9. Dr. Bauerstein by Agatha Christie
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my idea is, that perhaps he's found some way of making strychnine tasteless . or it may not have_been strychnine at all, but some obscure drug no one has ever heard of, which produces much the same symptoms .''

"H'm, yes, that might_be,'' said John ." but look here, how could he have got at_the coco ? that wasn't downstairs ? ''

" no, it wasn't,'' I admitted reluctantly .

and then, suddenly, a dreadful possibility flashed through my mind .I hoped and prayed it would_not occur to John also .I glanced sideways at him . he_was frowning perplexedly, and I drew a deep breath of relief, for_the terrible thought that had flashed across my mind was_this: that Dr .Bauerstein might_have had an accomplice .

yet surely it could_not_be ! surely no woman as beautiful as Mary Cavendish could_be amurderess . yet beautiful women had_been known to poison .

and suddenly I remembered that first conversation at tea on_the day of_my arrival, and_the gleam in her eyes as she had said that poison was a woman's weapon . how agitated she had_been on_that fatal Tuesday evening ! had Mrs Inglethorp discovered something between her and Bauerstein, and threatened to_tell her husband ? was_it to stop that denunciation that_the crime had_been committed ?

then I remembered that enigmatical conversation between Poirot and Evelyn Howard . was_this what they had meant ? was_this the monstrous possibility that Evelyn had tried not to_believe ?

yes, it all fitted in .

no wonder miss Howard had suggested "hushing it up .'' now I understood that unfinished sentence of hers: " Emily herself -- -- '' and in my heart I agreed with her . would_not Mrs Inglethorp have preferred to_go unavenged rather than have such terrible dishonour fall upon_the name of Cavendish .

" there's another thing,'' said John suddenly, and_the unexpected sound of_his voice made me start guiltily ." something which makes me doubt if what you say can_be true .''

" what's that ? '' I asked, thankful that he had gone away from_the subject of how the poison could_have_been introduced into_the coco .

" why, the fact that Bauerstein demanded a post-mortem . he needn't have_done so . little Wilkins would_have_been quite content to let it go at heart disease .''

" yes,'' I_said doubtfully ." but we don't know . perhaps he thought it safer in_the long run . some one might_have talked afterwards . then the home office might_have ordered exhumation . the whole thing would_have come out, then, and he would_have_been in an awkward position, for no one would_have believed that a man of_his reputation could_have_been deceived into calling it heart disease .''

" yes, that's possible,'' admitted John ." still,'' he added, "I'm blest if I_can_see what his motive could_have_been .''

I trembled .

" look here,'' I_said, " I_may_be altogether wrong . and, remember, all this_is in confidence .''

"Oh, of_course -- that goes without saying .''

we had walked, as_we talked, and now we passed through_the little gate into_the garden .Voices rose near at hand, for tea was spread out under the sycamore- tree, as it had_been on_the day of_my arrival .

Cynthia was back from_the hospital, and I placed my chair beside her, and told her of Poirot's wish to visit the dispensary .

" of_course ! I'd love him to_see it . he'd better come to tea there one day . I_must fix it up with_him . he's such a dear little man ! but he_is funny . he_made me take_the brooch out of_my tie the other day, and put it in again, because he_said it wasn't straight .''

I laughed .

" it's quite a mania with_him .''

" yes, isn't it ? ''

we were silent for a minute or two, and then, glancing in_the direction of Mary Cavendish, and dropping her voice, Cynthia said:

" Mr Hastings .''

" yes ? ''

" after tea, i_want to_talk to_you .''

her glance at Mary had set me thinking .I fancied that between_these two there existed very little sympathy . for_the first time, it occurred to_me to wonder about_the girl's future .Mrs Inglethorp had made no provisions of any kind for her, but I imagined that John and Mary would probably insist on her making her home with_them -- at any rate until the end of_the war .John, I_knew, was very fond of her, and would_be sorry to let her go .

John, who had gone into_the house, now reappeared . his good-natured face wore an unaccustomed frown of anger .

" confound those detectives ! I_can't think what they're after ! they've been in every room in_the house -- turning things inside out, and upside down . it really is too bad ! I suppose they took advantage of_our all being out . I_shall go for_that fellow Japp, when I next see him ! ''

"Lot of Paul Prys,'' grunted miss Howard .

