the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第36节
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Cavendish was standing in the doorway。
〃I have been visiting an old woman in the village；〃 she explained； 〃and
as Lawrence told me you were with Monsieur Poirot I thought I would call
for you。〃
〃Alas； madame；〃 said Poirot； 〃I thought you had come to honour me
with a visit！〃
〃I will some day； if you ask me；〃 she promised him； smiling。
〃That is well。 If you should need a father confessor； madame〃 she
started ever so slightly〃remember； Papa Poirot is always at your service。〃
She stared at him for a few minutes； as though seeking to read some
deeper meaning into his words。 Then she turned abruptly away。
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
〃Come； will you not walk back with us too； Monsieur Poirot？〃
〃Enchanted； madame。〃
All the way to Styles； Mary talked fast and feverishly。 It struck me
that in some way she was nervous of Poirot's eyes。
The weather had broken； and the sharp wind was almost autumnal in
its shrewishness。 Mary shivered a little； and buttoned her black sports
coat closer。 The wind through the trees made a mournful noise； like
some great giant sighing。
We walked up to the great door of Styles； and at once the knowledge
came to us that something was wrong。
Dorcas came running out to meet us。 She was crying and wringing
her hands。 I was aware of other servants huddled together in the
background； all eyes and ears。
〃Oh； m'am！ Oh； m'am！ I don't know how to tell you〃
〃What is it； Dorcas？〃 I asked impatiently。 〃Tell us at once。〃
〃It's those wicked detectives。 They've arrested himthey've arrested
Mr。 Cavendish！〃
〃Arrested Lawrence？〃 I gasped。
I saw a strange look come into Dorcas's eyes。
〃No； sir。 Not Mr。 LawrenceMr。 John。〃
Behind me； with a wild cry； Mary Cavendish fell heavily against me；
and as I turned to catch her I met the quiet triumph in Poirot's eyes。
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
CHAPTER XI。 THE CASE FOR
THE PROSECUTION
The trial of John Cavendish for the murder of his stepmother took
place two months later。
Of the intervening weeks I will say little； but my admiration and
sympathy went out unfeignedly to Mary Cavendish。 She ranged herself
passionately on her husband's side； scorning the mere idea of his guilt； and
fought for him tooth and nail。
I expressed my admiration to Poirot； and he nodded thoughtfully。
〃Yes； she is of those women who show at their best in adversity。 It
brings out all that is sweetest and truest in them。 Her pride and her
jealousy have〃
〃Jealousy？〃 I queried。
〃Yes。 Have you not realized that she is an unusually jealous woman？
As I was saying； her pride and jealousy have been laid aside。 She thinks
of nothing but her husband； and the terrible fate that is hanging over him。〃
He spoke very feelingly； and I looked at him earnestly； remembering
that last afternoon； when he had been deliberating whether or not to speak。
With his tenderness for 〃a woman's happiness；〃 I felt glad that the decision
had been taken out of his hands。
〃Even now；〃 I said； 〃I can hardly believe it。 You see； up to the very
last minute； I thought it was Lawrence！〃
Poirot grinned。
〃I know you did。〃
〃But John！ My old friend John！〃
〃Every murderer is probably somebody's old friend；〃 observed Poirot
philosophically。 〃You cannot mix up sentiment and reason。〃
〃I must say I think you might have given me a hint。〃
〃Perhaps； mon ami； I did not do so； just because he *WAS your old
friend。〃
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
I was rather disconcerted by this； remembering how I had busily
passed on to John what I believed to be Poirot's views concerning
Bauerstein。 He； by the way； had been acquitted of the charge brought
against him。 Nevertheless； although he had been too clever for them this
time； and the charge of espionage could not be brought home to him； his
wings were pretty well clipped for the future。
I asked Poirot whether he thought John would be condemned。 To my
intense surprise； he replied that； on the contrary； he was extremely likely
to be acquitted。
〃But； Poirot〃 I protested。
〃Oh； my friend； have I not said to you all along that I have no proofs。
It is one thing to know that a man is guilty； it is quite another matter to
prove him so。 And； in this case； there is terribly little evidence。 That is
the whole trouble。 I； Hercule Poirot； know； but I lack the last link in my
chain。 And unless I can find that missing link〃 He shook his head
gravely。
〃When did you first suspect John Cavendish？〃 I asked； after a minute
or two。
〃Did you not suspect him at all？〃
〃No； indeed。〃
〃Not after that fragment of conversation you overheard between Mrs。
Cavendish and her mother…in…law； and her subsequent lack of frankness at
the inquest？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did you not put two and two together； and reflect that if it was not
Alfred Inglethorp who was quarrelling with his wifeand you remember；
he strenuously denied it at the inquestit must be either Lawrence or John。
Now； if it was Lawrence； Mary Cavendish's conduct was just as
inexplicable。 But if； on the other hand； it was John； the whole thing was
explained quite naturally。〃
〃So；〃 I cried； a light breaking in upon me； 〃it was John who quarrelled
with his mother that afternoon？〃
〃Exactly。〃
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
〃And you have known this all along？〃
〃Certainly。 Mrs。 Cavendish's behaviour could only be explained that
way。〃
〃And yet you say he may be acquitted？〃
Poirot shrugged his shoulders。
〃Certainly I do。 At the police court proceedings； we shall hear the
case for the prosecution； but in all probability his solicitors will advise him
to reserve his defence。 That will be sprung upon us at the trial。 Andah；
by the way； I have a word of caution to give you； my friend。 I must not
appear in the case。〃
〃What？〃
〃No。 Officially； I have nothing to do with it。 Until I have found that
last link in my chain； I must remain behind the scenes。 Mrs。 Cavendish
must think I am working for her husband； not against him。〃
〃I say； that's playing it a bit low down；〃 I protested。
〃Not at all。 We have to deal with a most clever and unscrupulous
man； and we must use any means in our power otherwise he will slip
through our fingers。 That is why I have been careful to remain in the
background。 All the discoveries have been made by Japp； and Japp will
take all the credit。 If I am called upon to give evidence at all〃he smiled
broadly 〃it will probably be as a witness for the defence。〃
I could hardly believe my ears。
〃It is quite en regle；〃 continued Poirot。 〃Strangely enough； I can give
evidence that will demolish one contention of the prosecution。〃
〃Which one？〃
〃The one that relates to the destruction of the will。 John Cavendish
did not destroy that will。〃
Poirot was a true prophet。 I will not go into the details of the police
court proceedings； as it involves many tiresome repetitions。 I will merely
state baldly that John Cavendish reserved his defence； and was duly
committed for trial。
September found us all in London。 Mary took a house in Kensington；
Poirot being included in the family party。
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
I myself had been given a job at the War Office； so was able to see
them continually。
As the weeks went by； the state of Poirot's nerves grew worse and
worse。 That 〃last link〃 he talked about was still lacking。 Privately；
