夜雨聆风went back to my room. I had a bottle of whisky there – most of us hadat Styles. I got out two glasses and a syphon. I’d never known Allerton re-fuse a drink yet. When he came up I’d ask him in for a nightcap.
I tried the tablets in a little of the spirit. They dissolved easily enough. Itasted the mixture gingerly. A shade bitter perhaps but hardly noticeable.
I had my plan. I should be just pouring myself out a drink when Allertoncame up. I would hand that to him and pour myself out another. All quiteeasy and natural.
He could have no idea of my feelings – unless of course Judith had toldhim. I considered this for a moment, but decided that I was quite safehere. Judith never told anyone anything.
He would probably believe me to be quite unsuspicious of their plan.
I had nothing to do but to wait. It would be a long time, probably anhour or two, before Allerton came up to bed. He was always a late bird.
I sat there quietly waiting.
A sudden knock on the door made me start. It was only Curtiss, how-ever. Poirot was asking for me.
I came to myself with a shock. Poirot! I had never once thought of himall evening. He must have wondered what had become of me. It worriedme a little. First of all because I was ashamed of never having been nearhim, and secondly I did not want him to suspect that anything out of theway had happened.
I followed Curtiss across the passage.
‘Eh bien!’ exclaimed Poirot. ‘So you desert me, hein?’
I forced a yawn and an apologetic smile. ‘Awfully sorry, old boy,’ I said.