Page:The Big Four (Christie).pdf/143

 important. Every one has said—‘Yellow Jasmine? There is yellow jasmine growing up the house—it means nothing.’”

“Well, what does it mean? Just what it says. Listen.” He held up a little book he was holding.

“My friend, it struck me that it would be well to inquire into the subject. What exactly is yellow jasmine ? This little book has told me. Listen.”

He read.

“Gelsemini Radix. Yellow Jasmine. Composition: Alkaloids gelseminine C$22$H$26$N$2$O$3$, a potent poison acting like coniine; gelsemine C$12$H$14$NO$2$, acting like strychnine; gelsemie acid, etc. Gelsemium is a powerful depressant to the central nervous system. At a late stage in its action it paralyses the motor nerve endings, and in large doses causes giddiness and loss of muscular power. Death is due to paralysis of the respiratory centre.”

“You see, Hastings? At the beginning I had an inkling of the truth when Japp made his remark about a live man being forced into the fire. I realised then that it was a dead man who was burned.”

“But why? What was the point?”

“My friend, if you were to shoot a man, or