4. Poirot investigates by Agatha Christie

4. Poirot investigates by Agatha Christie
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despatch-

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" that_may have_been done some_time_ago ,'' I interrupted

" , for_it still perceptibly damp and smells coffee Four, fragment some dark green fabric -- only thread two , but recognizable ''

"Ah ! '' I cried " that was what you sealed in_the envelope ''

" yes may turn out to_be piece one Mrs Inglethorp's own dresses, and quite unimportant we_shall see Five, this ! '' with dramatic gesture , pointed large splash candle grease on_the floor by_the writing- table " must_have been done since yesterday , otherwise good housemaid would_have once removed with blotting- paper and hot iron one of_my best hats once -- but that_is_not to_the point ''

" it_was very likely done last night were very agitated perhaps Mrs Inglethorp herself dropped her candle ''

" you brought only_one candle into_the room ? ''

" yes Lawrence Cavendish was carrying but he_was very upset he_seemed to_see something over here '' -- I indicated the mantelpiece -- " that absolutely paralysed him ''

" that_is interesting,'' said Poirot quickly " yes , it_is suggestive '' -- his eye sweeping the whole length of_the wall -- " but it_was not his candle that made this great patch , for_you perceive that_this_is white grease ; whereas Monsieur Lawrence 's candle , which_is still on_the dressing- table , pink on_the other hand , Mrs Inglethorp had candlestick in_the room , only reading- lamp ''

" then ,'' I_said , " what do_you deduce ? ''

to_which friend only made rather irritating reply , urging use own natural faculties

" and_the sixth point ? '' I asked "I suppose it_is_the sample coco ''

" ,'' said Poirot thoughtfully " I_might_have included that in_the six, but I_did_not , the sixth point i_will keep myself for_the_present ''

looked quickly round the room " there_is nothing more to_be_done here , i_think , unless '' -- stared earnestly and long at_the dead ashes in_the grate " the fire Burns -- and destroys but chance -- there_might_be -- let_us_see ! ''

deftly , hands and knees, began sort the ashes from_the grate into_the fender , handling them with_the greatest caution suddenly , he_gave faint exclamation

" the forceps , Hastings ! ''

I quickly handed them him , and with skill extracted small piece half charred paper

" there , mon ami ! '' cried " what do_you_think of_that ? ''

I scrutinized the fragment this_is exact reproduction : --

[A ]

i_was puzzled it_was unusually thick , quite unlike ordinary notepaper suddenly idea struck

"Poirot ! '' I cried " this_is fragment will ! ''

" exactly ''

I looked him sharply

" you_are_not surprised ? ''

" ,'' he_said gravely, "I expected ''

I relinquished the piece paper , and watched him put away in_his case , with_the same methodical care that bestowed everything brain was whirl what_was this complication will ? who had destroyed ? the person who had left the candle grease on_the floor ? obviously but how had anyone gained admission ? all the doors had_been bolted on_the inside

" now , friend ,'' said Poirot briskly , " we_will i_should like ask few questions of_the parlourmaid -- Dorcas, her name , is_it not ? ''

passed through Alfred Inglethorp's room , and Poirot delayed long enough to_make brief but fairly comprehensive examination went out through_that door , locking both and_that Mrs Inglethorp's room before

i_took him down to_the boudoir which had expressed wish to_see , and went myself Dorcas

when I returned with her , however , the boudoir was empty

"Poirot,'' I cried , " where are_you ? ''

" I_am here , friend ''

had stepped outside the French window , and was standing, apparently lost admiration , before_the various shaped flower beds

' admirable ! '' murmured " ! what symmetry ! observe that crescent ; and those diamonds -- their neatness rejoices the eye the spacing of_the plants, also , perfect it_has_been recently done ; is_it not ? ''

" yes , I believe they were yesterday afternoon but come -- Dorcas here ''

"Eh bien, eh bien ! do_not grudge moment 's satisfaction of_the eye ''

" yes , but this affair more important ''

" and how do_you_know that_these fine begonias are_not equal importance ? ''

I shrugged shoulders there_was really arguing with_him chose to_take that line

" you_do_not agree ? but such things have_been well , we_will come and interview the brave Dorcas ''

Dorcas was standing in_the boudoir , her hands folded front her , and her grey hair rose stiff waves under her white cap she was_the very model and good old - fashioned servant

her attitude towards Poirot, she was inclined to_be suspicious , but soon broke down her defences drew forward chair

" pray seated , mademoiselle ''

" thank_you , sir ''

" you_have_been with your mistress many years, is_it not ? ''

"Ten years, sir ''

" that_is long_time , and very faithful service you were much attached her , were you not ? ''

" she was very_good mistress to_me , sir ''

" then you_will_not object answering few questions I put them to_you with Mr Cavendish's full approval ''

"Oh, certainly , sir ''

" then i_will begin asking you about_the events yesterday afternoon your mistress had quarrel ? ''

" yes , sir but I don't know that I ought -- -- '' Dorcas hesitated Poirot looked her keenly

" good Dorcas, it_is necessary that i_should know every detail of_that quarrel fully possible do_not think that you_are betraying your mistress 's secrets your lies dead , and it_is that we_should know all -- if_we_are avenge her nothing can bring her back life , but we_do hope , there_has_been foul play , bring the murderer justice ''

" amen to_that ,'' said Dorcas fiercely " and , naming names, there 's one in_this house that none could ever abide ! and ill day it_was when first darkened the threshold ''

Poirot waited for her indignation subside , and then , resuming his business - like tone , asked :

