Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles Ch.VII-XIII
"Thank you." `
` `
` Mr. Mace identified the phial handed him by Counsel as that sold `
` by him to "Mr. Inglethorp." Pressed, he admitted that he only `
` knew Mr. Inglethorp by sight. He had never spoken to him. The `
` witness was not cross-examined. `
` `
` Alfred Inglethorp was called, and denied having purchased the `
` poison. He also denied having quarrelled with his wife. Various `
` witnesses testified to the accuracy of these statements. `
` `
` The gardeners' evidence, as to the witnessing of the will was `
` taken, and then Dorcas was called. `
` `
` Dorcas, faithful to her "young gentlemen," denied strenuously `
` that it could have been John's voice she heard, and resolutely `
` declared, in the teeth of everything, that it was Mr. Inglethorp `
` who had been in the boudoir with her mistress. A rather wistful `
` smile passed across the face of the prisoner in the dock. He `
` knew only too well how useless her gallant defiance was, since it `
` was not the object of the defence to deny this point. Mrs. `
` Cavendish, of course, could not be called upon to give evidence `
` against her husband. `
` `
` After various questions on other matters, Mr. Philips asked: `
` `
` "In the month of June last, do you remember a parcel arriving for `
` Mr. Lawrence Cavendish from Parkson's?" `
` `
` Dorcas shook her head. `
` `
` "I don't remember, sir. It may have done, but Mr. Lawrence was `
` away from home part of June." `
` `
` "In the event of a parcel arriving for him whilst he was away, `
` what would be done with it?" `
` `
` "It would either be put in his room or sent on after him." `
` `
` "By you?" `
` `
` "No, sir, I should leave it on the hall table. It would be Miss `
` Howard who would attend to anything like that." `
` `
` Evelyn Howard was called and, after being examined on other `
` points, was questioned as to the parcel. `
` `
` "Don't remember. Lots of parcels come. Can't remember one `
` special one." `
` `
` "You do not know if it was sent after Mr. Lawrence Cavendish to `
` Wales, or whether it was put in his room?" `
` `
` "Don't think it was sent after him. Should have remembered it if `
` it was." `
` `
` "Supposing a parcel arrived addressed to Mr. Lawrence Cavendish, `
` and afterwards it disappeared, should you remark its absence?" `
` `
` "No, don't think so. I should think some one had taken charge of `
` it." `
` `
` "I believe, Miss Howard, that it was you who found this sheet of `
` brown paper?" He held up the same dusty piece which Poirot and I `
` had examined in the morning-room at Styles. `
` `
` "Yes, I did." `
` `
` "How did you come to look for it?" `
` `
` "The Belgian detective who was employed on the case asked me to `
` search for it." `
` `
` "Where did you eventually discover it?" `
` `
` "On the top of--of--a wardrobe." `
` `
` "On top of the prisoner's wardrobe?" `
` `
` "I--I believe so." `
` `
` "Did you not find it yourself?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Then you must know where you found it?" `
` `
` "Yes, it was on the prisoner's wardrobe." `
` `
` "That is better." `
` `
` An assistant from Parkson's, Theatrical Costumiers, testified `
` that on June 29th, they had supplied a black beard to Mr. L. `
` Cavendish, as requested. It was ordered by letter, and a postal `
` order was enclosed. No, they had not kept the letter. All `
` transactions were entered in their books. They had sent the `
` beard, as directed, to "L. Cavendish, Esq., Styles Court." `
` `
` Sir Ernest Heavywether rose ponderously. `
` `
` "Where was the letter written from?" `
` `
` "From Styles Court." `
` `
` "The same address to which you sent the parcel?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "And the letter came from there?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` Like a beast of prey, Heavywether fell upon him: `
` `
` "How do you know?" `
` `
` "I--I don't understand." `
` `
` "How do you know that letter came from Styles? Did you notice the `
` postmark?" `
` `
` "No--but--" `
` `
` "Ah, you did _not_ notice the postmark! And yet you affirm so `
` confidently that it came from Styles. It might, in fact, have `
` been any postmark?" `
` `
` "Y--es." `
` `
` "In fact, the letter, though written on stamped notepaper, might `
` have been posted from anywhere? From Wales, for instance?" `
` `
` The witness admitted that such might be the case, and Sir Ernest `
` signified that he was satisfied. `
` `
` Elizabeth Wells, second housemaid at Styles, stated that after `
` she had gone to bed she remembered that she had bolted the front `
` door, instead of leaving it on the latch as Mr. Inglethorp had `
` requested. She had accordingly gone downstairs again to rectify `
` her error. Hearing a slight noise in the West wing, she had `
` peeped along the passage, and had seen Mr. John Cavendish `
` knocking at Mrs. Inglethorp's door. `
` `
` Sir Ernest Heavywether made short work of her, and under his `
