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Chapter IV. Poirot Investigates
Inglethorp’sroom,wasthedoorleadingintoMissCynthia’sroombolted?”
“Oh!Yes,sir;italwayswas.Ithadneverbeenopened.”
“AndthedoorintoMr.Inglethorp’sroom?Didyounoticeifthatwasboltedtoo?”
Anniehesitated.
“Icouldn’trightlysay,sir;itwasshutbutIcouldn’tsaywhetheritwasboltedornot.”
“Whenyoufinallylefttheroom,didMrs.Inglethorpboltthedoorafteryou?”
“No,sir,notthen,butIexpectshedidlater.Sheusuallydidlockitatnight.Thedoorintothepassage,thatis.”
“Didyounoticeanycandlegreaseonthefloorwhenyoudidtheroomyesterday?”
“Candlegrease?Oh,no,sir.Mrs.Inglethorpdidn’thaveacandle,onlyareading-lamp.”
“Then,iftherehadbeenalargepatchofcandlegreaseonthefloor,youthinkyouwouldhavebeensuretohaveseenit?”
“Yes,sir,andIwouldhavetakenitoutwithapieceofblotting-paperandahotiron.”
ThenPoirotrepeatedthequestionhehadputtoDorcas:
“Didyourmistresseverhaveagreendress?”
“No,sir.”
“Noramantle,noracape,nora—howdoyoucallit?—asportscoat?”
“Notgreen,sir.”
“Noranyoneelseinthehouse?”
Anniereflected.
“No,sir.”
“Youaresureofthat?”
“Quitesure.”
“Bien!ThatisallIwanttoknow.Thankyouverymuch.”
Withanervousgiggle,Annietookherselfcreakinglyoutoftheroom.Mypent-upexcitementburstforth.
“Poirot,”Icried,“Icongratulateyou!Thisisagreatdiscovery.
