Пуаро веде слідство

           WearrivedbackatCrabtreeManorinthesmallhoursofthemorning.IpassoverthebewildermentoftheBakerswhenwehadatlastarousedthem.Payingnoattentiontoanybody,Poirotstrodeatoncetothestudy.

           “Ihavebeen,notatripleimbecile,butthirty-sixtimesone,myfriend,”hedeignedtoremark.“Now,behold!”

           Goingstraighttothedesk,hedrewoutthekey,anddetachedtheenvelopefromit.Istaredathimstupidly.Howcouldhepossiblyhopetofindabigwill-forminthattinyenvelope?Withgreatcarehecutopentheenvelope,layingitoutflat.Thenhelightedthefireandheldtheplaininsidesurfaceoftheenvelopetotheflame.Inafewminutesfaintcharactersbegantoappear.

           “Look,monami!”criedPoirotintriumph.

           Ilooked.Therewerejustafewlinesoffaintwritingstatingbrieflythathelefteverythingtohisniece,VioletMarsh.ItwasdatedMarch25,12.30p.m.,andwitnessedbyAlbertPike,confectioner,andJessiePike,marriedwoman.

           “Butisitlegal?”Igasped.

           “AsfarasIknow,thereisnolawagainstwritingyourwillinablendofdisappearingandsympatheticink.Theintentionofthetestatorisclear,andthebeneficiaryishisonlylivingrelation.Buttheclevernessofhim!Heforesaweverystepthatasearcherwouldtake—thatI,miserableimbecile,took.Hegetstwowill-forms,makestheservantssigntwice,thensalliesoutwithhiswillwrittenontheinsideofadirtyenvelopeandafountain-pencontaininghislittleinkmixture