Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-VI
eye. The spacing of the plants, also, is perfect. It has been `
` recently done; is it not so?" `
` `
` "Yes, I believe they were at it yesterday afternoon. But come `
` in--Dorcas is here." `
` `
` "Eh bien, eh bien! Do not grudge me a moment's satisfaction of `
` the eye." `
` `
` "Yes, but this affair is more important." `
` `
` "And how do you know that these fine begonias are not of equal `
` importance?" `
` `
` I shrugged my shoulders. There was really no arguing with him if `
` he chose to take that line. `
` `
` "You do not agree? But such things have been. Well, we will come `
` in and interview the brave Dorcas." `
` `
` Dorcas was standing in the boudoir, her hands folded in front of `
` her, and her grey hair rose in stiff waves under her white cap. `
` She was the very model and picture of a good old-fashioned `
` servant. `
` `
` In her attitude towards Poirot, she was inclined to be `
` suspicious, but he soon broke down her defences. He drew forward `
` a chair. `
` `
` "Pray be seated, mademoiselle." `
` `
` "Thank you, sir." `
` `
` "You have been with your mistress many years, is it not so?" `
` `
` "Ten years, sir." `
` `
` "That is a long time, and very faithful service. You were much `
` attached to her, were you not?" `
` `
` "She was a very good mistress to me, sir." `
` `
` "Then you will not object to answering a few questions. I put `
` them to you with Mr. Cavendish's full approval." `
` `
` "Oh, certainly, sir." `
` `
` "Then I will begin by asking you about the events of yesterday `
` afternoon. Your mistress had a quarrel?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir. But I don't know that I ought----" Dorcas hesitated. `
` Poirot looked at her keenly. `
` `
` "My good Dorcas, it is necessary that I should know every detail `
` of that quarrel as fully as possible. Do not think that you are `
` betraying your mistress's secrets. Your mistress lies dead, and `
` it is necessary that we should know all--if we are to avenge her. `
` Nothing can bring her back to life, but we do hope, if there has `
` been foul play, to bring the murderer to justice." `
` `
` "Amen to that," said Dorcas fiercely. "And, naming no names, `
` there's _one_ in this house that none of us could ever abide! And `
` an ill day it was when first _he_ darkened the threshold." `
` `
` Poirot waited for her indignation to subside, and then, resuming `
` his business-like tone, he asked: `
` `
` "Now, as to this quarrel? What is the first you heard of it?" `
` `
` "Well, sir, I happened to be going along the hall outside `
` yesterday----" `
` `
` "What time was that?" `
` `
` "I couldn't say exactly, sir, but it wasn't tea-time by a long `
` way. Perhaps four o'clock--or it may have been a bit later. `
` Well, sir, as I said, I happened to be passing along, when I `
` heard voices very loud and angry in here. I didn't exactly mean `
` to listen, but--well, there it is. I stopped. The door was `
` shut, but the mistress was speaking very sharp and clear, and I `
` heard what she said quite plainly. 'You have lied to me, and `
` deceived me,' she said. I didn't hear what Mr. Inglethorp `
` replied. He spoke a good bit lower than she did--but she `
` answered: 'How dare you? I have kept you and clothed you and fed `
` you! You owe everything to me! And this is how you repay me! By `
` bringing disgrace upon our name!' Again I didn't hear what he `
` said, but she went on: 'Nothing that you can say will make any `
` difference. I see my duty clearly. My mind is made up. You `
` need not think that any fear of publicity, or scandal between `
` husband and wife will deter me.' Then I thought I heard them `
` coming out, so I went off quickly." `
` `
` "You are sure it was Mr. Inglethorp's voice you heard?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, sir, whose else's could it be?" `
` `
` "Well, what happened next?" `
` `
` "Later, I came back to the hall; but it was all quiet. At five `
` o'clock, Mrs. Inglethorp rang the bell and told me to bring her a `
` cup of tea--nothing to eat--to the boudoir. She was looking `
` dreadful--so white and upset. 'Dorcas,' she says, 'I've had a `
` great shock.' 'I'm sorry for that, m'm,' I says. 'You'll feel `
