Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles Ch.VII-XIII
`
` "Bon! I will reconstruct for you as far as possible. I am `
` inclined to think that Miss Howard was the master mind in that `
` affair. You remember her once mentioning that her father was a `
` doctor? Possibly she dispensed his medicines for him, or she may `
` have taken the idea from one of the many books lying about when `
` Mademoiselle Cynthia was studying for her exam. Anyway, she was `
` familiar with the fact that the addition of a bromide to a `
` mixture containing strychnine would cause the precipitation of `
` the latter. Probably the idea came to her quite suddenly. Mrs. `
` Inglethorp had a box of bromide powders, which she occasionally `
` took at night. What could be easier than quietly to dissolve one `
` or more of those powders in Mrs. Inglethorp's large sized bottle `
` of medicine when it came from Coot's? The risk is practically `
` nil. The tragedy will not take place until nearly a fortnight `
` later. If anyone has seen either of them touching the medicine, `
` they will have forgotten it by that time. Miss Howard will have `
` engineered her quarrel, and departed from the house. The lapse `
` of time, and her absence, will defeat all suspicion. Yes, it was `
` a clever idea! If they had left it alone, it is possible the `
` crime might never have been brought home to them. But they were `
` not satisfied. They tried to be too clever--and that was their `
` undoing." `
` `
` Poirot puffed at his tiny cigarette, his eyes fixed on the `
` ceiling. `
` `
` "They arranged a plan to throw suspicion on John Cavendish, by `
` buying strychnine at the village chemist's, and signing the `
` register in his hand-writing. `
` `
` "On Monday Mrs. Inglethorp will take the last dose of her `
` medicine. On Monday, therefore, at six o'clock, Alfred `
` Inglethorp arranges to be seen by a number of people at a spot `
` far removed from the village. Miss Howard has previously made up `
` a cock and bull story about him and Mrs. Raikes to account for `
` his holding his tongue afterwards. At six o'clock, Miss Howard, `
` disguised as Alfred Inglethorp, enters the chemist's shop, with `
` her story about a dog, obtains the strychnine, and writes the `
` name of Alfred Inglethorp in John's handwriting, which she had `
` previously studied carefully. `
` `
` "But, as it will never do if John, too, can prove an alibi, she `
` writes him an anonymous note--still copying his hand-writing `
` --which takes him to a remote spot where it is exceedingly `
` unlikely that anyone will see him. `
` `
` "So far, all goes well. Miss Howard goes back to Middlingham. `
` Alfred Inglethorp returns to Styles. There is nothing that can `
` compromise him in any way, since it is Miss Howard who has the `
` strychnine, which, after all, is only wanted as a blind to throw `
` suspicion on John Cavendish. `
` `
` "But now a hitch occurs. Mrs. Inglethorp does not take her `
` medicine that night. The broken bell, Cynthia's absence-- `
` arranged by Inglethorp through his wife--all these are wasted. `
` And then--he makes his slip. `
` `
` "Mrs. Inglethorp is out, and he sits down to write to his `
` accomplice, who, he fears, may be in a panic at the nonsuccess of `
` their plan. It is probable that Mrs. Inglethorp returned earlier `
` than he expected. Caught in the act, and somewhat flurried he `
` hastily shuts and locks his desk. He fears that if he remains in `
` the room he may have to open it again, and that Mrs. Inglethorp `
` might catch sight of the letter before he could snatch it up. So `
` he goes out and walks in the woods, little dreaming that Mrs. `
` Inglethorp will open his desk, and discover the incriminating `
` document. `
` `
` "But this, as we know, is what happened. Mrs. Inglethorp reads `
` it, and becomes aware of the perfidy of her husband and Evelyn `
` Howard, though, unfortunately, the sentence about the bromides `
` conveys no warning to her mind. She knows that she is in `
` danger--but is ignorant of where the danger lies. She decides to `
` say nothing to her husband, but sits down and writes to her `
` solicitor, asking him to come on the morrow, and she also `
` determines to destroy immediately the will which she has just `
` made. She keeps the fatal letter." `
` `
` "It was to discover that letter, then, that her husband forced `
` the lock of the despatch-case?" `
` `
` "Yes, and from the enormous risk he ran we can see how fully he `
` realized its importance. That letter excepted, there was `
` absolutely nothing to connect him with the crime." `
` `
` "There's only one thing I can't make out, why didn't he destroy `
` it at once when he got hold of it?" `
` `
` "Because he did not dare take the biggest risk of all--that of `
` keeping it on his own person." `
