The governments of Italy, France and England are behind you, and are all working harmoniously together."
"It is, in fact, a new Entente," observed Poirot dryly. "I am glad that Desjardeaux is convinced at last.
Eh bien, then, we will start - or rather, I will start.
You, Hastings, will remain here - yes, I pray of you.
In verity, my friend. I am serious."
I believed him, but it was not likely that I should consent to being left behind in that fashion.
Our argument was short but decisive.
It was not until we were in the train, speeding towards Paris that he admitted that he was secretly glad of my decision.
"For you have a part to play, Hastings.
An important part!
Without you, I might well fail.
Nevertheless, I felt that it was my duty to urge you to remain behind."
"There is danger, then?"
"Mon ami, where there is the Big Four there is always danger."
On arrival in Paris, we drove across to the Gare de l'Est, and Poirot at last announced our destination.
We were bound for Bolzano and Italian Tyrol.
During Harvey's absence from our carriage I took the opportunity of asking Poirot why he had said that the discovery of the rendezvous was my work.
"Because it was, my friend.
How Ingles managed to get hold of the information I do not know, but he did, and he sent it to us by his servant.
We are bound, mon ami, for Karersee, the new Italian name for which is Lago di Carezza.
You see now where your
'Cara Zia' comes in and also your 'Carrozza' and 'Largo' - the Handel was supplied by your own imagination. Possibly some reference to the information coming from the hand of M. Ingles started the train of association."
"Karersee?" I queried. "I never heard of it."
"I always tell you that the English know no geography.
But as a matter of fact it is a well-known and very beautiful summer resort, four thousand feet up, in the heart of the Dolomites."
"And it is in this out of the way spot that the Big Four have their rendezvous?"
"Say rather their headquarters.
The signal has been given, and it is their intention to disappear from the world and issue orders from their mountain fastness.
I have made the inquiries - a lot of quarrying of stone and mineral deposits is done there, and the company, apparently a small Italian firm, is in reality controlled by Abe Ryland.
I am prepared to swear that a vast subterranean dwelling has been hollowed out in the very heart of the mountain, secret and inaccessible.
From there the leaders of the organisation will issue by wireless their orders to their followers who are numbered by thousands in every country.
And from that crag in the Dolomites the dictators of the world will emerge.
That is to say - they would emerge were it not for Hercule Poirot."
"Do you seriously believe all this, Poirot?
What about the armies and general machinery of civilisation?"
"What about it in Russia, Hastings?
This will be Russia on an infinitely larger scale - and with this additional menace - that Madame Olivier's experiments have proceeded further than she has ever given out.
I believe that she has, to a certain extent, succeeded in liberating atomic energy and harnessing it to her purpose.
Her experiments with the nitrogen of the air have been very remarkable, and she has also experimented in the concentration of wireless energy, so that a beam of great intensity can be focused upon some given spot.
Exactly how far she has progressed, nobody knows, but it is certain that it is much farther than has ever been given out.
She is a genius, that woman - the Curies were as nothing to her.
Add to her genius the powers of Ryland's almost unlimited wealth, and, with the brain of Li Chang Yen, the finest criminal brain ever known, to direct and plan - eh bien, it will not be, as you say, all jam for civilisation."
His words made me very thoughtful.
Although Poirot was given at times to exaggeration of language, he was not really an alarmist.
For the first time I realised what a desperate struggle it was upon which we were engaged.
Harvey soon rejoined us and the journey went on.
We arrived at Bolzano about midday.
From there the journey on was by motor.
Several big blue motorcars were waiting in the central square of the town, and we three got into one of them.
Poirot, notwithstanding the heat of the day, was muffled to the eyes in greatcoat and scarf.