the little man I saw that
his face was working with suppressed excitement, and his eyes were as
green as a cat's. He had heard or seen something that had affected him
strongly--but what was it? I do not usually label myself as dense, but
I must confess that nothing out of the ordinary had attracted _my_
attention.

In another moment, the door opened and Dorcas appeared.

"Mr. Wells to see you, sir," she said to John.

I remembered the name as being that of the lawyer to whom Mrs.
Inglethorp had written the night before.

John rose immediately.

"Show him into my study." Then he turned to us. "My mother's lawyer,"
he explained. And in a lower voice: "He is also Coroner--you understand.
Perhaps you would like to come with me?"

We acquiesced and followed him out of the room. John strode on ahead and
I took the opportunity of whispering to Poirot:

"There will be an inquest then?"

Poirot nodded absently. He seemed absorbed in thought; so much so that
my curiosity was aroused.

"What is it? You are not attending to what I say."

"It is true, my friend. I am much worried."

"Why?"

"Because Mademoiselle Cynthia does not take sugar in her coffee."

"What? You cannot be serious?"

"But I am most serious. Ah, there is something there that I do not
understand. My instinct was right."

"What instinct?"

"The instinct that led me to insist on examining those coffee-cups.
Chut! no more now!"

We followed John into his study, and he closed the door behind us.

Mr. Wells was a pleasant man of middle-age, with keen eyes, and the
typical lawyer's mouth. John introduced us both, and explained the
reason of our presence.

"You will understand, Wells," he added, "that this is all strictly
private. We are still hoping that there will turn out to be no need for
investigation of any kind."

"Quite so, quite so," said Mr. Wells soothingly. "I wish we could have
spared you the pain and publicity of an inquest, but of course it's
quite unavoidable in the absence of a doctor's certificate."

"Yes, I suppose so."

"Clever man, Bauerstein. Great authority on toxicology, I believe."

"Indeed," said John with a certain stiffness in his manner. Then he
added rather hesitatingly: "Shall we have to appear as witnesses--all of
us, I mean?"

"You, of course--and ah--er--Mr.--er--Inglethorp."

A slight pause ensued before the lawyer went on in his soothing manner:

"Any other evidence will be simply confirmatory, a mer