6. The inquest by Agatha Christie
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myself .''

Mr Wells smiled faintly . so, I noticed, did several of_the jury . miss Howard was obviously quite a public character .

" anyway, all this tomfoolery is a great waste of_time,'' continued the lady, glancing up and down the jury disparagingly ." talk -- talk -- talk ! when all the time we_know perfectly well -- -- ''

the coroner interrupted her in an agony of apprehension:

" thank_you, miss Howard, that_is all .''

I fancy he breathed a sigh of relief when she complied .

then came the sensation of_the day . the coroner called Albert Mace, chemist's assistant .

it_was our agitated young man of_the pale face . in answer to_the coroner's questions, he explained that he_was a qualified pharmacist, but had only recently come to_this particular shop, as_the assistant formerly there had just been called up for_the army .

these preliminaries completed, the coroner proceeded to business .

" Mr Mace, have_you lately sold strychnine to any unauthorized person ? ''

" yes, sir .''

" when was_this ? ''

" last Monday night .''

" Monday ? not Tuesday ? ''

" no, sir, Monday, the 16th .''

" will_you tell us to_whom you sold it ? ''

you_could_have heard a pin drop .

" yes, sir . it_was to Mr Inglethorp .''

every eye turned simultaneously to where Alfred Inglethorp was sitting, impassive and wooden . he started slightly, as_the damning words fell from_the young man's lips .I half thought he_was going to rise from_his chair, but he remained seated, although aremarkably well acted expression of astonishment rose on_his face .

" you_are_sure of what you say ? '' asked the coroner sternly .

" quite_sure, sir .''

" are_you in_the habit of selling strychnine indiscriminately over the counter ? ''

the wretched young man wilted visibly under the coroner's frown .

"Oh, no, sir -- of_course not . but, seeing it_was Mr Inglethorp of_the hall, i_thought there_was no harm in_it . he_said it_was to poison a dog .''

inwardly I sympathized . it_was only human nature to endeavour to_please " the hall'' -- especially when it might result in custom being transferred from coot's to_the local establishment .

" is_it not customary for anyone purchasing poison to sign a book ? ''

" yes, sir, Mr Inglethorp did so .''

" have_you got the book here ? ''

" yes, sir .''

it_was produced; and, with a few words of stern censure, the coroner dismissed the wretched Mr Mace .

then, amidst a breathless silence, Alfred Inglethorp was called . did he realize, I wondered, how closely the halter was being drawn around his neck ?

the coroner went straight to_the point .

" on Monday evening last, did you purchase strychnine for_the_purpose of poisoning a dog ? ''

Inglethorp replied with perfect calmness:

" no, I_did_not . there_is no dog at Styles, except an outdoor sheepdog, which_is in perfect health .''

" you deny absolutely having purchased strychnine from Albert Mace on Monday last ? ''

" I_do .''

" do_you also deny this ? ''

the coroner handed him the register in_which his signature was inscribed .

" certainly I_do . the hand-writing is quite different from mine . i_will show you .''

he_took an old envelope out of_his pocket, and wrote his name on_it, handing it to_the jury . it_was certainly utterly dissimilar .

" then what_is your explanation of Mr Mace's statement ? ''

Alfred Inglethorp replied imperturbably:

" Mr Mace must_have been mistaken .''

the coroner hesitated for a moment, and then said:

" Mr Inglethorp, as amere matter of form, would you mind telling us where you were on_the evening of Monday, July 16th ? ''

" really -- I_can't remember .''

" that_is absurd, Mr Inglethorp,'' said the coroner sharply ." think again .''

Inglethorp shook his head .

" I_cannot tell you . I_have an idea that i_was out walking .''

" in what direction ? ''

"I really can't remember .''

the coroner's face grew graver .

" were you in company with anyone ? ''

" no .''

" did you meet anyone on_your walk ? ''

" no .''

" that_is a pity,'' said the coroner dryly ." I_am to_take it then that you decline to_say where you were at_the_time that Mr Mace positively recognized you as entering the shop to purchase strychnine ? ''

" if_you like to_take it that way, yes .''

" be careful, Mr Inglethorp .''

Poirot was fidgeting nervously .

"Sacré ! '' he murmured ."Does this imbecile of a man want to_be arrested ? ''

Inglethorp was indeed creating a bad impression . his futile denials would_not have convinced a child . the coroner, however, passed briskly to_the next point, and Poirot drew a deep breath of relief .

" you had adiscussion with your wife on Tuesday afternoon ? ''

" pardon me,'' interrupted Alfred Inglethorp, " you_have_been misinformed .I had no quarrel with my dear wife . the whole story is absolutely untrue . i_was absent from_the house the entire afternoon .''

" have_you anyone who_can testify to_that ? ''

" you_have my word,'' said Inglethorp haughtily .

the coroner did_not trouble to reply .

" there_are two witnesses who_will swear to having heard your disagreement with Mrs Inglethorp .''

" those witnesses were mistaken .''

i_was puzzled . the man spoke with_such quiet assurance that i_was staggered .I looked at Poirot . there_was an expression of exultation on_his face which I_could_not understand . was he at last convinced of Alfred Inglethorp's guilt ?

" Mr Inglethorp,'' said the coroner, " you_have heard your wife's dying words repeated here . can_you explain them in any_way ? ''

" certainly I_can .''

" you_can ? ''

" it seems to_me very simple . the room was dimly lighted .Dr .Bauerstein is much of_my height and build, and, like me, wears a beard . in_the dim light, and suffering as she was, my poor wife mistook him for_me .''

"Ah ! '' murmured Poirot to himself ." but it_is an idea, that ! ''

" you_think it_is true ? '' I whispered .

" I_do_not_say that . but it_is truly an ingenious supposition .''

" you read my wife's last words as an accusation'' -- Inglethorp was continuing -- " they were, on_the contrary, an appeal to_me .''

the coroner reflected a moment, then he_said:

"I believe, Mr Inglethorp, that you yourself poured out the coffee, and took it to your wife that evening ? ''

"I poured it out, yes . but I_did_not take it to her .I meant to_do_so, but i_was told that a friend was at_the hall door, so I laid down the coffee on_the hall table . when I_came through_the hall again a few_minutes later, it_was gone .''

this statement might, or might_not, be true, but it did_not seem to_me to improve matters much for Inglethorp . in any case, he had had ample time to introduce the poison .

at_that point, Poirot nudged me gently, indicating two men who were sitting together near the door . one was a little, sharp, dark, ferret- faced man, the other was tall and fair .

I questioned Poirot mutely . he put his lips to my ear .

" do_you_know who that little man is ? ''

I shook my head .

" that_is detective inspector James Japp of Scotland yard -- Jimmy Japp . the other man is from Scotland yard too . things are moving quickly, my friend .''

I stared at_the two men intently . there_was certainly nothing of_the policeman about_them . i_should never have suspected them of being official personages .

i_was still staring, when i_was startled and recalled by_the verdict being given:

"Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown .''

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