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II. The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor
Hehadevidentlybeenoutshootingrooks,asmallrookriflelaybesidehim.Thehæmorrhagemusthaveoccurredquitesuddenly.Gastriculcer,withoutadoubt.”
“Noquestionofhishavingbeenshot,eh?”
“Mydearsir!”
“Idemandpardon,”saidPoirothumbly.“But,ifmymemoryisnotatfault,inthecaseofarecentmurder,thedoctorfirstgaveaverdictofheartfailure—alteringitwhenthelocalconstablepointedoutthattherewasabulletwoundthroughthehead!”
“YouwillnotfindanybulletwoundsonthebodyofMr.Maltravers,”saidDr.Bernarddryly.“Now,gentlemen,ifthereisnothingfurther——”
Wetookthehint.
“Goodmorning,andmanythankstoyou,doctor,forsokindlyansweringourquestions.Bytheway,yousawnoneedforanautopsy?”
“Certainlynot.”Thedoctorbecamequiteapoplectic.“Thecauseofdeathwasclear,andinmyprofessionweseenoneedtodistressundulytherelativesofadeadpatient.”
And,turning,thedoctorslammedthedoorsharplyinourfaces.
“AndwhatdoyouthinkofDr.Bernard,Hastings?”inquiredPoirot,asweproceededonourwaytotheManor.
“Ratheranoldass.”
“Exactly.Yourjudgmentsofcharacterarealwaysprofound,myfriend.”
Iglancedathimuneasily,butheseemedperfectlyserious.Atwinkle,however,cameintohiseye,andheaddedslyly:
“Thatistosay,whenthereisnoquestionofabeautifulwoman!”
Ilookedathimcoldly.
Onourarrivalatthemanor-house,thedoorwasopenedtousbyamiddle-agedparlourmaid.Poirothandedherhiscard,andaletterfromtheInsuranceCompanyforMrs.Maltravers.
