" to discover that letter, then, that her husband forced the lock despatch-case ? ''

"Yes, and enormous risk he ran how fully he realized its importance That letter excepted, absolutely nothing to connect him crime ''

"There's only 't make out, why didn't he destroy it at once when he got hold of it ? ''

"Because dare biggest risk of all -- that of keeping it own person ''

"I don't understand ''

"Look at it point of view discovered that there were only five short minutes he taken it -- the five minutes immediately before our own arrival scene, for Annie was brushing the stairs, and seen anyone who passed going right wing Figure to yourself the scene ! He enters the room, unlocking the door of other doorkeys -- they were all much alike He hurries despatch-case -- locked, keys are nowhere seen terrible blow to him, means that his presence room concealed as he had hoped But he sees clearly that everything risked sake damning piece of evidence Quickly, he forces the lock with penknife, and turns over the papers until he finds what looking for

"But now fresh dilemma arises: he dare not keep that piece of paper on him seen leaving the room -- searched paper is found on him, certain doom Probably, minute, too, he hears the sounds below of Mr Wells and John leaving the boudoir act quickly Where can he hide this terrible slip of paper ? The contents waste-paper-basket are kept and in any case, examined no means of destroying it; and he dare not keep it He looks round, and he sees -- what , mon ami ? ''

I shook my head

"In moment, he has torn the letter into long thin strips, and rolling them up into spills he thrusts them hurriedly in amongst the other spills vase mantle-piece ''

I uttered an exclamation

"No one would think of looking there,'' Poirot continued "And , at his leisure, back and destroy this solitary piece of evidence against him ''

"Then, all the time, spill vase in Mrs Inglethorp's bedroom, under our very noses ? '' I cried

Poirot nodded

"Yes, my friend where I discovered my 'last link,' and I owe that very fortunate discovery ''

" ? ''

"Yes remember telling me that my hand shook as straightening the ornaments mantel-piece ? ''

"Yes, but I don't see -- -- ''

"No, but , my friend, I remembered that earlier morning, when we there together, I had straightened all the objects mantel-piece And, were already straightened, there no need to straighten them again, unless, meantime, some one else had touched them ''

"Dear me,'' I murmured, "so explanation of your extraordinary behaviour You rushed down to Styles, and found it still there ? ''

"Yes, and race for time ''

"But I still can't understand why Inglethorp was such fool leave it there when he had plenty of opportunity to destroy it ''

"Ah, but he had no opportunity ''

"You ? ''

"Yes remember reproving me for taking the household into my confidence ? ''

"Yes ''

"Well, my friend, just one chance not sure then if Inglethorp criminal or not, but if I reasoned that have the paper on him, but hidden it somewhere, and by enlisting the sympathy household effectually prevent his destroying it already under suspicion, and by making the matter public I secured the services of about ten amateur detectives, watching him unceasingly, and being himself aware watchfulness dare seek further to destroy the document therefore forced to depart house, leaving it spill vase ''

"But surely Miss Howard had ample opportunities of aiding him ''

"Yes, but Miss Howard know paper's existence In accordance with their prearranged plan, she never spoke to Alfred Inglethorp They were supposed deadly enemies, and until John Cavendish was safely convicted they neither dared risk meeting I had watch kept on Mr Inglethorp, hoping that sooner or later lead me hiding-place But too clever any chances The paper was safe where ; since no one had thought of looking there first week, not likely afterwards But for your lucky remark, never to bring him to justice ''

"I understand that now; but when did you first begin to suspect Miss Howard ? ''

"When I discovered that she had told lie inquest letter she had received from Mrs Inglethorp ''

"Why, there to lie about ? ''

"You saw that letter ? recall its general appearance ? ''

"Yes -- more or less ''

" recollect, then, that Mrs Inglethorp wrote very distinctive hand, and left large clear spaces between her words But look date top letter notice that 'July 17th' is quite different respect Do what I mean ? ''

"No,'' I confessed, "I don't ''

" see that that letter was not written 17th, but 7th -- the day after Miss Howard's departure ? The '1' was written in '7' it '17th' ''

"But why ? ''

" exactly what I asked myself Why does Miss Howard suppress the letter written 17th, and produce this faked one instead ? Because she wish to show the letter 17th Why, again ? And at once suspicion dawned in my mind remember my saying wise to beware of people who telling you the truth ''

"And yet,'' I cried indignantly, " , me two reasons why Miss Howard have committed the crime ! ''

"And reasons too,'' replied Poirot " they were stumbling-block until I remembered very significant fact: that she and Alfred Inglethorp were cousins have committed the crime single-handed, but the reasons against that debar her from being an accomplice And, then, that rather over-vehement hatred of hers ! It concealed very opposite emotion , undoubtedly, tie of passion long before to Styles They had already arranged their infamous plot -- that marry this rich, but rather foolish old lady, induce her will leaving her money to him, and then gain their ends by very cleverly conceived crime If all had gone planned, probably have left England, and lived together on their poor victim's money

" very astute and unscrupulous pair While suspicion was directed against him, be making quiet preparations for very different dénouement She arrives from Middlingham with all the compromising items in her possession No suspicion attaches to her No notice is paid to her coming and going house She hides the strychnine and glasses in John's room She puts the beard attic She will see that sooner or later duly discovered ''

"I don't quite see why they tried to fix the blame on John,'' I remarked "It much easier to bring the crime home to Lawrence ''

"Yes, but that was mere chance All the evidence against him arose out of pure accident It must, , distinctly annoying pair of schemers ''

"His manner was unfortunate,'' I observed thoughtfully

"Yes You realize, , back ? ''

"No ''

" understand that he believed Mademoiselle Cynthia guilty crime ? ''

"No,'' I exclaimed, astonished "Impossible ! ''

"Not at all I myself nearly had the same idea in my mind when I asked Mr Wells that first question will Then there were the bromide powders which she had made up, and her clever male impersonations, as Dorcas recounted them really more evidence against her than anyone else ''

" joking, Poirot ! ''

"No Shall I tell you what made Monsieur Lawrence turn so pale when he first entered his mother's room fatal night ? because, whilst his mother lay there, obviously poisoned, , over your shoulder, door into Mademoiselle Cynthia's room was unbolted ''

"But he declared that it bolted ! '' I cried

"Exactly,'' said Poirot dryly " was just what confirmed my suspicion not shielding Mademoiselle Cynthia ''

"But why should he shield her ? ''

"Because in love with her ''

I laughed

"There, Poirot, quite wrong ! I happen for fact that, far from being in love with her, he positively dislikes her ''

"Who told you that, mon ami ? ''

"Cynthia herself ''

"La pauvre petite ! And she was concerned ? ''