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〃Mrs。 Inglethorp is out； and he sits down to write to his accomplice；
who； he fears； may be in a panic at the nonsuccess of their plan。 It is
probable that Mrs。 Inglethorp returned earlier than he expected。 Caught
in the act； and somewhat flurried he hastily shuts and locks his desk。 He
fears that if he remains in the room he may have to open it again； and that
Mrs。 Inglethorp might catch sight of the letter before he could snatch it up。
So he goes out and walks in the woods； little dreaming that Mrs。
Inglethorp will open his desk； and discover the incriminating document。
〃But this； as we know； is what happened。 Mrs。 Inglethorp reads it；
and becomes aware of the perfidy of her husband and Evelyn Howard；
though； unfortunately； the sentence about the bromides conveys no
warning to her mind。 She knows that she is in dangerbut is ignorant of
where the danger lies。 She decides to say nothing to her husband； but sits
down and writes to her solicitor； asking him to come on the morrow； and
she also determines to destroy immediately the will which she has just
made。 She keeps the fatal letter。〃
〃It was to discover that letter； then； that her husband forced the lock of
the despatch…case？〃
〃Yes； and from the enormous risk he ran we can see how fully he
realized its importance。 That letter excepted； there was absolutely
nothing to connect him with the crime。〃
〃There's only one thing I can't make out； why didn't he destroy it at
once when he got hold of it？〃
〃Because he did not dare take the biggest risk of allthat of keeping it
on his own person。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
〃Look at it from his point of view。 I have discovered that there were
only five short minutes in which he could have taken itthe five minutes
immediately before our own arrival on the scene； for before that time
Annie was brushing the stairs； and would have seen anyone who passed
going to the right wing。 Figure to yourself the scene！ He enters the room；
unlocking the door by means of one of the other doorkeysthey were all
much alike。 He hurries to the despatch…caseit is locked； and the keys
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are nowhere to be seen。 That is a terrible blow to him； for it means that
his presence in the room cannot be concealed as he had hoped。 But he
sees clearly that everything must be risked for the sake of that damning
piece of evidence。 Quickly； he forces the lock with a penknife； and turns
over the papers until he finds what he is looking for。
〃But now a fresh dilemma arises： he dare not keep that piece of paper
on him。 He may be seen leaving the roomhe may be searched。 If the
paper is found on him； it is certain doom。 Probably； at this minute； too；
he hears the sounds below of Mr。 Wells and John leaving the boudoir。 He
must act quickly。 Where can he hide this terrible slip of paper？ The
contents of the waste…paper…basket are kept and in any case； are sure to be
examined。 There are no means of destroying it； and he dare not keep it。
He looks round； and he seeswhat do you think； mon ami？〃
I shook my head。
〃In a 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 in
the vase on the mantle…piece。〃
I uttered an exclamation。
〃No one would think of looking there；〃 Poirot continued。 〃And he
will be able； at his leisure； to come back and destroy this solitary piece of
evidence against him。〃
〃Then； all the time； it was in the spill vase in Mrs。 Inglethorp's
bedroom； under our very noses？〃 I cried。
Poirot nodded。
〃Yes； my friend。 That is where I discovered my 'last link；' and I owe
that very fortunate discovery to you。〃
〃To me？〃
〃Yes。 Do you remember telling me that my hand shook as I was
straightening the ornaments on the mantel…piece？〃
〃Yes； but I don't see〃
〃No； but I saw。 Do you know； my friend； I remembered that earlier in
the morning； when we had been there together； I had straightened all the
objects on the mantel…piece。 And； if they were already straightened； there
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would be no need to straighten them again； unless； in the meantime； some
one else had touched them。〃
〃Dear me；〃 I murmured； 〃so that is the explanation of your
extraordinary behaviour。 You rushed down to Styles； and found it still
there？〃
〃Yes； and it was a race for time。〃
〃But I still can't understand why Inglethorp was such a fool as to leave
it there when he had plenty of opportunity to destroy it。〃
〃Ah； but he had no opportunity。 I saw to that。〃
〃You？〃
〃Yes。 Do you remember reproving me for taking the household into
my confidence on the subject？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； my friend； I saw there was just one chance。 I was not sure
then if Inglethorp was the criminal or not； but if he was I reasoned that he
would not have the paper on him； but would have hidden it somewhere；
and by enlisting the sympathy of the household I could effectually prevent
his destroying it。 He was already under suspicion； and by making 190》
the matter public I secured the services of about ten amateur detectives；
who would be watching him unceasingly； and being himself aware of their
watchfulness he would not dare seek further to destroy the document。 He
was therefore forced to depart from the house； leaving it in the spill vase。〃
〃But surely Miss Howard had ample opportunities of aiding him。〃
〃Yes； but Miss Howard did not know of the paper's existence。 In
accordance with their prearranged plan； she never spoke to Alfred
Inglethorp。 They were supposed to be deadly enemies； and until John
Cavendish was safely convicted they neither of them dared risk a meeting。
Of course I had a watch kept on Mr。 Inglethorp； hoping that sooner or later
he would lead me to the hiding…place。 But he was too clever to take any
chances。 The paper was safe where it was； since no one had thought of
looking there in the first week； it was not likely they would do so
afterwards。 But for your lucky remark； we might never have been able to
bring him to justice。〃
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〃I understand that now； but when did you first begin to suspect Miss
Howard？〃
〃When I discovered that she had told a lie at the inquest about the
letter she had received from Mrs。 Inglethorp。〃
〃Why； what was there to lie about？〃
〃You saw that letter？ Do you recall its general appearance？〃
〃Yesmore or less。〃
〃You will recollect； then； that Mrs。 Inglethorp wrote a very distinctive
hand； and left large clear space