` unmerciful bullying she contradicted herself hopelessly, and Sir `
` Ernest sat down again with a satisfied smile on his face. `
` `
` With the evidence of Annie, as to the candle grease on the floor, `
` and as to seeing the prisoner take the coffee into the boudoir, `
` the proceedings were adjourned until the following day. `
` `
` As we went home, Mary Cavendish spoke bitterly against the `
` prosecuting counsel. `
` `
` "That hateful man! What a net he has drawn around my poor John! `
` How he twisted every little fact until he made it seem what it `
` wasn't!" `
` `
` "Well," I said consolingly, "it will be the other way about `
` to-morrow." `
` `
` "Yes," she said meditatively; then suddenly dropped her voice. `
` "Mr. Hastings, you do not think--surely it could not have been `
` Lawrence--Oh, no, that could not be!" `
` `
` But I myself was puzzled, and as soon as I was alone with Poirot `
` I asked him what he thought Sir Ernest was driving at. `
` `
` "Ah!" said Poirot appreciatively. "He is a clever man, that Sir `
` Ernest." `
` `
` "Do you think he believes Lawrence guilty?" `
` `
` "I do not think he believes or cares anything! No, what he is `
` trying for is to create such confusion in the minds of the jury `
` that they are divided in their opinion as to which brother did `
` it. He is endeavouring to make out that there is quite as much `
` evidence against Lawrence as against John--and I am not at all `
` sure that he will not succeed." `
` `
` Detective-inspector Japp was the first witness called when the `
` trial was reopened, and gave his evidence succinctly and briefly. `
` After relating the earlier events, he proceeded: `
` `
` "Acting on information received, Superintendent Summerhaye and `
` myself searched the prisoner's room, during his temporary absence `
` from the house. In his chest of drawers, hidden beneath some `
` underclothing, we found: first, a pair of gold-rimmed pince-nez `
` similar to those worn by Mr. Inglethorp"--these were `
` exhibited--"secondly, this phial." `
` `
` The phial was that already recognized by the chemist's assistant, `
` a tiny bottle of blue glass, containing a few grains of a white `
` crystalline powder, and labelled: "Strychnine Hydrochloride. `
` POISON." `
` `
` A fresh piece of evidence discovered by the detectives since the `
` police court proceedings was a long, almost new piece of `
` blotting-paper. It had been found in Mrs. Inglethorp's cheque `
` book, and on being reversed at a mirror, showed clearly the `
` words: ". . . erything of which I die possessed I leave to my `
`
` `
` Mr. Mace identified the phial handed him by Counsel as that sold `
` by him to "Mr. Inglethorp." Pressed, he admitted that he only `
` knew Mr. Inglethorp by sight. He had never spoken to him. The `
` witness was not cross-examined. `
` `
` Alfred Inglethorp was called, and denied having purchased the `
` poison. He also denied having quarrelled with his wife. Various `
` witnesses testified to the accuracy of these statements. `
` `
` The gardeners' evidence, as to the witnessing of the will was `
` taken, and then Dorcas was called. `
` `
` Dorcas, faithful to her "young gentlemen," denied strenuously `
` that it could have been John's voice she heard, and resolutely `
` declared, in the teeth of everything, that it was Mr. Inglethorp `
` who had been in the boudoir with her mistress. A rather wistful `
` smile passed across the face of the prisoner in the dock. He `
` knew only too well how useless her gallant defiance was, since it `
` was not the object of the defence to deny this point. Mrs. `
` Cavendish, of course, could not be called upon to give evidence `
` against her husband. `
` `
` After various questions on other matters, Mr. Philips asked: `
` `
` "In the month of June last, do you remember a parcel arriving for `
` Mr. Lawrence Cavendish from Parkson's?" `
` `
` Dorcas shook her head. `
` `
` "I don't remember, sir. It may have done, but Mr. Lawrence was `
` away from home part of June." `
` `
` "In the event of a parcel arriving for him whilst he was away, `
` what would be done with it?" `
` `
` "It would either be put in his room or sent on after him." `
` `
` "By you?" `
` `
` "No, sir, I should leave it on the hall table. It would be Miss `
` Howard who would attend to anything like that." `
` `
` Evelyn Howard was called and, after being examined on other `
` points, was questioned as to the parcel. `
` `
` "Don't remember. Lots of parcels come. Can't remember one `
` special one." `
` `
` "You do not know if it was sent after Mr. Lawrence Cavendish to `
` Wales, or whether it was put in his room?" `
` `
` "Don't think it was sent after him. Should have remembered it if `
` it was." `
` `
` "Supposing a parcel arrived addressed to Mr. Lawrence Cavendish, `
` and afterwards it disappeared, should you remark its absence?" `
` `
` "No, don't think so. I should think some one had taken charge of `
` it." `
` `
` "I believe, Miss Howard, that it was you who found this sheet of `
` brown paper?" He held up the same dusty piece which Poirot and I `
