II
Poirot considered for a moment. Then he dialled a number. Presently he said: “Mr. Goby? HerculePoirot here. Are you very fully¹ occupied at this moment?”
“Middling,” said the voice of Mr. Goby. “Middling to fair. But to oblige you, Monsieur Poirot,if you’re in a hurry, as you usually are—well, I wouldn’t say that my young men couldn’t managemostly what’s on hand at present. Of course good boys aren’t as easy to get as they used to be.
Think too much of themselves nowadays. Think they know it all before they’ve started to learn.
But there! Can’t expect old heads on young shoulders. I’ll be pleased to put myself at yourdisposal, M. Poirot. Maybe I can put one or two of the better lads on the job. I suppose it’s theusual—collecting information?”
He nodded his head and listened whilst Poirot went into details of exactly what he wanted done.
When he had finished with Mr. Goby, Poirot rang up Scotland Yard where in due course he gotthrough to a friend of his. When he in turn had listened to Poirot’s requirements, he replied,“Don’t want much, do you? Any murder, anywhere. Time, place and victim unknown. Sounds abit of a wild goose chase, if you ask me, old boy.” He added disapprovingly², “You don’t seemreally to know anything!”

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