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window as it swept past。
〃Evie！〃 cried John。 〃Excuse me； Wells。〃 He went hurriedly out into
the hall。
Poirot looked inquiringly at me。
〃Miss Howard；〃 I explained。
〃Ah； I am glad she has come。 There is a woman with a head and a
heart too； Hastings。 Though the good God gave her no beauty！〃
I followed John's example； and went out into the hall； where Miss
Howard was endeavouring to extricate herself from the voluminous mass
of veils that enveloped her head。 As her eyes fell on me； a sudden pang
of guilt shot through me。 This was the woman who had warned me so
earnestly； and to whose warning I had； alas； paid no heed！ How soon； and
how contemptuously； I had dismissed it from my mind。 Now that she
had been proved justified in so tragic a manner； I felt ashamed。 She had
known Alfred Inglethorp only too well。 I wondered whether； if she had
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remained at Styles； the tragedy would have taken place； or would the man
have feared her watchful eyes？
I was relieved when she shook me by the hand； with her well
remembered painful grip。 The eyes that met mine were sad； but not
reproachful； that she had been crying bitterly； I could tell by the redness of
her eyelids； but her manner was unchanged from its old gruffness。
〃Started the moment I got the wire。 Just come off night duty。 Hired
car。 Quickest way to get here。〃
〃Have you had anything to eat this morning； Evie？〃 asked John。
〃No。〃
〃I thought not。 Come along； breakfast's not cleared away yet； and
they'll make you some fresh tea。〃 He turned to me。 〃Look after her；
Hastings； will you？ Wells is waiting for me。 Oh； here's Monsieur Poirot。
He's helping us； you know； Evie。〃
Miss Howard shook hands with Poirot； but glanced suspiciously over
her shoulder at John。
〃What do you meanhelping us？〃
〃Helping us to investigate。〃
〃Nothing to investigate。 Have they taken him to prison yet？〃
〃Taken who to prison？〃
〃Who？ Alfred Inglethorp； of course！〃
〃My dear Evie； do be careful。 Lawrence is of the opinion that my
mother died from heart seizure。〃
〃More fool； Lawrence！〃 retorted Miss Howard。 〃Of course Alfred
Inglethorp murdered poor Emilyas I always told you he would。〃
〃My dear Evie； don't shout so。 Whatever we may think or suspect； it
is better to say as little as possible for the present。 The inquest isn't until
Friday。〃
〃Not until fiddlesticks！〃 The snort Miss Howard gave was truly
magnificent。 〃You're all off your heads。 The man will be out of the
country by then。 If he's any sense； he won't stay here tamely and wait to
be hanged。〃
John Cavendish looked at her helplessly。
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〃I know what it is；〃 she accused him； 〃you've been listening to the
doctors。 Never should。 What do they know？ Nothing at allor just
enough to make them dangerous。 I ought to knowmy own father was a
doctor。 That little Wilkins is about the greatest fool that even I have ever
seen。 Heart seizure！ Sort of thing he would say。 Anyone with any sense
could see at once that her husband had poisoned her。 I always said he'd
murder her in her bed； poor soul。 Now he's done it。 And all you can do
is to murmur silly things about 'heart seizure' and 'inquest on Friday。' You
ought to be ashamed of yourself； John Cavendish。〃
〃What do you want me to do？〃 asked John； unable to help a faint smile。
〃Dash it all； Evie； I can't haul him down to the local police station by the
scruff of his neck。〃
〃Well； you might do something。 Find out how he did it。 He's a
crafty beggar。 Dare say he soaked fly papers。 Ask Cook if she's missed
any。〃
It occurred to me very forcibly at that moment that to harbour Miss
Howard and Alfred Inglethorp under the same roof； and keep the peace
between them； was likely to prove a Herculean task； and I did not envy
John。 I could see by the expression of his face that he fully appreciated
the difficulty of the position。 For the moment； he sought refuge in retreat；
and left the room precipitately。
Dorcas brought in fresh tea。 As she left the room； Poirot came over
from the window where he had been standing； and sat down facing Miss
Howard。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he said gravely； 〃I want to ask you something。〃
〃Ask away；〃 said the lady； eyeing him with some disfavour。
〃I want to be able to count upon your help。〃
〃I'll help you to hang Alfred with pleasure；〃 she replied gruffly。
〃Hanging's too good for him。 Ought to be drawn and quartered； like in
good old times。〃
〃We are at one then；〃 said Poirot； 〃for I； too； want to hang the
criminal。〃
〃Alfred Inglethorp？〃
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〃Him； or another。〃
〃No question of another。 Poor Emily was never murdered until *HE
came along。 I don't say she wasn't surrounded by sharksshe was。 But
it was only her purse they were after。 Her life was safe enough。 But
along comes Mr。 Alfred Inglethorpand within two monthshey presto！〃
〃Believe me； Miss Howard；〃 said Poirot very earnestly； 〃if Mr。
Inglethorp is the man； he shall not escape me。 On my honour； I will hang
him as high as Haman！〃
〃That's better；〃 said Miss Howard more enthusiastically。
〃But I must ask you to trust me。 Now your help may be very
valuable to me。 I will tell you why。 Because； in all this house of
mourning； yours are the only eyes that have wept。〃
Miss Howard blinked； and a new note crept into the gruffness of her
voice。
〃If you mean that I was fond of heryes； I was。 You know； Emily
was a selfish old woman in her way。 She was very generous； but she
always wanted a return。 She never let people forget what she had done
for themand； tha