"We will look through the desk in the boudoir first," explained
John, "and go up to her bedroom afterwards. She kept her most
important papers in a purple despatch-case, which we must look
through carefully."

"Yes," said the lawyer, "it is quite possible that there may be a
later will than the one in my possession."

"There _is_ a later will." It was Poirot who spoke.

"What?" John and the lawyer looked at him startled.

"Or, rather," pursued my friend imperturbably, "there _was_ one."

"What do you mean--there was one? Where is it now?"

"Burnt!"

"Burnt?"

"Yes. See here." He took out the charred fragment we had found
in the grate in Mrs. Inglethorp's room, and handed it to the
lawyer with a brief explanation of when and where he had found
it.

"But possibly this is an old will?"

"I do not think so. In fact I am almost certain that it was made
no earlier than yesterday afternoon."