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Rh a paper upon the subject before the British Association. His colleagues didn’t think great shakes of it, by all accounts, thought it far-fetched and fanciful, but your scientist stuck to his guns, and declared that he himself was on the eve of success in his experiments.”

“Eh, bien?” demanded Poirot, with interest.

“It was suggested that I should come over here and get an interview with this gentleman. Quite a young fellow, he is, Halliday by name. He is the leading authority on the subject, and I was to get from him whether the thing suggested was anyway possible.”

“And was it?” I asked eagerly.

“That’s just what I don't know. I haven’t seen Mr. Halliday—and I’m not likely to, by all accounts.”

“The truth of the matter is,” said Japp, shortly, “Halliday’s disappeared.”

“When?”

“Two months ago.”

“Was his disappearance reported?”

“Of course it was. His wife came to us in a great state. We did what we could, but I knew all along it would be no good.”

“Why not?”

“Never is—when a man disappears that way.” Japp winked.