Page:Christie - The Mysterious Affair at Styles.djvu/128

 my lips, when Poirot stopped me with a gesture of his hand.

"Not now, not now, mon ami. I have need of reflection.  My mind is in some disorder—which is not well."

For about ten minutes he sat in dead silence, perfectly still, except for several expressive motions of his eyebrows, and all the time his eyes grew steadily greener. At last he heaved a deep sigh.

"It is well. The bad moment has passed.  Now all is arranged and classified.  One must never permit confusion.  The case is not clear yet—no.  For it is of the most complicated! It puzzles me.  Me, Hercule Poirot! There are two facts of significance."

"And what are they?"

"The first is the state of the weather yesterday. That is very important."

"But it was a glorious day!" I interrupted. "Poirot, you're pulling my leg!"

"Not at all. The thermometer registered 80° in the shade. Do not forget that, my friend.  It is the key to the whole riddle!"

"And the second point?" I asked.

"The important fact that Monsieur Inglethorp wears very peculiar clothes, has a black beard, and uses glasses."

"Poirot, I cannot believe you are serious."