“It will be for you to make the explanations,” I thought to myself as I remembered where the key had been found, and I must confess that I longed to break the solemn promise I had only just made.
Directly the doctor took his seat, Kenneth got up from his with deliberate ostentation, though he obviously hadn’t finished his lunch, asking Ethel if she would go with him into the drawing-room. She followed him reluctantly, and The Tundish went on with his meal, but I could see that his thoughts, like mine, were busy with the subject of their conversation.
Shortly after they had left us Allport came in followed by Inspector Brown. The Tundish, bland and dignified, rose at once to greet them. “I am so sorry that I have put you to all the trouble of sending out a man to track me down,” he said, offering his hand to the inspector, with whom he was evidently acquainted, “but I must confess that I deliberately omitted to leave my address—my case was a serious one and I had no wish to be interrupted. But now, gentlemen, I am entirely at your disposal.” He turned to Allport with hand outstretched, a quick look at Inspector Brown inviting an introduction.
The detective took his hand at once, saying, “That’s all right, Doctor, though I admit that you have caused me some anxiety. Now I should like you to take me into the dispensary and show me the poison cupboard which up to now we haven’t disturbed.”
The Tundish asked if I might accompany them, explaining how I had been with him when the cupboard was last opened, and that I could testify to the position of some of the bottles. Allport agreed, and I went along with them.
The safe was opened, and for a time he stood silently looking at the collection of bottles; I could see how immediately the Chinese flagon attracted his attention. The doctor told him which bottle he had used in preparing the fatal draft. Allport grunted, and asked the inspector to fetch him his bag from the hall. From it he took a pair of rubber gloves, and putting them on, he picked up the bottle, and placed it carefully in a box containing cotton wool at the bottom of the bag.
Next, he asked The Tundish from which bottle he thought the poison had been taken, assuming that an addition had been made to the sleeping draft in the manner he suspected.
“That is undoubtedly the bottle,” The Tundish replied, pointing to the little flagon.
“You say—undoubtedly—how can you be so sure that it was poison from that particular little bottle, and not from one of the others? There are many to choose from.”
“I am sure about it, first, because of the peculiarly bloodshot eyes, and second, because of its very unusual smell. I smelled the dregs at the bottom of the medicine glass when I went up-stairs immediately after breakfast to make my first examination, and having smelled it before I can not be mistaken.”