Chapter VIII. Fresh Suspicions

           Therewasamoment’sstupefiedsilence.Japp,whowastheleastsurprisedofanyofus,wasthefirsttospeak.

           “Myword,”hecried,“you’rethegoods!Andnomistake,Mr.Poirot!Thesewitnessesofyoursareallright,Isuppose?”

           “Voilà!Ihavepreparedalistofthem—namesandaddresses.Youmustseethem,ofcourse.Butyouwillfinditallright.”

           “I’msureofthat.”Japploweredhisvoice.“I’mmuchobligedtoyou.Aprettymare’snestarrestinghimwouldhavebeen.”HeturnedtoInglethorp.“But,ifyou’llexcuseme,sir,whycouldn’tyousayallthisattheinquest?”

           “Iwilltellyouwhy,”interruptedPoirot.“Therewasacertainrumour——”

           “Amostmaliciousandutterlyuntrueone,”interruptedAlfredInglethorpinanagitatedvoice.

           “AndMr.Inglethorpwasanxioustohavenoscandalrevivedjustatpresent.AmIright?”

           “Quiteright.”Inglethorpnodded.“WithmypoorEmilynotyetburied,canyouwonderIwasanxiousthatnomorelyingrumoursshouldbestarted.”

           “Betweenyouandme,sir,”remarkedJapp,“I’dsoonerhaveanyamountofrumoursthanbearrestedformurder.AndIventuretothinkyourpoorladywouldhavefeltthesame.And,ifithadn’tbeenforMr.Poirothere,arrestedyouwouldhavebeen,assureaseggsiseggs!”

           “Iwasfoolish,nodoubt,”murmuredInglethorp.“Butyoudonotknow,inspector,howIhavebeenpersecutedandmaligned.”AndheshotabalefulglanceatEvelynHoward.