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Chapter IV. Poirot Investigates
“Wheredidyoufindit?”
“Inthewash-standdrawerinMrs.Inglethorp’sbedroom.ItwasNumberSixofmycatalogue.”
“ButIsuppose,asthelastpowderwastakentwodaysago,itisnotofmuchimportance?”
“Probablynot,butdoyounoticeanythingthatstrikesyouaspeculiaraboutthisbox?”
Iexamineditclosely.
“No,Ican’tsaythatIdo.”
“Lookatthelabel.”
Ireadthelabelcarefully:“‘Onepowdertobetakenatbedtime,ifrequired.Mrs.Inglethorp.’No,Iseenothingunusual.”
“Notthefactthatthereisnochemist’sname?”
“Ah!”Iexclaimed.“Tobesure,thatisodd!”
“Haveyoueverknownachemisttosendoutaboxlikethat,withouthisprintedname?”
“No,Ican’tsaythatIhave.”
Iwasbecomingquiteexcited,butPoirotdampedmyardourbyremarking:
“Yettheexplanationisquitesimple.Sodonotintrigueyourself,myfriend.”
AnaudiblecreakingproclaimedtheapproachofAnnie,soIhadnotimetoreply.
Anniewasafine,strappinggirl,andwasevidentlylabouringunderintenseexcitement,mingledwithacertainghoulishenjoymentofthetragedy.
Poirotcametothepointatonce,withabusiness-likebriskness.
“Isentforyou,Annie,becauseIthoughtyoumightbeabletotellmesomethingaboutthelettersMrs.Inglethorpwrotelastnight.Howmanywerethere?Andcanyoutellmeanyofthenamesandaddresses?”
Annieconsidered.
“Therewerefourletters,sir.OnewastoMissHoward,andonewastoMr.
