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Chapter XI. The Case for the Prosecution
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Iwasratherdisconcertedbythis,rememberinghowIhadbusilypassedontoJohnwhatIbelievedtobePoirot’sviewsconcerningBauerstein.He,bytheway,hadbeenacquittedofthechargebroughtagainsthim.Nevertheless,althoughhehadbeentoocleverforthemthistime,andthechargeofespionagecouldnotbebroughthometohim,hiswingswereprettywellclippedforthefuture.
IaskedPoirotwhetherhethoughtJohnwouldbecondemned.Tomyintensesurprise,herepliedthat,onthecontrary,hewasextremelylikelytobeacquitted.
“But,Poirot——”Iprotested.
“Oh,myfriend,haveInotsaidtoyouallalongthatIhavenoproofs.Itisonethingtoknowthatamanisguilty,itisquiteanothermattertoprovehimso.And,inthiscase,thereisterriblylittleevidence.Thatisthewholetrouble.I,HerculePoirot,know,butIlackthelastlinkinmychain.AndunlessIcanfindthatmissinglink——”Heshookhisheadgravely.
“WhendidyoufirstsuspectJohnCavendish?”Iasked,afteraminuteortwo.
“Didyounotsuspecthimatall?”
“No,indeed.”
“NotafterthatfragmentofconversationyouoverheardbetweenMrs.Cavendishandhermother-in-law,andhersubsequentlackoffranknessattheinquest?”
“No.”
“Didyounotputtwoandtwotogether,andreflectthatifitwasnotAlfredInglethorpwhowasquarrellingwithhiswife—andyouremember,hestrenuouslydenieditattheinquest—itmustbeeitherLawrenceorJohn.Now,ifitwasLawrence,MaryCavendish’sconductwasjustasinexplicable.
