II
In a large, hot, ornately furnished drawing room two women were sitting.
As Sir Joseph and Hercule Poirot entered, a small Pekinese dog rushed forward, barkingfuriously, and circling dangerously round Poirot’s ankles.
“Shan—Shan, come here. Come here to mother, lovey—Pick him up, Miss?Carnaby.”
The second woman hurried forward and Hercule Poirot murmured:
“A veritable lion, indeed.”
Rather breathlessly Shan Tung’s captor agreed.
“Yes, indeed, he’s such a good watch dog. He’s not frightened of anything or any one.
There’s a lovely boy, then.”
Having performed the necessary introduction, Sir Joseph said:
“Well, Mr.?Poirot, I’ll leave you to get on with it,” and with a short nod he left the room.
Lady Hoggin was a stout, petulant-looking woman with dyed henna red hair. Her companion,the fluttering Miss?Carnaby, was a plump, amiable-looking creature between forty and fifty. Shetreated Lady Hoggin with great deference¹ and was clearly frightened to death of her.
Poirot said:
“Now tell me, Lady Hoggin, the full circumstances of this abominable² crime.”
Lady Hoggin flushed.
“I’m very glad to hear you say that, Mr.?Poirot. For it was a crime. Pekinese are terriblysensitive—just as sensitive as children. Poor Shan Tung might have died of fright if of nothingelse.”
Miss?Carnaby chimed in breathlessly:
“Yes, it was wicked—wicked!”
“Please tell me the facts.”
“Well, it was like this. Shan Tung was out for his walk in the Park with Miss?Carnaby—”
“Oh dear me, yes, it was all my fault,” chimed in the companion. “How could I have been sostupid—so careless—”
Lady Hoggin said acidly:
“I don’t want to reproach you, Miss?Carnaby, but I do think you might have been morealert.”
Poirot transferred his gaze to the companion.
“What happened?”
Miss?Carnaby burst into voluble and slightly flustered³ speech.
“Well, it was the most extraordinary thing! We had just been along the flower walk—ShanTung was on the lead, of course—he’d had his little run on the grass—and I was just about to turnand go home when my attention was caught by a baby in a pram—such a lovely baby—it smiledat me—lovely

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