按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
shook his head。
〃But you yourself suggested that possibility to Mr。 Wells？〃
Poirot smiled。
〃That was for a reason。 I did not want to mention the name of the
person who was actually in my mind。 Miss Howard occupied very much
the same position； so I used her name instead。〃
〃Still； Mrs。 Inglethorp might have done so。 Why； that will； made on
the afternoon of her death may〃
But Poirot's shake of the head was so energetic that I stopped。
〃No； my friend。 I have certain little ideas of my own about that will。
But I can tell you this muchit was not in Miss Howard's favour。〃
I accepted his assurance； though I did not really see how he could be
so positive about the matter。
〃Well；〃 I said； with a sigh； 〃we will acquit Miss Howard； then。 It is
partly your fault that I ever came to suspect her。 It was what you said
about her evidence at the inquest that set me off。〃
Poirot looked puzzled。
105
… Page 106…
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
〃What did I say about her evidence at the inquest？〃
〃Don't you remember？ When I cited her and John Cavendish as being
above suspicion？〃
〃Ohahyes。〃 He seemed a little confused； but recovered himself。
〃By the way； Hastings； there is something I want you to do for me。〃
〃Certainly。 What is it？〃
〃Next time you happen to be alone with Lawrence Cavendish； I want
you to say this to him。 'I have a message for you； from Poirot。 He says：
〃Find the extra coffee…cup； and you can rest in peace！〃 ' Nothing more。
Nothing less。〃
〃 'Find the extra coffee…cup； and you can rest in peace。' Is that right？〃 I
asked； much mystified。
〃Excellent。〃
〃But what does it mean？〃
〃Ah； that I will leave you to find out。 You have access to the facts。
Just say that to him； and see what he says。〃
〃Very wellbut it's all extremely mysterious。〃
We were running into Tadminster now； and Poirot directed the car to
the 〃Analytical Chemist。〃
Poirot hopped down briskly； and went inside。 In a few minutes he
was back again。
〃There；〃 he said。 〃That is all my business。〃
〃What were you doing there？〃 I asked； in lively curiosity。
〃I left something to be analysed。〃
〃Yes； but what？〃
〃The sample of coco I took from the saucepan in the bedroom。〃
〃But that has already been tested！〃 I cried； stupefied。 〃Dr。 Bauerstein
had it tested； and you yourself laughed at the possibility of there being
strychnine in it。〃
〃I know Dr。 Bauerstein had it tested；〃 replied Poirot quietly。
〃Well； then？〃
〃Well； I have a fancy for having it analysed again； that is all。〃
And not another word on the subject could I drag out of him。
106
… Page 107…
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
This proceeding of Poirot's； in respect of the coco； puzzled me
intensely。 I could see neither rhyme nor reason in it。 However； my
confidence in him； which at one time had rather waned； was fully restored
since his belief in Alfred Inglethorp's innocence had been so triumphantly
vindicated。
The funeral of Mrs。 Inglethorp took place the following day； and on
Monday； as I came down to a late breakfast； John drew me aside； and
informed me that Mr。 Inglethorp was leaving that morning； to take up his
quarters at the Stylites Arms until he should have completed his plans。
〃And really it's a great relief to think he's going； Hastings；〃 continued
my honest friend。 〃It was bad enough before； when we thought he'd done
it； but I'm hanged if it isn't worse now； when we all feel guilty for having
been so down on the fellow。 The fact is； we've treated him abominably。
Of course； things did look black against him。 I don't see how anyone
could blame us for jumping to the conclusions we did。 Still； there it is；
we were in the wrong； and now there's a beastly feeling that one ought to
make amends； which is difficult； when one doesn't like the fellow a bit
better than one did before。 The whole thing's damned awkward！ And I'm
thankful he's had the tact to take himself off。 It's a good thing Styles
wasn't the mater's to leave to him。 Couldn't bear to think of the fellow
fording it here。 He's welcome to her money。〃
〃You'll be able to keep up the place all right？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； yes。 There are the death duties； of course； but half my father's
money goes with the place； and Lawrence will stay with us for the present；
so there is his share as well。 We shall be pinched at first； of course；
because； as I once told you； I am in a bit of a hole financially myself。
Still； the Johnnies will wait now。〃
In the general relief at Inglethorp's approaching departure； we had the
most genial breakfast we had experienced since the tragedy。 Cynthia；
whose young spirits were naturally buoyant； was looking quite her pretty
self again； and we all； with the exception of Lawrence； who seemed
unalterably gloomy and nervous； were quietly cheerful； at the opening of a
new and hopeful future。
107
… Page 108…
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
The papers； of course； had been full of the tragedy。 Glaring headlines；
sandwiched biographies of every member of the household； subtle
innuendoes； the usual familiar tag about the police having a clue。
Nothing was spared us。 It was a slack time。 The war was momentarily
inactive； and the newspapers seized with avidity on this crime in
fashionable life： 〃The Mysterious Affair at Styles〃 was the topic of the
moment。
Naturally it was very annoying for the Cavendishes。 The house was
constantly besieged by reporters； who were consistently denied admission；
but who continued to haunt the village and the grounds； where they lay in
wait with cameras； for any unwary members of the household。 We all
lived in a blast of publicity。 The Scotland Yard men came and went；
examining； questioning； lynx…eyed and reserved of tongue。 Towards
what end they were working； we did not know。 Had they any clue； or
would the whole thing remain in the category of undiscovered crimes？
After breakfast； Dorcas came up to me rather mysteriously； and asked
if she might have a few words with me。
〃Certainly。 What is it； Dorcas？〃
〃Well； it's just this； sir。 You'll be seeing the Belgian gentleman to…day
perhaps？〃 I nodded。 〃Well； sir； you know how he asked me so particular
if the mistress； or anyone else； had a green dress？〃
〃Yes； yes。 You have found one？〃 My interest was aroused。
〃No； not that； sir。 But since then I've remembered what the young
gentlemen〃John and Lawrence were still the 〃young gentlemen〃 to
Dorcas〃call the 'dressing…up box。' It's up in the front attic； sir。 A great
chest； full of old clothes and fancy dresses； and what not。 And it came to
me sudden like that t