IV

In London, Hercule Poirot picked up the telephone. Mrs. Oliver’s voicecame over.

“We’ve lost Miranda.”

“What do you mean, lost her?”

“We had lunch at The Black Boy. She went to the loo. She didn’t comeback. Somebody said they saw her driving away with an elderly man. Butit mightn’t have been her. It might have been someone else. It—”

“Someone should have stayed with her. Neither of you ought to have lether out of your sight. I told you there was danger. Is Mrs. Butler very wor-ried?”

“Of course she’s worried. What do you think? She’s frantic. She insistson ringing the police.”

“Yes, that would be the natural thing to do. I will ring them also.”

“But why should Miranda be in danger?”

“Don’t you know? You ought to by now.” He added, “The body’s beenfound. I’ve just heard—”

“What body?”

“A body in a well.”