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the jury didn't bring it in Wilful Murder against him right off。 I think
they would have； if it hadn't been for the Coronerhe seemed to be
holding them back。〃
〃Perhaps； though； you have a warrant for his arrest in your pocket
now；〃 suggested Poirot。
A kind of wooden shutter of officialdom came down from Japp's
expressive countenance。
〃Perhaps I have； and perhaps I haven't；〃 he remarked dryly。
Poirot looked at him thoughtfully。
〃I am very anxious； Messieurs； that he should not be arrested。〃
〃I dare say；〃 observed Summerhaye sarcastically。
Japp was regarding Poirot with comical perplexity。
〃Can't you go a little further； Mr。 Poirot？ A wink's as good as a nod
from you。 You've been on the spotand the Yard doesn't want to make
any mistakes； you know。〃
Poirot nodded gravely。
〃That is exactly what I thought。 Well； I will tell you this。 Use your
warrant： Arrest Mr。 Inglethorp。 But it will bring you no kudosthe case
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against him will be dismissed at once！ Comme ca！〃 And he snapped his
fingers expressively。
Japp's face grew grave； though Summerhaye gave an incredulous
snort。
As for me； I was literally dumb with astonishment。 I could only
conclude that Poirot was mad。
Japp had taken out a handkerchief； and was gently dabbing his brow。
〃I daren't do it； Mr。 Poirot。 I'd take your word； but there's others over
me who'll be asking what the devil I mean by it。 Can't you give me a
little more to go on？〃
Poirot reflected a moment。
〃It can be done；〃 he said at last。 〃I admit I do not wish it。 It forces
my hand。 I would have preferred to work in the dark just for the present；
but what you say is very justthe word of a Belgian policeman； whose day
is past； is not enough！ And Alfred Inglethorp must not be arrested。 That I
have sworn； as my friend Hastings here knows。 See； then； my good Japp；
you go at once to Styles？〃
〃Well； in about half an hour。 We're seeing the Coroner and the doctor
first。〃
〃Good。 Call for me in passingthe last house in the village。 I will
go with you。 At Styles； Mr。 Inglethorp will give you； or if he refusesas
is probableI will give you such proofs that shall satisfy you that the case
against him could not possibly be sustained。 Is that a bargain？〃
〃That's a bargain；〃 said Japp heartily。 〃And； on behalf of the Yard；
I'm much obliged to you； though I'm bound to confess I can't at present see
the faintest possible loop…hole in the evidence； but you always were a
marvel！ So long； then； moosier。〃
The two detectives strode away； Summerhaye with an incredulous grin
on his face。
〃Well； my friend；〃 cried Poirot； before I could get in a word； 〃what do
you think？ Mon Dieu！ I had some warm moments in that court； I did not
figure to myself that the man would be so pig…headed as to refuse to say
anything at all。 Decidedly； it was the policy of an imbecile。〃
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〃H'm！ There are other explanations besides that of imbecility；〃 I
remarked。 〃For； if the case against him is true； how could he defend
himself except by silence？〃
〃Why； in a thousand ingenious ways；〃 cried Poirot。 〃See； say that it
is I who have committed this murder； I can think of seven most plausible
stories！ Far more convincing than Mr。 Inglethorp's stony denials！〃
I could not help laughing。
〃My dear Poirot； I am sure you are capable of thinking of seventy！ But；
seriously； in spite of what I heard you say to the detectives； you surely
cannot still believe in the possibility of Alfred Inglethorp's innocence？〃
〃Why not now as much as before？ Nothing has changed。〃
〃But the evidence is so conclusive。〃
〃Yes； too conclusive。〃
We turned in at the gate of Leastways Cottage； and proceeded up the
now familiar stairs。
〃Yes； yes； too conclusive；〃 continued Poirot； almost to himself。 〃Real
evidence is usually vague and unsatisfactory。 It has to be examined
sifted。 But here the whole thing is cut and dried。 No； my friend； this
evidence has been very cleverly manufacturedso cleverly that it has
defeated its own ends。〃
〃How do you make that out？〃
〃Because； so long as the evidence against him was vague and
intangible； it was very hard to disprove。 But； in his anxiety； the criminal
has drawn the net so closely that one cut will set Inglethorp free。〃
I was silent。 And in a minute or two； Poirot continued：
〃Let us look at the matter like this。 Here is a man； let us say； who
sets out to poison his wife。 He has lived by his wits as the saying goes。
Presumably； therefore； he has some wits。 He is not altogether a fool。
Well； how does he set about it？ He goes boldly to the village chemist's and
purchases strychnine under his own name； with a trumped up story about a
dog which is bound to be proved absurd。 He does not employ the poison
that night。 No； he waits until he has had a violent quarrel with her； of
which the whole household is cognisant； and which naturally directs their
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suspicions upon him。 He prepares no defenceno shadow of an alibi； yet
he knows the chemist's assistant must necessarily come forward with the
facts。 Bah！ do not ask me to believe that any man could be so idiotic！
Only a lunatic； who wished to commit suicide by causing himself to be
hanged； would act so！〃
〃StillI do not see〃 I began。
〃Neither do I see。 I tell you； mon ami； it puzzles me。 Me Hercule
Poirot！〃
〃But if you believe him innocent； how do you explain his buying the
strychnine？〃
〃Very simply。 He did *NOT buy it。〃
〃But Mace recognized him！〃
〃I beg your pardon； he saw a man with a black beard like Mr。
Inglethorp's； and wearing glasses like Mr。 Inglethorp； and dressed in Mr。
Inglethorp's rather noticeable clothes。