8. Fresh suspicions by Agatha Christie
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all right ? '' I asked .

"Oh, yes . there_are the death duties, of_course, but half my father's money goes with_the place, and Lawrence will stay with_us for_the_present, so there_is his share as_well . we_shall_be pinched at first, of_course, because, as I once told you, I_am in a bit of a hole financially myself . still, the Johnnies will wait now .''

in_the general relief at Inglethorp's approaching departure, we had the most genial breakfast we had experienced since_the tragedy . Cynthia, whose young spirits were naturally buoyant, was looking quite her pretty self again, and we all, with_the exception of Lawrence, who seemed unalterably gloomy and nervous, were quietly cheerful, at_the opening of a new and hopeful future .

the papers, of_course, had_been full of_the tragedy .Glaring headlines, sandwiched biographies of every member of_the household, subtle innuendoes, the usual familiar tag about_the police having aclue . nothing was spared us . it_was a slack time . the war was momentarily inactive, and_the newspapers seized with avidity on_this crime in fashionable life: " the mysterious Affair at Styles'' was_the topic of_the moment .

naturally it_was very annoying for_the Cavendishes . the house was constantly besieged by reporters, who were consistently denied admission, but who continued to haunt the village and_the grounds, where they lay in wait with cameras, for any unwary members of_the household . we all lived in a blast of publicity . the Scotland yard men came and went, examining, questioning, lynx- eyed and reserved of tongue . towards what end they were working, we_did_not know . had they any clue, or would the whole thing remain in_the category of undiscovered crimes ?

after breakfast, Dorcas came up to_me rather mysteriously, and asked if she might_have a few words with me .

" certainly . what_is it, Dorcas ? ''

" well, it's just this, sir . you'll be seeing the Belgian gentleman to- day perhaps ? '' I nodded ." well, sir, you_know how he asked me so particular if_the mistress, or anyone else, had a green dress ? ''

" yes, yes . you_have found one ? '' my interest was aroused .

" no, not that, sir . but since then I've remembered what the young gentlemen'' -- John and Lawrence were still the " young gentlemen'' to Dorcas -- " call the 'dressing- up box .' it's up in_the front attic, sir .a great chest, full of old clothes and fancy dresses, and what not . and it came to_me sudden like that there_might_be a green dress amongst them . so, if_you'd tell the Belgian gentleman -- -- ''

" i_will tell him, Dorcas,'' I promised .

" thank_you very_much, sir .a very nice gentleman he_is, sir . and quite a different class from_them two detectives from London, what goes prying about, and asking questions .I don't hold with foreigners as a rule, but from what the newspapers say I make out as how these brave Belges isn't the ordinary run of foreigners, and certainly he's a most polite spoken gentleman .''

dear old Dorcas ! as she stood there, with her honest face upturned to mine, i_thought what a fine specimen she was of_the old- fashioned servant that_is so fast dying out .

i_thought I_might as_well go down to_the village at once, and look up Poirot; but I met him half- way, coming up_to_the house, and at once gave him Dorcas's message .

"Ah, the brave Dorcas ! we_will look at_the chest, although -- but no matter -- we_will examine it all the same .''

we entered the house by one_of_the windows . there_was no one in_the hall, and we went straight up_to_the attic .

sure enough, there_was the chest, a fine old piece, all studded with brass nails, and full to overflowing with every imaginable type of garment .

Poirot bundled everything out on_the floor with scant ceremony . there were one_or_two green fabrics of varying shades; but Poirot shook his head over them all . he_seemed somewhat apathetic in_the search, as_though he expected no great results from_it . suddenly he_gave an exclamation .

" what_is it ? ''

" look ! ''

the chest was nearly empty, and there, reposing right at_the bottom, was a magnificent black beard .

"Ohó ! '' said Poirot ."Ohó ! '' he turned it over in_his hands, examining it closely ." new,'' he remarked ." yes, quite new .''

after a moment's hesitation, he replaced it in_the chest, heaped all the other things on top of it as before, and made his way briskly downstairs . he went straight to_the pantry, where we_found Dorcas busily polishing her silver .

