"From the first, his behaviour has been peculiar.Of all the household, he alone would be likely to recognize the symptoms of strychnine poisoning, and yet we find him the only member of the family to uphold strenuously the theory of death from natural causes.If it had been Monsieur John, I could have understood it.He has no technical knowledge, and is by nature unimaginative.But Monsieur Lawrence--no! And now, to-day, he puts forward a suggestion that he himself must have known was ridiculous. There is food for thought in this, mon ami!""It's very confusing," I agreed.
"Then there is Mrs.Cavendish," continued Poirot."That's another who is not telling all she knows! What do you make of her attitude?""I don't know what to make of it.It seems inconceivable that sheshould be shielding Alfred Inglethorp.Yet that is what it looks like." Poirot nodded reflectively.
"Yes, it is queer.One thing is certain, she overheard a good deal more of that 'private conversation' than she was willing to admit.""And yet she is the last person one would accuse of stooping to eavesdrop!""Exactly.One thing her evidence *HAS shown me.I made a mistake.Dorcas was quite right.The quarrel did take place earlier in the afternoon, about four o'clock, as she said."I looked at him curiously.I had never understood his insistence on that point.
"Yes, a good deal that was peculiar came out to-day," continued Poirot."Dr.Bauerstein, now, what was *HE doing up and dressed at that hour in the morning? It is astonishing to me that no one commented on the fact.""He has insomnia, I believe," I said doubtfully.
"Which is a very good, or a very bad explanation," remarked Poirot."It covers everything, and explains nothing.I shall keep my eye on our clever Dr.Bauerstein.""Any more faults to find with the evidence?" I inquired satirically."Mon ami," replied Poirot gravely, "when you find that people are nottelling you the truth--look out! Now, unless I am much mistaken, at the inquest to-day only one--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 of them, my friend? One, I grant you, but both--!"His words gave me an unpleasant shock.Miss Howard's evidence, unimportant as it was, had been given in such a downright straightforward manner that it had never occurred to me to doubt her sincerity.Still, I had a great respect for Poirot's sagacity--except on the occasions when he was what I described to myself as "foolishly pig-headed.""Do you really think so?" I asked."Miss Howard had always seemed to me so essentially honest--almost uncomfortably so."Poirot gave me a curious look, which I could not quite fathom.He seemed to speak, and then checked himself.
"Miss Murdoch too," I continued, "there's nothing untruthful about*HER."
"No.But it was strange that she never heard a sound, sleeping next door; whereas Mrs.Cavendish, in the other wing of the building, distinctly heard the table fall.""Well, she's young.And she sleeps soundly.""Ah, yes, indeed! She must be a famous sleeper, that one!"I did not quite like the tone of his voice, but at that moment a smart knock reached our ears, and looking out of the window we perceived the two detectives waiting for us below.
Poirot seized his hat, gave a ferocious twist to his moustache, and, carefully brushing an imaginary speck of dust from his sleeve, motioned me to precede him down the stairs; there we joined the detectives and set out for Styles.
I think the appearance of the two Scotland Yard men was rather a shock--especially to John, though of course after the verdict, he had realized that it was only a matter of time.Still, the presence of the detectives brought the truth home to him more than anything else could have done.
