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remembered certain evidences, too lightly thought of at the time, perhaps,
but which certainly seemed to indicate----
My pleasing thoughts were interrupted by the sudden entrance of Miss
Howard. She glanced round hastily to make sure there was no one else in
the room, and quickly produced an old sheet of brown paper. This she
handed to Poirot, murmuring as she did so the cryptic words:
"On top of the wardrobe." Then she hurriedly left the room.
Poirot unfolded the sheet of paper eagerly, and uttered an exclamation of
satisfaction. He spread it out on the table.
"Come here, Hastings. Now tell me, what is that initial--J. or L.?"
It was a medium sized sheet of paper, rather dusty, as though it had lain by
for some time. But it was the label that was attracting Poirot's attention. At
the top, it bore the printed stamp of Messrs. Parkson's, the well-known
theatrical costumiers, and it was addressed to "--(the debatable initial)
Cavendish, Esq., Styles Court, Styles St. Mary, Essex."
"It might be T., or it might be L.," I said, after studying the thing for a
minute or two. "It certainly isn't a J."
"
Good," replied Poirot, folding up the paper again. "I, also, am of your way of
thinking. It is an L., depend upon it!"
"
"
Where did it come from?" I asked curiously. "Is it important?"
Moderately so. It confirms a surmise of mine. Having deduced its existence,
I set Miss Howard to search for it, and, as you see, she has been
successful."
"
"
What did she mean by 'On the top of the wardrobe'?"
She meant," replied Poirot promptly, "that she found it on top of a
wardrobe."
"A funny place for a piece of brown paper," I mused.
"Not at all. The top of a wardrobe is an excellent place for brown paper and
cardboard boxes. I have kept them there myself. Neatly arranged, there is
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