interval inquest, Poirot was unfailing activity Twice closeted with Mr Wells He also took long walks country I rather resented his not taking me into his confidence, the more so as least guess what driving at

It occurred that making inquiries at Raikes's farm; so, finding him out when I called at Leastways Cottage on Wednesday evening, I walked over there fields, hoping to meet him But no sign of him, and I hesitated right farm itself As I walked away, I met an aged rustic, who leered at me cunningly

"You'm Hall, bain't you ? '' he asked

"Yes I'm looking for friend whom walked ''

"A little chap ? As waves his hands when he talks ? Belgies village ? ''

"Yes,'' eagerly "He here, then ? ''

"Oh, ay, he's been here, right enough More'n once too Friend of yours, is he ? Ah, you gentlemen Hall -- you'n pretty lot ! '' And he leered more jocosely than ever

"Why, gentlemen Hall come here often ? '' I asked, as carelessly as

He winked at me knowingly

"One does, mister Naming no names, mind And very liberal gentleman too ! Oh, , sir, I'm sure ''

I walked on sharply Evelyn Howard right then, and I experienced sharp twinge of disgust, as of Alfred Inglethorp's liberality with another woman's money Had that piquant gipsy face been bottom crime, or the baser mainspring of money ? Probably judicious mixture of both

On one point, Poirot seemed curious obsession He observed that he thought Dorcas must an error in fixing the time quarrel He suggested to her repeatedly 4 30, and not 4 o'clock when she had heard the voices

But Dorcas was unshaken Quite an hour, or even more, had elapsed time when she had heard the voices and 5 o'clock, when she had taken tea to her mistress

The inquest was held on Friday Stylites Arms village Poirot and I sat together, not being required evidence

The preliminaries were gone through The jury viewed the body, and John Cavendish gave evidence of identification

Further questioned, he described his awakening early hours morning, circumstances mother's death

The medical evidence was next taken breathless hush, and every eye was fixed famous London specialist, who was known greatest authorities day of toxicology

In few brief words, he summed up the result post-mortem Shorn medical phraseology and technicalities, it amounted fact that Mrs Inglethorp had met her death result of strychnine poisoning Judging quantity recovered, she taken not three-quarters of grain of strychnine, but probably one grain or slightly over

" possible that she swallowed the poison by accident ? '' asked the Coroner

" consider it very unlikely Strychnine used for domestic purposes, as some poisons are, and restrictions placed on its sale ''

"Does anything in your examination lead you to determine how the poison was administered ? ''

"No ''

"You arrived at Styles before Dr Wilkins, I believe ? ''

" so The motor met me just outside the lodge gates, and I hurried there as fast as ''

" relate exactly what happened next ? ''

"I entered Mrs Inglethorp's room She was moment in typical tetanic convulsion She turned towards me, and gasped out: 'Alfred -- Alfred -- -- ' ''

"Could the strychnine administered in Mrs Inglethorp's after-dinner coffee taken to her by her husband ? ''

"Possibly, but strychnine is fairly rapid drug in its action The symptoms appear from one to two hours after swallowed retarded under certain conditions, none , however, appear present in I presume Mrs Inglethorp took the coffee after dinner about eight o'clock, whereas the symptoms manifest themselves until the early hours morning, which, face of it, points drug having been taken much later evening ''

" Mrs Inglethorp was habit of drinking cup of coco middle night Could the strychnine administered ? ''

"No, I myself took sample coco remaining saucepan and had it analysed no strychnine present ''

I heard Poirot chuckle softly beside me

"How did ? '' I whispered

"Listen ''

" say'' -- the doctor was continuing -- "that I considerably surprised at result ''

"Why ? ''

"Simply because strychnine has an unusually bitter taste It detected in solution of 1 in 70,000, and can only be disguised by some strongly flavoured substance Coco quite powerless to mask it ''

jury wanted same objection applied to coffee

"No Coffee has bitter taste own which would probably cover the taste of strychnine ''

