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Poirot locked the door on the inside, and proceeded to a minute inspection
of the room. He darted from one object to the other with the agility of a
grasshopper. I remained by the door, fearing to obliterate any clues. Poirot,
however, did not seem grateful to me for my forbearance.
"What have you, my friend," he cried, "that you remain there like--how do
you say it?--ah, yes, the stuck pig?"
I explained that I was afraid of obliterating any foot-marks.
"Foot-marks? But what an idea! There has already been practically an army
in the room! What foot-marks are we likely to find? No, come here and aid
me in my search. I will put down my little case until I need it."
He did so, on the round table by the window, but it was an ill-advised
proceeding; for, the top of it being loose, it tilted up, and precipitated the
despatch-case on the floor.
"Eh voila une table!" cried Poirot. "Ah, my friend, one may live in a big house
and yet have no comfort."
After which piece of moralizing, he resumed his search.
A small purple despatch-case, with a key in the lock, on the writing-table,
engaged his attention for some time. He took out the key from the lock, and
passed it to me to inspect. I saw nothing peculiar, however. It was an
ordinary key of the Yale type, with a bit of twisted wire through the handle.
Next, he examined the framework of the door we had broken in, assuring
himself that the bolt had really been shot. Then he went to the door opposite
leading into Cynthia's room. That door was also bolted, as I had stated.
However, he went to the length of unbolting it, and opening and shutting it
several times; this he did with the utmost precaution against making any
noise. Suddenly something in the bolt itself seemed to rivet his attention. He
examined it carefully, and then, nimbly whipping out a pair of small forceps
from his case, he drew out some minute particle which he carefully sealed
up in a tiny envelope.
On the chest of drawers there was a tray with a spirit lamp and a small
saucepan on it. A small quantity of a dark fluid remained in the saucepan,
and an empty cup and saucer that had been drunk out of stood near it.
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