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.
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