“I am glad you admit for once that they are all mighty! Tell me, did she give the paper-boy a shilling for himself?”
“No, it was half a crown!” Japp recovered his temper and grinned. “Pretty extravagant, these rich Americans!”
“And in consequence the boy did not forget her?”
“Not he. Half-crowns don’t come his way every day. She hailed him and bought two magazines. One had a picture of a girl in blue on the cover. ‘That’ll match me,’ she said. Oh! he remembered her perfectly. Well, that was enough for me. By the doctor’s evidence, the crime must have been committed before Taunton. I guessed they’d throw the knife away at once, and I walked down the line looking for it; and sure enough, there it was. I made inquiries at Taunton about our man, but of course it’s a big station, and it wasn’t likely they’d notice him. He probably got back to London by a later train.”
Poirot nodded. “Very likely.”
“But I found another bit of news when I got back. They’re passing the jewels, all right! That large emerald was pawned last night—by one of the regular lot. Who do you think it was?”
“I don’t know—except that he was a short man.”
Japp stared. “Well, you’re right there. He’s short enough. It was Red Narky.”
“Who on earth is Red Narky?” I asked.
“A particularly sharp jewel-thief, sir. And not one to stick at murder. Usually works with a woman—Gracie Kidd; but she doesn’t seem to be in it this time—unless she’s got off to Holland with the rest of the swag.”