ROUND THE TABLE
Poirot became suddenly very foreign in manner, as he often did when excited over anything.
"M. l'Inspecteur," he said, "beware of the blind–the blind–comment dire?–the little street that has no end to it."
Inspector Raglan stared, but I was quicker.
"You mean a blind alley?" I said.
"That is it–the blind street that leads nowhere. So it may be with those fingerprints–they may lead you nowhere."
"I don't see how that can well be," said the police officer. "I suppose you're hinting that they're faked? I've read of such things being done, though I can't say I've ever come across it in my experience. But fake or true–they're bound to lead somewhere."
Poirot merely shrugged his shoulders, flinging out his arms wide.
The inspector then showed us various enlarged photographs of the fingerprints, and proceeded to become technical on the subject of loops and whorls.
"Come now," he said at last, annoyed by Poirot's detached manner, "you've got to admit that those prints were made by some one who was in the house that night?"
"Bien entendu," said Poirot, nodding his head.
"Well, I've taken the prints of every member of the household, every one, mind you, from the old lady down to the kitchenmaid."
I don't think Mrs. Ackroyd would enjoy being referred to as the old lady. She must spend a considerable amount on cosmetics.
[147]
