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X. The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
”
“Youthinknot?”
“Whatcouldtherebe?”
“Well,forexample,thereisthewindow.”
“Thewindow?Butitwasfastened.Nobodycouldhavegotoutorinthatway.Inoticeditspecially.”
“Andwhywereyouabletonoticeit?”
Thedoctorlookedpuzzled.Poirothastenedtoexplain.
“ItistothecurtainsIrefer.Theywerenotdrawn.Alittleodd,that.Andthentherewasthecoffee.Itwasveryblackcoffee.”
“Well,whatofit?”
“Veryblack,”repeatedPoirot.“Inconjunctionwiththatletusrememberthatverylittleofthericesouffléwaseaten,andweget—what?”
“Moonshine,”laughedthedoctor.“You’repullingmyleg.”
“NeverdoIpulltheleg.HastingshereknowsthatIamperfectlyserious.”
“Idon’tknowwhatyouaregettingat,allthesame,”Iconfessed.“Youdon’tsuspectthemanservant,doyou?Hemighthavebeeninwiththegang,andputsomedopeinthecoffee.Isupposethey’lltesthisalibi?”
“Withoutdoubt,myfriend;butitisthealibiofSignorAscaniothatinterestsme.”
“Youthinkhehasanalibi?”
“Thatisjustwhatworriesme.Ihavenodoubtthatweshallsoonbeenlightenedonthatpoint.”
TheDailyNewsmongerenabledustobecomeconversantwithsucceedingevents.
SignorAscaniowasarrestedandchargedwiththemurderofCountFoscatini.Whenarrested,hedeniedknowingtheCount,anddeclaredhehadneverbeennearRegent’sCourteitherontheeveningofthecrimeoronthepreviousmorning.Theyoungermanhaddisappearedentirely.
