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Chapter VII. Poirot Pays His Debts
”
Poirotnodded.
“Fromthefirst,hisbehaviourhasbeenpeculiar.Ofallthehousehold,healonewouldbelikelytorecognizethesymptomsofstrychninepoisoning,andyetwefindhimtheonlymemberofthefamilytoupholdstrenuouslythetheoryofdeathfromnaturalcauses.IfithadbeenMonsieurJohn,Icouldhaveunderstoodit.Hehasnotechnicalknowledge,andisbynatureunimaginative.ButMonsieurLawrence—no!Andnow,to-day,heputsforwardasuggestionthathehimselfmusthaveknownwasridiculous.Thereisfoodforthoughtinthis,monami!”
“It’sveryconfusing,”Iagreed.
“ThenthereisMrs.Cavendish,”continuedPoirot.“That’sanotherwhoisnottellingallsheknows!Whatdoyoumakeofherattitude?”
“Idon’tknowwhattomakeofit.ItseemsinconceivablethatsheshouldbeshieldingAlfredInglethorp.Yetthatiswhatitlookslike.”
Poirotnoddedreflectively.
“Yes,itisqueer.Onethingiscertain,sheoverheardagooddealmoreofthat‘privateconversation’thanshewaswillingtoadmit.”
“Andyetsheisthelastpersononewouldaccuseofstoopingtoeavesdrop!”
“Exactly.Onethingherevidencehasshownme.Imadeamistake.Dorcaswasquiteright.Thequarreldidtakeplaceearlierintheafternoon,aboutfouro’clock,asshesaid.”
Ilookedathimcuriously.Ihadneverunderstoodhisinsistenceonthatpoint.
“Yes,agooddealthatwaspeculiarcameoutto-day,”continuedPoirot.“Dr.
