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traces of brown mould and earth. The weather had been perfectly fine for

some days, and no ordinary boots would have left such a heavy deposit.

"I strolled to the window, and saw at once that the begonia beds had been

newly planted. The mould in the beds was exactly similar to that on the floor

of the boudoir, and also I learnt from you that they had been planted

yesterday afternoon. I was now sure that one, or possibly both of the

gardeners--for there were two sets of footprints in the bed--had entered the

boudoir, for if Mrs. Inglethorp had merely wished to speak to them she

would in all probability have stood at the window, and they would not have

come into the room at all. I was now quite convinced that she had made a

fresh will, and had called the two gardeners in to witness her signature.

Events proved that I was right in my supposition."

That was very ingenious," I could not help admitting. "I must confess that

the conclusions I drew from those few scribbled words were quite

erroneous."

He smiled.

"You gave too much rein to your imagination. Imagination is a good servant,

and a bad master. The simplest explanation is always the most likely."

"Another point--how did you know that the key of the despatch-case had

been lost?"

I did not know it. It was a guess that turned out to be correct. You observed

that it had a piece of twisted wire through the handle. That suggested to me

at once that it had possibly been wrenched off a flimsy key-ring. Now, if it

had been lost and recovered, Mrs. Inglethorp would at once have replaced it

on her bunch; but on her bunch I found what was obviously the duplicate

key, very new and bright, which led me to the hypothesis that somebody else

had inserted the original key in the lock of the despatch-case."

"Yes," I said, "Alfred Inglethorp, without doubt."

Poirot looked at me curiously.

You are very sure of his guilt?"

Well, naturally. Every fresh circumstance seems to establish it more

clearly."

The Mysterious Affair at Styles