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Poirot was a true prophet I will not go into the details of the police court proceedings, as it involves many tiresome repetitions I will merely state baldly that John Cavendish reserved his defence, and was duly committed for trial

Septeton, Poirot being included in the faiven a job at the War Office, so was able to see them continually

As the weeks went by, the state of Poirot's nerves greorse and worse That "last link" he talked about was still lacking Privately, I hoped it ht remain so, for what happiness could there be for Mary, if John were not acquitted?

On September 15th John Cavendish appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey, charged with "The Wilful Murder of Elethorp," and pleaded "Not Guilty"

Sir Ernest Heavywether, the faed to defend him

Mr Philips, K C, opened the case for the Crown

The murder, he said, was a most premeditated and cold-blooded one It was neitherof a fond and trusting woman by the stepson to whom she had been more than a mother Ever since his boyhood, she had supported him He and his wife had lived at Styles Court in every luxury, surrounded by her care and attention She had been their kind and generous benefactress

He proposed to call witnesses to sho the prisoner, a profligate and spendthrift, had been at the end of his financial tether, and had also been carrying on an intrigue with a certain Mrs Raikes, a neighbouring far come to his stepmother's ears, she taxed him with it on the afternoon before her death, and a quarrel ensued, part of which was overheard On the previous day, the prisoner had purchased strychnine at the village cheuise by means of which he hoped to throw the onus of the crilethorp's husband, of wholethorp, he had been able to produce an unimpeachable alibi

On the afternoon of July 17th, continued Counsel, ilethorp rate of her bedrooht which showed that it had been drawn up in favour of her husband Deceased had already e, but--and Mr Philips wagged an expressive forefinger--the prisoner was not aware of that What had induced the deceased to make a fresh will, with the old one still extant, he could not say She was an old lady, and otten the former one; or--this seemed to him more likely--she e, as there had been some conversation on the subject Ladies were not always very well versed in legal knowledge She had, about a year before, executed a will in favour of the prisoner He would call evidence to show that it was the prisoner who ultiht Later in the evening, he had sought admission to her room, on which occasion, no doubt, he found an opportunity of destroying the hich, as far as he kneould render the one in his favour valid