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Chapter IV. Poirot Investigates
Itisamatterofprecautiononly.”
Johnturnedtome,takingouthiscigarette-case,andlightingacigaretteashedidso.
“YouknowthatfellowInglethorpisback?”
“Yes.Imethim.”
Johnflungthematchintoanadjacentflowerbed,aproceedingwhichwastoomuchforPoirot’sfeelings.Heretrievedit,andburieditneatly.
“It’sjollydifficulttoknowhowtotreathim.”
“Thatdifficultywillnotexistlong,”pronouncedPoirotquietly.
Johnlookedpuzzled,notquiteunderstandingtheportentofthiscrypticsaying.HehandedthetwokeyswhichDr.Bauersteinhadgivenhimtome.
“ShowMonsieurPoiroteverythinghewantstosee.”
“Theroomsarelocked?”askedPoirot.
“Dr.Bauersteinconsidereditadvisable.”
Poirotnoddedthoughtfully.
“Thenheisverysure.Well,thatsimplifiesmattersforus.”
Wewentuptogethertotheroomofthetragedy.ForconvenienceIappendaplanoftheroomandtheprincipalarticlesoffurnitureinit.
02
Poirotlockedthedoorontheinside,andproceededtoaminuteinspectionoftheroom.Hedartedfromoneobjecttotheotherwiththeagilityofagrasshopper.Iremainedbythedoor,fearingtoobliterateanyclues.Poirot,however,didnotseemgratefultomeformyforbearance.
“Whathaveyou,myfriend,”hecried,“thatyouremaintherelike—howdoyousayit?—ah,yes,thestuckpig?”
IexplainedthatIwasafraidofobliteratinganyfoot-marks.