"Then you consider it more likely drug was administered coffee, but that for some unknown reason its action was delayed ''

"Yes, but, the cup being completely smashed, no possibility of analyzing its contents ''

This concluded Dr Bauerstein's evidence Dr Wilkins corroborated it on all points Sounded possibility of suicide, he repudiated it utterly The deceased, , suffered from weak heart, but otherwise enjoyed perfect health, and was of cheerful and well-balanced disposition be last people her own life

Lawrence Cavendish was next called His evidence was quite unimportant, being mere repetition brother Just as about to step down, he paused, and said rather hesitatingly:

" like suggestion if ? ''

He glanced deprecatingly Coroner, who replied briskly:

"Certainly, Mr Cavendish, here to arrive truth of , and welcome anything lead to further elucidation ''

" just an idea ,'' explained Lawrence " quite wrong, but it still seems that my mother's death accounted for by natural means ''

"How make that out, Mr Cavendish ? ''

"My mother, of her death, and for before it, was taking tonic containing strychnine ''

"Ah ! '' said the Coroner

The jury looked up, interested

"I believe,'' continued Lawrence, "that been cases where the cumulative effect of drug, administered for , has ended by causing death Also, not possible that she taken an overdose of her medicine by accident ? ''

" first heard deceased taking strychnine of her death much obliged , Mr Cavendish ''

Dr Wilkins was recalled and ridiculed the idea

"What Mr Cavendish suggests is quite impossible Any doctor would tell you the same Strychnine is, in certain sense, cumulative poison, but it quite impossible to result in sudden death There long period of chronic symptoms which would at once have attracted my attention The whole thing is absurd ''

" second suggestion ? That Mrs Inglethorp inadvertently taken an overdose ? ''

"Three, or even four doses, have resulted in death Mrs Inglethorp always had an extra large amount of medicine made up , as she dealt with Coot's, the Cash Chemists in Tadminster She had very nearly the whole bottle to account amount of strychnine found post-mortem ''

"Then you consider that dismiss the tonic as not being in instrumental in causing her death ? ''

"Certainly The supposition is ridiculous ''

The same juryman who had interrupted before here suggested chemist up the medicine committed an error

"That, , is always possible,'' replied the doctor

But Dorcas, who next witness called, dispelled even that possibility The medicine newly made up contrary, Mrs Inglethorp had taken the last dose day of her death

So the question tonic was finally abandoned, Coroner proceeded task Having elicited from Dorcas how she awakened violent ringing of her mistress's bell, and had subsequently roused the household, he passed subject quarrel preceding afternoon

Dorcas's evidence point was substantially what Poirot and I had already heard, so repeat it here

The next witness was Mary Cavendish She stood very upright, and spoke in low, clear, and perfectly composed voice In answer Coroner's question, she told how, her alarm clock having aroused her at 4 30 as usual, she was dressing, when she was startled sound of something heavy falling

" been the table bed ? '' commented the Coroner

"I opened my door,'' continued Mary, "and listened bell rang violently Dorcas came running down and woke my husband, and we all went to my mother-in-law's room, but locked -- -- ''

The Coroner interrupted her

"I really think trouble you further point all known subsequent happenings But obliged tell us all you overheard quarrel the day before ''

"I ? ''

faint insolence in her voice She raised her hand and adjusted the ruffle of lace at her neck, turning her head little as she did so And quite spontaneously the thought flashed across my mind: " gaining time ! ''

"Yes I understand,'' continued the Coroner deliberately, "that you were sitting reading bench just outside the long window boudoir so, not ? ''

news and glancing sideways at Poirot, I fancied news to him

the faintest pause, the mere hesitation of moment, before she answered:

"Yes, so ''

" boudoir window was open, not ? ''

Surely her face grew little paler as she answered:

"Yes ''

"Then failed to hear the voices inside, especially were raised in anger , more audible where you were than hall ''

"Possibly ''

" repeat what you overheard quarrel ? ''

"I really remember hearing anything ''