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There was a moment's stupefied silence Japp, as the least surprised of any of us, was the first to speak

"My word," he cried, "you're the goods! And no ht, I suppose?"

"Voila! I have prepared a list of them--names and addresses You ht"

"I'ed to you A pretty lethorp "But, if you'll excuse me, sir, why couldn't you say all this at the inquest?"

"I will tell you why," interrupted Poirot "There was a certain rumour----"

"A lethorp in an agitated voice

"And Mr Inglethorp was anxious to have no scandal revived just at present Alethorp nodded "With my poor Emily not yet buried, can you wonder I was anxious that norumours should be started"

"Between you and me, sir," remarked Japp, "I'd sooner have any amount of rumours than be arrested for murder And I venture to think your poor lady would have felt the same And, if it hadn't been for Mr Poirot here, arrested you would have been, as sure as eggs is eggs!"

"I was foolish, no doubt," lethorp "But you do not know, inspector, how I have been persecuted and lance at Evelyn Howard

"Now, sir," said Japp, turning briskly to John, "I should like to see the lady's bedroom, please, and after that I'll have a little chat with the servants Don't you bother about anything Mr Poirot, here, will show me the way"

As they all went out of the roon to follow hiht o to the other wing Stand there--just this side of the baize door Do notrapidly, he rejoined the two detectives

I followed his instructions, taking upwhat on earth lay behind the request Why was I to stand in this particular spot on guard? I looked thoughtfully down the corridor in front of me An idea struck me With the exception of Cynthia Murdoch's, every one's roo to do with it? Was I to report who came or went? I stood faithfully athappened