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schoolfellow of hers； who married a rascally solicitor。 He came a
cropper； and the girl was left an orphan and penniless。 My mother came
to the rescue； and Cynthia has been with us nearly two years now。 She
works in the Red Cross Hospital at Tadminster； seven miles away。〃
As he spoke the last words； we drew up in front of the fine old house。
A lady in a stout tweed skirt； who was bending over a flower bed；
straightened herself at our approach。
〃Hullo； Evie； here's our wounded hero！ Mr。 HastingsMiss Howard。〃
Miss Howard shook hands with a hearty； almost painful； grip。 I had
an impression of very blue eyes in a sunburnt face。 She was a pleasant…
looking woman of about forty； with a deep voice； almost manly in its
stentorian tones； and had a large sensible square body； with feet to match
these last encased in good thick boots。 Her conversation； I soon found；
was couched in the telegraphic style。
〃Weeds grow like house afire。 Can't keep even with 'em。 Shall
press you in。 Better be careful。〃
〃I'm sure I shall be only too delighted to make myself useful；〃 I
responded。
〃Don't say it。 Never does。 Wish you hadn't later。〃
〃You're a cynic； Evie；〃 said John； laughing。 〃Where's tea to…day
inside or out？〃
〃Out。 Too fine a day to be cooped up in the house。〃
〃Come on then； you've done enough gardening for to…day。 'The
labourer is worthy of his hire'； you know。 Come and be refreshed。〃
〃Well；〃 said Miss Howard； drawing off her gardening gloves； 〃I'm
inclined to agree with you。〃
She led the way round the house to where tea was spread under the
shade of a large sycamore。
A figure rose from one of the basket chairs； and came a few steps to
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meet us。
〃My wife； Hastings；〃 said John。
I shall never forget my first sight of Mary Cavendish。 Her tall；
slender form； outlined against the bright light； the vivid sense of
slumbering fire that seemed to find expression only in those wonderful
tawny eyes of hers； remarkable eyes； different from any other woman's
that I have ever known； the intense power of stillness she possessed；
which nevertheless conveyed the impression of a wild untamed spirit in an
exquisitely civilised bodyall these things are burnt into my memory。 I
shall never forget them。
She greeted me with a few words of pleasant welcome in a low clear
voice； and I sank into a basket chair feeling distinctly glad that I had
accepted John's invitation。 Mrs。 Cavendish gave me some tea； and her
few quiet remarks heightened my first impression of her as a thoroughly
fascinating woman。 An appreciative listener is always stimulating； and I
described； in a humorous manner； certain incidents of my Convalescent
Home； in a way which； I flatter myself； greatly amused my hostess。 John；
of course； good fellow though he is； could hardly be called a brilliant
conversationalist。
At that moment a well remembered voice floated through the open
French window near at hand：
〃Then you'll write to the Princess after tea； Alfred？ I'll write to Lady
Tadminster for the second day； myself。 Or shall we wait until we hear
from the Princess？ In case of a refusal； Lady Tadminster might open it the
first day； and Mrs。 Crosbie the second。 Then there's the Duchessabout
the school fete。〃
There was the murmur of a man's voice； and then Mrs。 Inglethorp's
rose in reply：
〃Yes； certainly。 After tea will do quite well。 You are so thoughtful；
Alfred dear。〃
The French window swung open a little wider； and a handsome white…
haired old lady； with a somewhat masterful cast of features； stepped out of
it on to the lawn。 A man followed her； a suggestion of deference in his
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
manner。
Mrs。 Inglethorp greeted me with effusion。
〃Why； if it isn't too delightful to see you again； Mr。 Hastings； after all
these years。 Alfred； darling； Mr。 Hastingsmy husband。〃
I looked with some curiosity at 〃Alfred darling〃。 He certainly struck
a rather alien note。 I did not wonder at John objecting to his beard。 It
was one of the longest and blackest I have ever seen。 He wore gold…
rimmed pince…nez； and had a curious impassivity of feature。 It struck me
that he might look natural on a stage； but was strangely out of place in real
life。 His voice was rather deep and unctuous。 He placed a wooden
hand in mine and said：
〃This is a pleasure； Mr。 Hastings。〃 Then； turning to his wife： 〃Emily
dearest； I think that cushion is a little damp。〃
She beamed fondly on him； as he substituted another with every
demonstration of the tenderest care。 Strange infatuation of an otherwise
sensible woman！
With the presence of Mr。 Inglethorp； a sense of constraint and veiled
hostility seemed to settle down upon the company。 Miss Howard； in
particular； took no pains to conceal her feelings。 Mrs。 Inglethorp；
however； seemed to notice nothing unusual。 Her volubility； which I
remembered of old； had lost nothing in the intervening years； and she
poured out a steady flood of conversation； mainly on the subject of the
forthcoming bazaar which she was organizing and which was to take place
shortly。 Occasionally she referred to her husband over a question of days
or dates。 His watchful and attentive manner never varied。 From the
very first I took a firm and rooted dislike to him； and I flatter myself that
my first judgments are usually fairly shrewd。
Presently Mrs。 Inglethorp turned to give some instructions about
letters to Evelyn Howard； and her husband addressed me in his
painstaking voice：
〃Is soldiering your regular profession； Mr。 Hastings？〃
〃No； before the war I was in Lloyd's。〃
〃And you will return there after it is over？〃
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〃Perhaps。 Either that or a fresh start altogether。〃
Mary Cavendish leant forward。
〃What would you really choose as a profession； if you could just
consult your inclination？〃
〃Well； that depends。〃
〃No secret hobby？〃 she asked。 〃Tell meyou're drawn to something？
Every one isusually something absurd。〃
〃You'll laugh at me。〃
She smiled。
〃Perhaps。〃
〃Well； I've always had a secret hankering to be a detective！〃
〃The real thingScotland Yard？ Or Sherlock Holmes？〃
〃Oh； Sherlock Holmes by all means。 But really； seriously； I am
awfully drawn to it。 I came across a man in Belgium once； a very
famous detective； and he quite in