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| The Mysterious Affair at Styles | Agatha Christie |
XI. The Case For The Prosecution |
Page 11 of 11 |
"What is the trouble?" I asked. With a great thump on the table, Poirot demolished his carefully built up edifice. "It is this, mon ami! That I can build card houses seven stories high, but I cannot"--thump--"find"--thump--"that last link of which I spoke to you." I could not quite tell what to say, so I held my peace, and he began slowly building up the cards again, speaking in jerks as he did so. "It is done--so! By placing--one card--on another--with mathematical--precision!" I watched the card house rising under his hands, story by story. He never hesitated or faltered. It was really almost like a conjuring trick. "What a steady hand you've got," I remarked. "I believe I've only seen your hand shake once." "On an occasion when I was enraged, without doubt," observed Poirot, with great placidity. "Yes indeed! You were in a towering rage. Do you remember? It was when you discovered that the lock of the despatch-case in Mrs. Inglethorp's bedroom had been forced. You stood by the mantel-piece, twiddling the things on it in your usual fashion, and your hand shook like a leaf! I must say----" But I stopped suddenly. For Poirot, uttering a hoarse and inarticulate cry, again annihilated his masterpiece of cards, and putting his hands over his eyes swayed backwards and forwards, apparently suffering the keenest agony. "Good heavens, Poirot!" I cried. "What is the matter? Are you taken ill?" "No, no," he gasped. "It is--it is--that I have an idea!" "Oh!" I exclaimed, much relieved. "One of your 'little ideas'?" "Ah, ma foi, no!" replied Poirot frankly. "This time it is an idea gigantic! Stupendous! And you--*YOU, my friend, have given it to me!" Suddenly clasping me in his arms, he kissed me warmly on both cheeks, and before I had recovered from my surprise ran headlong from the room. Mary Cavendish entered at that moment. |
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The Mysterious Affair at Styles Agatha Christie |
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