“Much valuable time may have been lost,” broke in Poirot.

 

“I don’t quite get you, Mr. Poirot?”

 

“You have taken the prints of every one in the house, you say,” murmured Poirot.

“Is that the exact truth you are telling me there, M. l’Inspecteur?”

 

“Certainly.”

 

“Without overlooking any one?”

 

“Without overlooking any one.”

 

“The quick or the dead?”

 

For a moment the inspector looked bewildered at what he took to be a religious

observation. Then he reacted slowly.

 

“You mean——”

 

“The dead, M. l’Inspecteur.”

 

The inspector still took a minute or two to understand.

 

“I am suggesting,” said Poirot placidly, “that the fingerprints on the dagger