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nap of the carpet I found some little splinters of china。 What had
happened was plain to me； for not two minutes before I had placed my
little case on the table near the window； and the table； tilting up； had
deposited it upon the floor on precisely the identical spot。 In exactly the
same way； Mrs。 Inglethorp had laid down her cup of coffee on reaching
her room the night before； and the treacherous table had played her the
same trick。
〃What happened next is mere guess work on my part； but I should say
that Mrs。 Inglethorp picked up the broken cup and placed it on the table by
the bed。 Feeling in need of a stimulant of some kind； she heated up her
coco； and drank it off then and there。 Now we are faced with a new
problem。 We know the coco contained no strychnine。 The coffee was
never drunk。 Yet the strychnine must have been administered between
seven and nine o'clock that evening。 What third medium was therea
medium so suitable for disguising the taste of strychnine that it is
extraordinary no one has thought of it？〃 Poirot looked round the room； and
then answered himself impressively。 〃Her medicine！〃
〃Do you mean that the murderer introduced the strychnine into her
tonic？〃 I cried。
〃There was no need to introduce it。 It was already there in the
mixture。 The strychnine that killed Mrs。 Inglethorp was the identical
strychnine prescribed by Dr。 Wilkins。 To make that clear to you； I will
read you an extract from a book on dispensing which I found in the
Dispensary of the Red Cross Hospital at Tadminster：
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〃 'The following prescription has become famous in text books：
Strychninae Sulph 。 。 。 。 。 。 gr。I Potass
Bromide 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3vi Aqua
ad 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3viii Fiat Mistura
This solution deposits in a few hours the greater part of the strychnine
salt as an insoluble bromide in transparent crystals。 A lady in England
lost her life by taking a similar mixture： the precipitated strychnine
collected at the bottom； and in taking the last dose she swallowed nearly
all of it！〃
〃Now there was； of course； no bromide in Dr。 Wilkins' prescription；
but you will remember that I mentioned an empty box of bromide powders。
One or two of those powders introduced into the full bottle of medicine
would effectually precipitate the strychnine； as the book describes； and
cause it to be taken in the last dose。 You will learn later that the person
who usually poured out Mrs。 Inglethorp's medicine was always extremely
careful not to shake the bottle； but to leave the sediment at the bottom of it
undisturbed。
〃Throughout the case； there have been evidences that the tragedy was
intended to take place on Monday evening。 On that day； Mrs。
Inglethorp's bell wire was neatly cut； and on Monday evening
Mademoiselle Cynthia was spending the night with friends； so that Mrs。
Inglethorp would have been quite alone in the right wing； completely shut
off from help of any kind； and would have died； in all probability； before
medical aid could have been summoned。 But in her hurry to be in time
for the village entertainment Mrs。 Inglethorp forgot to take her medicine；
and the next day she lunched away from home； so that the lastand fatal
dose was actually taken twenty…four hours later than had been anticipated
by the murderer； and it is owing to that delay that the final proof the last
link of the chainis now in my hands。〃
Amid breathless excitement； he held out three thin strips of paper。
〃A letter in the murderer's own hand…writing； mes amis！ Had it been a
little clearer in its terms； it is possible that Mrs。 Inglethorp； warned in time；
would have escaped。 As it was； she realized her danger； but not the
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manner of it。〃
In the deathly silence； Poirot pieced together the slips of paper and；
clearing his throat； read：
〃 'Dearest Evelyn：
'You will be anxious at hearing nothing。 It is all rightonly it will be
to…night instead of last night。 You understand。 There's a good time
coming once the old woman is dead and out of the way。 No one can
possibly bring home the crime to me。 That idea of yours about the
bromides was a stroke of genius！ But we must be very circumspect。 A
false step'
〃Here； my friends； the letter breaks off。 Doubtless the writer was
interrupted； but there can be no question as to his identity。 We all know
this hand…writing and〃
A howl that was almost a scream broke the silence。
〃You devil！ How did you get it？〃
A chair was overturned。 Poirot skipped nimbly aside。 A quick
movement on his part； and his assailant fell with a crash。
〃Messieurs； mesdames；〃 said Poirot； with a flourish； 〃let me introduce
you to the murderer； Mr。 Alfred Inglethorp！〃
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CHAPTER XIII。 POIROT
EXPLAINS
〃Poirot； you old villain；〃 I said； 〃I've half a mind to strangle you！
What do you mean by deceiving me as you have done？〃
We were sitting in the library。 Several hectic days lay behind us。 In
the room below； John and Mary were together once more； while Alfred
Inglethorp and Miss Howard were in custody。 Now at last； I had Poirot
to myself； and could relieve my still burning curiosity。
Poirot did not answer me for a moment； but at last he said：
〃I did not deceive you； mon ami。 At most； I permitted you to deceive
yourself。〃
〃Yes； but why？〃
〃Well； it is difficult to explain。 You see； my friend； you have a nature
so honest； and a countenance so transparent； thatenfin； to conceal your
feelings is impossible！ If I had told you my ideas； the very first time you
saw Mr。 Alfred Inglethorp that astute gentleman would havein your so
expressive idiom'smelt a rat'！ And then； bon jour to our chances of
catching him！〃
〃I think that I have more diplomacy than you give me credit for。〃
〃My friend；〃 besought Poirot； 〃I implore you； do not enrage yourself！
Your help has been of the most invaluable。 It is but the extremely
beautiful nature that you have； which made me pause。〃
〃Well；〃 I grumbled； a little mollified。 〃I still think you might have
given me a hint。〃
〃But I did； my friend。 Several hints。 You would not take them。
Think now； did I ever say to you that I believed John Cavendish guilty？
Did I not； on the contrary； tell you that he would almost certainly be
acquitted？〃