou, Monsieur Poirot, if you’re in a hurry, as you usually are — well, Iwouldn’t say that my young men couldn’t manage mostly what’s on handat present. Of course good boys aren’t as easy to get as they used to be.

Think too much of themselves nowadays. Think they know it all beforethey’ve started to learn. But there! Can’t expect old heads on youngshoulders. I’ll be pleased to put myself at your disposal, M. Poirot. Maybe Ican put one or two of the better lads on the job. I suppose it’s the usual—collecting information?”

He nodded his head and listened whilst Poirot went into details of ex-actly what he wanted done. When he had finished with Mr. Goby, Poirotrang up Scotland Yard where in due course he got through to a friend ofhis. When he in turn had listened to Poirot’s requirements, he replied,“Don’t want much, do you? Any murder, anywhere. Time, place and vic-tim unknown. Sounds a bit of a wild goose chase, if you ask me, old boy.”

He added disapprovingly, “You don’t seem really to know anything!”