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business, blackmail. These harpies will force you to pay and pay
again. And if you refuse, what happens?"
Harold said bitterly:
"The whole thing will come out. My career will be ruined, and
a poor girl who's never done anyone any harm will be put through
hell, and God knows what the end of it will be!"
"Therefore," said Hercule Poirot, "something must be done!"
"What?"
The other shook his head. He said:
"Have a few hours' patience, my friend. By tomorrow I may be
able to free you from your Stymphalean Birds."
VII
When Harold came down the following morning he found
Hercule Poirot sitting alone on the terrace. In spite of himself Harold
had been impressed by Hercule Poirot's promises. He came up to him
and asked anxiously: "Well?"
Poirot smiled to him.
"It is well."
"What do you mean?"
"Your Stymphalean Birds, Monsieur, have been removed to a
place where they will be unable to exercise their ingenuity for some
time."
"They have been arrested?"
"Precisely."
Harold drew a deep breath.
"How marvellousl I must find Mrs. Rice and Elsie and tell
them."
"They know."
"Oh good. Tell me just what - "
He broke off. Coming up the path from the lake were two
figures with flapping cloaks and profiles like birds.
He exclaimed:
"I thought you said they had been taken away!"
Hercule Poirot followed his glance.
"Oh, those ladies? They are quite harmless. Polish ladies of
good family. Their appearance is, perhaps, not very pleasant but that
is all."
"But I don't understand!"