Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie

describe to me the contents of the room in which you played.”
    Roberts looked thoroughly astonished.
    “The contents of the room?”
    “If you will be so good.”
    “My dear fellow, I simply don't know where to begin.”
    “Begin anywhere you choose.”
    “Well, there was a good deal of furniture -”
    “Non, non, non, be precise, I pray of you.”
    Doctor Roberts sighed. He began facetiously after the manner of an auctioneer.
    “One large settee upholstered in ivory brocade - one ditto in green ditto - four or five large chairs. Eight or nine Persian rugs - a set of twelve small gilt Empire chairs. William and Mary bureau. I feel just like an auctioneer's clerk. Very beautiful Chinese cabinet. Grand piano. There was other furniture but I'm afraid I didn't notice it. Six first-class Japanese prints. Two Chinese pictures on looking glass. Five or six very beautiful snuffboxes. Some Japanese ivory netsuke figures on a table by themselves. Some old silver - Charles the First tass, I think. One or two pieces of Battersea enamel -”
    “Bravo - Bravo -” Poirot applauded.
    “A couple of old English slipware birds - and, I think, a Ralph Wood figure. Then there was some Eastern stuff - intricate silver work. Some jewelry, I don't know much about that. Some Chelsea birds, I remember. Oh and some miniatures in a case - pretty good ones, I fancy. That's not all by a long way, but it's all I can think of for the minute.”
    “It is magnificent,” said Poirot with due appreciation. “You have the true observer's eye.”
    The doctor asked curiously, “Have I included the object you had in mind?”
    “That is the interesting thing about it,” said Poirot. “If you had mentioned the object I had in mind it would have been extremely surprising to me. As I thought, you could not mention it.”
    “Why?”
    Poirot twinkled.
    “Perhaps - because it was not there to mention.”
    Roberts stared.
    “That seems to remind me of something.”
    “It reminds you of Sherlock Holmes does it not? The curious incident of the dog in the night. The dog did not howl in the night. That is the curious thing! Ah, well, I am not above stealing the tricks of others.”
    “Do you know, Monsieur Poirot, ”I am completely at sea as to what you are driving at."
    “That is excellent, that. In confidence that is how I get my little effects.”
    Then, as Doctor Roberts still looked rather dazed Poirot said with a smile as he rose to his feet, “You may at least comprehend this; what you have told me is going to be very helpful to me in my next interview.”
    The doctor rose also. “I can't see how, but I'll take your word for it,” he said.
    They shook hands.
    Poirot went down the steps of the doctor's house and hailed a passing taxi.
    “One eleven Cheyne Lane, Chelsea,” he told the driver.

Cards on the Table

Chapter 11
    MRS. LORRIMER
    111 Cheyne Lane was a small house of very neat and trim appearance standing in a quiet street. The door was painted black and the steps were particularly well whitened, the brass of the knocker and handle gleamed in the afternoon sun.
    The door was, opened by an elderly parlormaid with an immaculate white cap and apron. In answer to Poirot's inquiry she said that her mistress was at home. She preceded him up the narrow staircase.
    “What name, sir?”
    “Monsieur Hercule Poirot.”
    He was, ushered into a drawing-room of the usual L shape. Poirot looked about him, noting details. Good furniture, well polished, of the old family type. Shiny chintz on the chairs and settees. A few silver photograph frames about in the old-fashioned manner. Otherwise an agreeable amount of space and light and some really beautiful chrysanthemums arranged in a tall jar.
    Mrs. Lorrimer came forward to meet him. She shook hands without showing any particular surprise at seeing him, indicated a chair, took one herself, and remarked favorably on the weather.
    There was a pause.
    “I hope, madame,” said Hercule Poirot, “that