[ 499 ] "Not *LAST night, sir, I know she didn't."

[ 500 ] "Why do you know so positively?"

[ 501 ] "Because the box was empty. She took the last one two days ago, and she didn't have any more made up."

[ 502 ] "You are quite sure of that?"

[ 503 ] "Positive, sir."

[ 504 ] "Then that is cleared up! By the way, your mistress didn't ask you to sign any paper yesterday?"

[ 505 ] "To sign a paper? No, sir."

[ 506 ] "When Mr. Hastings and Mr. Lawrence came in yesterday evening, they found your mistress busy writing letters. I suppose you can give me no idea to whom these letters were addressed?"

[ 507 ] "I'm afraid I couldn't, sir. I was out in the evening. Perhaps Annie could tell you, though she's a careless girl. Never cleared the coffee-cups away last night. That's what happens when I'm not here to look after things."

[ 508 ] Poirot lifted his hand.

[ 509 ] "Since they have been left, Dorcas, leave them a little longer, I pray you. I should like to examine them."

[ 510 ] "Very well, sir."

[ 511 ] "What time did you go out last evening?"

[ 512 ] "About six o'clock, sir."

[ 513 ] "Thank you, Dorcas, that is all I have to ask you." He rose and strolled to the window. "I have been admiring these flower beds. How many gardeners are employed here, by the way?"

[ 514 ] "Only three now, sir. Five, we had, before the war, when it was kept as a gentleman's place should be. I wish you could have seen it then, sir. A fair sight it was. But now there's only old Manning, and young William, and a new-fashioned woman gardener in breeches and such-like. Ah, these are dreadful times!"

[ 515 ] "The good times will come again, Dorcas. At least, we hope so. Now, will you send Annie to me here?"

[ 516 ] "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

[ 517 ] "How did you know that Mrs. Inglethorp took sleeping powders?" I asked, in lively curiosity, as Dorcas left the room. "And about the lost key and the duplicate?"

[ 518 ] "One thing at a time. As to the sleeping powders, I knew by this." He suddenly produced a small cardboard box, such as chemists use for powders.

[ 519 ] "Where did you find it?"

[ 520 ] "In the wash-stand drawer in Mrs. Inglethorp's bedroom. It was Number Six of my catalogue."

[ 521 ] "But I suppose, as the last powder was taken two days ago, it is not of much importance?"

[ 522 ] "Probably not, but do you notice anything that strikes you as peculiar about this box?"

[ 523 ] I examined it closely.

[ 524 ] "No, I can't say that I do."

[ 525 ] "Look at the label."

[ 526 ] I read the label carefully: " 'One powder to be taken at bedtime, if required. Mrs. Inglethorp.' No, I see nothing unusual."

[ 527 ] "Not the fact that there is no chemist's name?"

[ 528 ] "Ah!" I exclaimed. "To be sure, that is odd!"

[ 529 ] "Have you ever known a chemist to send out a box like that, without his printed name?"

[ 530 ] "No, I can't say that I have."

[ 531 ] I was becoming quite excited, but Poirot damped my ardour by remarking:

[ 532 ] "Yet the explanation is quite simple. So do not intrigue yourself, my friend."

[ 533 ] An audible creaking proclaimed the approach of Annie, so I had no time to reply.

[ 534 ] Annie was a fine, strapping girl, and was evidently labouring under intense excitement, mingled with a certain ghoulish enjoyment of the tragedy.