Chapter IV. Poirot Investigates

           ThehousewhichtheBelgiansoccupiedinthevillagewasquiteclosetotheparkgates.Onecouldsavetimebytakinganarrowpaththroughthelonggrass,whichcutoffthedetoursofthewindingdrive.SoI,accordingly,wentthatway.Ihadnearlyreachedthelodge,whenmyattentionwasarrestedbytherunningfigureofamanapproachingme.ItwasMr.Inglethorp.Wherehadhebeen?Howdidheintendtoexplainhisabsence?

           Heaccostedmeeagerly.

           “MyGod!Thisisterrible!Mypoorwife!Ihaveonlyjustheard.”

           “Wherehaveyoubeen?”Iasked.

           “Denbykeptmelatelastnight.Itwasoneo’clockbeforewe’dfinished.ThenIfoundthatI’dforgottenthelatch-keyafterall.Ididn’twanttoarousethehousehold,soDenbygavemeabed.”

           “Howdidyouhearthenews?”Iasked.

           “WilkinsknockedDenbyuptotellhim.MypoorEmily!Shewassoself-sacrificing—suchanoblecharacter.Sheover-taxedherstrength.”

           Awaveofrevulsionsweptoverme.Whataconsummatehypocritethemanwas!

           “Imusthurryon,”Isaid,thankfulthathedidnotaskmewhitherIwasbound.

           InafewminutesIwasknockingatthedoorofLeastwaysCottage.

           Gettingnoanswer,Irepeatedmysummonsimpatiently.Awindowabovemewascautiouslyopened,andPoirothimselflookedout.

           Hegaveanexclamationofsurpriseatseeingme.Inafewbriefwords,Iexplainedthetragedythathadoccurred,andthatIwantedhishelp.

           “Wait,myfriend,Iwillletyouin,andyoushallrecounttometheaffairwhilstIdress.