5. It isnt strychnine, is it? by Agatha Christie
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. it would clear the air . at present we_are all thinking so_much, and saying so little .''

"John doesn't think so,'' I remarked ." he's anxious to_keep them apart .''

"Oh, John ! ''

something in her tone fired me, and I blurted out:

" old John's an awfully good sort .''

she studied me curiously for a minute or two, and then said, to my great surprise:

" you_are loyal to your friend .I like you for_that .''

"Aren't you my friend too ? ''

" I_am a very bad friend .''

" why do_you say that ? ''

" because it_is true . I_am charming to my friends one day, and forget all about_them the next .''

I don't know what impelled me, but i_was nettled, and I_said foolishly and not in_the best of taste:

" yet you seem_to_be invariably charming to Dr .Bauerstein ! ''

instantly I regretted my words . her face stiffened .I had the impression of a steel curtain coming down and blotting out the real woman . without a word, she turned and went swiftly up the stairs, whilst I stood like an idiot gaping after her .

i_was recalled to other matters by a frightful row going on below . I_could hear Poirot shouting and expounding . i_was vexed to_think that my diplomacy had_been in vain . the little man appeared to_be taking the whole house into his confidence, aproceeding of_which I, for_one, doubted the wisdom . once again I_could_not help regretting that my friend was so prone to lose his head in moments of excitement .I stepped briskly down the stairs . the sight of me calmed Poirot almost immediately .I drew him aside .

" my dear fellow,'' I_said, " is_this wise ? surely you don't want the whole house to_know of_this occurrence ? you_are actually playing into_the criminal's hands .''

" you_think so, Hastings ? ''

" I_am_sure of it .''

" well, well, my friend, i_will_be guided by_you .''

" good . although, unfortunately, it_is a little too late now .''

" sure .''

he looked so crestfallen and abashed that I_felt quite sorry, though I still thought my rebuke a just and wise one .

" well,'' he_said at last, " let_us go, mon ami .''

" you_have finished here ? ''

" for_the moment, yes . you_will walk back with me to_the village ? ''

" willingly .''

he picked up his little suit- case, and we went out through_the open window in_the drawing- room . Cynthia Murdoch was just coming in, and Poirot stood aside to let her pass .

" excuse me, mademoiselle, one minute .''

" yes ? '' she turned inquiringly .

" did you ever make up Mrs Inglethorp's medicines ? ''

a slight flush rose in her face, as she answered rather constrainedly:

" no .''

" only her powders ? ''

the flush deepened as Cynthia replied:

"Oh, yes, I_did make up some sleeping powders for her once .''

" these ? ''

Poirot produced the empty box which had contained powders .

she nodded .

" can_you tell me what they were ? Sulphonal ? Veronal ? ''

" no, they were bromide powders .''

"Ah ! thank_you, mademoiselle; good morning .''

as_we walked briskly away from_the house, I glanced at him more than once .I had often before noticed that, if anything excited him, his eyes turned green like acat's . they were shining like emeralds now .

" my friend,'' he broke out at last, " I_have a little idea, a very strange, and probably utterly impossible idea . and yet -- it fits in .''

I shrugged my shoulders .I privately thought that Poirot was rather too_much given to_these fantastic ideas . in this_case, surely, the truth was only too plain and apparent .

" so that_is_the explanation of_the blank label on_the box,'' I remarked ." very simple, as_you said .I really wonder that I_did_not think of it myself .''

Poirot did_not appear to_be listening to_me .

" they_have made one more discovery, là-bas,'' he observed, jerking his thumb over his shoulder in_the direction of Styles ." Mr Wells told me as_we were going upstairs .''

" what_was it ? ''

"Locked up in_the desk in_the boudoir, they found a will of Mrs Inglethorp's, dated before her marriage, leaving her fortune to Alfred Inglethorp . it must_have been made just at_the_time they were engaged . it came quite as a surprise to Wells -- and to John Cavendish also . it_was written on one of_those printed will forms, and witnessed by two of_the servants -- not Dorcas .''

" did Mr Inglethorp know of it ? ''

" he_says not .''

" one might take that with a grain of salt,'' I remarked sceptically ." all these wills are very confusing . tell me, how did those scribbled words on_the envelope help_you to discover that a will was_made yesterday afternoon ? ''

Poirot smiled .

"Mon ami, have_you ever, when writing a letter, been arrested by_the fact that you_did_not know how to spell a certain word ? ''

" yes, often .I suppose every_one has .''