Poirot wished her good morning with Gallic politeness, and went on:

" we_have_been looking through_that chest, Dorcas . I_am much obliged to_you for mentioning it . there_is, indeed, a fine collection there . are they often used, may I ask ? ''

" well, sir, not very often nowadays, though from_time to_time we_do have what the young gentlemen call 'a dress- up night .' and very funny it_is sometimes, sir .Mr Lawrence, he's wonderful . most comic ! I_shall never forget the night he_came down as_the char of Persia, i_think he_called it -- a sort of eastern king it_was . he had the big paper knife in_his hand, and ' mind, Dorcas,' he_says, ' you'll have to_be very respectful . this_is my specially sharpened scimitar, and it's off with your head if I'm at all displeased with_you ! ' miss Cynthia, she was what they call an Apache, or some such name -- aFrenchified sort of cut- throat, I take it to_be .a real sight she looked . you'd never have believed a pretty young lady like that could_have made herself into such a ruffian . nobody would_have known her .''

" these evenings must_have been great fun,'' said Poirot genially ."I suppose Mr Lawrence wore that fine black beard in_the chest upstairs, when he_was Shah of Persia ? ''

" he_did have a beard, sir,'' replied Dorcas, smiling ." and well I_know it, for he borrowed two skeins of_my black wool to_make it with ! and I'm sure it looked wonderfully natural at a distance .I didn't know as_there_was a beard up there at all . it must_have been got quite lately, i_think . there_was a red wig, I_know, but nothing else in_the way of hair .Burnt corks they use mostly -- though 'tis messy getting it off again . miss Cynthia was anigger once, and, oh, the trouble she had .''

" so Dorcas knows nothing about_that black beard,'' said Poirot thoughtfully, as_we walked out into_the hall again .

" do_you_think it_is_the one ? '' I whispered eagerly .

Poirot nodded .

" I_do . you notice it had_been trimmed ? ''

" no .''

" yes . it_was cut exactly the shape of Mr Inglethorp's, and I_found one_or_two snipped hairs .Hastings, this affair is very deep .''

" who put it in_the chest, I wonder ? ''

" some one with a good_deal of intelligence,'' remarked Poirot dryly ." you realize_that he chose the one place in_the house to hide it where its presence would_not_be remarked ? yes, he_is intelligent . but we_must_be more intelligent . we_must_be so intelligent that he_does_not suspect us of being intelligent at all .''

I acquiesced .

" there, mon ami, you_will_be of great assistance to_me .''

i_was pleased with_the compliment . there had_been times when I hardly thought that Poirot appreciated me at my true worth .

" yes,'' he continued, staring at me thoughtfully, " you_will_be invaluable .''

this_was naturally gratifying, but Poirot's next words were_not so welcome .

" I_must_have an ally in_the house,'' he observed reflectively .

" you_have me,'' I protested .

" true, but you_are_not sufficient .''

i_was hurt, and showed it .Poirot hurried to explain himself .

" you_do_not quite take my meaning . you_are known to_be working with me . i_want somebody who_is_not associated with_us in any_way .''

"Oh, I_see . how about John ? ''

" no, i_think not .''

" the dear fellow isn't perhaps very bright,'' I_said thoughtfully .

" here comes miss Howard,'' said Poirot suddenly ." she is_the very person . but I_am in her black books, since I cleared Mr Inglethorp . still, we_can but try .''

with a nod that was barely civil, miss Howard assented to Poirot's request for_a_few_minutes' conversation .

we went into_the little morning- room, and Poirot closed the door .

" well, Monsieur Poirot,'' said miss Howard impatiently, " what_is it ? out with it .I'm busy .''

" do_you remember, mademoiselle, that I once asked you to help me ? ''

" yes, I_do .'' the lady nodded ." and i_told you I'd help_you with pleasure -- to hang Alfred Inglethorp .''

"Ah ! '' Poirot studied her seriously ." miss Howard, i_will ask_you one question .I beg of you to reply to_it truthfully .''

" never tell lies,'' replied miss Howard .

" it is_this . do_you still believe that Mrs Inglethorp was poisoned by her husband ? ''

" what do_you_mean ? '' she asked sharply ." you needn't think your pretty explanations influence me in_the slightest .I'll admit that_it wasn't he who bought strychnine at_the chemist's shop . what of_that ? I dare say he soaked fly paper, as i_told you at_the beginning .''

" that_is arsenic -- not strychnine,'' said Poirot mildly .

" what does that matter ? arsenic would put poor Emily out_of_the way just as_well as strychnine . if I'm convinced he_did it, it doesn't matter a jot to_me how he_did it .''

" exactly . if_you_are convinced he_did it,'' said Poirot quietly ." i_will put my question in another form . did you ever in your heart of hearts believe that Mrs Inglethorp was poisoned by her husband ? ''

" good heavens ! '' cried miss Howard ." haven't I always told you the man is a villain ? haven't I always told you he_would murder her in her bed ? haven't I always hated him like poison ? ''

" exactly,'' said Poirot ." that bears out my little idea entirely .''

