"Not thorough enough. It looks now as though an outsider is mixed up in it - some woman, perhaps, that Underhay knew in Warmsley Vale."

"And who was with him at a quarter past ten on Tuesday evening?"

"Yes," said Spence. He added with a sigh, "This lets David Hunter out."

"It does?"

"Yes. His lordship has consented to make a statement at last. After his solicitor had been along to make him see reason. Here's his account of his own movements."

Poirot read a neat typed memorandum.

Left London 4.16 train for Warmsley Heath. Arrived there 5.30. Walked to Furrowbank by footpath.

"His reason for coming down," the Superintendent broke in, "was, according to him, to get certain things he'd left behind, letters and papers, a chequebook, and to see if some shirts had come back from the laundry - which, of course, they hadn't. My word, laundry's a problem nowadays. Four ruddy weeks since they've been to our place

-not a clean towel left in our house, and the wife washes all my things herself now."

After this very human interpolation the Superintendent returned to the itinerary of David's movements.

"Left Furrowbank at 7.25 and states he went for a walk as he had missed the 7.20 train and there would be no train until the 9.20."

"In what direction did he go for a walk?" asked Poirot.

The Superintendent consulted his notes.

"Says by Downe Copse, Bats Hill and Long Ridge."

"In fact, a complete circular tour round the White House!"

"My word, you pick up local geography quickly, M. Poirot!"

Poirot smiled and shook his head.

"No, I did not know the places you named. I was making a guess."

"Oh, you were, were you?" The Superintendent cocked his head on one side.

"Then, according to him, when he was up on Long Ridge, he realised he was cutting it rather fine and fairly hared it for Warmsley Heath station, going across country. He caught the train by the skin of his teeth, arrived at Victoria 10.45, walked to Shepherd's Court, arriving there at eleven o'clock, which latter statement is confirmed by Mrs Gordon Cloade."

"And what confirmation have you of the rest of it?"

"Remarkably little - but there is some. Rowley Cloade and others saw him arrive at Warmsley Heath. The maids at Furrowbank were out (he had his own key of course) so they didn't see him, but they found a cigarette stump in the library which I gather intrigued them and also found a good deal of confusion in the linen cupboard. Then one of the gardeners was there working late - shutting up greenhouses or something and he caught sight of him. Miss Marchmont met him up by Mardon Wood - when he was running for the train."

"Did any one see him catch the train?"

"No - but he telephoned from London to Miss Marchmont as soon as he got back - at 11.05."

"That is checked?"