"What is it? Why did Dr. Bauerstein seem so--peculiar?"
I looked at her.
"Do you know what I think?"
"What?"
"Listen!" I looked round, the others were out of earshot. I lowered myvoice to a whisper. "I believe she has been poisoned! I'm certain Dr.Bauerstein suspects it."
"_What_?" She shrank against the wall, the pupils of her eyes dilatingwildly. Then, with a sudden cry that startled me, she cried out: "No,no--not that--not that!" And breaking from me, fled up the stairs.
Ifollowed her, afraid that she was going to faint. I found her leaningagainst the bannisters, deadly pale. She waved me away impatiently.
"No, no--leave me. I'd rather be alone. Let me just be quiet for aminute or two. Go down to the others."
I obeyed her reluctantly. John and Lawrence were in the dining-room. Ijoined them. We were all silent, but I suppose I voiced the thoughts ofus all when I at last broke it by saying:
"Where is Mr. Inglethorp?"
John shook his head.
"He's not in the house."
Our eyes met. Where _was_ Alfred Inglethorp? His absence was strangeand inexplicable. I remembered Mrs. Inglethorp's dying words. What laybeneath them? What more could she have told us, if she had had time?
At last we heard the doctors descending the stairs. Dr. Wilkinswas looking important and excited, and trying to conceal an inwardexultation under a manner of decorous calm. Dr. Bauerstein remained inthe background, his grave bearded face unchanged. Dr. Wilkins was thespokesman for the two. He addressed himself to John:
"Mr. Cavendish, I should like your consent to a postmortem."
"Is that necessary?" asked John gravely. A spasm of pain crossed hisface.
"Absolutely," said Dr. Bauerstein.
"You mean by that----?"
"That neither Dr. Wilkins nor myself could give a death certificateunder the circumstances."
John bent his head.
"In that case, I have no alternative but to agree."
"Thank you," said Dr. Wilkins briskly. "We propose that it shouldtake place to-morrow night--or rather to-night." And he glanced at thedaylight. "Under the circumstances, I am afraid an inquest can hardlybe avoided--these formalities are necessary, but I beg that you won'tdistress yourselves."
There was a pause, and then Dr. Bauerstein drew two keys from hispocket, and handed them to John.
"These are the keys of the two rooms. I have locked them and, in myopinion, they would be better kept locked for the present."
The doctors then departed.
I had been turning over an idea in my head, and I felt that the momenthad now come to broach it. Yet I was a little chary of doing so. John,I knew, had a horror of any kind of publicity, and was an easygoingoptimist, who preferred never to meet trouble half-way. It might bedifficult to convince him of the soundness of my plan. Lawrence, on theother hand, being less conventional, and having more imagination, I feltI might count upon as an ally. There was no doubt that the moment hadcome for me to take the lead.
"John," I said, "I am going to ask you something."
"Well?"
"You remember my speaking of my friend Poirot? The Belgian who is here?He has been a most famous detective."
"Yes."
"I want you to let me call him in--to investigate this matter."
"What--now? Before the post-mortem?"
"Yes, time is an advantage if--if--there has been foul play."
"Rubbish!" cried Lawrence angrily. "In my opinion the whole thing isa mare's nest of Bauerstein's! Wilkins hadn't an idea of such a thing,until Bauerstein put it into his head. But, like all specialists,Bauerstein's got a bee in his bonnet. Poisons are his hobby, so ofcourse he sees them everywhere."
I confess that I was surprised by Lawrence's attitude. He was so seldomvehement about anything.
John hesitated.
"I can't feel as you do, Lawrence," he said at last. "I'm inclined togive Hastings a free hand, though I should prefer to wait a bit. Wedon't want any unnecessary scandal."
"No, no," I cried eagerly, "you need have no fear of that. Poirot isdiscretion itself."
"Very well, then, have it your own way. I leave it in your hands.Though, if it is as we suspect, it seems a clear enough case. Godforgive me if I am wronging him!"
I looked at my watch. It was six o'clock. I determined to lose no time.
Five minutes' delay, however, I allowed myself. I spent it in ransackingthe library until I discovered a medical book which gave a descriptionof strychnine poisoning.