" exactly . and have_you not, in_such a case, tried the word once_or_twice on_the edge of_the blotting- paper, or a spare scrap of paper, to_see if_it looked right ? well, that_is what Mrs Inglethorp did . you_will notice that_the word ' possessed' is spelt first with one's' end subsequently with two -- correctly . to_make sure, she had further tried it in a sentence, thus: ' I_am possessed .' now, what did that tell me ? it told me that Mrs Inglethorp had_been writing the word ' possessed' that afternoon, and, having the fragment of paper found in_the grate fresh in my mind, the possibility of a will -- (a document almost certain to contain that word) -- occurred to_me at once . this possibility was confirmed by a further circumstance . in_the general confusion, the boudoir had_not_been swept that morning, and near the desk were several traces of brown mould and earth . the weather had_been perfectly fine for some days, and no ordinary boots would_have left such a heavy deposit .

"I strolled to_the window, and saw at once that_the begonia beds had_been newly planted . the mould in_the beds was exactly similar to_that on_the floor of_the boudoir, and also I learnt from_you that_they had_been planted yesterday afternoon . i_was now sure that one, or possibly both of_the gardeners -- for there were two sets of footprints in_the bed -- had entered the boudoir, for if Mrs Inglethorp had merely wished to_speak to_them she_would in all probability have stood at_the window, and they_would not have come into_the room at all . i_was now quite convinced that she had made a fresh will, and had called the two gardeners in to witness her signature .Events proved that i_was right in my supposition .''

" that was very ingenious,'' I_could_not help admitting ." I_must confess that_the conclusions I drew from those few scribbled words were quite erroneous .''

he smiled .

" you_gave too_much rein to your imagination . imagination is a good servant, and a bad master . the simplest explanation is always the most likely .''

" another point -- how did you_know that_the key of_the despatch- case had_been lost ? ''

" I_did_not know it . it_was a guess that turned out to_be correct . you observed that_it had a piece of twisted wire through_the handle . that suggested to_me at once that_it had possibly been wrenched off a flimsy key- ring . now, if_it had_been lost and recovered, Mrs Inglethorp would at once have replaced it on her bunch; but on her bunch I_found what_was obviously the duplicate key, very new and bright, which led me to_the hypothesis that somebody else had inserted the original key in_the lock of_the despatch- case .''

" yes,'' I_said, " Alfred Inglethorp, without doubt .''

Poirot looked at me curiously .

" you_are very sure of_his guilt ? ''

" well, naturally . every fresh circumstance seems to establish it more clearly .''

" on_the contrary,'' said Poirot quietly, " there_are several points in_his favour .''

"Oh, come now ! ''

" yes .''

" I_see only_one .''

" and_that ? ''

" that he_was not in_the house last night .''

" ' bad shot ! ' as_you English say ! you_have chosen the one point that to my mind tells against him .''

" how is_that ? ''

" because if Mr Inglethorp knew that his wife would_be poisoned last night, he_would certainly have arranged to_be away from_the house . his excuse was an obviously trumped up one . that leaves us two possibilities: either he_knew what_was going to happen or he had a reason of_his own for_his absence .''

" and_that reason ? '' I asked sceptically .

Poirot shrugged his shoulders .

" how should I_know ? discreditable, without doubt . this Mr Inglethorp, i_should say, is somewhat of a scoundrel -- but that_does_not of necessity make him a murderer .''

I shook my head, unconvinced .

" we_do_not agree, eh ? '' said Poirot ." well, let_us leave it . time will show which of us is right . now let_us turn to other aspects of_the case . what do_you make of_the fact that all the doors of_the bedroom were bolted on_the inside ? ''

" well -- -- '' I considered ." one must look at it logically .''

" true .''

" i_should put it this_way . the doors were bolted -- our own eyes have told us that -- yet the presence of_the candle grease on_the floor, and_the destruction of_the will, prove that during the night some one entered the room . you agree so_far ? ''

" perfectly . put with admirable clearness . proceed .''

" well,'' I_said, encouraged, " as_the person who entered did_not do_so by_the window, nor by miraculous means, it follows that_the door must_have been opened from inside by Mrs Inglethorp herself . that strengthens the conviction that_the person in_question was her husband . she_would naturally open the door to her own husband .''

Poirot shook his head .

" why should she ? she had bolted the door leading into his room -- a most unusual proceeding on her part -- she had had a most violent quarrel with_him that very afternoon . no, he was_the last person she_would admit .''

" but you agree with me that_the door must_have been opened by Mrs Inglethorp herself ? ''

" there_is another possibility . she may_have forgotten to bolt the door into_the passage when she went to bed, and_have got up later, towards morning, and bolted it then .''

"Poirot, is_that seriously your opinion ? ''

" no, I_do_not_say it_is so, but it might_be . now, to_turn to another feature, what do_you make of_the scrap of conversation you overheard between Mrs Cavendish and her mother- in- law ? ''

"I had forgotten that,'' I_said thoughtfully ." that_is as enigmatical as ever . it seems incredible that a woman like Mrs Cavendish, proud and reticent to_the last degree, should interfere so violently in what_was certainly not her affair .''

