Page 39 (1/1)

"Yes"

"I suppose you are quite sure that the latch-key was forgotten--that he did not take it after all?"

"I have no idea I never thought of looking We always keep it in the hall drawer I'll go and see if it's there now"

Poirot held up his hand with a faint smile

"No, no, Mr Cavendish, it is too late now I alethorp did take it, he has had ample time to replace it by now"

"But do you think----"

"I think nothing If anyone had chanced to look thisbefore his return, and seen it there, it would have been a valuable point in his favour That is all"

John looked perplexed

"Do not worry," said Poirot smoothly "I assure you that you need not let it trouble you Since you are so kind, let us go and have so-room Under the circumstances, ere naturally not a cheerful party The reaction after a shock is always trying, and I think ere all suffering fro naturally enjoined that our demeanour should beif this self-control were really a ns of secretly indulged grief I felt that I was right in my opinion that Dorcas was the person edy

I pass over Alfred Inglethorp, who acted the bereaved er in ain its hypocrisy Did he know that we suspected him, I wondered Surely he could not be unaware of the fact, conceal it as ould Did he feel so of fear, or was he confident that his crio unpunished? Surely the suspicion in the atmosphere must warn him that he was already a marked man

But did every one suspect him? What about Mrs Cavendish? I watched her as she sat at the head of the table, graceful, corey frock, hite ruffles at the wrists falling over her slender hands, she looked very beautiful When she chose, however, her face could be sphinx-like in its inscrutability She was very silent, hardly opening her lips, and yet in soth of her personality was do us all

And little Cynthia? Did she suspect? She looked very tired and ill, I thought The heaviness and languor of herill, and she answered frankly: "Yes, I've got the most beastly headache"