Alan (the Lone Librarian) Teder’s Reviews > Double Sin and Other Stories > Status Update

3. The Theft of the Royal Ruby **** Hercule Poirot is in search of a missing ruby. He is undercover at a household for Christmas where several other guests are suspects in the ruby theft. Story first published in The Sketch magazine (December 12, 1923) and later collected in The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrées (UK only October 24, 1960).

Hercule Poirot entered his bedroom. It was a large room well provided with radiators. As he went over towards the big four-poster bed he noticed an envelope lying on his pillow. He opened it and drew out a piece of paper. On it was a shakily printed message in capital letters.
DON’T EAT NONE OF THE PLUM PUDDING. ONE AS WISHES YOU WELL.
Hercule Poirot stared at it. His eyebrows rose. “Cryptic,” he murmured.

1. Double Sin **** Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings are travelling on a bus when they become involved in a case of stolen miniature figurines. The story was first published in Detective Story Magazine March 30, 1929 under the title By Road or Rail.

Poirot stroked his own magnificent moustache tenderly. “It is an art,” he murmured, “the growing of the moustache! I have sympathy for all who attempt it.” It is always difficult with Poirot to know when he is serious and when he is merely amusing himself at one’s expense. I judged it safest to say no more.

My little friend was a strange mixture of Flemish thrift and artistic fervour. He accepted many cases in which he had little interest owing to the first instinct being predominant. He also undertook cases in which there was a little or no monetary reward sheerly because the problem involved interested him.