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The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

Page 69

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as far as the family go, that's where the matter

stands. They're awaiting the result of the postmortem.

We've got a bit farther. The doctor gave

us the tip right away--he and the police surgeon

did the autopsy together--and the result is in no

doubt whatever. The old lady died of a large dose

of strychnine."

"Aha!"

"That's right. Very nasty bit of work. Point is,

who gave it to her? It must have been administered

very shortly before death. First idea was it was

given to her in her food at dinner--but, frankly,

that seems to be a washout. They had artichoke

soup, served from a tureen, fish pie and apple

tart."

"'They' being?"

"Miss Barrowby, Mr. Delafontaine and Mrs.

Delafontaine. Miss Barrowby had a kind of nurse-attendant--a

half Russian girl--but she didn't eat

with the family. She had the remains as they came out from the dining room. There's a maid, but it

was her night out. She left the soup on the stove

and the fish pie in the oven, and the apple tart was

cold. All three of them ate the same thing--and,

apart from that, I don't think you could get

strychnine down anyone's throat that way. Stuff's

66

Agatha Christie

as bitter as gall. The doctor told me you could

taste it in a solution of one in a thousand, or something

like that."



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