Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе

           “Wearenowabletoaccountforthesymptomsofstrychninepoisoningbeingsolonginmakingtheirappearance.Anarcotictakenwithstrychninewilldelaytheactionofthepoisonforsomehours.”

           Poirotpaused.Marylookedupathim,thecolourslowlyrisinginherface.

           “Allyouhavesaidisquitetrue,MonsieurPoirot.Itwasthemostawfulhourofmylife.Ishallneverforgetit.Butyouarewonderful.Iunderstandnow——”

           “WhatImeantwhenItoldyouthatyoucouldsafelyconfesstoPapaPoirot,eh?Butyouwouldnottrustme.”

           “Iseeeverythingnow,”saidLawrence.“Thedruggedcocoa,takenontopofthepoisonedcoffee,amplyaccountsforthedelay.”

           “Exactly.Butwasthecoffeepoisoned,orwasitnot?Wecometoalittledifficultyhere,sinceMrs.Inglethorpneverdrankit.”

           “What?”Thecryofsurprisewasuniversal.

           “No.YouwillremembermyspeakingofastainonthecarpetinMrs.Inglethorp’sroom?Thereweresomepeculiarpointsaboutthatstain.Itwasstilldamp,itexhaledastrongodourofcoffee,andimbeddedinthenapofthecarpetIfoundsomelittlesplintersofchina.Whathadhappenedwasplaintome,fornottwominutesbeforeIhadplacedmylittlecaseonthetablenearthewindow,andthetable,tiltingup,haddepositeditupontheflooronpreciselytheidenticalspot.Inexactlythesameway,Mrs.Inglethorphadlaiddownhercupofcoffeeonreachingherroomthenightbefore,andthetreacheroustablehadplayedherthesametrick.

           “Whathappenednextismereguessworkonmypart,butIshouldsaythatMrs.