who wished to commit suicide by causing himself to be hanged, would act so!”
“Still—I do not see—” I began.
“Neither do I see. I tell you, mon ami, it puzzles me. Me —Hercule Poirot!”
“But if you believe him innocent, how do you explain his buying the strychnine?”
“Very simply. He did not buy it.”
“But Mace recognized him!”
“I beg your pardon, he saw a man with a black beard like Mr. Inglethorp’s, and wearing glasses like Mr. Inglethorp,
who wished to commit suicide by causing himself to be hanged, would act so!”
“Still—I do not see—” I began.
“Neither do I see. I tell you, mon ami, it puzzles me. Me —Hercule Poirot!”
“But if you believe him innocent, how do you explain his buying the strychnine?”
“Very simply. He did not buy it.”
“But Mace recognized him!”
“I beg your pardon, he saw a man with a black beard like Mr. Inglethorp’s, and wearing glasses like Mr. Inglethorp,
