The Whole Truth

           AslightgesturefromPoirotenjoinedmetostaybehindtherest.Iobeyed,goingovertothefireandthoughtfullystirringthebiglogsonitwiththetoeofmyboot.

           Iwaspuzzled.ForthefirsttimeIwasabsolutelyatseaastoPoirot’smeaning.ForamomentIwasinclinedtothinkthatthesceneIhadjustwitnessedwasagiganticpieceofbombast–thathehadbeenwhathecalled"playingthecomedy"withaviewtomakinghimselfinterestingandimportant.But,inspiteofmyself,Iwasforcedtobelieveinanunderlyingreality.Therehadbeenrealmenaceinhiswords–acertainindisputablesincerity.ButIstillbelievedhimtobeonentirelythewrongtack.

           Whenthedoorshutbehindthelastofthepartyhecameovertothefire.

           "Well,myfriend,"hesaidquietly,"andwhatdoyouthinkofitall?""Idon’tknowwhattothink,"Isaidfrankly."Whatwasthepoint?WhynotgostraighttoInspectorRaglanwiththetruthinsteadofgivingtheguiltypersonthiselaboratewarning?"PoirotsatdownanddrewouthiscaseoftinyRussiancigarettes.Hesmokedforaminuteortwoinsilence.Then:"Useyourlittlegreycells,"hesaid."Thereisalwaysareasonbehindmyactions."Ihesitatedforamoment,andthenIsaidslowly:"Thefirstonethatoccurstomeisthatyouyourselfdonotknowwhotheguiltypersonis,butthatyouaresurethatheistobefoundamongstthepeopleheretonight.