Programming note: On Tuesday I'll be joining the great Colin Brazier live on GB News at 8pm GMT - that's 3pm North American Eastern. You can watch from anywhere on the planet right here.
On Wednesday I'll be conducting another Clubland Q&A, taking questions from Mark Steyn Club members live around the planet at 11am Eastern. Later I'll be joining James Golden, aka Rush's Mr Snerdley, on New York's legendary station 77 WABC. That's at 4pm Eastern right here.
~Meanwhile, welcome to our regularly scheduled audio Ovaltine twenty minutes before you lower your lamp: it's Part Sixteen of our autumnal diversion by Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
In tonight's episode of The Mysterious Affair at Styles Heme:
Poirot unfolded the sheet of paper eagerly, and uttered an exclamation of satisfaction. He spread it out on the table.
"Come here, Hastings. Now tell me, what is that initial—J. or L.?"
It was a medium sized sheet of paper, rather dusty, as though it had lain by for some time. But it was the label that was attracting Poirot's attention. At the top, it bore the printed stamp of Messrs. Parkson's, the well-known theatrical costumiers, and it was addressed to "—(the debatable initial) Cavendish, Esq., Styles Court, Styles St. Mary, Essex."
"It might be T., or it might be L.," I said, after studying the thing for a minute or two. "It certainly isn't a J."
"Good," replied Poirot, folding up the paper again. "I, also, am of your way of thinking. It is an L., depend upon it!"
So Poirot and Hastings now know who ordered the false beard. This was the great Belgian's debut appearance, so he was not to know that these days a man who wished to disguise himself with the assistance of a theatrical costumier could simply order a set of Hercule Poirot moustaches - real human hair hand-tied onto fine Swiss lace. Not sure whether the hair is also Swiss, but you could do worse.
If you're a member of The Mark Steyn Club you can hear Part Sixteen of our serialization of The Mysterious Affair at Styles simply by clicking here and logging-in. All previous episodes can be found here.
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