Possibly several patterns. Possibly each time one shook the kaleidoscope one got a different pattern… But one of the patterns would be the right pattern. The question was where to start...
He opened his eyes.
"This is a matter that needs some reflection. A good deal of reflection."
"Oh, I'm sure it does, Mr. Poirot," assented Mrs. Hubbard eagerly. "And I'm sure I didn't want to trouble you-"
"You are not troubling me. I am intrigued. But whilst I am reflecting, we might make a start on the practical side. A start… The shoe, the evening shoe… yes, we might make a start there, Miss Lemon."
"Yes, Mr. Poirot?" Miss Lemon banished filing from her thoughts, sat even more upright, and reached automatically for pad and pencil.
"Mrs. Hubbard will obtain for you, perhaps, the remaining shoe. Then go to Baker Street station, to the lost property department. The loss occurred-when?" Mrs. Hubbard considered.
"Well, I can't remember exactly now, Mr. Poirot. Perhaps two months ago. I can't get nearer than that. But I could find out from Sally Finch the date of the party."
"Yes. Well-" He turned once more to Miss Lemon. "You can be a little vague. You will say you left a shoe in an Inner Circle train-that is the most likely or you may have left it in some other train. Or possibly a bus. How many buses serve the neighbourhood of Hickory Road?"
"Two only, Mr. Poirot."
"Good. If you get no results from Baker Street, try Scotland Yard and say it was left in a taxi."
"Lambeth," corrected Miss Lemon efficiently.
Poirot waved a hand.
"You always know these things."
"But why do you think-" began Mrs. Hubbard.
Poirot interrupted her.
"Let us see first what results we get. Then, if they are negative or positive, you and I, Miss Hubbard, must consult again. You will tell me then those things which it is necessary that I should know."
"I really think I've told you everything I can."
"No, no. I disagree. Here we have young people herded together, of varying texmperaments, of different sexes. A loves B, but B loves C, and D and E are at daggers drawn because of A perhaps. It is all that that I need to know. The interplay of human emotions. The quarrels, the jealousies, the friendships, the malice and all uncharitableness."
"I'm sure," said Mrs. Hubbard, uncomfortably, "I don't know anything about that sort of thing. I don't mix at all. I just run the place and see to the catering and all that."
"But you are interested in people. You have told me so. You like young people. You took this post, not because it was of much interest financially, but because it would bring you in contact with human problems. There will be those of the students that you like and some that you do not like so well, or indeed at all, perhaps. You will tell me-yes, you will tell me! Because you are worried-not about what has been happening-you could go to the police about that-"
