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〃Yes； we shall see。〃
We had reached Leastways Cottage； and Poirot ushered me upstairs to
his own room。 He offered me one of the tiny Russian cigarettes he
himself occasionally smoked。 I was amused to notice that he stowed
away the used matches most carefully in a little china pot。 My
momentary annoyance vanished。
Poirot had placed our two chairs in front of the open window which
commanded a view of the village street。 The fresh air blew in warm and
pleasant。 It was going to be a hot day。
Suddenly my attention was arrested by a weedy looking young man
rushing down the street at a great pace。 It was the expression on his face
that was extraordinarya curious mingling of terror and agitation。
〃Look； Poirot！〃 I said。
He leant forward。
〃Tiens！〃 he said。 〃It is Mr。 Mace； from the chemist's shop。 He is
coming here。〃
The young man came to a halt before Leastways Cottage； and； after
hesitating a moment； pounded vigorously at the door。
〃A little minute；〃 cried Poirot from the window。 〃I come。〃
Motioning to me to follow him； he ran swiftly down the stairs and
opened the door。 Mr。 Mace began at once。
〃Oh； Mr。 Poirot； I'm sorry for the inconvenience； but I heard that you'd
just come back from the Hall？〃
〃Yes； we have。〃
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The young man moistened his dry lips。 His face was working
curiously。
〃It's all over the village about old Mrs。 Inglethorp dying so suddenly。
They do say〃 he lowered his voice cautiously 〃that it's poison？〃
Poirot's face remained quite impassive。
〃Only the doctors can tell us that； Mr。 Mace。〃
〃Yes； exactlyof course〃 The young man hesitated； and then his
agitation was too much for him。 He clutched Poirot by the arm； and sank
his voice to a whisper： 〃Just tell me this； Mr。 Poirot； it isn'tit isn't
strychnine； is it？〃
I hardly heard what Poirot replied。 Something evidently of a non…
committal nature。 The young man departed； and as he closed the door
Poirot's eyes met mine。
〃Yes；〃 he said； nodding gravely。 〃He will have evidence to give at
the inquest。〃
We went slowly upstairs again。 I was opening my lips； when Poirot
stopped me with a gesture of his hand。
〃Not now； not now； mon ami。 I have need of reflection。 My mind is
in some disorderwhich is not well。〃
For about ten minutes he sat in dead silence； perfectly still； except for
several expressive motions of his eyebrows； and all the time his eyes grew
steadily greener。 At last he heaved a deep sigh。
〃It is well。 The bad moment has passed。 Now all is arranged and
classified。 One must never permit confusion。 The case is not clear yet
no。 For it is of the most complicated！ It puzzles *ME。 *ME； Hercule
Poirot！ There are two facts of significance。〃
〃And what are they？〃
〃The first is the state of the weather yesterday。 That is very
important。〃
〃But it was a glorious day！〃 I interrupted。 〃Poirot； you're pulling my
leg！〃
〃Not at all。 The thermometer registered 80 degrees in the shade。
Do not forget that； my friend。 It is the key to the whole riddle！〃
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〃And the second point？〃 I asked。
〃The important fact that Monsieur Inglethorp wears very peculiar
clothes； has a black beard； and uses glasses。〃
〃Poirot； I cannot believe you are serious。〃
〃I am absolutely serious； my friend。〃
〃But this is childish！〃
〃No； it is very momentous。〃
〃And supposing the Coroner's jury returns a verdict of Wilful Murder
against Alfred Inglethorp。 What becomes of your theories； then？〃
〃They would not be shaken because twelve stupid men had happened
to make a mistake！ But that will not occur。 For one thing； a country jury
is not anxious to take responsibility upon itself； and Mr。 Inglethorp stands
practically in the position of local squire。 Also；〃 he added placidly； 〃I
should not allow it！〃
〃*YOU would not allow it？〃
〃No。〃
I looked at the extraordinary little man； divided between annoyance
and amusement。 He was so tremendously sure of himself。 As though
he read my thoughts； he nodded gently。
〃Oh； yes； mon ami； I would do what I say。〃 He got up and laid his
hand on my shoulder。 His physiognomy underwent a complete change。
Tears came into his eyes。 〃In all this； you see； I think of that poor Mrs。
Inglethorp who is dead。 She was not extravagantly lovedno。 But she
was very good to us BelgiansI owe her a debt。〃
I endeavoured to interrupt； but Poirot swept on。
〃Let me tell you this； Hastings。 She would never forgive me if I let
Alfred Inglethorp； her husband； be arrested nowwhen a word from me
could save him！〃
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CHAPTER VI。 THE INQUEST
In the interval before the inquest； Poirot was unfailing in his activity。
Twice he was closeted with Mr。 Wells。 He also took long walks into the
country。 I rather resented his not taking me into his confidence； the more
so as I could not in the least guess what he was driving at。
It occurred to me that he might have been making inquiries at Raikes's
farm； so； finding him out when I called at Leastways Cottage on
Wednesday evening； I walked over there by the fields； hoping to meet him。
But there was no sign of him； and I hesitated to go right up to the farm
itself。 As I walked away； I met an aged rustic； who leered at me
cunningly。
〃You'm from the Hall； bain't you？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。 I'm looking for a friend of mine whom I thought might have
walked this way。〃
〃A little chap？ As waves his hands when he talks？ One of them
Belgies from the village？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said eagerly。 〃He has been here； then？〃
〃Oh； ay； he's been here； right enough。 More'n once too。 Friend of
yours； is he？ Ah； you gentlemen from the Hall you'n a pretty lot！〃 And
he leered more jocosely than ever。
〃Why； do the gentlemen from the Hall come here often？〃 I asked； as
carelessly as I could。
He winked at me knowingly。
〃*ONE does； mister。 Naming no names； mind。 And a very liberal
gentleman too！ Oh； thank you； sir； I'm sure。〃
I walked on sharply。 Evelyn Howard had been right then； and I
experienced a sharp twinge of disgust； as I thought of Alfred Inglethorp's
liberality with another woman's money。 Had that piquant gipsy face been
at the bottom of the crime； or was it the baser mainspring of money？
Probably a judicious mixture of both。
On one point； Poirot seemed to have a curious obsession。 He once or
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