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〃And what did he say？ He was entirely puzzled？〃
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〃Yes。 I am quite sure he had no idea of what you meant。〃
I had expected Poirot to be disappointed； but； to my surprise； he
replied that that was as he had thought； and that he was very glad。 My
pride forbade me to ask any questions。
Poirot switched off on another tack。
〃Mademoiselle Cynthia was not at lunch to…day？ How was that？〃
〃She is at the hospital again。 She resumed work to…day。〃
〃Ah； she is an industrious little demoiselle。 And pretty too。 She is
like pictures I have seen in Italy。 I would rather like to see that
dispensary of hers。 Do you think she would show it to me？〃
〃I am sure she would be delighted。 It's an interesting little place。〃
〃Does she go there every day？〃
〃She has all Wednesdays off； and comes back to lunch on Saturdays。
Those are her only times off。〃
〃I will remember。 Women are doing great work nowadays； and
Mademoiselle Cynthia is cleveroh； yes； she has brains； that little one。〃
〃Yes。 I believe she has passed quite a stiff exam。〃
〃Without doubt。 After all； it is very responsible work。 I suppose
they have very strong poisons there？〃
〃Yes； she showed them to us。 They are kept locked up in a little
cupboard。 I believe they have to be very careful。 They always take out
the key before leaving the room。〃
〃Indeed。 It is near the window； this cupboard？〃
〃No； right the other side of the room。 Why？〃
Poirot shrugged his shoulders。
〃I wondered。 That is all。 Will you come in？〃
We had reached the cottage。
〃No。 I think I'll be getting back。 I shall go round the long way
through the woods。〃
The woods round Styles were very beautiful。 After the walk across
the open park； it was pleasant to saunter lazily through the cool glades。
There was hardly a breath of wind； the very chirp of the birds was faint
and subdued。 I strolled on a little way； and finally flung myself down at
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the foot of a grand old beech…tree。 My thoughts of mankind were kindly
and charitable。 I even forgave Poirot for his absurd secrecy。 In fact； I
was at peace with the world。 Then I yawned。
I thought about the crime； and it struck me as being very unreal and far
off。
I yawned again。
Probably； I thought； it really never happened。 Of course； it was all a
bad dream。 The truth of the matter was that it was Lawrence who had
murdered Alfred Inglethorp with a croquet mallet。 But it was absurd of
John to make such a fuss about it； and to go shouting out： 〃I tell you I
won't have it！〃
I woke up with a start。
At once I realized that I was in a very awkward predicament。 For；
about twelve feet away from me； John and Mary Cavendish were standing
facing each other； and they were evidently quarrelling。 And； quite as
evidently； they were unaware of my vicinity； for before I could move or
speak John repeated the words which had aroused me from my dream。
〃I tell you； Mary； I won't have it。〃
Mary's voice came； cool and liquid：
〃Have *YOU any right to criticize my actions？〃
〃It will be the talk of the village！ My mother was only buried on
Saturday； and here you are gadding about with the fellow。〃
〃Oh；〃 she shrugged her shoulders； 〃if it is only village gossip that you
mind！〃
〃But it isn't。 I've had enough of the fellow hanging about。 He's a
Polish Jew； anyway。〃
〃A tinge of Jewish blood is not a bad thing。 It leavens the〃she
looked at him〃stolid stupidity of the ordinary Englishman。〃
Fire in her eyes； ice in her voice。 I did not wonder that the blood rose
to John's face in a crimson tide。
〃Mary！〃
〃Well？〃 Her tone did not change。
The pleading died out of his voice。
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〃Am I to understand that you will continue to see Bauerstein against
my express wishes？〃
〃If I choose。〃
〃You defy me？〃
〃No； but I deny your right to criticize my actions。 Have *YOU no
friends of whom I should disapprove？〃
John fell back a pace。 The colour ebbed slowly from his face。
〃What do you mean？〃 he said； in an unsteady voice。
〃You see！〃 said Mary quietly。 〃You *DO see； don't you； that *YOU
have no right to dictate to *ME as to the choice of my friends？〃
John glanced at her pleadingly； a stricken look on his face。
〃No right？ Have I *NO right； Mary？〃 he said unsteadily。 He
stretched out his hands。 〃Mary〃
For a moment； I thought she wavered。 A softer expression came over
her face； then suddenly she turned almost fiercely away。
〃None！〃
She was walking away when John sprang after her； and caught her by
the arm。
〃Mary〃his voice was very quiet now〃are you in love with this
fellow Bauerstein？〃
She hesitated； and suddenly there swept across her face a strange
expression； old as the hills； yet with something eternally young about it。
So might some Egyptian sphinx have smiled。
She freed herself quietly from his arm； and spoke over her shoulder。
〃Perhaps；〃 she said； and then swiftly passed out of the little glade；
leaving John standing there as though he had been turned to stone。
Rather ostentatiously； I stepped forward； crackling some dead branches
with my feet as I did so。 John turned。 Luckily； he took it for granted
that I had only just come upon the scene。
〃Hullo； Hastings。 Have you seen the little fellow safely back to his
cottage？ Quaint little chap！ Is he any good； though； really？〃
〃He was considered one of the finest detectives of his day。〃
〃Oh； well； I suppose there must be something in it； then。 What a
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rotten world it is； though！〃
〃You find it so？〃 I asked。
〃Good Lord； yes！ There's this terrible business to start with。 Scotland
Yard men in and out of the house like a jack…in…the…box！ Never know
where they won't turn up next。 Screaming headlines in every paper in the
countrydamn all journalists； I say！ Do you know there was a whole
crowd staring in at the lodge gates this morning。 Sort of Madame
Tussaud's chamber of horrors business that can be seen for nothing。
Pretty thick； isn't it？〃
〃Cheer up； John！〃 I said soothingly。 〃It can't last for ever。〃
〃Can't it； though？ It can last long enough for us never to be able to
hold up our heads again。〃
〃No； no； you're getting morbid on the subject。〃
〃Enough to make a man morbid； to be stalked by beastly journalists
and stared at by gaping moon…faced idiots； wherever he goes！ But there's
worse than that。〃
〃What？〃
John lowered his voice：
〃Have you ever thought； Hastingsit's a nightmare to me who did it？
I can't help feeling sometimes it must have been an accident。 Because
becausewho could have done it？ Now Inglethorp's out of the way； there's
no one else； no one； I mean； exceptone of us。〃
Yes； indeed； that was nightmare enough for any man！ One of us？ Yes；
surely it must be so； unless…
A new idea suggested itself to my mind。 Rapidly； I considered it。
The light increased。 Poirot's mysterious doings； his hintsthey all fitted
in。 Fool that I was not to have thought of this possibility before； and
what a relief for us all。
〃No； John；〃 I said； 〃it isn't one of us。 How could it be？〃
〃I know； but； still； who else is there？〃
〃Can't you guess？〃
〃No。〃
I looked cautiously round； and lo