Chapter Twenty-Six (Not from Captain Hastings'Personal Narrative) Inspector Crome was listening to the excited utterances of Mr Leadbetter. "I assure you£¬inspector£¬my heart misses a beat when I think of it.He must actually have been sitting beside me all through the programme!" Inspector Crome£¬completely indifferent to the behaviour of Mr Leadbetter's heart£¬said: "Just let me have it quite clear?This man went out towards the close of the big picture-""Not a Sparrow-Katherine Royal£¬"murmured Mr Leadbetter automatically. "He passed you and in doing so stumbled-""He pretended to stumble£¬I see it now.Then he leaned over the seat in front to pick up his hat.He must have stabbed the poor fellow then." "You didn't hear anything?A cry?Or a groan?" Mr Leadbetter had heard nothing but the loud£¬hoarse accents of Katherine Royal£¬but in the vividness of his imagination he invented a groan. Inspector Crome took the groan at its face value and bade him proceed. "And then he went out-""Can you describe him?" "He was a very big man.Six foot at least.A giant." "Fair or dark?" "I-well-I'm not exactly sure.I think he was bald.A sinister-looking fellow." "He didn't limp£¬did he?"asked Inspector Crome. "Yes-yes£¬now you come to speak of it I think he did limp.Very dark£¬he might have been some kind of half-caste." "Was he in his seat the last time the lights came up?" "No.He came in after the big picture began." Inspector Crome nodded£¬handed Mr Leadbetter a statement to sign and got rid of him. "That's about as bad a witness as you'll find£¬"he remarked pessimistically."He'd say anything with a little leading.It's perfectly clear that he hasn't the faintest idea what our man looks like.Let's have the commissionaire back." The commissionaire£¬very stiff and military£¬came in and stood to attention£¬his eyes fixed on Colonel Anderson. "Now£¬then£¬Jameson£¬let's hear your story." Jameson saluted. "Yes sir.Close of the performance£¬sir.I was told there was a gentleman taken ill£¬sir.Gentleman was in the two and fourpennies£¬slumped down in his seat like.Other gentlemen standing around. Gentleman looked bad to me£¬sir.One of the gentlemen standing by put his hand to the ill gentleman's coat and drew my attention.Blood£¬sir.It was clear the gentleman was dead-stabbed£¬sir.My attention was drawn to an A B C railway guide£¬sir£¬under the seat.Wishing to act correctly£¬I did not touch same£¬but reported to the police immediately that a tragedy had occurred." "Very good.Jameson£¬you acted very properly." "Thank you£¬sir." "Did you notice a man leaving the two and fourpennies about five minutes earlier?" "There were several£¬sir." "Could you describe them?" "Afraid not£¬sir.One was Mr Geoffery Parnell. And there was a young fellow£¬Sam Baker£¬with his young lady.I didn't notice anybody else particular." "A pity.That'll do£¬Jameson." "Yes sir." The commissionaire saluted and departed. "The medical details we've got£¬"said Colonel Anderson."We'd better have the fellow that found him next." A police constable came in and saluted. "Mr Hercule Poirot's here£¬sir£¬and another gentleman." Inspector Crome frowned. "Oh£¬well£¬"he said."Better have'em in£¬I suppose."