Lawrence opined that_they had to_make a show of doing something .

Mary Cavendish said nothing .

after tea, I invited Cynthia to_come for a walk, and we sauntered off into_the woods together .

" well ? '' I inquired, as_soon_as we were protected from prying eyes by_the leafy screen .

with a sigh, Cynthia flung herself down, and tossed off her hat . the sunlight, piercing through_the branches, turned the auburn of her hair to quivering gold .

" Mr Hastings -- you_are always so kind, and you_know such alot .''

it struck me at_this moment that Cynthia was really a very charming girl ! much more charming than Mary, who never said things of_that kind .

" well ? '' I asked benignantly, as she hesitated .

" i_want to ask your advice . what shall I_do ? ''

" do ? ''

" yes . you_see, aunt Emily always told me i_should_be provided for .I suppose she forgot, or didn't think she was likely to die -- anyway, I_am not provided for ! and I don't know what to_do . do_you_think I ought to_go away from here at once ? ''

" good heavens, no ! they don't want to part with_you, I'm sure .''

Cynthia hesitated a moment, plucking up the grass with her tiny hands . then she said: " Mrs Cavendish does . she hates me .''

"Hates you ? '' I cried, astonished .

Cynthia nodded .

" yes .I don't know why, but she_can't bear me; and he_can't, either .''

" there I_know you're wrong,'' I_said warmly ." on_the contrary, John is very fond of you .''

"Oh, yes -- John .I meant Lawrence . not, of_course, that I care whether Lawrence hates me or not . still, it's rather horrid when no one loves you, isn't it ? ''

" but they_do, Cynthia dear,'' I_said earnestly ."I'm sure you_are mistaken . look, there_is John -- and miss Howard -- ''

Cynthia nodded rather gloomily ." yes, John likes me, i_think, and of_course Evie, for all her gruff ways, wouldn't be unkind to a fly . but Lawrence never speaks to_me if he_can help it, and Mary can hardly bring herself to_be civil to_me . she wants Evie to stay on, is begging her to, but she doesn't want me, and -- and -- I don't know what to_do .'' suddenly the poor child burst out crying .

I don't know what possessed me . her beauty, perhaps, as she sat there, with_the sunlight glinting down on her head; perhaps the sense of relief at encountering someone who so obviously could_have no connection with_the tragedy; perhaps honest pity for her youth and loneliness . anyway, I leant forward, and taking her little hand, I_said awkwardly:

" marry me, Cynthia .''

unwittingly, I had hit upon a sovereign remedy for her tears . she sat up at once, drew her hand away, and said, with some asperity:

"Don't be silly ! ''

i_was a little annoyed .

"I'm not being silly . I_am asking you to_do me the honour of becoming my wife .''

to my intense surprise, Cynthia burst out laughing, and called me a" funny dear .''

" it's perfectly sweet of you,'' she said, " but you_know you don't want to ! ''

" yes, I_do .I've got -- ''

" never mind what you've got . you don't really want to -- and I don't either .''

" well, of_course, that settles it,'' I_said stiffly ." but I don't see anything to laugh at . there's nothing funny about a proposal .''

" no, indeed,'' said Cynthia ." somebody might accept you next_time . good-bye, you've cheered me up very_much .''

and, with a final uncontrollable burst of merriment, she vanished through_the trees .

Thinking over the interview, it struck me as being profoundly unsatisfactory .

it occurred to_me suddenly that i_would go down to_the village, and look up Bauerstein . somebody ought_to_be keeping an eye on_the fellow . at_the same time, it would_be wise to allay any suspicions he_might_have as to_his being suspected .I remembered how Poirot had relied on my diplomacy . accordingly, I went to_the little house with_the "Apartments'' card inserted in_the window, where I_knew he lodged, and tapped on_the door .

an old woman came and opened it .

" good afternoon,'' I_said pleasantly ." is Dr .Bauerstein in ? ''

she stared at me .

" haven't you heard ? ''

" heard what ? ''

" about him .''

" what about him ? ''

" he's took .''

" took ? dead ? ''

" no, took by_the perlice .''

" by_the police ! '' I gasped ." do_you_mean they've arrested him ? ''

" yes, that's it, and -- ''

I waited to hear no more, but tore up the village to_find Poirot .

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