` `
` "I don't understand." `
` `
` "Look at it from his point of view. I have discovered that there `
` were only five short minutes in which he could have taken it--the `
` five minutes immediately before our own arrival on the scene, for `
` before that time Annie was brushing the stairs, and would have `
` seen anyone who passed going to the right wing. Figure to `
` yourself the scene! He enters the room, unlocking the door by `
` means of one of the other doorkeys--they were all much alike. He `
` hurries to the despatch-case--it is locked, and the keys are `
` nowhere to be seen. That is a terrible blow to him, for it means `
` that his presence in the room cannot be concealed as he had `
` hoped. But he sees clearly that everything must be risked for `
` the sake of that damning piece of evidence. Quickly, he forces `
` the lock with a penknife, and turns over the papers until he `
` finds what he is looking for. `
` `
` "But now a fresh dilemma arises: he dare not keep that piece of `
` paper on him. He may be seen leaving the room--he may be `
` searched. If the paper is found on him, it is certain doom. `
` Probably, at this minute, too, he hears the sounds below of Mr. `
` Wells and John leaving the boudoir. He must act quickly. Where `
` can he hide this terrible slip of paper? The contents of the `
` waste-paper-basket are kept and in any case, are sure to be `
` examined. There are no means of destroying it; and he dare not `
` keep it. He looks round, and he sees--what do you think, mon `
` ami?" `
` `
` I shook my head. `
` `
` "In a moment, he has torn the letter into long thin strips, and `
` rolling them up into spills he thrusts them hurriedly in amongst `
` the other spills in the vase on the mantle-piece." `
` `
` I uttered an exclamation. `
` `
` "No one would think of looking there," Poirot continued. "And he `
` will be able, at his leisure, to come back and destroy this `
` solitary piece of evidence against him." `
` `
` "Then, all the time, it was in the spill vase in Mrs. `
` Inglethorp's bedroom, under our very noses?" I cried. `
` `
` Poirot nodded. `
` `
` "Yes, my friend. That is where I discovered my 'last link,' and `
` I owe that very fortunate discovery to you." `
` `
` "To me?" `
` `
` "Yes. Do you remember telling me that my hand shook as I was `
` straightening the ornaments on the mantel-piece?" `
` `
` "Yes, but I don't see----" `
` `
` "No, but I saw. Do you know, my friend, I remembered that `
` earlier in the morning, when we had been there together, I had `
` straightened all the objects on the mantel-piece. And, if they `
` were already straightened, there would be no need to straighten `
` them again, unless, in the meantime, some one else had touched `
` them." `
` `
` "Dear me," I murmured, "so that is the explanation of your `
` extraordinary behaviour. You rushed down to Styles, and found it `
` still there?" `
` `
` "Yes, and it was a race for time." `
` `
` "But I still can't understand why Inglethorp was such a fool as `
` to leave it there when he had plenty of opportunity to destroy `
` it." `
` `
` "Ah, but he had no opportunity. I saw to that." `
` `
` "You?" `
` `
` "Yes. Do you remember reproving me for taking the household into `
` my confidence on the subject?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Well, my friend, I saw there was just one chance. I was not `
` sure then if Inglethorp was the criminal or not, but if he was I `
` reasoned that he would not have the paper on him, but would have `
` hidden it somewhere, and by enlisting the sympathy of the `
` household I could effectually prevent his destroying it. He was `
` already under suspicion, and by making the matter public I `
` secured the services of about ten amateur detectives, who would `
` be watching him unceasingly, and being himself aware of their `
` watchfulness he would not dare seek further to destroy the `
` document. He was therefore forced to depart from the house, `
` leaving it in the spill vase." `
` `
` "But surely Miss Howard had ample opportunities of aiding him." `
` `
` "Yes, but Miss Howard did not know of the paper's existence. In `
` accordance with their prearranged plan, she never spoke to Alfred `
` Inglethorp. They were supposed to be deadly enemies, and until `
` John Cavendish was safely convicted they neither of them dared `
` risk a meeting. Of course I had a watch kept on Mr. Inglethorp, `
` hoping that sooner or later he would lead me to the hiding-place. `
` But he was too clever to take any chances. The paper was safe `
` where it was; since no one had thought of looking there in the `
` first week, it was not likely they would do so afterwards. But `
` for your lucky remark, we might never have been able to bring him `
` to justice." `
` `
` "I understand that now; but when did you first begin to suspect `
