the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第43节
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〃 'The following prescription has become famous in text books：
Strychninae Sulph 。 。 。 。 。 。 gr。I Potass
Bromide 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3vi Aqua
ad 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3viii Fiat Mistura
This solution deposits in a few hours the greater part of the strychnine
salt as an insoluble bromide in transparent crystals。 A lady in England
lost her life by taking a similar mixture： the precipitated strychnine
collected at the bottom； and in taking the last dose she swallowed nearly
all of it！〃
〃Now there was； of course； no bromide in Dr。 Wilkins' prescription；
but you will remember that I mentioned an empty box of bromide powders。
One or two of those powders introduced into the full bottle of medicine
would effectually precipitate the strychnine； as the book describes； and
cause it to be taken in the last dose。 You will learn later that the person
who usually poured out Mrs。 Inglethorp's medicine was always extremely
careful not to shake the bottle； but to leave the sediment at the bottom of it
undisturbed。
〃Throughout the case； there have been evidences that the tragedy was
intended to take place on Monday evening。 On that day； Mrs。
Inglethorp's bell wire was neatly cut； and on Monday evening
Mademoiselle Cynthia was spending the night with friends； so that Mrs。
Inglethorp would have been quite alone in the right wing； completely shut
off from help of any kind； and would have died； in all probability； before
medical aid could have been summoned。 But in her hurry to be in time
for the village entertainment Mrs。 Inglethorp forgot to take her medicine；
and the next day she lunched away from home； so that the lastand fatal
dose was actually taken twenty…four hours later than had been anticipated
by the murderer； and it is owing to that delay that the final proof the last
link of the chainis now in my hands。〃
Amid breathless excitement； he held out three thin strips of paper。
〃A letter in the murderer's own hand…writing； mes amis！ Had it been a
little clearer in its terms； it is possible that Mrs。 Inglethorp； warned in time；
would have escaped。 As it was； she realized her danger； but not the
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manner of it。〃
In the deathly silence； Poirot pieced together the slips of paper and；
clearing his throat； read：
〃 'Dearest Evelyn：
'You will be anxious at hearing nothing。 It is all rightonly it will be
to…night instead of last night。 You understand。 There's a good time
coming once the old woman is dead and out of the way。 No one can
possibly bring home the crime to me。 That idea of yours about the
bromides was a stroke of genius！ But we must be very circumspect。 A
false step'
〃Here； my friends； the letter breaks off。 Doubtless the writer was
interrupted； but there can be no question as to his identity。 We all know
this hand…writing and〃
A howl that was almost a scream broke the silence。
〃You devil！ How did you get it？〃
A chair was overturned。 Poirot skipped nimbly aside。 A quick
movement on his part； and his assailant fell with a crash。
〃Messieurs； mesdames；〃 said Poirot； with a flourish； 〃let me introduce
you to the murderer； Mr。 Alfred Inglethorp！〃
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CHAPTER XIII。 POIROT
EXPLAINS
〃Poirot； you old villain；〃 I said； 〃I've half a mind to strangle you！
What do you mean by deceiving me as you have done？〃
We were sitting in the library。 Several hectic days lay behind us。 In
the room below； John and Mary were together once more； while Alfred
Inglethorp and Miss Howard were in custody。 Now at last； I had Poirot
to myself； and could relieve my still burning curiosity。
Poirot did not answer me for a moment； but at last he said：
〃I did not deceive you； mon ami。 At most； I permitted you to deceive
yourself。〃
〃Yes； but why？〃
〃Well； it is difficult to explain。 You see； my friend； you have a nature
so honest； and a countenance so transparent； thatenfin； to conceal your
feelings is impossible！ If I had told you my ideas； the very first time you
saw Mr。 Alfred Inglethorp that astute gentleman would havein your so
expressive idiom'smelt a rat'！ And then； bon jour to our chances of
catching him！〃
〃I think that I have more diplomacy than you give me credit for。〃
〃My friend；〃 besought Poirot； 〃I implore you； do not enrage yourself！
Your help has been of the most invaluable。 It is but the extremely
beautiful nature that you have； which made me pause。〃
〃Well；〃 I grumbled； a little mollified。 〃I still think you might have
given me a hint。〃
〃But I did； my friend。 Several hints。 You would not take them。
Think now； did I ever say to you that I believed John Cavendish guilty？
Did I not； on the contrary； tell you that he would almost certainly be
acquitted？〃
〃Yes； but〃
〃And did I not immediately afterwards speak of the difficulty of
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bringing the murderer to justice？ Was it not plain to you that I was
speaking of two entirely different persons？〃
〃No；〃 I said； 〃it was not plain to me！〃
〃Then again；〃 continued Poirot； 〃at the beginning； did I not repeat to
you several times that I didn't want Mr。 Inglethorp arrested *NOW？ That
should have conveyed something to you。〃
〃Do you mean to say you suspected him as long ago as that？〃
〃Yes。 To begin with； whoever else might benefit by Mrs。 Inglethorp's
death； her husband would benefit the most。 There was no getting away
from that。 When I went up to Styles with you that first day； I had no idea
as to how the crime had been committed； but from what I knew of Mr。
Inglethorp I fancied that it would be very hard to find anything to connect
him with it。 When I arrived at the chateau； I realized at once that it was
Mrs。 Inglethorp who had burnt the will； and there； by the way； you cannot
complain； my friend； for I tried my best to force on you the significance of
that bedroom fire in midsummer。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 I said impatiently。 〃Go on。〃
〃Well； my friend； as I say； my views as to Mr。 Inglethorp's guilt were
very much shaken。 There was； in fact； so much evidence against him that
I was inclined to believe that he had not done it。〃
〃When did you change your mind？〃
〃When I found that the more efforts I made to clear him； the more
efforts he made to get himself arrested。 Then； when I discovered that
Inglethorp had nothing to do with Mrs。 Raikes and that in fact it was John
Cavendish who was interested in that quarter； I was quite sure。〃
〃But why？〃
〃Simply this。 If it had been Inglethorp who was carrying on an
intrigue with Mrs。 Raikes； his silence was perfectly comprehensible。 But；
when I discovered that it was known all over the village that it was John
who was attracted by the farmer's pretty wife； his silence bore quite a
different interpretation。 It was nonsense to pretend that he was afraid of
the scandal； as no possible scandal could attach to him。 This attitude of
his gave me furiously to think； and I was slowly forced to the conclusion
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that Alfred Inglethorp wanted to be arrested。 Eh bien！ from that moment；
I was equally determined that he should not be arrested。〃
