II. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor

           Ihadbeencalledawayfromtownforafewdays,andonmyreturnfoundPoirotintheactofstrappinguphissmallvalise.

           “Alabonneheure,Hastings.Ifearedyouwouldnothavereturnedintimetoaccompanyme.”

           “Youarecalledawayonacase,then?”

           “Yes,thoughIamboundtoadmitthat,onthefaceofit,theaffairdoesnotseempromising.TheNorthernUnionInsuranceCompanyhaveaskedmetoinvestigatethedeathofaMr.Maltraverswhoafewweeksagoinsuredhislifewiththemforthelargesumoffiftythousandpounds.”

           “Yes?”Isaid,muchinterested.

           “Therewas,ofcourse,theusualsuicideclauseinthepolicy.Intheeventofhiscommittingsuicidewithinayearthepremiumswouldbeforfeited.Mr.MaltraverswasdulyexaminedbytheCompany’sowndoctor,andalthoughhewasamanslightlypasttheprimeoflifewaspassedasbeinginquitesoundhealth.However,onWednesdaylast—thedaybeforeyesterday—thebodyofMr.MaltraverswasfoundinthegroundsofhishouseinEssex,MarsdonManor,andthecauseofhisdeathisdescribedassomekindofinternalhæmorrhage.Thatinitselfwouldbenothingremarkable,butsinisterrumoursastoMr.Maltravers’financialpositionhavebeenintheairoflate,andtheNorthernUnionhaveascertainedbeyondanypossibledoubtthatthedeceasedgentlemanstooduponthevergeofbankruptcy.Nowthataltersmattersconsiderably.