"I deserve all that that woman said to me.
I am a triple imbecile, a miserable animal, thirty-six times an idiot.
I was proud of myself for not falling into their trap.
And it was not even meant as a trap - except exactly in the way in which I fell into it.
They knew I would see through it - they counted on my seeing through it.
This explains all - the ease with which they surrendered Halliday - everything.
Madame Olivier was the ruling spirit - Vera Rossakoff only her lieutenant.
Madame needed Halliday's ideas - she herself had the necessary genius to supply the gaps that perplexed him.
Yes, Hastings, we know now who Number Three is - the woman who is probably the greatest scientist in the world!
Think of it.
The brain of the East, the science of the West - and two others whose identities we do not yet know.
But we must find out.
Tomorrow we will return to London and set about it."
"You are not going to denounce Madame Olivier to the police?"
"I should not be believed.
That woman is one of the idols of France.
And we can prove nothing.
We are lucky if she does not denounce us."
Chapter 8 IN THE HOUSE OF THE ENEMY
After our adventures at the villa in Passywe returned immediately to London.
There were some letters waiting for Poirot.
He read one of them with a strange smile, and then handed it over.
"Read this, mon ami."
I looked at the signature first - "Abe Ryland" - and remembered Poirot's words. The richest man in the world.
Mr. Ryland's letter was short and direct.
He said he was very insatisfied with the reasons Poirot had given for not following the South-America proposition at the last minute.
"This makes us think, no?" said Poirot.
"It's natural that he's a bit upset."
"No, you don't understand.
Remeber Mayerling's words. 'Number 2 is represented by an S with two lines through it - the sign for a dollar, also by two stripes and a star.
It may be conjectured therefore that he is an American subject, and that he represents the power of wealth.'
Add to those words the fact that Ryland offered me a huge sum to tempt me out of England - and - and what about it, Hastings?"
"You mean," I said, staring, "that you suspect Abe Ryland, the multi-millionaire, of being Number Two of the Big Four."
"Your bright intellect has grasped the idea, Hastings.
Yes, I do.
The tone in which you said multimillionaire was eloquent - but let me impress upon you one fact - this thing is being run by men at the top - and Mr. Ryland has the reputation of being no beauty in his business dealings.
An able, unscrupulous man, a man who has all the wealth that he needs, and is out for unlimited power."
There was undoubtedly something to be said for Poirot's view. I asked him when he had made up his mind definitely upon the point.
"That is just it.
I am not sure.
I cannot be sure.
Mon ami, I would give anything to know.
Let me but place Number Two definitely as Abe Ryland, and we draw nearer to our goal."
"He has just arrived in London, I see by this," I said, tapping the letter.
"Shall you call upon him, and make your apologies in person?"
"I might do so."
Two days later, Poirot returned to our rooms in a state of boundless excitement.
He grasped me by both hands in his most impulsive manner.
"My friend, an occasion stupendous, unprecedented, never to be repeated, has presented itself!
But there is danger, grave danger.