The Mysterious Affair at Styles

e. Japp, who was the least surprised

And no mistake, Mr. Poirot! These witn

ames and addresses. You must see them, o

tty mare's nest arresting him would have been." He turned to Inglethorp. "B

nterrupted Poirot. "Ther

ntrue one," interrupted Alfred

us to have no scandal revived

Emily not yet buried, can you wonder I was anxio

rested for murder. And I venture to think your poor lady would have felt the same. And, if

do not know, inspector, how I have been persecuted and

dy's bedroom, please, and after that I'll have a little chat with the servan

d and made me a sign to follow him upstairs. T

side of the baize door. Do not move till I come." Th

spot on guard? I looked thoughtfully down the corridor in front of me. An idea struck me. With the exception of Cynthia Murdoch's, every one's room was in thi

te twenty minutes bef

ve not

re like a rock. No

or disappointed? "You'

N

y heard something? A

N

ally clumsy. I made but a slight gesture"-I know Poirot's ges

xed and crest-fallen that

surprise to us all. There must be more in this affair of Inglethorp's with Mrs. Raikes than we thought, to m

I showed them all our exhibits. I am d

"Here's Dr. Bauerstein. I believe you're rig

observed Poiro

was in on Tuesday. You never saw such a spectacle!" And I described the doctor's

aw him

to come in-it was just after din

Was Dr. Bauerstein here on Tuesday evening? Here? And

o be in an ab

ever thought it would interest you. I

ein was here on Tuesday night-the night of the murder. Has

mechanically straightened a pair of candlesticks, still mu

eemed to come

e must act at once. W

king-room. Poirot w

rtant business in Tadminster. A

rse. Do you

ou pl

In another ten minutes, we were racing down t

ignedly, "perhaps you will te

or the real ones. I have ascertained that anyone in the household, with the exception of Mrs. Cavendish, who was playing tennis with you, could have personated Mr. Inglethorp on Monday evening. In the same way, we have his statement that he put the coffee down in the hall. No one took much notice of that at the inquest-

e lightening of the heart. Mary Cavendish

long as I might be thought to be pursuing him, the criminal would be off his guard. Now, he will be doubly careful.

in itself, had once or twice that morning flashed through my

suspicion," I murmured.

"Do not fear. Speak your mind. You shoul

s absurd-but I suspect Miss Howa

s Ho

'll laug

ll. Why s

ply on the strength of her having been away from the place. But, after all, she was only fifteen miles away. A

, "we can. One of my first actions was to

el

nd that-a convoy coming in unexpectedly-she had kindly offered to remain

specting her. I can't help feeling she'd do anything against him. And I had an idea she might know something about the destroying o

her vehemenc

I wondered really whether she

his head en

nded or degenerate about Miss Howard. She is an excellent specim

e had intended to poison him-and that, in some way, Mrs. Inglethorp got hold of it by mistake. But I do

an prove logically, and to your own satisfaction, that they are innocent. Now, what r

devoted to her

are perfectly correct in your assumption that her vehemence against Alfred Inglethorp is too violent to be natural; but you are quite wrong in the deduction you draw from it. I have drawn my own deductions,

tha

lethorp's death benefit Miss Howard. No

flec

have made a will in her fav

uggested that possi

ot s

f the person who was actually in my mind. Miss Howard occupi

e done so. Why, that will, made o

the head was so ener

f my own about that will. But I can tell you

I did not really see how he could

It is partly your fault that I ever came to suspect her. It was

looked

bout her evidence

cited her and John Cavendi

t recovered himself. "By the way, Hastings,

ly. What

ay this to him. 'I have a message for you, from Poirot. He says: "Find the

you can rest in peace.' Is that

elle

t does i

. You have access to the facts. Just s

it's all extrem

now, and Poirot directed the c

, and went inside. In a fe

id. "That is a

g there?" I asked,

ething to b

but

I took from the sau

. "Dr. Bauerstein had it tested, and you yourself laug

in had it tested," r

l, t

for having it analys

on the subject coul

hyme nor reason in it. However, my confidence in him, which at one time had rather waned, was ful

a late breakfast, John drew me aside, and informed me that Mr. Inglethorp was leaving that m

