hehadalreadyspokenofthettertothepoliade,heuldhushthetterup”loneljohnsonsaid:”andifthesuspectdidntrespond””inthatcase,heanttoplacetheinvestigationinourhands”loneljohnsonfrooustachehederred
”takethatursebeforecallingyouin”
”no,no,sir”thesuperintendentshookhishead”dontyousee,ifhehaddohat,itghthavebeenbluffitightsaytohielf,theoldnatteransaystohiivealreadyspokentothepolisthathesays,yes,thesuperintendentanansbusinessanditsuptohioughupthestones””hyes,iseethat,”saidloneljohnson”anyidea,sugden,eerofthefalyghtbe””no,sir”
”noindicationsoever”
”none”
johnsonshookhisheadthenhesaid:”sgetonhit”superintendentsugdenresudhisofficialnner”iretuedtothehouse,sir,atninefifteenpreotionirangseveraltisandalsousedtheknoethingntoushadorleesroonastateofselfofthefirehhisthroatcutinapoolofblood”theself”
sugdenshookhishead
”iossible,sirforohing,thereents,andthenthereehadbeentted”thesn”
”stofthefalyhere,sirjuststandinground”
loneljohnsonsaidsharply:”anyideas,sugden”thesuperintendentsaidsloeasthoughoneoftheusthavedoneitidontseehooutsideuldhavedoneitandgotae””aboutthelosedoropen”
”therearet,sironebutitoreover,ivetrieditanditsstuckfasthasntbeenopenedforyears,ishouldsayalsotheoothandunbrokennoivyorcreepersidontseehothatway””hoanydoorsintheroo
”justonetheroosattheendofapassagethatdooransdyingscreaandrushedupstairs,theyhadtobreakdohedoortogetin”johnsonsaidsharply:”and”
superintendentsugdenrepliedgravely:”nobody,sir,exanorethanafeinutespreviously”vii
loneljohnsonstaredatsugdenforsonutesbeforehespluttered:”doyouantotell,superintendent,thatthisisoneofthosedaedbysoapparentlysupeaturalagency”averyfaintsleagitatedthesuperintendentsustacheasherepliedgravely:”idonotthinkitsquiteasbadasthat,sir”loneljohnsonsaid:”suicideitstbesuicide””hedo”
”thenhourdererescapebythewindow”
sugdenshookhishead
”illtakeoathhedidntdothat”
”butthedoorheinside”
thesuperintendentnoddedhedrehispocketandlaiditonthetable”nofingerprints,”heannounced”butjustlookatthatkey,sirtakealookatitagnifyingglassthere”poirotbentforinedthekeytogetherthechiefnstableutteredanexclation”byjove,igetyouthosefaints,poirot”
”butyes,iseethatans,doesitnot,thatthekeyoutsidethedoortuedbyansofaspecialilentthatthroughthekeyholeandgrippedthebarrelpossiblyanordinarypairofpliers”thesuperintendentnodded
”itcanbedoneallright”
poirotsaid:”theideabeing,then,thatthedeath””thatrpoirot,notadoubtofit,ishouldsay”
poirotshookhisheaddoubtfully
”butthedisorderintheroosyousay,thatbyitselfurderertorights”superintendentsugdensaid:”buthehadntti,poirotthatstheeletssayheuntedonanunaeoffthereundeeath;and,ore,theoldgentlenerushinguptherderersonlygottitonipoutoftheroondtuthekeyfroheoutside””thatistrue,”poirotadtted”yourrderer,heyhavedethebunglebutostgrave”superintendentsugdensaidstolidly:”crinalsusuallykestakesthatsourexperience”poirotgavealightsighherred:”butallthesa,inspiteofhisstakes,hehasescaped,thiscrinal””idontthinkhehasexactlyescaped”
”youanheisinthehousestill”
”idontseewasaninsidejob”
”but,toutde,”poirotpointedoutgently,”hehasescapedtothisextent:youdonotknohoheis”superintendentsugdensaidgentlybutfiry:”iratherfancythatdoneanyquestioningofthehouseholdyet”loneljohnsonetheoutsidesthavehadsoknoinalexperienanage””youanitwasaprofessionaljob,sir”
”thatsean”
