We went up together room tragedy For convenience I append plan room principal articles of furniture

Poirot locked the door inside, and proceeded to minute inspection room He darted from one object other agility of grasshopper I remained door, fearing to obliterate any clues Poirot, however, seem grateful forbearance

"What , my friend,'' he cried, "that you remain there like -- how say it ? -- ah, yes, the stuck pig ? ''

I explained that afraid of obliterating any foot-marks

"Foot-marks ? But what an idea ! There has already been practically an army room ! What foot-marks are we likely ? No, come here and aid me in my search put down my little case until it ''

so, round table window, but an ill-advised proceeding; for, the top of it being loose, it tilted up, and precipitated the despatch-case floor

"Eh violà une table ! '' cried Poirot "An, my friend, one may live in big house and yet have no comfort ''

After which piece of moralizing, he resumed his search

small purple despatch-case, with key lock, writing-table, engaged his attention for out the key lock, and passed it to inspect nothing peculiar, however an ordinary key Yale type, with bit of twisted wire handle

Next, he examined the framework door we had broken in, assuring himself bolt had really been shot Then he went door opposite leading into Cynthia's room That door was also bolted, as I had stated However, he went length of unbolting it, and opening and shutting it ; this utmost precaution against

MRS INGLETHORPE'S BEDROOM

making any noise Suddenly something bolt itself seemed to rivet his attention He examined it carefully, and then, nimbly whipping out pair of small forceps case, he drew out some minute particle which he carefully sealed up in tiny envelope

chest of drawers tray with spirit lamp and small saucepan small quantity of dark fluid remained saucepan, and an empty cup and saucer that drunk out of stood near it

I wondered how I so unobservant overlook this Here was clue worth having Poirot delicately dipped his finger into liquid, and tasted it gingerly grimace

"Coco -- with -- -- rum ''

He passed on debris floor, where the table bed overturned reading-lamp, some books, matches, bunch of keys, crushed fragments of coffee-cup lay scattered about

"Ah, curious,'' said Poirot

" confess that nothing particularly curious ''

" ? Observe the lamp -- the chimney is broken in two places; they lie there fell But see, the coffee-cup is absolutely smashed to powder ''

"Well,'' wearily, "I suppose some one stepped ''

"Exactly,'' said Poirot, in an odd voice "Some one stepped ''

He rose knees, and walked slowly across mantelpiece, where he stood abstractedly fingering the ornaments, and straightening them -- trick when agitated

"Mon ami,'' , turning , "somebody stepped cup, grinding it to powder, reason so was either because it contained strychnine or -- far more serious -- because it contain strychnine ! ''

no reply bewildered, but no good asking him to explain In moment or two he roused himself, and went on investigations He picked up the bunch of keys floor, and twirling them round fingers finally selected one, very bright and shining, which he tried lock purple despatch-case It fitted, and he opened the box, but after moment's hesitation, closed and relocked it, and slipped the bunch of keys, key that had originally stood lock, into his own pocket

" no authority through these papers But it -- at once ! ''

He then made very careful examination drawers wash-stand Crossing the room left-hand window, round stain, hardly visible dark brown carpet, seemed to interest him particularly He went down knees, examining it minutely -- even going smell it

Finally, he poured few drops coco into test tube, sealing it up carefully His next proceeding was out little notebook

" found room,'' , writing busily, "six points of interest Shall I enumerate them, or ? ''

"Oh, you,'' I replied hastily

" , then One, coffee-cup that ground into powder; two, despatch-case with key lock; three, stain floor ''

" done ,'' I interrupted

"No, is still perceptibly damp and smells of coffee Four, fragment of some dark green fabric -- only thread or two, but recognizable ''

"Ah ! '' I cried "That was what you sealed up envelope ''

"Yes It may turn out piece of one of Mrs Inglethorp's own dresses, and quite unimportant see Five, this ! '' With dramatic gesture, he pointed to large splash of candle grease floor writing-table "It must done since yesterday, otherwise good housemaid at once removed it with blotting-paper and hot iron One best hats once -- but point ''

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

"You brought candle room ? ''

"Yes Lawrence Cavendish was carrying it But very upset something over here'' -- I indicated the mantelpiece -- "that absolutely paralysed him ''

" interesting,'' said Poirot quickly "Yes, suggestive'' -- his eye sweeping the whole length wall -- "but not his candle that made this great patch, perceive white grease; whereas Monsieur Lawrence's candle, still dressing-table, is pink other hand, Mrs Inglethorp had no candlestick room, only reading-lamp ''

"Then,'' , "what deduce ? ''

my friend only made rather irritating reply, urging me to use my own natural faculties

" sixth point ? '' I asked "I suppose sample of coco ''

"No,'' said Poirot thoughtfully " included that six, but No, the sixth point keep to myself ''

He looked quickly round the room " nothing more here, , unless'' -- he stared earnestly and long dead ashes grate "The fire burns -- and it destroys But by chance -- -- ! ''

Deftly, on hands and knees, he began to sort the ashes grate fender, handling them greatest caution Suddenly, faint exclamation

"The forceps, Hastings ! ''

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

"There, mon ami ! '' he cried "What ? ''

I scrutinized the fragment an exact reproduction of it: --

[A picture]

puzzled unusually thick, quite unlike ordinary notepaper Suddenly an idea struck me

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

"Exactly ''

I looked up at him sharply

" surprised ? ''

"No,'' gravely, "I expected it ''