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Chapter IV. Poirot Investigates
Lawrencecameinyesterdayevening,theyfoundyourmistressbusywritingletters.Isupposeyoucangivemenoideatowhomtheseletterswereaddressed?”
“I’mafraidIcouldn’t,sir.Iwasoutintheevening.PerhapsAnniecouldtellyou,thoughshe’sacarelessgirl.Neverclearedthecoffee-cupsawaylastnight.That’swhathappenswhenI’mnotheretolookafterthings.”
Poirotliftedhishand.
“Sincetheyhavebeenleft,Dorcas,leavethemalittlelonger,Iprayyou.Ishouldliketoexaminethem.”
“Verywell,sir.”
“Whattimedidyougooutlastevening?”
“Aboutsixo’clock,sir.”
“Thankyou,Dorcas,thatisallIhavetoaskyou.”Heroseandstrolledtothewindow.“Ihavebeenadmiringtheseflowerbeds.Howmanygardenersareemployedhere,bytheway?”
“Onlythreenow,sir.Five,wehad,beforethewar,whenitwaskeptasagentleman’splaceshouldbe.Iwishyoucouldhaveseenitthen,sir.Afairsightitwas.Butnowthere’sonlyoldManning,andyoungWilliam,andanew-fashionedwomangardenerinbreechesandsuch-like.Ah,thesearedreadfultimes!”
“Thegoodtimeswillcomeagain,Dorcas.Atleast,wehopeso.Now,willyousendAnnietomehere?”
“Yes,sir.Thankyou,sir.”
“HowdidyouknowthatMrs.Inglethorptooksleepingpowders?”Iasked,inlivelycuriosity,asDorcaslefttheroom.“Andaboutthelostkeyandtheduplicate?”
“Onethingatatime.Astothesleepingpowders,Iknewbythis.”Hesuddenlyproducedasmallcardboardbox,suchaschemistsuseforpowders.
