"Now, my friend,'' said Poirot briskly, " go like to ask few questions parlourmaid -- Dorcas, her name is, not ? ''

We passed through Alfred Inglethorp's room, and Poirot delayed long enough brief but fairly comprehensive examination of it We went out door, locking both it of Mrs Inglethorp's room as before

him down boudoir which he had expressed wish , and went myself in search of Dorcas

When I returned with her, however, the boudoir was empty

"Poirot,'' I cried, "where ? ''

" here, my friend ''

He had stepped outside the French window, and was standing, apparently lost in admiration, various shaped flower beds

'Admirable ! '' he murmured "Admirable ! What symmetry ! Observe that crescent; and those diamonds -- their neatness rejoices the eye The spacing plants, also, is perfect recently done; not so ? ''

"Yes, I believe they were at it yesterday afternoon But come in -- Dorcas is here ''

"Eh bien, eh bien ! grudge me moment's satisfaction eye ''

"Yes, but this affair is more important ''

"And how fine begonias of equal importance ? ''

I shrugged my shoulders really no arguing if he chose that line

" agree ? But such things Well, come in and interview the brave Dorcas ''

Dorcas was standing boudoir, her hands folded in front of her, and her grey hair rose in stiff waves under her white cap She very model and picture of good old-fashioned servant

In her attitude towards Poirot, she was inclined suspicious, but he soon broke down her defences He drew forward chair

"Pray be seated, mademoiselle ''

" , sir ''

" with your mistress many years, not so ? ''

"Ten years, sir ''

" , and very faithful service You were much attached to her, were you not ? ''

"She was mistress , sir ''

"Then object to answering few questions I put them with Mr Cavendish's full approval ''

"Oh, certainly, sir ''

"Then begin by asking you events of yesterday afternoon Your mistress had quarrel ? ''

"Yes, sir But I don't know that I ought -- -- '' Dorcas hesitated Poirot looked at her keenly

"My good Dorcas, necessary that know every detail quarrel as fully as possible think that betraying your mistress's secrets Your mistress lies dead, and necessary that know all -- to avenge her Nothing can bring her back to life, but hope, if foul play, to bring the murderer to justice ''

"Amen ,'' said Dorcas fiercely "And, naming no names, there's one house that none of us could ever abide ! And an ill day when first he darkened the threshold ''

Poirot waited for her indignation to subside, and then, resuming his business-like tone, he asked:

"Now, quarrel ? the first you heard of it ? ''

"Well, sir, I happened going along the hall outside yesterday -- -- ''

"What time ? ''

"I couldn't say exactly, sir, but it wasn't tea-time by long way Perhaps four o'clock -- or it may bit later Well, sir, as , I happened passing along, when I heard voices very loud and angry in here I didn't exactly mean to listen, but -- well, there I stopped The door was shut, but the mistress was speaking very sharp and clear, and I heard what she said quite plainly ' lied , and deceived me,' she said I didn't hear what Mr Inglethorp replied He spoke good bit lower than she did -- but she answered: 'How dare you ? kept you and clothed you and fed you ! You owe everything ! And how you repay me ! By bringing disgrace upon our name ! ' Again I didn't hear what , but she went on: 'Nothing that you will make any difference my duty clearly My mind is made up not think that any fear of publicity, or scandal between husband and wife will deter me ' Then I heard them coming out, so I went off quickly ''

" Mr Inglethorp's voice you heard ? ''

"Oh, yes, sir, whose else's could it be ? ''

"Well, what happened next ? ''

"Later, back hall; but all quiet At five o'clock, Mrs Inglethorp rang the bell and told me to bring her cup of tea -- nothing to eat -- boudoir She was looking dreadful -- so white and upset 'Dorcas,' she says, 'I've had great shock ' 'I'm sorry , m'm,' I says 'You'll feel better after nice hot cup of tea, m'm ' She had something in her hand I don't know letter, or just piece of paper, but it had writing , and she kept staring at it, almost she couldn't believe written there She whispered to herself, she had forgotten there: 'These few words -- and everything's changed ' And then she says : 'Never trust man, Dorcas, they're not worth it ! ' I hurried off, and got her good strong cup of tea, and she thanked me, and said she'd feel better when she'd drunk it 'I don't know what ,' she says 'Scandal between husband and wife is dreadful thing, Dorcas I'd rather hush it up if ' Mrs Cavendish came in just then, so she didn't say any more ''

"She still had the letter, or whatever , in her hand ? '' "Yes, sir ''

"What would she be likely with it afterwards ? ''

"Well, I don't know, sir, I expect lock it up purple case of hers ''

" where she usually kept important papers ? ''

"Yes, sir She brought it down with her every morning, and took it up every night ''

"When did she lose the key of it ? ''

"She missed it yesterday at lunch-time, sir, and told me to look carefully She was put out ''

"But she had duplicate key ? ''

"Oh, yes, sir ''

Dorcas was looking very curiously at him and, the truth, so was I all this about lost key ? Poirot smiled

"Never mind, Dorcas, my business things the key that was lost ? '' He drew pocket the key that he had found lock despatch-case upstairs

Dorcas's eyes looked pop out of her head

"That's it, sir, right enough But where did you find it ? I looked everywhere ''

"Ah, but not same place yesterday as to-day Now, to another subject, had your mistress dark green dress in her wardrobe ? ''

Dorcas was rather startled unexpected question

"No, sir ''

" ? ''

"Oh, yes, sir ''

"Has anyone else house got green dress ? ''

Dorcas reflected

"Miss Cynthia has green evening dress ''

"Light or dark green ? ''

"A light green, sir; sort of chiffon, they call it ''

"Ah, what And nobody else has anything green ? ''

"No, sir -- not that of ''

Poirot's face betray trace of whether disappointed or otherwise He merely remarked:

"Good, leave that and pass on any reason that your mistress was likely sleeping powder last night ? ''

"Not last night, sir, she didn't ''

"Why so positively ? ''

"Because the box was empty She took the last one two , and she didn't have any more made up ''

" ? ''

"Positive, sir ''

"Then cleared up ! , your mistress didn't to sign any paper yesterday ? ''

"To sign paper ? No, sir ''

"When Mr Hastings and Mr Lawrence came in yesterday evening, they found your mistress busy writing letters I suppose me no idea these letters were addressed ? ''

"I'm afraid I couldn't, sir out evening Perhaps Annie could tell you, though she's careless girl Never cleared the coffee-cups away last night That's what happens when I'm not here to look after things ''

Poirot lifted his hand

"Since they left, Dorcas, leave them little longer, I pray you like to examine them ''

" , sir ''

"What time did you go out last evening ? ''

"About six o'clock, sir ''

" , Dorcas, all to '' He rose and strolled window " admiring these flower beds gardeners are employed here, ? ''

"Only three now, sir Five, we had, war, when kept as gentleman's place seen it then, sir fair sight But now there's only old Manning, and young William, and new-fashioned woman gardener in breeches and such-like Ah, these are dreadful times ! ''