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

keep up the place a

e will stay with us for the present, so there is his share as well. We shall be pinched at first, of course,

gedy. Cynthia, whose young spirits were naturally buoyant, was looking quite her pretty self again, and we all, with the excep

uendoes, the usual familiar tag about the police having a clue. Nothing was spared us. It was a slack time. The war was momentarily inactiv

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, questi

me rather mysteriously, and asked i

. What is

n to-day perhaps?" I nodded. "Well, sir, you know how he asked me

e found one?" My i

o 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

him, Dorcas

n, what goes prying about, and asking questions. I don't hold with foreigners as a rule, but from what the newspapers say I

e upturned to mine, I thought what a fine specimen she w

ce, and look up Poirot; but I met him half-way, coming

at the chest, although-but no matt

ndows. There was no one in the hall,

ce, all studded with brass nails, and full to ov

brics of varying shades; but Poirot shook his head over them all. He seemed somewhat apathetic

t is

oo

here, reposing right at the botto

over in his hands, examining it closel

er things on top of it as before, and made his way briskly downstairs. He we

morning with Gallic p

uch obliged to you for mentioning it. There is, indeed,

, I think he called it-a sort of Eastern King it was. He had the big paper knife in his hand, and 'Mind, Dorcas,' he says, 'you'll have to be very respectful. This is my specially sharpened scimitar, and it's off with your head if I'm at all displeased with you!' Mis

genially. "I suppose Mr. Lawrence wore that fine black

erfully natural at a distance. I didn't know as there was a beard up there at all. It must have been got quite lately, I think. There was a red wig, I know, but n

lack beard," said Poirot thoughtfully

is the one?" I

ot n

tice it had b

N

nglethorp's, and I found one or two snipped

in the chest

ace in the house to hide it where its presence would not be remarked? Yes, he is intelligent. But we mus

quie

ou will be of grea

had been times when I hardly thought th

ring at me thoughtfully,

ying, but Poirot's next w

in the house," he o

me," I p

you are not

ed it. Poirot hurrie

known to be working with me. I want somebod

e. How ab

think

t perhaps very bright

is the very person. But I am in her black books, si

iss Howard assented to Poirot's req

le morning-room, and

Miss Howard impatiently, "what

moiselle, that I once

d I told you I'd help you with pl

ss Howard, I will ask you one question.

ies," replied

lieve that Mrs. Inglethorp w

ence me in the slightest. I'll admit that it wasn't he who bought strychnine at the chem

not strychnine,"

of the way just as well as strychnine. If I'm convinced

will put my question in another form. Did you ever in your heart

u the man is a villain? Haven't I always told you he would m

t. "That bears out my

little

a sentence of yours that has impressed me very much. Do you remember affirming that if a crime had been committed, and anyone you love

t. I believe it too. I supp

at

attention to my instinct

"Because your instinct is

ha

ve him capable of committing it. But your instinct tells y

nated, and made a slight affi

ecause you have been trying to believe what you wish to believe. It is because

n't say it! Oh, don't say it! It isn't true! It can't be true. I d

am I not?"

sed. But it can't be so-it's too monstrous,

ok his hea

ecause I shan't tell you. I won't admit it, even t

ded, as if

it is as I thought. And I-I, too, have an instin

ause I won't. I wouldn't lift

g-but you will be my ally. You will not be able to help

tha

will

ward bowe

I am always watching-always h

ill be more pleased than I shall. But, if we are right?

now, I don

me

d be hus

t be no hu

erself--" Sh

Poirot gravely, "thi

ook her face f

ead up proudly. "This is Evelyn Howard! And she is on the side of Justice! Let t

goes a very valuable ally. That woman, Has

not

g," mused Poirot. "It can neit

talking about," I observed coldly. "Perhaps y

s that so,

ghten me,

moment or two. Then, to my intense s

my fr

k here,

nough for

very unfair to keep

is in your possession. You can draw your own deduct

uld be intere

very earnestly, and

id sadly, "you h

you were requiring ju

together," said Po

r it. But I decided that if I made any interesting and important discoveries-as no do

en it is one's dut