" now , as_to_this quarrel ? what_is the first you heard ? ''

" well , sir , I happened to_be going along the hall outside yesterday -- -- ''

" what time was_that ? ''

"I couldn't say exactly , sir , but wasn't tea - time long way perhaps four o'clock -- may have_been bit later well , sir , I_said , I happened to_be passing along , when I heard voices very loud and angry here I didn't exactly mean listen , but -- well , there it_is I stopped the door was shut , but the mistress was speaking very sharp and clear , and I heard what she said quite plainly ' you_have lied to_me , and deceived ,' she said I didn't hear what Mr Inglethorp replied spoke good bit lower than she did -- but she answered : ' how dare you ? I_have kept you and clothed you and fed you ! you owe everything to_me ! and this_is how you repay ! bringing disgrace upon our name ! ' again I didn't hear what he_said , but she went : ' nothing that you_can say will make any difference I_see duty clearly mind made you_need not think that any fear publicity , scandal between husband and wife will deter ' then i_thought I heard them coming out , I went off quickly ''

" you_are_sure it_was Mr Inglethorp's voice you heard ? ''

"Oh, yes , sir , whose else 's could ? ''

" well , what happened next ? ''

" later , I_came back to_the hall ; but it_was all quiet five o'clock, Mrs Inglethorp rang the bell and told bring her cup tea -- nothing eat -- to_the boudoir she was looking dreadful -- white and upset 'Dorcas,' she says , 'I've had great shock ' 'I'm sorry for_that , m'm,' I says ' you 'll feel better after nice hot cup tea , m'm ' she had something her hand I don't know if_it_was letter , just piece paper , but had writing on_it , and she kept staring , almost as_if she couldn't believe what_was written there she whispered herself , as_though she had forgotten i_was there : ' these few words -- and everything 's changed ' and then she says to_me : ' never trust man , Dorcas, they 're not worth ! ' I hurried off , and got her good strong cup tea , and she thanked , and said she 'd feel better when she 'd drunk 'I don't know what to_do ,' she says ' scandal between husband and wife dreadful thing , Dorcas I'd rather hush I_could ' Mrs Cavendish came just then , she didn't say any more ''

" she still had the letter , whatever it_was , her hand ? '' " yes , sir ''

" what would she likely to_do with afterwards ? ''

" well , I don't know , sir , I expect she_would lock in_that purple case hers ''

" is_that where she usually kept important papers ? ''

" yes , sir she brought down with her every morning , and took every night ''

" when did she lose the key ? ''

" she missed yesterday lunch - time , sir , and told look carefully for_it she was very_much put out about_it ''

" but she had duplicate key ? ''

"Oh, yes , sir ''

Dorcas was looking very curiously him and , to_tell the truth , was I what_was all this about lost key ? Poirot smiled

" never mind , Dorcas, it_is business to_know things is_this the key that was lost ? '' drew from_his pocket the key that had found in_the lock of_the despatch- case upstairs

Dorcas's eyes looked as_though they_would pop out her head

" that 's , sir , right enough but where did you find ? I looked everywhere for_it ''

"Ah, but you_see it_was not in_the same place yesterday it_was - day now , to_pass another subject , had your mistress dark green dress her wardrobe ? ''

Dorcas was rather startled by_the unexpected question

" , sir ''

" are_you quite_sure ? ''

"Oh, yes , sir ''

" has anyone else in_the house got green dress ? ''

Dorcas reflected

" miss Cynthia has green evening dress ''

" light dark green ? ''

"A light green , sir ; sort chiffon , they call ''

"Ah, that_is_not what i_want and nobody else has anything green ? ''

" , sir -- not that I_know ''

Poirot's face did_not betray trace whether he_was disappointed otherwise merely remarked:

" good , we_will leave that and pass have_you any reason to_believe that your mistress was likely to_take sleeping powder last night ? ''

" not last night , sir , I_know she didn't ''

" why do_you_know positively ? ''

" because the box was empty she took the last one two days_ago , and she didn't have any more made ''

" you_are quite_sure of_that ? ''

" positive , sir ''

" then that_is cleared ! by_the_way , your mistress didn't ask_you sign any paper yesterday ? ''

" sign paper ? , sir ''

" when Mr Hastings and Mr Lawrence came yesterday evening , they found your mistress busy writing letters I suppose you_can_give idea to_whom these letters were addressed ? ''

"I'm afraid I couldn't, sir i_was out in_the evening perhaps Annie could tell you , though she 's careless girl never cleared the coffee -cups away last night that 's what happens when I'm not here look after things ''

Poirot lifted his hand

" since they_have been left , Dorcas, leave them little longer , I pray you i_should like examine them ''

" very_well , sir ''

" what time did you out last evening ? ''

" about six o'clock, sir ''

" thank_you , Dorcas, that_is all I_have ask_you '' rose and strolled to_the window " I_have_been admiring these flower beds how_many gardeners are employed here , by_the_way ? ''

" only three now , sir Five, had , before_the war , when it_was kept gentleman 's place should_be i_wish you_could_have seen then , sir fair sight it_was but now there 's only old Manning, and young William, and new - fashioned woman gardener breeches and such - like Ah, these are dreadful times ! ''

" the good times will come again , Dorcas at_least , we_hope now , will_you send Annie to_me here ? ''

" yes , sir thank_you , sir ''

" how did you_know that Mrs Inglethorp took sleeping powders ? '' I asked , lively curiosity , Dorcas left the room " and about_the lost key and_the duplicate ? ''