the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第6节
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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 Cynthia did；
John was close by me。 There were therefore three witnesses who could
swear that Mrs。 Inglethorp was carrying her coffee； as yet untasted； in her
hand。
My evening was utterly and entirely spoilt by the presence of Dr。
Bauerstein。 It seemed to me the man would never go。 He rose at last；
however； and I breathed a sigh of relief。
〃I'll walk down to the village with you；〃 said Mr。 Inglethorp。 〃I must
see our agent over those estate accounts。〃 He turned to John。 〃No one
need sit up。 I will take the latch…key。〃
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
CHAPTER III。 THE NIGHT OF
THE TRAGEDY
To make this part of my story clear； I append the following plan of
the first floor of Styles。 The servants' rooms are reached through the
door B。 They have no communication with the right wing； where the
Inglethorps' rooms were situated。
It seemed to be the middle of the night when I was awakened by
Lawrence Cavendish。 He had a candle in his hand； and the agitation of
his face told me at once that something was seriously wrong。
〃What's the matter？〃 I asked； sitting up in bed； and trying to collect my
scattered thoughts。
〃We are afraid my mother is very ill。 She seems to be having some
kind of fit。 Unfortunately she has locked herself in。〃
〃I'll come at once。〃
I sprang out of bed； and； pulling on a dressing…gown； followed
Lawrence along the passage and the gallery to the right wing of the house。
John Cavendish joined us； and one or two of the servants were
standing round in a state of awe…stricken excitement。 Lawrence turned to
his brother。
〃What do you think we had better do？〃
Never； I thought； had his indecision of character been more apparent。
John rattled the handle of Mrs。 Inglethorp's door violently； but with no
effect。 It was obviously locked or bolted on the inside。 The whole
household was aroused by now。 The most alarming sounds were audible
from the interior of the room。 Clearly something must be done。
〃Try going through Mr。 Inglethorp's room； sir；〃 cried Dorcas。 〃Oh；
the poor mistress！〃
Suddenly I realized that Alfred Inglethorp was not with usthat he
alone had given no sign of his presence。 John opened the door of his
room。 It was pitch dark； but Lawrence was following with the candle；
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and by its feeble light we saw that the bed had not been slept in； and that
there was no sign of the room having been occupied。
We went straight to the connecting door。 That； too； was locked or
bolted on the inside。 What was to be done？
〃Oh； dear； sir；〃 cried Dorcas； wringing her hands； 〃what ever shall we
do？〃
〃We must try and break the door in； I suppose。 It'll be a tough job；
though。 Here； let one of the maids go down and wake Baily and tell him
to go for Dr。 Wilkins at once。 Now then； we'll have a try at the door。
Half a moment； though； isn't there a door into Miss Cynthia's rooms？〃
〃Yes； sir； but that's always bolted。 It's never been undone。〃
〃Well； we might just see。〃
He ran rapidly down the corridor to Cynthia's room。 Mary Cavendish
was there； shaking the girlwho must have been an unusually sound
sleeperand trying to wake her。
In a moment or two he was back。
〃No good。 That's bolted too。 We must break in the door。 I think
this one is a shade less solid than the one in the passage。〃
We strained and heaved together。 The framework of the door was
solid； and for a long time it resisted our efforts； but at last we felt it give
beneath our weight； and finally； with a resounding crash； it was burst open。
We stumbled in together； Lawrence still holding his candle。 Mrs。
Inglethorp was lying on the bed； her whole form agitated by violent
convulsions； in one of which she must have overturned the table beside
her。 As we entered； however； her limbs relaxed； and she fell back upon
the pillows。
John strode across the room； and lit the gas。 Turning to Annie； one of
the housemaids； he sent her downstairs to the dining…room for brandy。
Then he went across to his mother whilst I unbolted the door that gave on
the corridor。
I turned to Lawrence； to suggest that I had better leave them now that
there was no further need of my services； but the words were frozen on my
lips。 Never have I seen such a ghastly look on any man's face。 He was
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white as chalk； the 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 that turned him to stone。 I
instinctively followed the direction of his eyes； but I could see