` Miss Howard?" `
`
` "Bon! I will reconstruct for you as far as possible. I am `
` inclined to think that Miss Howard was the master mind in that `
` affair. You remember her once mentioning that her father was a `
` doctor? Possibly she dispensed his medicines for him, or she may `
` have taken the idea from one of the many books lying about when `
` Mademoiselle Cynthia was studying for her exam. Anyway, she was `
` familiar with the fact that the addition of a bromide to a `
` mixture containing strychnine would cause the precipitation of `
` the latter. Probably the idea came to her quite suddenly. Mrs. `
` Inglethorp had a box of bromide powders, which she occasionally `
` took at night. What could be easier than quietly to dissolve one `
` or more of those powders in Mrs. Inglethorp's large sized bottle `
` of medicine when it came from Coot's? The risk is practically `
` nil. The tragedy will not take place until nearly a fortnight `
` later. If anyone has seen either of them touching the medicine, `
` they will have forgotten it by that time. Miss Howard will have `
` engineered her quarrel, and departed from the house. The lapse `
` of time, and her absence, will defeat all suspicion. Yes, it was `
` a clever idea! If they had left it alone, it is possible the `
` crime might never have been brought home to them. But they were `
` not satisfied. They tried to be too clever--and that was their `
` undoing." `
` `
` Poirot puffed at his tiny cigarette, his eyes fixed on the `
` ceiling. `
` `
` "They arranged a plan to throw suspicion on John Cavendish, by `
` buying strychnine at the village chemist's, and signing the `
` register in his hand-writing. `
` `
` "On Monday Mrs. Inglethorp will take the last dose of her `
` medicine. On Monday, therefore, at six o'clock, Alfred `
` Inglethorp arranges to be seen by a number of people at a spot `
` far removed from the village. Miss Howard has previously made up `
` a cock and bull story about him and Mrs. Raikes to account for `
` his holding his tongue afterwards. At six o'clock, Miss Howard, `
` disguised as Alfred Inglethorp, enters the chemist's shop, with `
` her story about a dog, obtains the strychnine, and writes the `
` name of Alfred Inglethorp in John's handwriting, which she had `
` previously studied carefully. `
` `
` "But, as it will never do if John, too, can prove an alibi, she `
` writes him an anonymous note--still copying his hand-writing `
` --which takes him to a remote spot where it is exceedingly `
` unlikely that anyone will see him. `
` `
` "So far, all goes well. Miss Howard goes back to Middlingham. `
` Alfred Inglethorp returns to Styles. There is nothing that can `
` compromise him in any way, since it is Miss Howard who has the `
` strychnine, which, after all, is only wanted as a blind to throw `
` suspicion on John Cavendish. `
` `
` "But now a hitch occurs. Mrs. Inglethorp does not take her `
` medicine that night. The broken bell, Cynthia's absence-- `
` arranged by Inglethorp through his wife--all these are wasted. `
` And then--he makes his slip. `
` `
` "Mrs. Inglethorp is out, and he sits down to write to his `
` accomplice, who, he fears, may be in a panic at the nonsuccess of `
` their plan. It is probable that Mrs. Inglethorp returned earlier `
` than he expected. Caught in the act, and somewhat flurried he `
` hastily shuts and locks his desk. He fears that if he remains in `
` the room he may have to open it again, and that Mrs. Inglethorp `
` might catch sight of the letter before he could snatch it up. So `
` he goes out and walks in the woods, little dreaming that Mrs. `
` Inglethorp will open his desk, and discover the incriminating `
` document. `
` `
` "But this, as we know, is what happened. Mrs. Inglethorp reads `
` it, and becomes aware of the perfidy of her husband and Evelyn `
` Howard, though, unfortunately, the sentence about the bromides `
` conveys no warning to her mind. She knows that she is in `
` danger--but is ignorant of where the danger lies. She decides to `
` say nothing to her husband, but sits down and writes to her `
` solicitor, asking him to come on the morrow, and she also `
` determines to destroy immediately the will which she has just `
` made. She keeps the fatal letter." `
` `
` "It was to discover that letter, then, that her husband forced `
` the lock of the despatch-case?" `
` `
` "Yes, and from the enormous risk he ran we can see how fully he `
` realized its importance. That letter excepted, there was `
` absolutely nothing to connect him with the crime." `
` `
` "There's only one thing I can't make out, why didn't he destroy `
` it at once when he got hold of it?" `
` `
` "Because he did not dare take the biggest risk of all--that of `
` keeping it on his own person." `
` `
` "I don't understand." `
` `
