CHAPTER VI.

THE INQUEST


In the interval before the inquest, Poirot was unfailing in his
activity. Twice he was closeted with Mr. Wells. He also took
long walks into the country. I rather resented his not taking me
into his confidence, the more so as I could not in the least
guess what he was driving at.

It occurred to me that he might have been making inquiries at
Raikes's farm; so, finding him out when I called at Leastways
Cottage on Wednesday evening, I walked over there by the fields,
hoping to meet him. But there was no sign of him, and I
hesitated to go right up to the farm itself. As I walked away, I
met an aged rustic, who leered at me cunningly.

"You'm from the Hall, bain't you?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm looking for a friend of mine whom I thought might have
walked this way."

"A little chap? As waves his hands when he talks? One of them
Belgies from the village?"

"Yes," I said eagerly. "He has been here, then?"

"Oh, ay, he's been here, right enough. More'n once too. Friend
of yours, is he? Ah, you gentlemen from the Hall--you'n a pretty