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"Then, if there had been a large patch of candle grease on the floor, you think you would have been sure to have seen it?"

"Yes, sir, and I would have taken it out with a piece of blotting-paper and a hot iron"

Then Poirot repeated the question he had put to Dorcas: "Did your reen dress?"

"No, sir"

"Nor a mantle, nor a cape, nor a--how do you call it?--a sports coat?"

"Not green, sir"

"Nor anyone else in the house?"

Annie reflected

"No, sir"

"You are sure of that?"

"Quite sure"

"Bien! That is all I want to know Thank you very ly out of the room My pent-up exciteratulate you! This is a great discovery"

"What is a great discovery?"

"Why, that it was the coco and not the coffee that was poisoned That explains everything! Of course it did not take effect until the early , since the coco was only drunk in the ht"

"So you think that the coco--s, the coco--contained strychnine?"

"Of course! That salt on the tray, what else could it have been?"

"It edto take thewith him The idea crossed rowing old Privately I thought it lucky that he had associated with him some one of aeyes

"You are not pleased with me, mon ami?"

"My dear Poirot," I said coldly, "it is not for ht to your own opinion, just as I have tobriskly to his feet "Now I have finished with this room By the hose is the slethorp's"

"Ah!" He tried the roll top tentatively "Locked But perhaps one of Mrs Inglethorp's keys would open it" He tried several, twisting and turning the an ejaculation of satisfaction "Viola! It is not the key, but it will open it at a pinch" He slid back the roll top, and ran a rapid eye over the neatly filed papers Toapprovingly as he relocked the desk: "Decidedly, he is a lethorp!"