` "Look at it from his point of view. I have discovered that there `
` were only five short minutes in which he could have taken it--the `
` five minutes immediately before our own arrival on the scene, for `
` before that time Annie was brushing the stairs, and would have `
` seen anyone who passed going to the right wing. Figure to `
` yourself the scene! He enters the room, unlocking the door by `
` means of one of the other doorkeys--they were all much alike. He `
` hurries to the despatch-case--it is locked, and the keys are `
` nowhere to be seen. That is a terrible blow to him, for it means `
` that his presence in the room cannot be concealed as he had `
` hoped. But he sees clearly that everything must be risked for `
` the sake of that damning piece of evidence. Quickly, he forces `
` the lock with a penknife, and turns over the papers until he `
` finds what he is looking for. `
` `
` "But now a fresh dilemma arises: he dare not keep that piece of `
` paper on him. He may be seen leaving the room--he may be `
` searched. If the paper is found on him, it is certain doom. `
` Probably, at this minute, too, he hears the sounds below of Mr. `
` Wells and John leaving the boudoir. He must act quickly. Where `
` can he hide this terrible slip of paper? The contents of the `
` waste-paper-basket are kept and in any case, are sure to be `
` examined. There are no means of destroying it; and he dare not `
` keep it. He looks round, and he sees--what do you think, mon `
` ami?" `
` `
` I shook my head. `
` `
` "In a moment, he has torn the letter into long thin strips, and `
` rolling them up into spills he thrusts them hurriedly in amongst `
` the other spills in the vase on the mantle-piece." `
` `
` I uttered an exclamation. `
` `
` "No one would think of looking there," Poirot continued. "And he `
` will be able, at his leisure, to come back and destroy this `
` solitary piece of evidence against him." `
` `
` "Then, all the time, it was in the spill vase in Mrs. `
` Inglethorp's bedroom, under our very noses?" I cried. `
` `
` Poirot nodded. `
` `
` "Yes, my friend. That is where I discovered my 'last link,' and `
` I owe that very fortunate discovery to you." `
` `
` "To me?" `
` `
` "Yes. Do you remember telling me that my hand shook as I was `
` straightening the ornaments on the mantel-piece?" `
` `
` "Yes, but I don't see----" `
` `
` "No, but I saw. Do you know, my friend, I remembered that `
` earlier in the morning, when we had been there together, I had `
` straightened all the objects on the mantel-piece. And, if they `
` were already straightened, there would be no need to straighten `
` them again, unless, in the meantime, some one else had touched `
` them." `
` `
` "Dear me," I murmured, "so that is the explanation of your `
` extraordinary behaviour. You rushed down to Styles, and found it `
` still there?" `
` `
` "Yes, and it was a race for time." `
` `
` "But I still can't understand why Inglethorp was such a fool as `
` to leave it there when he had plenty of opportunity to destroy `
` it." `
` `
` "Ah, but he had no opportunity. I saw to that." `
` `
` "You?" `
` `
` "Yes. Do you remember reproving me for taking the household into `
` my confidence on the subject?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Well, my friend, I saw there was just one chance. I was not `
` sure then if Inglethorp was the criminal or not, but if he was I `
` reasoned that he would not have the paper on him, but would have `
` hidden it somewhere, and by enlisting the sympathy of the `
` household I could effectually prevent his destroying it. He was `
` already under suspicion, and by making the matter public I `
` secured the services of about ten amateur detectives, who would `
` be watching him unceasingly, and being himself aware of their `
` watchfulness he would not dare seek further to destroy the `
` document. He was therefore forced to depart from the house, `
` leaving it in the spill vase." `
` `
` "But surely Miss Howard had ample opportunities of aiding him." `
` `
` "Yes, but Miss Howard did not know of the paper's existence. In `
` accordance with their prearranged plan, she never spoke to Alfred `
` Inglethorp. They were supposed to be deadly enemies, and until `
` John Cavendish was safely convicted they neither of them dared `
` risk a meeting. Of course I had a watch kept on Mr. Inglethorp, `
` hoping that sooner or later he would lead me to the hiding-place. `
` But he was too clever to take any chances. The paper was safe `
` where it was; since no one had thought of looking there in the `
` first week, it was not likely they would do so afterwards. But `
` for your lucky remark, we might never have been able to bring him `
` to justice." `
` `
` "I understand that now; but when did you first begin to suspect `
` Miss Howard?" `
`