the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第8节
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〃Yes； time is an advantage ififthere has been foul play。〃
〃Rubbish！〃 cried Lawrence angrily。 〃In my opinion the whole thing
is a mare's nest of Bauerstein's！ Wilkins hadn't an idea of such a thing；
until Bauerstein put it into his head。 But； like all specialists； Bauerstein's
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got a bee in his bonnet。 Poisons are his hobby； so of course he sees them
everywhere。〃
I confess that I was surprised by Lawrence's attitude。 He was so
seldom vehement about anything。
John hesitated。
〃I can't feel as you do； Lawrence；〃 he said at last。 〃I'm inclined to
give Hastings a free hand； though I should prefer to wait a bit。 We don't
want any unnecessary scandal。〃
〃No； no；〃 I cried eagerly； 〃you need have no fear of that。 Poirot is
discretion itself。〃
〃Very well； then； have it your own way。 I leave it in your hands。
Though； if it is as we suspect； it seems a clear enough case。 God forgive
me if I am wronging him！〃
I looked at my watch。 It was six o'clock。 I determined to lose no
time。
Five minutes' delay； however； I allowed myself。 I spent it in
ransacking the library until I discovered a medical book which gave a
description of strychnine poisoning。
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
CHAPTER IV。 POIROT
INVESTIGATES
The house which the Belgians occupied in the village was quite close
to the park gates。 One could save time by taking a narrow path through
the long grass； which cut off the detours of the winding drive。 So I；
accordingly； went that way。 I had nearly reached the lodge； when my
attention was arrested by the running figure of a man approaching me。 It
was Mr。 Inglethorp。 Where had he been？ How did he intend to explain
his absence？
He accosted me eagerly。
〃My God！ This is terrible！ My poor wife！ I have only just heard。〃
〃Where have you been？〃 I asked。
〃Denby kept me late last night。 It was one o'clock before we'd
finished。 Then I found that I'd forgotten the latch…key after all。 I didn't
want to arouse the household； so Denby gave me a bed。〃
〃How did you hear the news？〃 I asked。
〃Wilkins knocked Denby up to tell him。 My poor Emily！ She was so
self…sacrificingsuch a noble character。 She over…taxed her strength。〃
A wave of revulsion swept over me。 What a consummate hypocrite
the man was！
〃I must hurry on；〃 I said； thankful that he did not ask me whither I was
bound。
In a few minutes I was knocking at the door of Leastways Cottage。
Getting no answer； I repeated my summons impatiently。 A window
above me was cautiously opened； and Poirot himself looked out。
He gave an exclamation of surprise at seeing me。 In a few brief
words； I explained the tragedy that had occurred； and that I wanted his
help。
〃Wait； my friend； I will let you in； and you shall recount to me the
affair whilst I dress。〃
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In a few moments he had unbarred the door； and I followed him up to
his room。 There he installed me in a chair； and I related the whole story；
keeping back nothing； and omitting no circumstance； however
insignificant； whilst he himself made a careful and deliberate toilet。
I told him of my awakening； of Mrs。 Inglethorp's dying words； of her
husband's absence； of the quarrel the day before； of the scrap of
conversation between Mary and her mother…in…law that I had overheard； of
the former quarrel between Mrs。 Inglethorp and Evelyn Howard； and of
the latter's innuendoes。
I was hardly as clear as I could wish。 I repeated myself several times；
and occasionally had to go back to some detail that I had forgotten。
Poirot smiled kindly on me。
〃The mind is confused？ Is it not so？ Take time； mon ami。 You are
agitated； you are excitedit is but natural。 Presently； when we are calmer；
we will arrange the facts； neatly； each in his proper place。 We will
examineand reject。 Those of importance we will put on one side； those
of no importance； pouf！〃he screwed up his cherub…like face； and puffed
comically enough〃blow them away！〃
〃That's all very well；〃 I objected； 〃but how are you going to decide
what is important； and what isn't？ That always seems the difficulty to me。〃
Poirot shook his head energetically。 He was now arranging his
moustache with exquisite care。
〃Not so。 Voyons！ One fact leads to anotherso we continue。 Does
the next fit in with that？ A merveille！ Good！ We can proceed。 This next
little factno！ Ah； that is curious！ There is something missinga link in
the chain that is not there。 We examine。 We search。 And that little
curious fact； that possibly paltry little detail that will not tally； we put it
here！〃 He made an extravagant gesture with his hand。 〃It is significant！
It is tremendous！〃
〃Yes〃
〃Ah！〃 Poirot shook his forefinger so fiercely at me that I quailed
before it。 〃Beware！ Peril to the detective who says： 'It is so smallit does
not matter。 It will not agree。 I will forget it。' That way lies confusion！
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Everything matters。〃
〃I know。 You always told me that。 That's why I have gone into all
the details of this thing whether they seemed to me relevant or not。〃
〃And I am pleased with you。 You have a good memory； and you have
given me the facts faithfully。 Of the order in which you present them； I
say nothingtruly； it is deplorable！ But I make allowancesyou are upset。
To that I attribute the circumstance that you have omitted one fact of
paramount importance。〃
〃What is that？〃 I asked。
〃You have not told me if Mrs。 Inglethorp ate well last night。〃
I stared at him。 Surely the war had affected the little man's brain。
He was carefully engaged in brushing his coat before putting it on； and
seemed wholly engrossed in the task。
〃I don't remember；〃 I said。 〃And； anyway； I don't see〃
〃You do not see？ But it is of the first importance。〃
〃I can't see why；〃 I said； rather nettled。 〃As far as I can remember；
she didn't eat much。 She was obviously upset； and it had taken her
appetite away。 That was only natural。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Poirot thoughtfully； 〃it was only natural。〃
He opened a drawer； and took out a small despatch…case； then turned to
me。
〃Now I am ready。 We will proceed to the chateau； and study matters
on the spot。 Excuse me； mon ami； you dressed in haste； and your tie is
on one side。 Permit me。〃 With a deft gesture； he rearranged it。
〃Ca y est！ Now； shall we start？〃
We hurried up the village； and turned in at the lodge gates。 Poirot
stopped for a moment； and gazed sorrowfully over the beautiful expanse
of park； still glittering with morning dew。
〃So beautiful； so beautiful； and yet； the poor family； plunged in sorrow；
prostrated with grief。〃
He looked at me keenly as he spoke； and I was aware that I reddened
under his prolonged gaze。
Was the family prostrated by grief？ Was the sorrow at Mrs。
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Inglethorp's death so great？ I realized that there was an emotional lack in
the atmosphere。 The dead woman had not the gift of commanding love。
Her death was a shock and a distress； but she would not be passionately
regr
