"What can it be ? '' I mused, won over to Poirot's views moment, although still retaining faint conviction obvious deduction correct one

" not guess ? '' asked Poirot, smiling

"No, ? ''

"Oh, yes, I had little idea sometime ago -- and it has turned out correct ''

"You never told me,'' reproachfully

Poirot spread out his hands apologetically

"Pardon me, mon ami, you precisely sympathique '' He turned earnestly "Tell me -- now that not be arrested ? ''

"Perhaps,'' doubtfully, for really quite indifferent fate of Alfred Inglethorp, and thought that good fright would do him no harm

Poirot, who was watching me intently, gave sigh

"Come, my friend,'' , changing the subject, "apart from Mr Inglethorp, how did the evidence inquest strike you ? ''

"Oh, pretty much what I expected ''

"Did nothing strike you as peculiar ? ''

My thoughts flew to Mary Cavendish, and I hedged:

"In what way ? ''

"Well, Mr Lawrence Cavendish's evidence for instance ? ''

relieved

"Oh, Lawrence ! No, I don't think so He's always nervous chap ''

"His suggestion that his mother poisoned accidentally tonic she was taking, that strike you as strange -- hein ? ''

"No, 't say it did The doctors ridiculed it But quite natural suggestion for layman ''

"But Monsieur Lawrence layman You told me yourself that he had started by studying medicine, he had taken his degree ''

"Yes, that's true I never thought '' rather startled " odd ''

Poirot nodded

" first, his behaviour peculiar Of all the household, he alone likely to recognize the symptoms of strychnine poisoning, and yet him the only member family to uphold strenuously the theory of death from natural causes Monsieur John, understood it He has no technical knowledge, by nature unimaginative But Monsieur Lawrence -- no ! And now, to-day, he puts forward suggestion that he himself known was ridiculous food for thought , mon ami ! ''

"It's very confusing,'' I agreed

"Then Mrs Cavendish,'' continued Poirot "That's another telling all she knows ! What make of her attitude ? ''

"I don't know what of it It seems inconceivable that she shielding Alfred Inglethorp Yet what it looks like ''

Poirot nodded reflectively

"Yes, queer is certain, she overheard more 'private conversation' than she was willing to admit ''

"And yet the last person one would accuse of stooping to eavesdrop ! ''

"Exactly her evidence has shown me mistake Dorcas was quite right The quarrel did take place earlier afternoon, about four o'clock, as she said ''

I looked at him curiously I had never understood his insistence point

"Yes, that was peculiar came out to-day,'' continued Poirot "Dr Bauerstein, now, he doing up and dressed hour morning ? astonishing that no one commented fact ''

"He has insomnia, I believe,'' doubtfully

" , or very bad explanation,'' remarked Poirot "It covers everything, and explains nothing keep my eye clever Dr Bauerstein ''

"Any more faults evidence ? '' I inquired satirically

"Mon ami,'' replied Poirot gravely, " find that people telling you the truth -- look out ! Now, unless much mistaken, inquest to-day -- at most, two persons were speaking the truth without reservation or subterfuge ''

"Oh, come now, Poirot ! I won't cite Lawrence, or Mrs Cavendish But there's John -- and Miss Howard, surely they were speaking the truth ? ''

"Both , my friend ? One, I grant you, but both -- -- ! ''

His words an unpleasant shock Miss Howard's evidence, unimportant as , given downright straightforward manner had never occurred to doubt her sincerity Still, I had great respect for Poirot's sagacity -- except occasions when what I described to myself as "foolishly pig-headed ''

" really think so ? '' I asked "Miss Howard had always seemed so essentially honest -- almost uncomfortably so ''

Poirot curious look, which quite fathom , and then checked himself

"Miss Murdoch too,'' I continued, "there's nothing untruthful about her ''

"No But strange that she never heard sound, sleeping next door; whereas Mrs Cavendish, other wing building, distinctly heard the table fall ''

"Well, she's young And she sleeps soundly ''

"Ah, yes, indeed ! be famous sleeper, that one ! ''

quite like the tone voice, but moment smart knock reached our ears, and looking window we perceived the two detectives waiting below

Poirot seized his hat, gave ferocious twist moustache, and, carefully brushing an imaginary speck of dust sleeve, motioned me to precede him down the stairs; there we joined the detectives and set out for Styles

the appearance two Scotland Yard men was rather shock -- especially to John, though verdict, he had realized only matter Still, the presence detectives brought the truth home to him more than anything else done

Poirot had conferred with Japp in low tone way up, and it latter functionary who requested household, exception servants, assembled together drawing-room I realized the significance Poirot his boast good

Personally, not sanguine Poirot excellent reasons belief in Inglethorp's innocence, but man type of Summerhaye would require tangible proofs, and these I doubted if Poirot could supply

Before very long we had all trooped drawing-room, the door Japp closed Poirot politely set chairs for The Scotland Yard men were the cynosure of all eyes that first time we realized thing was not bad dream, but tangible reality We had read things -- now we ourselves were actors drama To-morrow the daily papers, all over England, would blazon out the news in staring headlines:

"MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY IN ESSEX'' "WEALTHY LADY POISONED''

There pictures of Styles, snap-shots of "The family leaving the Inquest'' -- the village photographer idle ! All the things that one had read hundred times -- things that happen to other people, not to oneself And now, house, murder committed In front of us were "the detectives in charge case '' The well-known glib phraseology passed rapidly through my mind interval before Poirot opened the proceedings

was little surprised he and not official detectives who took the initiative

"Mesdames and messieurs,'' said Poirot, bowing he were celebrity about to deliver lecture, " asked you here all together, for certain object That object, it concerns Mr Alfred Inglethorp ''

Inglethorp was sitting little by himself -- , unconsciously, had drawn his chair slightly away -- and faint start as Poirot pronounced his name

" Mr Inglethorp,'' said Poirot, addressing him directly, "a very dark shadow is resting house -- the shadow of murder ''

Inglethorp shook his head sadly

"My poor wife,'' he murmured "Poor Emily ! terrible ''

" , monsieur,'' said Poirot pointedly, "that you quite realize how terrible it -- '' And as Inglethorp appear to understand, he added: " Mr Inglethorp, standing in very grave danger ''

The two detectives fidgeted the official caution "Anything you say used in evidence against you,'' actually hovering on Summerhaye's lips Poirot went on

" understand now, monsieur ? ''

"No; What ? ''

"I mean,'' said Poirot deliberately, "that suspected of poisoning your wife ''

little gasp ran round the circle plain speaking

"Good heavens ! '' cried Inglethorp, starting up "What monstrous idea ! I -- poison my dearest Emily ! ''

" '' -- Poirot watched him narrowly -- "that you quite realize the unfavourable nature of your evidence inquest Mr Inglethorp, knowing what now told you, still refuse where you were at six o'clock on Monday afternoon ? ''

With groan, Alfred Inglethorp sank down again and buried his face hands Poirot approached and stood over him

"Speak ! '' he cried menacingly

With an effort, Inglethorp raised his face hands Then, slowly and deliberately, he shook his head

" speak ? ''

"No believe that anyone so monstrous accuse me of what you say ''

Poirot nodded thoughtfully, like man whose mind is made up

"Soit ! '' "Then speak ''

Alfred Inglethorp sprang up again

"You ? How speak ? know -- -- '' he broke off abruptly