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always wanted a return。 She never let people forget what she had done
for themand； that way she missed love。 Don't think she ever realized it；
though； or felt the lack of it。 Hope not； anyway。 I was on a different
footing。 I took my stand from the first。 'So many pounds a year I'm
worth to you。 Well and good。 But not a penny piece besides not a
pair of gloves； nor a theatre ticket。' She didn't understandwas very
offended sometimes。 Said I was foolishly proud。 It wasn't thatbut I
couldn't explain。 Anyway； I kept my self…respect。 And so； out of the
whole bunch； I was the only one who could allow myself to be fond of her。
I watched over her。 I guarded her from the lot of them； and then a glib…
tongued scoundrel comes along； and pooh！ all my years of devotion go for
nothing。〃
Poirot nodded sympathetically。
〃I understand； mademoiselle； I understand all you feel。 It is most
natural。 You think that we are lukewarmthat we lack fire and energy
but trust me； it is not so。〃
John stuck his head in at this juncture； and invited us both to come up
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to Mrs。 Inglethorp's room； as he and Mr。 Wells had finished looking
through the desk in the boudoir。
As we went up the stairs； John looked back to the dining…room door；
and lowered his voice confidentially：
〃Look here； what's going to happen when these two meet？〃
I shook my head helplessly。
〃I've told Mary to keep them apart if she can。〃
〃Will she be able to do so？〃
〃The Lord only knows。 There's one thing； Inglethorp himself won't
be too keen on meeting her。〃
〃You've got the keys still； haven't you； Poirot？〃 I asked； as we reached
the door of the locked room。
Taking the keys from Poirot； John unlocked it； and we all passed in。
The lawyer went straight to the desk； and John followed him。
〃My mother kept most of her important papers in this despatch…case； I
believe；〃 he said。
Poirot drew out the small bunch of keys。
〃Permit me。 I locked it； out of precaution； this morning。〃
〃But it's not locked now。〃
〃Impossible！〃
〃See。〃 And John lifted the lid as he spoke。
〃Milles tonnerres！〃 cried Poirot； dumfounded。 〃And Iwho have
both the keys in my pocket！〃 He flung himself upon the case。 Suddenly
he stiffened。 〃En voila une affaire！ This lock has been forced。〃
〃What？〃
Poirot laid down the case again。
〃But who forced it？ Why should they？ When？ But the door was
locked？〃 These exclamations burst from us disjointedly。
Poirot answered them categoricallyalmost mechanically。
〃Who？ That is the question。 Why？ Ah； if I only knew。 When？
Since I was here an hour ago。 As to the door being locked； it is a very
ordinary lock。 Probably any other of the doorkeys in this passage would
fit it。〃
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We stared at one another blankly。 Poirot had walked over to the
mantel…piece。 He was outwardly calm； but I noticed his hands； which
from long force of habit were mechanically straightening the spill vases on
the mantel…piece； were shaking violently。
〃See here； it was like this；〃 he said at last。 〃There was something in
that casesome piece of evidence； slight in itself perhaps； but still enough
of a clue to connect the murderer with the crime。 It was vital to him that
it should be destroyed before it was discovered and its significance
appreciated。 Therefore； he took the risk； the great risk； of coming in here。
Finding the case locked； he was obliged to force it； thus betraying his
presence。 For him to take that risk； it must have been something of great
importance。〃
〃But what was it？〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Poirot； with a gesture of anger。 〃That； I do not know！ A
document of some kind； without doubt； possibly the scrap of paper Dorcas
saw in her hand yesterday afternoon。 And I〃 his anger burst forth
freely〃miserable animal that I am！ I guessed nothing！ I have behaved
like an imbecile！ I should never have left that case here。 I should have
carried it away with me。 Ah； triple pig！ And now it is gone。 It is
destroyedbut is it destroyed？ Is there not yet a chancewe must leave no
stone unturned〃
He rushed like a madman from the room； and I followed him as soon
as I had sufficiently recovered my wits。 But； by the time I had reached
the top of the stairs； he was out of sight。
Mary Cavendish was standing where the staircase branched； staring
down into the hall in the direction in which he had disappeared。
〃What has happened to your extraordinary little friend； Mr。 Hastings？
He has just rushed past me like a mad bull。〃
〃He's rather upset about something；〃 I remarked feebly。 I really did
not know how much Poirot would wish me to disclose。 As I saw a faint
smile gather on Mrs。 Cavendish's expressive mouth； I endeavoured to try
and turn the conversation by saying： 〃They haven't met yet； have they？〃
〃Who？〃
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〃Mr。 Inglethorp and Miss Howard。〃
She looked at me in rather a disconcerting manner。
〃Do you think it would be such a disaster if they did meet？〃
〃Well； don't you？〃 I said； rather taken aback。
〃No。〃 She was smiling in her quiet way。 〃I should like to see a good
flare up。 It would clear the air。 At present we are all thinking so much；
and saying so little。〃
〃John doesn't think so；〃 I remarked。 〃He's anxious to keep them
apart。〃
〃Oh； John！〃
Something in her tone fired me； and I blurted out：
〃Old John's an awfully good sort。〃
She studied me curiously for a minute or two； and then said； to my
great surprise：
〃You are loyal to your friend。 I like you for that。〃
〃Aren't you my friend too？〃
〃I am a very bad friend。〃
〃Why do you say that？〃
〃Because it is true。 I am charming to my friends one day； and forget
all