There's more than petty theft going on in a London youth hostel... An outbreak of kleptomania at a student hostel was not normally the sort of crime that aroused Hercule Poirot's interest. But when he saw the list of stolen & vandalized items
- including a stethoscope some old flannel trousers a box of chocolates a slashed rucksack & a diamond ring found in a bowl of soup
- he congratulated the warden Mrs Hubbard on a 'unique & beautiful problem'. The list made absolutely no sense at all. But reasoned Poirot if this was merely a petty thief at work why was everyone at the hostel so frightened?