Agatha Christie The Hollow Chapter I At 6:13 a.m. ... - bzelbublive.info

He said, "The adjourned inquest's the day after tomorrow and where have we got?Nowhere at all. What the hell, that gun must be somewhere! It's this damnedcountry-- miles of woods. It would take an army to search them properly. Talk of aneedle in a haystack. It may be anywhere. The fact is, we've got to face up to it--wemay never find that gun." "You will find it," said Poirot confidently. "Well,it won't be for want of trying!" "You will find it, sooner or later. And I should saysooner. Another cup of tea?" "I don't mind if I do--no, no hot water." "It is nottoo strong?" "Oh, no, it's not too strong." The Inspector was conscious ofunderstatement. Gloomily he sipped at the pale straw-colouredbeverage. "This case is making a monkey of me, M. Poirot--a monkey of me! Ican't get the hang of these people. They seem helpful--but everything they tell youseems to lead you away on a wild-goose chase." "Away?" said Poirot. A startledlook came into his eyes. "Yes, I see. Away ..." The Inspector was developing hisgrievance. "Take the gun now. Christow was shot-- according to the medicalevidence--only a minute or two before your arrival. Lady Angkatell had that eggbasket. Miss Savernake had a gardening basket full of dead flower heads, andEdward Angkatell was wearing a loose shooting coat with largepockets stuffed with cartridges. Any one of them could have carried the revolver awaywith them. It wasn't hidden anywhere near the pool--my men have raked the place, sothat's definitely out." Poirot nodded. Grange went on: "Gerda Christow wasframed--by whom? That's where every clue I follow seems to vanish into thin air.""Their stories of how they spent the morning are satisfactory?" "The stories areall right. Miss Savernake was gardening. Lady Angkatell was collecting eggs.Edward Angkatell and Sir Henry were shooting and separated at the end of themorning--Sir Henry coming back to the house and Edward Angkatell coming downhere through the woods. The young fellowwas up in his bedroom reading. (Funny place to read on a nice day, but he's theindoor bookish kind.) Miss Hardcastle took a book down to the orchard. Allsounds very natural and likely 3 and there's no means of checking up on it.Gudgeon took a tray of glasses out to the pavilion about twelve o'clock. He can'tsay where any of the house party were or what they were doing. In a way, you know,there's something against almost all of them?" "Really?" "Of course, themost obvious person is Veronica Cray; she had quarrelled with Christow, shehated his guts, she's quite likely to have shot him--but I can't find the least iota ofproof that she did shoot him. No evidence as to her having had any opportunityto pinch the revolvers from Sir Henry's collection, no one who saw her going toor from the pool that day. And the missing revolver definitely isn't in her possessionnow." "Ah, you have made sure of that?" "What do you think? The evidencewould have justified a search warrant but there was no need. She was quitegracious about it. It's not anywhere in that tin-pot bungalow. After the inquest wasadjourned, we made a show of letting up on Miss Cray and Miss Savernake, andwe've had a tail on them to see where they went and what they'd do. We've had a