Poirot looked at me very gravely.

 

“Do you want to know the truth?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Then you shall have it. My friend, everything points to the assumption that he

is guilty.”

 

“What!” I exclaimed.

 

Poirot nodded.

 

“Yes, that stupid inspector—for he is stupid—has everything pointing his way. I

seek for the truth—and the truth leads me every time to Ralph Paton. Motive,

opportunity, means. But I will leave no stone unturned. I promised Mademoiselle

Flora. And she was very sure, that little one. But very sure indeed.”

 

CHAPTER XI

 

POIROT PAYS A CALL

 

I was slightly nervous when I rang the bell at Marby Grange the following

afternoon. I wondered very much what Poirot expected to find out. He had

entrusted the job to me. Why? Was it because, as in the case of questioning