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poison； but it would be quite impossible for it to result in sudden death in
this way。 There would have to be a long period of chronic symptoms
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which would at once have attracted my attention。 The whole thing is
absurd。〃
〃And the second suggestion？ That Mrs。 Inglethorp may have
inadvertently taken an overdose？〃
〃Three； or even four doses； would not have resulted in death。 Mrs。
Inglethorp always had an extra large amount of medicine made up at a
time； as she dealt with Coot's； the Cash Chemists in Tadminster。 She
would have had to take very nearly the whole bottle to account for the
amount of strychnine found at the post…mortem。〃
〃Then you consider that we may dismiss the tonic as not being in any
way instrumental in causing her death？〃
〃Certainly。 The supposition is ridiculous。〃
The same juryman who had interrupted before here suggested that the
chemist who made up the medicine might have committed an error。
〃That； of course； is always possible；〃 replied the doctor。
But Dorcas； who was the next witness called； dispelled even that
possibility。 The medicine had not been newly made up。 On the
contrary； Mrs。 Inglethorp had taken the last dose on the day of her death。
So the question of the tonic was finally abandoned； and the Coroner
proceeded with his task。 Having elicited from Dorcas how she had been
awakened by the violent ringing of her mistress's bell； and had
subsequently roused the household； he passed to the subject of the quarrel
on the preceding afternoon。
Dorcas's evidence on this point was substantially what Poirot and I had
already heard； so I will not repeat it here。
The next witness was Mary Cavendish。 She stood very upright； and
spoke in a low； clear； and perfectly composed voice。 In answer to the
Coroner's question； she told how； her alarm clock having aroused her at
4。30 as usual； she was dressing； when she was startled by the sound of
something heavy falling。
〃That would have been the table by the bed？〃 commented the Coroner。
〃I opened my door；〃 continued Mary； 〃and listened。 In a few minutes
a bell rang violently。 Dorcas came running down and woke my husband；
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and we all went to my mother…in…law's room； but it was locked〃
The Coroner interrupted her。
〃I really do not think we need trouble you further on that point。 We
know all that can be known of the subsequent happenings。 But I should
be obliged if you would tell us all you overheard of the quarrel the day
before。〃
〃I？〃
There was a faint insolence in her voice。 She raised her hand and
adjusted the ruffle of lace at her neck； turning her head a little as she did so。
And quite spontaneously the thought flashed across my mind： 〃She is
gaining time！〃
〃Yes。 I understand；〃 continued the Coroner deliberately； 〃that you
were sitting reading on the bench just outside the long window of the
boudoir。 That is so； is it not？〃
This was news to me and glancing sideways at Poirot； I fancied that it
was news to him as well。
There was the faintest pause； the mere hesitation of a moment； before
she answered：
〃Yes； that is so。〃
〃And the boudoir window was open； was it not？〃
Surely her face grew a little paler as she answered：
〃Yes。〃
〃Then you cannot have failed to hear the voices inside； especially as
they were raised in anger。 In fact； they would be more audible where you
were than in the hall。〃
〃Possibly。〃
〃Will you repeat to us what you overheard of the quarrel？〃
〃I really do not remember hearing anything。〃
〃Do you mean to say you did not hear voices？〃
〃Oh； yes； I heard the voices； but I did not hear what they said。〃 A faint
spot of colour came into her cheek。 〃I am not in the habit of listening to
private conversations。〃
The Coroner persisted。
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〃And you remember nothing at all？ *NOTHING； Mrs。 Cavendish？ Not
one stray word or phrase to make you realize that it *WAS a private
conversation？〃
She paused； and seemed to reflect； still outwardly as calm as ever。
〃Yes； I remember。 Mrs。 Inglethorp said somethingI do not
remember exactly whatabout causing scandal between husband and
wife。〃
〃Ah！〃 the Coroner leant back satisfied。 〃That corresponds with what
Dorcas heard。 But excuse me； Mrs。 Cavendish； although you realized it
was a private conversation； you did not move away？ You remained where
you were？〃
I caught the momentary gleam of her tawny eyes as she raised them。
I felt certain that at that moment she would willingly have torn the little
lawyer； with his insinuations； into pieces； but she replied quietly enough：
〃No。 I was very comfortable where I was。 I fixed my mind on my
book。〃
〃And that is all you can tell us？〃
〃That is all。〃
The examination was over； though I doubted if the Coroner was
entirely satisfied with it。 I think he suspected that Mary Cavendish could
tell more if she chose。
Amy Hill； shop assistant； was next called； and deposed to having sold
a will form on the afternoon of the 17th to William Earl； under…gardener at
Styles。
William Earl and Manning succeeded her； and testified to witnessing a
document。 Manning fixed the time at about 4。30； William was of the
opinion that it was rather earlier。
Cynthia Murdoch came next。 She had； however； little to tell。 She
had known nothing of the tragedy； until awakened by Mrs。 Cavendish。
〃You did not hear the table fall？〃
〃No。 I was fast asleep。〃
The Coroner smiled。
〃A good conscience makes a sound sleeper；〃 he observed。 〃Thank
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you； Miss Murdoch； that i