The Mysterious Affair at Styles

loor of Styles. The servants' rooms are reached through the door B. They have n

awrence Cavendish. He had a candle in his hand, and the agitatio

itting up in bed, and trying to

e seems to be having some kind of fit. U

come a

ng-gown, followed Lawrence along the passage

ervants were standing round in a state of awe-str

think we ha

is indecision of charac

viously locked or bolted on the inside. The whole household was aroused by now. The most a

thorp's room, sir," cried Do

hn opened the door of his room. It was pitch dark, but Lawrence was following with the candle, and by its feeb

oor. That, too, was locked or bolted

rcas, wringing her hands,

the maids go down and wake Baily and tell him to go for Dr. Wilkins at once. Now then, we'll

s always bolted. It'

e might

ry Cavendish was there, shaking the girl-who must have

t or two h

k in the door. I think this one is a shad

for a long time it resisted our efforts, but at last we felt it give ben

d, her whole form agitated by violent convulsions, in one of which she must have overturned the

ousemaids, he sent her downstairs to the dining-room for brandy. Then he wen

candle he held in his shaking hand was sputtering onto the carpet, and his eyes, petrified with terror, or some such kindred emotion, stared fixedly over my head at a point on the further wall. It was as though he had seen something th

attack seemed to be passing. She

udden-stupid of me

r with her arm around Cynthia. She seemed to be supporting the girl, who looked utte

d in her white land smock. Then it must be later than I thought. I saw that a faint streak of daylight was showi

nfusion. We thronged round her, powerless to help or alleviate. A final convulsion lifted her from the bed, until she appeared to rest upon her head and her heels, with h

ne instant he stopped dead, staring at the figure on the bed, and, at the same ins

n she fell back motio

d a few short sharp orders to the servants. An imperious wave of his hand drove us all to the door. We watched him, fascinated, though I think we all

moment, we heard footsteps outside, and Dr. Wilkins, Mrs. Ingle

s the car came out, and had run up to the house as fast as he could, whilst the car went on

ch-against my advice. I warned her. Her heart was far from strong. 'Take it easy,' I said to her,

g the local doctor narrowly. He still

Wilkins. I am sorry you were not here in time to w

Dr. Wilki

private," said Dr. Bauerstein. He

ainly

eaving the two doctors alone, and I hea

in talent for deduction, and Dr. Bauerstein's manner had started a floc

id Dr. Bauerstein

ked a

now what

ha

t. I lowered my voice to a whisper. "I believe she has

me, she cried out: "No, no-not that-not that!" And breaking from me, fled up the stairs. I followed her, afraid t

one. Let me just be quiet for a mi

g-room. I joined them. We were all silent, but I suppose I vo

s Mr. In

hook h

t in the

nd inexplicable. I remembered Mrs. Inglethorp's dying words. What la

g to conceal an inward exultation under a manner of decorous calm. Dr. Bauerstein remained in the background

ould like your conse

ed John gravely. A spasm

," said Dr.

an by t

yself could give a death certif

ent hi

have no alternati

ther to-night." And he glanced at the daylight. "Under the circumstances, I am afraid an inquest c

Bauerstein drew two keys from hi

ve locked them and, in my opinion, they wo

ors then

of publicity, and was an easygoing optimist, who preferred never to meet trouble half-way. It might be difficult to convince him of the soundness of my plan. Lawrence, on th

"I am going to a

el

nd Poirot? The Belgian who is here?

es

e call him in-to inv

Before the

vantage if-if-there

ilkins hadn't an idea of such a thing, until Bauerstein put it into his head. But, like all specialis

y Lawrence's attitude. He was so

hesit

inclined to give Hastings a free hand, though I should pre

ou need have no fear of that.

our hands. Though, if it is as we suspect, it seems a c

t was six o'clock. I de

it in ransacking the library until I discovered a medica