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"Go on--I ahly nified surface of a tiny bottle in the top poison cupboard of the dispensary in the Red Cross Hospital at Tadminster--which sounds like the house that Jack built!"

"Good heavens!" I exclai on it? He never went near the poison cupboard the day ere there!"

"Oh, yes, he did!"

"Iether the whole time"

Poirot shook his head

"No, ether There was a ether, or it would not have been necessary to call to Monsieur Lawrence to cootten that," I admitted "But it was only for a moment"

"Long enough"

"Long enough for what?"

Poirot's sentleratify a very natural interest and curiosity"

Our eyes ot up and hummed a little tune I watched him suspiciously

"Poirot," I said, "as in this particular little bottle?"

Poirot looked out of the

"Hydro-chloride of strychnine," he said, over his shoulder, continuing to hum

"Good heavens!" I said it quite quietly I was not surprised I had expected that answer

"They use the pure hydro-chloride of strychnine very little-- only occasionally for pills It is the official solution, Liq Strychnine Hydro-clor that is used in er-marks have ree to take this photograph?"

"I dropped my hat from the balcony," explained Poirot simply "Visitors were not peries, Madeo down and fetch it forto find?"

"No, not at all I merely realized that it was possible, froo to the poison cupboard The possibility had to be confiraiety does not deceive me This is a very important discovery"

"I do not know," said Poirot "But one thing does strike me No doubt it has struck you too"

"What is that?"