" precisely . it_was an astonishing thing for a woman of her breeding to_do .''

" it_is certainly curious,'' I agreed ." still, it_is unimportant, and need_not_be taken into account .''

a groan burst from Poirot .

" what have I always told you ? everything must_be taken into account . if_the fact will not fit the theory -- let the theory go .''

" well, we_shall see,'' I_said, nettled .

" yes, we_shall see .''

we had reached Leastways cottage, and Poirot ushered me upstairs to_his own room . he offered me one_of_the tiny Russian cigarettes he himself occasionally smoked . i_was amused to notice that he stowed away the used matches most carefully in a little china pot . my momentary annoyance vanished .

Poirot had placed our two chairs in front of_the open window which commanded a view of_the village street . the fresh air blew in warm and pleasant . it_was going to_be a hot day .

suddenly my attention was arrested by a weedy looking young man rushing down the street at a great pace . it was_the expression on_his face that was extraordinary -- a curious mingling of terror and agitation .

" look, Poirot ! '' I_said .

he leant forward .

"Tiens ! '' he_said ." it_is Mr Mace, from_the chemist's shop . he_is coming here .''

the young man came to a halt before Leastways cottage, and, after hesitating a moment, pounded vigorously at_the door .

"A little minute,'' cried Poirot from_the window ."I come .''

Motioning to_me to_follow him, he ran swiftly down the stairs and opened the door .Mr Mace began at once .

"Oh, Mr Poirot, I'm sorry for_the inconvenience, but I heard that you'd just come back from_the hall ? ''

" yes, we_have .''

the young man moistened his dry lips . his face was working curiously .

" it's all over the village about old Mrs Inglethorp dying so suddenly . they_do say -- '' he lowered his voice cautiously -- " that_it's poison ? ''

Poirot's face remained quite impassive .

" only the doctors can tell us that, Mr Mace .''

" yes, exactly -- of_course -- -- '' the young man hesitated, and then his agitation was too_much for him . he clutched Poirot by_the arm, and sank his voice to a whisper: " just tell me this, Mr Poirot, it isn't -- it isn't strychnine, is_it ? ''

I hardly heard what Poirot replied . something evidently of anon-committal nature . the young man departed, and as he closed the door Poirot's eyes met mine .

" yes,'' he_said, nodding gravely ." he_will_have evidence to_give at_the inquest .''

we went slowly upstairs again . i_was opening my lips, when Poirot stopped me with a gesture of_his hand .

" not now, not now, mon ami . I_have need of reflection . my mind is in some disorder -- which_is not well .''

for about ten minutes he sat in dead silence, perfectly still, except for several expressive motions of_his eyebrows, and all the time his eyes grew steadily greener . at last he heaved a deep sigh .

" it_is well . the bad moment has passed . now all is arranged and classified . one must never permit confusion . the case is_not clear yet -- no . for_it is of_the most complicated ! it puzzles me . me, Hercule Poirot ! there_are two facts of significance .''

" and what_are they ? ''

" the first is_the state of_the weather yesterday . that_is very_important .''

" but it_was a glorious day ! '' I interrupted ."Poirot, you're pulling my leg ! ''

" not at all . the thermometer registered 80o in_the shade . do_not forget that, my friend . it_is_the key to_the whole riddle ! ''

" and_the second point ? '' I asked .

" the important fact that Monsieur Inglethorp wears very peculiar clothes, has a black beard, and uses glasses .''

"Poirot, I_cannot believe you_are serious .''

" I_am absolutely serious, my friend .''

" but this_is childish ! ''

" no, it_is very momentous .''

" and supposing the coroner's jury returns a verdict of Wilful murder against Alfred Inglethorp . what becomes of your theories, then ? ''

" they would_not_be shaken because twelve stupid men had happened to_make a mistake ! but that_will_not occur . for_one_thing, a country jury is_not anxious to_take responsibility upon itself, and Mr Inglethorp stands practically in_the position of local squire . also,'' he added placidly, "I should_not allow it ! ''

" you_would_not allow it ? ''

" no .''

I looked at_the extraordinary little man, divided between annoyance and amusement . he_was so tremendously sure of himself . as_though he read my thoughts, he nodded gently .

"Oh, yes, mon ami, i_would do what I_say .'' he got up and laid his hand on my shoulder . his physiognomy underwent a complete change .Tears came into his eyes ." in all this, you_see, i_think of_that poor Mrs Inglethorp who_is dead . she was not extravagantly loved -- no . but she was very_good to_us Belgians -- I owe her a debt .''

I endeavoured to interrupt, but Poirot swept on .

" let me tell you this, Hastings . she_would never forgive me if I let Alfred Inglethorp, her husband, be arrested now -- when a word from me could save him ! ''

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