` had examined in the morning-room at Styles. `
` `
` "Yes, I did." `
` `
` "How did you come to look for it?" `
` `
` "The Belgian detective who was employed on the case asked me to `
` search for it." `
` `
` "Where did you eventually discover it?" `
` `
` "On the top of--of--a wardrobe." `
` `
` "On top of the prisoner's wardrobe?" `
` `
` "I--I believe so." `
` `
` "Did you not find it yourself?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Then you must know where you found it?" `
` `
` "Yes, it was on the prisoner's wardrobe." `
` `
` "That is better." `
` `
` An assistant from Parkson's, Theatrical Costumiers, testified `
` that on June 29th, they had supplied a black beard to Mr. L. `
` Cavendish, as requested. It was ordered by letter, and a postal `
` order was enclosed. No, they had not kept the letter. All `
` transactions were entered in their books. They had sent the `
` beard, as directed, to "L. Cavendish, Esq., Styles Court." `
` `
` Sir Ernest Heavywether rose ponderously. `
` `
` "Where was the letter written from?" `
` `
` "From Styles Court." `
` `
` "The same address to which you sent the parcel?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "And the letter came from there?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` Like a beast of prey, Heavywether fell upon him: `
` `
` "How do you know?" `
` `
` "I--I don't understand." `
` `
` "How do you know that letter came from Styles? Did you notice the `
` postmark?" `
` `
` "No--but--" `
` `
` "Ah, you did _not_ notice the postmark! And yet you affirm so `
` confidently that it came from Styles. It might, in fact, have `
` been any postmark?" `
` `
` "Y--es." `
` `
` "In fact, the letter, though written on stamped notepaper, might `
` have been posted from anywhere? From Wales, for instance?" `
` `
` The witness admitted that such might be the case, and Sir Ernest `
` signified that he was satisfied. `
` `
` Elizabeth Wells, second housemaid at Styles, stated that after `
` she had gone to bed she remembered that she had bolted the front `
` door, instead of leaving it on the latch as Mr. Inglethorp had `
` requested. She had accordingly gone downstairs again to rectify `
` her error. Hearing a slight noise in the West wing, she had `
` peeped along the passage, and had seen Mr. John Cavendish `
` knocking at Mrs. Inglethorp's door. `
` `
` Sir Ernest Heavywether made short work of her, and under his `
` unmerciful bullying she contradicted herself hopelessly, and Sir `
` Ernest sat down again with a satisfied smile on his face. `
` `
` With the evidence of Annie, as to the candle grease on the floor, `
` and as to seeing the prisoner take the coffee into the boudoir, `
` the proceedings were adjourned until the following day. `
` `
` As we went home, Mary Cavendish spoke bitterly against the `
` prosecuting counsel. `
` `
` "That hateful man! What a net he has drawn around my poor John! `
` How he twisted every little fact until he made it seem what it `
` wasn't!" `
` `
` "Well," I said consolingly, "it will be the other way about `
` to-morrow." `
` `
` "Yes," she said meditatively; then suddenly dropped her voice. `
` "Mr. Hastings, you do not think--surely it could not have been `
` Lawrence--Oh, no, that could not be!" `
` `
` But I myself was puzzled, and as soon as I was alone with Poirot `
` I asked him what he thought Sir Ernest was driving at. `
` `
` "Ah!" said Poirot appreciatively. "He is a clever man, that Sir `
` Ernest." `
` `
` "Do you think he believes Lawrence guilty?" `
` `
` "I do not think he believes or cares anything! No, what he is `
` trying for is to create such confusion in the minds of the jury `
` that they are divided in their opinion as to which brother did `
` it. He is endeavouring to make out that there is quite as much `
` evidence against Lawrence as against John--and I am not at all `
` sure that he will not succeed." `
` `
` Detective-inspector Japp was the first witness called when the `
` trial was reopened, and gave his evidence succinctly and briefly. `
` After relating the earlier events, he proceeded: `
` `
` "Acting on information received, Superintendent Summerhaye and `
` myself searched the prisoner's room, during his temporary absence `
` from the house. In his chest of drawers, hidden beneath some `
` underclothing, we found: first, a pair of gold-rimmed pince-nez `
` similar to those worn by Mr. Inglethorp"--these were `
` exhibited--"secondly, this phial." `
` `
` The phial was that already recognized by the chemist's assistant, `
` a tiny bottle of blue glass, containing a few grains of a white `
` crystalline powder, and labelled: "Strychnine Hydrochloride. `
` POISON." `
` `
` A fresh piece of evidence discovered by the detectives since the `
` police court proceedings was a long, almost new piece of `
` blotting-paper. It had been found in Mrs. Inglethorp's cheque `
` book, and on being reversed at a mirror, showed clearly the `
` words: ". . . erything of which I die possessed I leave to my `
`