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Cavendish's arrest； when you found me deliberating over a big decision？〃
〃Yes； I quite understood your distress。〃
〃Pardon me； mon ami； but you did not understand it in the least。 I
was trying to decide whether or not I would clear John Cavendish at once。
I could have cleared himthough it might have meant a failure to convict
the real criminals。 They were entirely in the dark as to my real attitude
up to the very last momentwhich partly accounts for my success。〃
〃Do you mean that you could have saved John Cavendish from being
brought to trial？〃
〃Yes； my friend。 But I eventually decided in favour of 'a woman's
happiness'。 Nothing but the great danger through which they have passed
could have brought these two proud souls together again。〃
I looked at Poirot in silent amazement。 The colossal cheek of the
little man！ Who on earth but Poirot would have thought of a trial for
murder as a restorer of conjugal happiness！
〃I perceive your thoughts； mon ami；〃 said Poirot； smiling at me。 〃No
one but Hercule Poirot would have attempted such a thing！ And you are
wrong in condemning it。 The happiness of one man and one woman is
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
the greatest thing in all the world。〃
His words took me back to earlier events。 I remembered Mary as she
lay white and exhausted on the sofa； listening； listening。 There had come
the sound of the bell below。 She had started up。 Poirot had opened the
door； and meeting her agonized eyes had nodded gently。 〃Yes； madame；〃
he said。 〃I have brought him back to you。〃 He had stood aside； and as I
went out I had seen the look in Mary's eyes； as John Cavendish had caught
his wife in his arms。
〃Perhaps you are right； Poirot；〃 I said gently。 〃Yes； it is the greatest
thing in the world。〃
Suddenly； there was a tap at the door； and Cynthia peeped in。
〃II only〃
〃Come in；〃 I said； springing up。
She came in； but did not sit down。
〃Ionly wanted to tell you something〃
〃Yes？〃
Cynthia fidgeted with a little tassel for some moments； then； suddenly
exclaiming： 〃You dears！〃 kissed first me and then Poirot； and rushed out
of the room again。
〃What on earth does this mean？〃 I asked； surprised。
It was very nice to be kissed by Cynthia； but the publicity of the salute
rather impaired the pleasure。
〃It means that she has discovered Monsieur Lawrence does not dislike
her as much as she thought；〃 replied Poirot philosophically。
〃But〃
〃Here he is。〃
Lawrence at that moment passed the door。
〃Eh！ Monsieur Lawrence；〃 called Poirot。 〃We must congratulate you；
is it not so？〃
Lawrence blushed； and then smiled awkwardly。 A man in love is a
sorry spectacle。 Now Cynthia had looked charming。
I sighed。
〃What is it； mon ami？〃
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〃Nothing；〃 I said sadly。 〃They are two delightful women！〃
〃And neither of them is for you？〃 finished Poirot。 〃Never mind。
Console yourself； my friend。 We may hunt together again； who knows？
And then〃
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