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Chapter XII. The Last Link
WellsandJohnleavingtheboudoir.Hemustactquickly.Wherecanhehidethisterribleslipofpaper?Thecontentsofthewaste-paper-basketarekeptandinanycase,aresuretobeexamined.Therearenomeansofdestroyingit;andhedarenotkeepit.Helooksround,andhesees—whatdoyouthink,monami?”
Ishookmyhead.
“Inamoment,hehastorntheletterintolongthinstrips,androllingthemupintospillshethruststhemhurriedlyinamongsttheotherspillsinthevaseonthemantle-piece.”
Iutteredanexclamation.
“Noonewouldthinkoflookingthere,”Poirotcontinued.“Andhewillbeable,athisleisure,tocomebackanddestroythissolitarypieceofevidenceagainsthim.”
“Then,allthetime,itwasinthespillvaseinMrs.Inglethorp’sbedroom,underourverynoses?”Icried.
Poirotnodded.
“Yes,myfriend.ThatiswhereIdiscoveredmy‘lastlink,’andIowethatveryfortunatediscoverytoyou.”
“Tome?”
“Yes.DoyouremembertellingmethatmyhandshookasIwasstraighteningtheornamentsonthemantelpiece?”
“Yes,butIdon’tsee——”
“No,butIsaw.Doyouknow,myfriend,Irememberedthatearlierinthemorning,whenwehadbeentheretogether,Ihadstraightenedalltheobjectsonthemantelpiece.And,iftheywerealreadystraightened,therewouldbenoneedtostraightenthemagain,unless,inthemeantime,someoneelsehadtouchedthem.”
“Dearme,”Imurmured,“sothatistheexplanationofyourextraordinarybehaviour.
