The Double Clue

Hercule Poirot is called in by Marcus Hardman, a collector of various antiques, to investigate a jewel theft. The theft occurred from his safe when he was holding a small tea party at his house. He showed his guests his collection of medieval jewels and later discovered that the safe had been rifled and the objects taken. Four of his guests had the opportunity to take the items – Mr Johnston, a South African millionaire newly arrived in London; Countess Vera Rossakoff, a refugee from the Russian Revolution; Bernard Parker, a young agent for Mr Hardman; and Lady Runcorn, a middle-aged society lady whose aunt is a kleptomaniac.

Poirot examines the scene of the crime and finds a man's glove holding the safe open and a cigarette case with the initials "BP". Parker denies that either item is his, but Poirot matches the glove to one thrown down carelessly in his home. Later, Poirot receives a visit from the Countess Rossakoff, who is indignant that Parker has fallen under suspicion.

The next day, Poirot visits Hardman and reveals the thief as the Countess Rossakoff. He tells Hastings that it was the double clue of the glove and the case which made him suspicious. Only one of the clues was genuine and the other was deliberately planted as a red herring. As the cigarette case was not Parker's, that must have been the genuine clue. The case belonged to the Countess whose initials – 'VR' – are 'ВР' in Cyrillic. The Countess returns the jewels and leaves London, and Poirot does not tell the police of the theft.