Page 69 (1/2)

"Ah, why indeed?" said Poirot, cal down "If he were arrested, he probably would speak, but I do not want it to coravity of his position There is, of course, so discreditable behind his silence If he did not murder his wife, he is, nevertheless, a scoundrel, and has so of his own to conceal, quite apart from the murder"

"What can it be?" I h still retaining a faint conviction that the obvious deduction was the correct one

"Can you not guess?" asked Poirot, s

"No, can you?"

"Oh, yes, I had a little idea soo--and it has turned out to be correct"

"You never told me," I said reproachfully

Poirot spread out his hands apologetically

"Pardon me, mon ami, you were not precisely sympathique" He turned to me earnestly "Tell me--you see now that he must not be arrested?"

"Perhaps," I said doubtfully, for I was really quite indifferent to the fate of Alfred Inglethorp, and thought that a good fright would do hih

"Co the subject, "apart frolethorp, how did the evidence at the inquest strike you?"

"Oh, prettystrike you as peculiar about it?"