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paramount importance。〃
〃What is that？〃 I asked。
〃You have not told me if Mrs。 Inglethorp ate well last night。〃
I stared at him。 Surely the war had affected the little man's brain。
He was carefully engaged in brushing his coat before putting it on； and
seemed wholly engrossed in the task。
〃I don't remember；〃 I said。 〃And； anyway； I don't see〃
〃You do not see？ But it is of the first importance。〃
〃I can't see why；〃 I said； rather nettled。 〃As far as I can remember；
she didn't eat much。 She was obviously upset； and it had taken her
appetite away。 That was only natural。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Poirot thoughtfully； 〃it was only natural。〃
He opened a drawer； and took out a small despatch…case； then turned to
me。
〃Now I am ready。 We will proceed to the chateau； and study matters
on the spot。 Excuse me； mon ami； you dressed in haste； and your tie is
on one side。 Permit me。〃 With a deft gesture； he rearranged it。
〃Ca y est！ Now； shall we start？〃
We hurried up the village； and turned in at the lodge gates。 Poirot
stopped for a moment； and gazed sorrowfully over the beautiful expanse
of park； still glittering with morning dew。
〃So beautiful； so beautiful； and yet； the poor family； plunged in sorrow；
prostrated with grief。〃
He looked at me keenly as he spoke； and I was aware that I reddened
under his prolonged gaze。
Was the family prostrated by grief？ Was the sorrow at Mrs。
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Inglethorp's death so great？ I realized that there was an emotional lack in
the atmosphere。 The dead woman had not the gift of commanding love。
Her death was a shock and a distress； but she would not be passionately
regretted。
Poirot seemed to follow my thoughts。 He nodded his head gravely。
〃No； you are right；〃 he said； 〃it is not as though there was a blood tie。
She has been kind and generous to these Cavendishes； but she was not
their own mother。 Blood tellsalways remember thatblood tells。〃
〃Poirot；〃 I said； 〃I wish you would tell me why you wanted to know if
Mrs。 Inglethorp ate well last night？ I have been turning it over in my mind；
but I can't see how it has anything to do with the matter？〃
He was silent for a minute or two as we walked along； but finally he
said：
〃I do not mind telling youthough； as you know； it is not my habit to
explain until the end is reached。 The present contention is that Mrs。
Inglethorp died of strychnine poisoning； presumably administered in her
coffee。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Well； what time was the coffee served？〃
〃About eight o'clock。〃
〃Therefore she drank it between then and half…past eight certainly not
much later。 Well； strychnine is a fairly rapid poison。 Its effects would
be felt very soon； probably in about an hour。 Yet； in Mrs。 Inglethorp's
case； the symptoms do not manifest themselves until five o'clock the next
morning： nine hours！ But a heavy meal； taken at about the same time as
the poison； might retard its effects； though hardly to that extent。 Still； it
is a possibility to be taken into account。 But； according to you； she ate
very little for supper； and yet the symptoms do not develop until early the
next morning！ Now that is a curious circumstance； my friend。 Something
may arise at the autopsy to explain it。 In the meantime； remember it。〃
As we neared the house； John came out and met us。 His face looked
weary and haggard。
〃This is a very dreadful business； Monsieur Poirot；〃 he said。
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〃Hastings has explained to you that we are anxious for no publicity？〃
〃I comprehend perfectly。〃
〃You see； it is only suspicion so far。 We have nothing to go upon。〃
〃Precisely。 It is a matter of precaution only。〃
John turned to me； taking out his cigarette…case； and lighting a
cigarette as he did so。
〃You know that fellow Inglethorp is back？〃
〃Yes。 I met him。〃
John flung the match into an adjacent flower bed； a proceeding which
was too much for Poirot's feelings。 He retrieved it； and buried it neatly。
〃It's jolly difficult to know how to treat him。〃
〃That difficulty will not exist long；〃 pronounced Poirot quietly。
John looked puzzled； not quite understanding the portent of this
cryptic saying。 He handed the two keys which Dr。 Bauerstein had given
him to me。
〃Show Monsieur Poirot everything he wants to see。〃
〃The rooms are locked？〃 asked Poirot。
〃Dr。 Bauerstein considered it advisable。〃
Poirot nodded thoughtfully。
〃Then he is very sure。 Well； that simplifies matters for us。〃
We went up together to the room of the tragedy。 For convenience I
append a plan of the room and the principal articles of furniture in it。
Poirot locked the door on the inside； and proceeded to a minute
inspection of the room。 He darted from one object to the other with the
agility of a grasshopper。 I remained by the door； fearing to obliterate any
clues。 Poirot； however； did not seem grateful to me for my forbearance。
〃What have you； my friend；〃 he cried； 〃that you remain there like
how do you say it？ah； yes； the stuck pig？〃
I explained that I was afraid of obliterating any foot…marks。
〃Foot…marks？ But what an idea！ There has already been practically an
army in the room！ What foot…marks are we likely to find？ No； come here
and aid me in my search。 I will put down my little case until I need it。〃
He did so； on the round table by the window； but it was an ill…advised
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proceeding； for； the top of it being loose； it tilted up； and precipitated the
despatch…case on the floor。
〃Eh viola une table！〃 cried Poirot。 〃An； my friend； one may live in a
big house and yet have no comfort。〃
After which piece of moralizing； he resumed his search。
A small purple despatch…case； with a key in the lock； on the writing…
table； engaged his attention for some time。 He took out the key from the
lock； and passed it to me to inspect。 I saw nothing pe