` better after a nice hot cup of tea, m'm.' She had something in `
` her hand. I don't know if it was a letter, or just a piece of `
` paper, but it had writing on it, and she kept staring at it, `
` almost as if she couldn't believe what was written there. She `
` whispered to herself, as though she had forgotten I was there: `
` 'These few words--and everything's changed.' And then she says to `
` me: 'Never trust a man, Dorcas, they're not worth it!' I hurried `
` off, and got her a good strong cup of tea, and she thanked me, `
` and said she'd feel better when she'd drunk it. 'I don't know `
` what to do,' she says. 'Scandal between husband and wife is a `
` dreadful thing, Dorcas. I'd rather hush it up if I could.' Mrs. `
` Cavendish came in just then, so she didn't say any more." `
` `
` "She still had the letter, or whatever it was, in her hand?" `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "What would she be likely to do with it afterwards?" `
` `
` "Well, I don't know, sir, I expect she would lock it up in that `
` purple case of hers." `
` `
` "Is that where she usually kept important papers?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir. She brought it down with her every morning, and took `
` it up every night." `
` `
` "When did she lose the key of it?" `
` `
` "She missed it yesterday at lunch-time, sir, and told me to look `
` carefully for it. She was very much put out about it." `
` `
` "But she had a duplicate key?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, sir." `
` `
` Dorcas was looking very curiously at him and, to tell the truth, `
` so was I. What was all this about a lost key? Poirot smiled. `
` `
` "Never mind, Dorcas, it is my business to know things. Is this `
` the key that was lost?" He drew from his pocket the key that he `
` had found in the lock of the despatch-case upstairs. `
` `
` Dorcas's eyes looked as though they would pop out of her head. `
` `
` "That's it, sir, right enough. But where did you find it? I `
` looked everywhere for it." `
` `
` "Ah, but you see it was not in the same place yesterday as it was `
` to-day. Now, to pass to another subject, had your mistress a `
` dark green dress in her wardrobe?" `
` `
` Dorcas was rather startled by the unexpected question. `
` `
` "No, sir." `
` `
` "Are you quite sure?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, sir." `
` `
` "Has anyone else in the house got a green dress?" `
` `
` Dorcas reflected. `
` `
` "Miss Cynthia has a green evening dress." `
` `
` "Light or dark green?" `
` `
` "A light green, sir; a sort of chiffon, they call it." `
` `
` "Ah, that is not what I want. And nobody else has anything `
` green?" `
` `
` "No, sir--not that I know of." `
` `
` Poirot's face did not betray a trace of whether he was `
` disappointed or otherwise. He merely remarked: `
` `
` "Good, we will leave that and pass on. Have you any reason to `
` believe that your mistress was likely to take a sleeping powder `
` last night?" `
` `
` "Not _last_ night, sir, I know she didn't." `
` `
` "Why do you know so positively?" `
` `
` "Because the box was empty. She took the last one two days ago, `
` and she didn't have any more made up." `
` `
` "You are quite sure of that?" `
` `
` "Positive, sir." `
` `
` "Then that is cleared up! By the way, your mistress didn't ask `
` you to sign any paper yesterday?" `
` `
` "To sign a paper? No, sir." `
` `
` "When Mr. Hastings and Mr. Lawrence came in yesterday evening, `
`
` recently done; is it not so?" `
` `
` "Yes, I believe they were at it yesterday afternoon. But come `
` in--Dorcas is here." `
` `
` "Eh bien, eh bien! Do not grudge me a moment's satisfaction of `
` the eye." `
` `
` "Yes, but this affair is more important." `
` `
` "And how do you know that these fine begonias are not of equal `
` importance?" `
` `
` I shrugged my shoulders. There was really no arguing with him if `
` he chose to take that line. `
` `
` "You do not agree? But such things have been. Well, we will come `
` in and interview the brave Dorcas." `
` `
` Dorcas was standing in the boudoir, her hands folded in front of `
` her, and her grey hair rose in stiff waves under her white cap. `
` She was the very model and picture of a good old-fashioned `
` servant. `
` `
` In her attitude towards Poirot, she was inclined to be `
