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his flair had been extraordinary； and he had achieved triumphs by
unravelling some of the most baffling cases of the day。
He pointed out to me the little house inhabited by him and his fellow
Belgians； and I promised to go and see him at an early date。 Then he
raised his hat with a flourish to Cynthia； and we drove away。
〃He's a dear little man；〃 said Cynthia。 〃I'd no idea you knew him。〃
〃You've been entertaining a celebrity unawares；〃 I replied。
And； for the rest of the way home； I recited to them the various
exploits and triumphs of Hercule Poirot。
We arrived back in a very cheerful mood。 As we entered the hall；
Mrs。 Inglethorp came out of her boudoir。 She looked flushed and upset。
〃Oh； it's you；〃 she said。
〃Is there anything the matter； Aunt Emily？〃 asked Cynthia。
〃Certainly not；〃 said Mrs。 Inglethorp sharply。 〃What should there
be？〃 Then catching sight of Dorcas； the parlourmaid； going into the
dining…room； she called to her to bring some stamps into the boudoir。
〃Yes； m'm。〃 The old servant hesitated； then added diffidently： 〃Don't
you think； m'm； you'd better get to bed？ You're looking very tired。〃
〃Perhaps you're right； Dorcasyesnonot now。 I've some letters I
must finish by post…time。 Have you lighted the fire in my room as I told
you？〃
〃Yes； m'm。〃
〃Then I'll go to bed directly after supper。〃
She went into the boudoir again； and Cynthia stared after her。
〃Goodness gracious！ I wonder what's up？〃 she said to Lawrence。
He did not seem to have heard her； for without a word he turned on his
heel and went out of the house。
I suggested a quick game of tennis before supper and； Cynthia
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agreeing； I ran upstairs to fetch my racquet。
Mrs。 Cavendish was coming down the stairs。 It may have been my
fancy； but she； too； was looking odd and disturbed。
〃Had a good walk with Dr。 Bauerstein？〃 I asked； trying to appear as
indifferent as I could。
〃I didn't go；〃 she replied abruptly。 〃Where is Mrs。 Inglethorp？〃
〃In the boudoir。〃
Her hand clenched itself on the banisters； then she seemed to nerve
herself for some encounter； and went rapidly past me down the stairs
across the hall to the boudoir； the door of which she shut behind her。
As I ran out to the tennis court a few moments later； I had to pass the
open boudoir window； and was unable to help overhearing the following
scrap of dialogue。 Mary Cavendish was saying in the voice of a woman
desperately controlling herself：
〃Then you won't show it to me？〃
To which Mrs。 Inglethorp replied：
〃My dear Mary； it has nothing to do with that matter。〃
〃Then show it to me。〃
〃I tell you it is not what you imagine。 It does not concern you in the
least。〃
To which Mary Cavendish replied； with a rising bitterness：
〃Of course； I might have known you would shield him。〃
Cynthia was waiting for me； and greeted me eagerly with：
〃I say！ There's been the most awful row！ I've got it all out of Dorcas。〃
〃What kind of a row？〃
〃Between Aunt Emily and *HIM。 I do hope she's found him out at
last！〃
〃Was Dorcas there； then？〃
〃Of course not。 She 'happened to be near the door'。 It was a real old
bust…up。 I do wish I knew what it was all about。〃
I thought of Mrs。 Raikes's gipsy face； and Evelyn Howard's warnings；
but wisely decided to hold my peace； whilst Cynthia exhausted every
possible hypothesis； and cheerfully hoped； 〃Aunt Emily will send him
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away； and will never speak to him again。〃
I was anxious to get hold of John； but he was nowhere to be seen。
Evidently something very momentous had occurred that afternoon。 I
tried to forget the few words I had overheard； but； do what I would； I
could not dismiss them altogether from my mind。 What was Mary
Cavendish's concern in the matter？
Mr。 Inglethorp was in the drawing…room when I came down to supper。
His face was impassive as ever； and the strange unreality of the man struck
me afresh。
Mrs。 Inglethorp came down last。 She still looked agitated； and during
the meal there was a somewhat constrained silence。 Inglethorp was
unusually quiet。 As a rule； he surrounded his wife with little attentions；
placing a cushion at her back； and altogether playing the part of the
devoted husband。 Immediately after supper； Mrs。 Inglethorp retired to
her boudoir again。
〃Send my coffee in here； Mary；〃 she called。 〃I've just five minutes to
catch the post。〃
Cynthia and I went and sat by the open window in the drawing…room。
Mary Cavendish brought our coffee to us。 She seemed excited。
〃Do you young people want lights； or do you enjoy the twilight？〃 she
asked。 〃Will you take Mrs。 Inglethorp her coffee； Cynthia？ I will pour it
out。〃
〃Do not trouble； Mary；〃 said Inglethorp。 〃I will take it to Emily。〃 He
poured it out； and went out of the room carrying it carefully。
Lawrence followed him； and Mrs。 Cavendish sat down by us。
We three sat for some time in silence。 It was a glorious night； hot and
still。 Mrs。 Cavendish fanned herself gently with a palm leaf。
〃It's almost too hot；〃 she murmured。 〃We shall have a thunderstorm。〃
Alas； that these harmonious moments can never endure！ My paradise
was rudely shattered by the sound of a well known； and heartily disliked；
voice in the hall。
〃Dr。 Bauerstein！〃 exclaimed Cynthia。 〃What a funny time to come。〃
I glanced jealously at Mary Cavendish； but she seemed quite
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undisturbed； the delicate pallor of her cheeks did not vary。
In a few moments； Alfred Inglethorp had ushered the doctor in； the
latter laughing； and protesting that he was in no fit state for a drawing…
room。 In truth； he presented a sorry spectacle； being literally plastered
with mud。
〃What have you been doing； doctor？〃 cried Mrs。 Cavendish。
〃I must make my apologies；〃 said the doctor。 〃I did not really mean
to come in； but Mr。 Inglethorp insisted。〃
〃Well； Bauerstein； you are in a plight；〃 said John； strolling in from the
hall。 〃Have some coffee； and tell us what you have been up to。〃
〃Thank you； I will。〃 He laughed rather ruefully； as he described how
he had discovered a very rare species of fern in an inaccessible place； and
in his efforts to obtain it had lost his footing； and slipped ignominiously
into a neighbouring pond。
〃The sun soon dried me off；〃 he added； 〃but I'm afraid my appearance
is very disreputable。〃
At this juncture； Mrs。 Inglethorp called to Cynthia from the hall； and
the girl ran out。
〃Just carry up my despatch…case； will you； dear？ I'm going to bed。〃
The door into the hall was a wide one。 I had risen when C