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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
notices for the papers； and generally occupying himself with the
melancholy duties that a death entails。
〃May I ask how things are proceeding？〃 he said。 〃Do your
investigations point to my mother having died a natural death oror
must we prepare ourselves for the worst？〃
〃I think； Mr。 Cavendish；〃 said Poirot gravely； 〃that you would do well
not to buoy yourself up with any false hopes。 Can you tell me the views
of the other members of the family？〃
〃My brother Lawrence is convinced that we are making a fuss over
nothing。 He says that everything points to its being a simple case of
heart failure。〃
〃He does； does he？ That is very interestingvery interesting；〃
murmured Poirot softly。 〃And Mrs。 Cavendish？〃
A faint cloud passed over John's face。
〃I have not the least idea what my wife's views on the subject are。〃
The answer brought a momentary stiffness in its train。 John broke
the rather awkward silence by saying with a slight effort：
〃I told you； didn't I； that Mr。 Inglethorp has returned？〃
Poirot bent his head。
〃It's an awkward position for all of us。 Of course one has to treat him
as usualbut； hang it all； one's gorge does rise at sitting down to eat with a
possible murderer！〃
Poirot nodded sympathetically。
〃I quite understand。 It is a very difficult situation for you； Mr。
Cavendish。 I would like to ask you one question。 Mr。 Inglethorp's
reason for not returning last night was； I believe； that he had forgotten the
latch…key。 Is not that so？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I suppose you are quite sure that the latch…key *WAS forgottenthat
he did not take it after all？〃
〃I have no idea。 I never thought of looking。 We always keep it in
the hall drawer。 I'll go and see if it's there now。〃
Poirot held up his hand with a faint smile。
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
〃No； no； Mr。 Cavendish； it is too late now。 I am certain that you
would find it。 If Mr。 Inglethorp did take it； he has had ample time to
replace it by now。〃
〃But do you think〃
〃I think nothing。 If anyone had chanced to look this morning before
his return； and seen it there； it would have been a valuable point in his
favour。 That is all。〃
John looked perplexed。
〃Do not worry；〃 said Poirot smoothly。 〃I assure you that you need
not let it trouble you。 Since you are so kind； let us go and have some
breakfast。〃
Every one was assembled in the dining…room。 Under the
circumstances； we were naturally not a cheerful party。 The reaction after
a shock is always trying； and I think we were all suffering from it。
Decorum and good breeding naturally enjoined that our demeanour should
be much as usual； yet I could not help wondering if this self…control were
really a matter of great difficulty。 There were no red eyes； no signs of
secretly indulged grief。 I felt that I was right in my opinion that Dorcas
was the person most affected by the personal side of the tragedy。
I pass over Alfred Inglethorp； who acted the bereaved widower in a
manner that I felt to be disgusting in its hypocrisy。 Did he know that we
suspected him； I wondered。 Surely he could not be unaware of the fact；
conceal it as we would。 Did he feel some secret stirring of fear； or was
he confident that his crime would go unpunished？ Surely the suspicion in
the atmosphere must warn him that he was already a marked man。
But did every one suspect him？ What about Mrs。 Cavendish？ I
watched her as she sat at the head of the table； graceful； composed；
enigmatic。 In her soft grey frock； with white ruffles at the wrists falling
over her slender hands； she looked very beautiful。 When she chose；
however； her face could be sphinx…like in its inscrutability。 She was very
silent； hardly opening her lips； and yet in some queer way I felt that the
great strength of her personality was dominating us all。
And little Cynthia？ Did she suspect？ She looked very tired and ill； I
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
thought。 The heaviness and languor of her manner were very marked。 I
asked her if she were feeling ill； and she answered frankly：
〃Yes； I've got the most beastly headache。〃
〃Have another cup of coffee； mademoiselle？〃 said Poirot solicitously。
〃It will revive you。 It is unparalleled for the mal de tete。〃 He jumped up
and took her cup。
〃No sugar；〃 said Cynthia； watching him； as he picked up the sugar…
tongs。
〃No sugar？ You abandon it in the war…time； eh？〃
〃No； I never take it in coffee。〃
〃Sacre！〃 murmured Poirot to himself； as he brought back the
replenished cup。
Only I heard him； and glancing up curiously at the little man I saw that
his face was working with suppressed excitement； and his eyes were as
green as a cat's。 He had heard or seen something that had affected him
stronglybut what was it？ I do not usually label myself as dense； but I
must confess that nothing out of the ordinary had attracted *MY attention。
In another moment； the door opened and Dorcas appeared。
〃Mr。 Wells to see you； sir；〃 she said to John。
I remembered the name as being that of the lawyer to whom Mrs。
Inglethorp had written the night before。
John rose immediately。
〃Show him into my study。〃 Then he turned to us。 〃My mother's
lawyer；〃 he explained。 And in a lower voice： 〃He is also Coroneryou
understand。 Perhaps you would like to come with me？〃
We acquiesced and followed him out of the room。 John strode on
ahead and I took the opportunity of whispering to Poirot：
〃There will be an inquest then？〃
Poirot nodded absently。 He seemed absorbed in thought； so much so
that my curiosity was aroused。
〃What is it？ You are not attending to what I say。〃
〃It is true； my friend。 I am much worried。〃 〃Why？〃
〃Because Mademoiselle Cynthia does not take sugar in her coffee。〃
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〃What？ You cannot be serious？〃
〃But I am most serious。 Ah； there is something there that I do not
understand。 My instinct was right。〃
〃What instinct？〃
〃The instinct that led me to insist on examining those coffee…cups。
Chut！ no more now！〃
We followed John into his study； and he closed the door behind us。
Mr。 Wells was a pleasant man of middle…age； with keen eyes； and the
typical lawyer's mouth。 John introduced us both； and explained the
reason of our presence。
〃You will understand； Wells；〃 he added； 〃that this is all strictly private。
We are still hoping that there will