" what little idea ? ''

" miss Howard, do_you remember a conversation that took place on_the day of_my friend's arrival here ? he repeated it to_me, and there_is a sentence of yours that has impressed me very_much . do_you remember affirming that if a crime had_been committed, and anyone you loved had_been murdered, you felt certain that you_would know by instinct who the criminal was, even if_you were quite unable to_prove it ? ''

" yes, I remember saying that .I believe it too .I suppose you_think it nonsense ? ''

" not at all .''

" and yet you_will pay no attention to my instinct against Alfred Inglethorp .''

" no,'' said Poirot curtly ." because your instinct is_not against Mr Inglethorp .''

" what ? ''

" no . you wish to_believe he committed the crime . you believe him capable of committing it . but your instinct tells you he_did_not commit it . it tells you more -- shall I go on ? ''

she was staring at him, fascinated, and made a slight affirmative movement of_the hand .

" shall I tell you why you_have_been so vehement against Mr Inglethorp ? it_is because you_have_been trying to_believe what you wish to_believe . it_is because you_are trying to drown and stifle your instinct, which tells you another name -- -- ''

" no, no, no ! '' cried miss Howard wildly, flinging up her hands ."Don't say it ! Oh, don't say it ! it isn't true ! it can't be true .I don't know what put such a wild -- such a dreadful -- idea into my head ! ''

" I_am right, am I not ? '' asked Poirot .

" yes, yes; you_must_be a wizard to_have guessed . but it can't be so -- it's too monstrous, too impossible . it must_be Alfred Inglethorp .''

Poirot shook his head gravely .

"Don't ask me about_it,'' continued miss Howard, " because I shan't tell you .I won't admit it, even to myself . I_must_be mad to_think of_such a thing .''

Poirot nodded, as_if satisfied .

" i_will ask_you nothing . it_is enough for_me that_it_is as i_thought . and I -- I, too, have an instinct . we_are working together towards a common end .''

"Don't ask me to help_you, because I won't .I wouldn't lift a finger to -- to -- -- '' she faltered .

" you_will help me in_spite of yourself .I ask_you nothing -- but you_will_be my ally . you_will_not_be_able to help yourself . you_will do the_only_thing that i_want of you .''

" and_that is ? ''

" you_will watch ! ''

Evelyn Howard bowed her head .

" yes, I_can't help doing that . I_am always watching -- always hoping I_shall_be proved wrong .''

" if_we_are wrong, well and good,'' said Poirot ." no one will_be more pleased than I_shall . but, if_we_are right ? if_we_are right, miss Howard, on whose side are_you then ? ''

"I don't know, I don't know -- -- ''

" come now .''

" it could_be hushed up .''

" there_must_be no hushing up .''

" but Emily herself -- -- '' she broke off .

" miss Howard,'' said Poirot gravely, " this_is unworthy of you .''

suddenly she took her face from her hands .

" yes,'' she said quietly, " that was not Evelyn Howard who spoke ! '' she flung her head up proudly ." this_is Evelyn Howard ! and she_is on_the side of justice ! let the cost be what it may .'' and with_these words, she walked firmly out_of_the room .

" there,'' said Poirot, looking after her, "goes a very valuable ally . that woman, Hastings, has got brains as_well as a heart .''

I_did_not reply .

" instinct is amarvellous thing,'' mused Poirot ." it can neither be explained nor ignored .''

" you and miss Howard seem to_know what you_are talking about,'' I observed coldly ." perhaps you don't realize_that I_am still in_the dark .''

" really ? is_that so, mon ami ? ''

" yes . enlighten me, will_you ? ''

Poirot studied me attentively for a moment or two . then, to my intense surprise, he shook his head decidedly .

" no, my friend .''

"Oh, look here, why_not ? ''

" two is enough for a secret .''

" well, i_think it_is very unfair to_keep back facts from me .''

" I_am not keeping back facts . every fact that I_know is in your possession . you_can draw your own deductions from_them . this_time it_is a question of ideas .''

" still, it would_be interesting to_know .''

Poirot looked at me very earnestly, and again shook his head .

" you_see,'' he_said sadly, " you_have no instincts .''

" it_was intelligence you were requiring just now,'' I pointed out .

" the two often go together,'' said Poirot enigmatically .

the remark seemed so utterly irrelevant that I_did_not even take_the trouble to answer it . but I decided that if I_made any interesting and important discoveries -- as no_doubt i_should -- i_would keep them to myself, and surprise Poirot with_the ultimate result .

there_are times when it_is one's duty to assert oneself .

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