"You should go to civilization, not to the wilds for that," said Despard. "In the modern laboratory, for instance. Cultures of innocent looking germs that will produce bona fide diseases."

"That wouldn't do for my public," said Mrs. Oliver. "Besides one is so apt to get the names wrong – staphylococcus and streptococcus and all those things – so difficult for my secretary and anyway rather dull, don't you think so? What do you think, Superintendent Battle?"

"In real life people don't bother about being too subtle, Mrs. Oliver," said the superintendent. "They usually stick to arsenic because it's nice and handy to get hold of."

"Nonsense," said Mrs. Oliver. "That's simply because there are lots of crimes you people at Scotland Yard never find out. Now if you had a woman there -"

"As a matter of fact we have -"

"Yes, those dreadful policewomen in funny hats who bother people in parks! I mean a woman at the head of things. Women know about crime."

"They're usually very successful criminals," said Superintendent Battle. "Keep their heads well. It's amazing how they'll brazen things out."

Mr. Shaitana laughed gently.

"Poison is a woman's weapon," he said. "There must be many secret woman poisoners – never found out."

"Of course there are," said Mrs. Oliver happily, helping herself lavishly to a mousse of foie gras.

"A doctor, too, has opportunities," went on Mr. Shaitana thoughtfully.

"I protest," cried Doctor Roberts. "When we poison our patients it's entirely by accident." He laughed heartily.

"But if I were to commit a crime," went on Mr. Shaitana. He stopped, and something in that pause compelled attention.