` ` I was puzzled. The man spoke with such quiet assurance that I ` ` was staggered. I looked at Poirot. There was an expression of ` ` exultation on his face which I could not understand. Was he at ` ` last convinced of Alfred Inglethorp's guilt? ` ` ` ` "Mr. Inglethorp," said the Coroner, "you have heard your wife's ` ` dying words repeated here. Can you explain them in any way?" ` ` ` ` "Certainly I can." ` ` ` ` "You can?" ` ` ` ` "It seems to me very simple. The room was dimly lighted. Dr. ` ` Bauerstein is much of my height and build, and, like me, wears a ` ` beard. In the dim light, and suffering as she was, my poor wife ` ` mistook him for me." ` ` ` ` "Ah!" murmured Poirot to himself. "But it is an idea, that!" ` ` ` ` "You think it is true?" I whispered. ` ` ` ` "I do not say that. But it is truly an ingenious supposition." ` ` ` ` "You read my wife's last words as an accusation"--Inglethorp was ` ` continuing--"they were, on the contrary, an appeal to me." ` ` ` ` The Coroner reflected a moment, then he said: ` ` ` ` "I believe, Mr. Inglethorp, that you yourself poured out the ` ` coffee, and took it to your wife that evening?" ` ` ` ` "I poured it out, yes. But I did not take it to her. I meant to ` ` do so, but I was told that a friend was at the hall door, so I ` ` laid down the coffee on the hall table. When I came through the ` ` hall again a few minutes later, it was gone." ` ` ` ` This statement might, or might not, be true, but it did not seem ` ` to me to improve matters much for Inglethorp. In any case, he ` ` had had ample time to introduce the poison. ` ` ` ` At that point, Poirot nudged me gently, indicating two men who ` ` were sitting together near the door. One was a little, sharp, ` ` dark, ferret-faced man, the other was tall and fair. ` ` ` ` I questioned Poirot mutely. He put his lips to my ear. ` ` ` ` "Do you know who that little man is?" ` ` ` ` I shook my head. ` ` ` ` "That is Detective Inspector James Japp of Scotland Yard--Jimmy ` ` Japp. The other man is from Scotland Yard too. Things are ` ` moving quickly, my friend." ` ` ` ` I stared at the two men intently. There was certainly nothing of ` ` the policeman about them. I should never have suspected them of ` ` being official personages. ` ` ` ` I was still staring, when I was startled and recalled by the ` ` verdict being given: ` ` ` ` "Wilful Murder against some person or persons unknown." ` `