Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles Ch.VII-XIII
"'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 last--and 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 chain--is 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 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 right--only `
` 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!" `
` `
` `
` `
` 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, `
` that--enfin, 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 have--in 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 `
` 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 that Alfred Inglethorp wanted to be `
` arrested. Eh bien! from that moment, I was equally determined `
` that he should not be arrested." `
` `
` "Wait a minute. I don't see why he wished to be arrested?" `
` `
` "Because, mon ami, it is the law of your country that a man once `
` acquitted can never be tried again for the same offence. Aha! `
` but it was clever--his idea! Assuredly, he is a man of method. `
` See here, he knew that in his position he was bound to be `
` suspected, so he conceived the exceedingly clever idea of `
` preparing a lot of manufactured evidence against himself. He `
` wished to be arrested. He would then produce his irreproachable `
` alibi--and, hey presto, he was safe for life!" `
` `
` "But I still don't see how he managed to prove his alibi, and yet `
` go to the chemist's shop?" `
` `
` Poirot stared at me in surprise. `
` `
` "Is it possible? My poor friend! You have not yet realized that `
` it was Miss Howard who went to the chemist's shop?" `
` `
` "Miss Howard?" `
` `
` "But, certainly. Who else? It was most easy for her. She is of `
` a good height, her voice is deep and manly; moreover, remember, `
` she and Inglethorp are cousins, and there is a distinct `
` resemblance between them, especially in their gait and bearing. `
` It was simplicity itself. They are a clever pair!" `
` `
` "I am still a little fogged as to how exactly the bromide `
` business was done," I remarked. `
` `
`
` 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 last--and 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 chain--is 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 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 right--only `
` 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!" `
` `
` `
` `
` 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, `
` that--enfin, 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 have--in 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 `
` 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 that Alfred Inglethorp wanted to be `
` arrested. Eh bien! from that moment, I was equally determined `
` that he should not be arrested." `
` `
` "Wait a minute. I don't see why he wished to be arrested?" `
` `
` "Because, mon ami, it is the law of your country that a man once `
` acquitted can never be tried again for the same offence. Aha! `
` but it was clever--his idea! Assuredly, he is a man of method. `
` See here, he knew that in his position he was bound to be `
` suspected, so he conceived the exceedingly clever idea of `
` preparing a lot of manufactured evidence against himself. He `
` wished to be arrested. He would then produce his irreproachable `
` alibi--and, hey presto, he was safe for life!" `
` `
` "But I still don't see how he managed to prove his alibi, and yet `
` go to the chemist's shop?" `
` `
` Poirot stared at me in surprise. `
` `
` "Is it possible? My poor friend! You have not yet realized that `
` it was Miss Howard who went to the chemist's shop?" `
` `
` "Miss Howard?" `
` `
` "But, certainly. Who else? It was most easy for her. She is of `
` a good height, her voice is deep and manly; moreover, remember, `
` she and Inglethorp are cousins, and there is a distinct `
` resemblance between them, especially in their gait and bearing. `
` It was simplicity itself. They are a clever pair!" `
` `
` "I am still a little fogged as to how exactly the bromide `
` business was done," I remarked. `
` `
`