Chapter VI. The Inquest

           Intheintervalbeforetheinquest,Poirotwasunfailinginhisactivity.TwicehewasclosetedwithMr.Wells.Healsotooklongwalksintothecountry.Iratherresentedhisnottakingmeintohisconfidence,themoresoasIcouldnotintheleastguesswhathewasdrivingat.

           ItoccurredtomethathemighthavebeenmakinginquiriesatRaikes’sfarm;so,findinghimoutwhenIcalledatLeastwaysCottageonWednesdayevening,Iwalkedovertherebythefields,hopingtomeethim.Buttherewasnosignofhim,andIhesitatedtogorightuptothefarmitself.AsIwalkedaway,Imetanagedrustic,wholeeredatmecunningly.

           “You’mfromtheHall,bain’tyou?”heasked.

           “Yes.I’mlookingforafriendofminewhomIthoughtmighthavewalkedthisway.”

           “Alittlechap?Aswaveshishandswhenhetalks?OneofthemBelgiesfromthevillage?”

           “Yes,”Isaideagerly.“Hehasbeenhere,then?”

           “Oh,ay,he’sbeenhere,rightenough.More’noncetoo.Friendofyours,ishe?Ah,yougentlemenfromtheHall—you’maprettylot!”Andheleeredmorejocoselythanever.

           “Why,dothegentlemenfromtheHallcomehereoften?”Iasked,ascarelesslyasIcould.

           Hewinkedatmeknowingly.

           “Onedoes,mister.Namingnonames,mind.Andaveryliberalgentlemantoo!Oh,thankyou,sir,I’msure.”

           Iwalkedonsharply.EvelynHowardhadbeenrightthen,andIexperiencedasharptwingeofdisgust,asIthoughtofAlfredInglethorp’sliberalitywithanotherwoman’smoney.