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XI. The Case of the Missing Will
Howcoulditbetoanyone’sadvantagetodestroythewill?Thehospitalsbenefit—yes;butonecannotsuspectinstitutions.”
“Perhapstheoldmanchangedhismindanddestroyedithimself,”Isuggested.
Poirotrosetohisfeet,dustinghiskneeswithhisusualcare.
“Thatmaybe,”headmitted.“Oneofyourmoresensibleobservations,Hastings.Well,wecandonomorehere.Wehavedoneallthatmortalmancando.WehavesuccessfullypittedourwitsagainstthelateAndrewMarsh’s;but,unfortunately,hisnieceisnobetteroffforoursuccess.”
Bydrivingtothestationatonce,wewerejustabletocatchatraintoLondon,thoughnottheprincipalexpress.Poirotwassadanddissatisfied.Formypart,Iwastiredanddozedinacorner.Suddenly,aswewerejustmovingoutofTaunton,Poirotutteredapiercingsqueal.
“Vite,Hastings!Awakeandjump!ButjumpIsay!”
BeforeIknewwhereIwaswewerestandingontheplatform,bareheadedandminusourvalises,whilstthetraindisappearedintothenight.Iwasfurious.ButPoirotpaidnoattention.
“ImbecilethatIhavebeen!”hecried.“Tripleimbecile!NotagainwillIvauntmylittlegreycells!”
“That’sagoodjobatanyrate,”Isaidgrumpily.“Butwhatisthisallabout?”
Asusual,whenfollowingouthisownideas,Poirotpaidabsolutelynoattentiontome.
“Thetradesmen’sbooks—Ihaveleftthementirelyoutofaccount!Yes,butwhere?Where?Nevermind,Icannotbemistaken.Wemustreturnatonce.”
Easiersaidthandone.WemanagedtogetaslowtraintoExeter,andtherePoirothiredacar.
