Page:The Big Four (Christie).pdf/47

Rh “Not at all,” said Mr. Ingles, with a faint smile; “the adjective is perfectly understood.”

“I traced them to the kitchen—but not beyond. Point Number One. On the lintel of Robert Grant’s door was a faint smear—a smear of blood. That’s point Number Two. Point Number Three was when I got hold of Grant’s boots—which he had taken off—and fitted them to the marks. That settled it. It was an inside job. I warned Grant and took him into custody; and what do you think I found packed away in his portmanteau? The little jade figures and a ticket-of-leave. Robert Grant was also Abraham Biggs, convicted for felony and housebreaking five years ago.”

The Inspector paused triumphantly.

“What do you think of that, gentlemen?”

“I think,” said Poirot, “that it appears a clear case—of a surprising clearness, in fact. This Biggs, or Grant, he must be a man very very foolish and uneducated, eh?”

“Oh, he is that—a rough, common sort of follow. No idea of what a footprint may mean.”

“Clearly he reads not the detective fiction! Well, Inspector, I congratulate you. We may look at the scene of the crime. Yes?”

“I’ll take you there myself this minute. I’d like you to see those footprints.”