` suspicious, but he soon broke down her defences. He drew forward `
` a chair. `
` `
` "Pray be seated, mademoiselle." `
` `
` "Thank you, sir." `
` `
` "You have been with your mistress many years, is it not so?" `
` `
` "Ten years, sir." `
` `
` "That is a long time, and very faithful service. You were much `
` attached to her, were you not?" `
` `
` "She was a very good mistress to me, sir." `
` `
` "Then you will not object to answering a few questions. I put `
` them to you with Mr. Cavendish's full approval." `
` `
` "Oh, certainly, sir." `
` `
` "Then I will begin by asking you about the events of yesterday `
` afternoon. Your mistress had a quarrel?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir. But I don't know that I ought----" Dorcas hesitated. `
` Poirot looked at her keenly. `
` `
` "My good Dorcas, it is necessary that I should know every detail `
` of that quarrel as fully as possible. Do not think that you are `
` betraying your mistress's secrets. Your mistress lies dead, and `
` it is necessary that we should know all--if we are to avenge her. `
` Nothing can bring her back to life, but we do hope, if there has `
` been foul play, to bring the murderer to justice." `
` `
` "Amen to that," said Dorcas fiercely. "And, naming no names, `
` there's _one_ in this house that none of us could ever abide! And `
` an ill day it was when first _he_ darkened the threshold." `
` `
` Poirot waited for her indignation to subside, and then, resuming `
` his business-like tone, he asked: `
` `
` "Now, as to this quarrel? What is the first you heard of it?" `
` `
` "Well, sir, I happened to be going along the hall outside `
` yesterday----" `
` `
` "What time was that?" `
` `
` "I couldn't say exactly, sir, but it wasn't tea-time by a long `
` way. Perhaps four o'clock--or it may have been a bit later. `
` Well, sir, as I said, I happened to be passing along, when I `
` heard voices very loud and angry in here. I didn't exactly mean `
` to listen, but--well, there it is. I stopped. The door was `
` shut, but the mistress was speaking very sharp and clear, and I `
` heard what she said quite plainly. 'You have lied to me, and `
` deceived me,' she said. I didn't hear what Mr. Inglethorp `
` replied. He spoke a good bit lower than she did--but she `
` answered: 'How dare you? I have kept you and clothed you and fed `
` you! You owe everything to me! And this is how you repay me! By `
` bringing disgrace upon our name!' Again I didn't hear what he `
` said, but she went on: 'Nothing that you can say will make any `
` difference. I see my duty clearly. My mind is made up. You `
` need not think that any fear of publicity, or scandal between `
` husband and wife will deter me.' Then I thought I heard them `
` coming out, so I went off quickly." `
` `
` "You are sure it was Mr. Inglethorp's voice you heard?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, sir, whose else's could it be?" `
` `
` "Well, what happened next?" `
` `
` "Later, I came back to the hall; but it was all quiet. At five `
` o'clock, Mrs. Inglethorp rang the bell and told me to bring her a `
` cup of tea--nothing to eat--to the boudoir. She was looking `
` dreadful--so white and upset. 'Dorcas,' she says, 'I've had a `
` great shock.' 'I'm sorry for that, m'm,' I says. 'You'll feel `
` better after a nice hot cup of tea, m'm.' She had something in `
` her hand. I don't know if it was a letter, or just a piece of `
` paper, but it had writing on it, and she kept staring at it, `
` almost as if she couldn't believe what was written there. She `
` whispered to herself, as though she had forgotten I was there: `
` 'These few words--and everything's changed.' And then she says to `
` me: 'Never trust a man, Dorcas, they're not worth it!' I hurried `
` off, and got her a good strong cup of tea, and she thanked me, `
` and said she'd feel better when she'd drunk it. 'I don't know `
` what to do,' she says. 'Scandal between husband and wife is a `
` dreadful thing, Dorcas. I'd rather hush it up if I could.' Mrs. `
` Cavendish came in just then, so she didn't say any more." `
` `
` "She still had the letter, or whatever it was, in her hand?" `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "What would she be likely to do with it afterwards?" `
` `
` "Well, I don't know, sir, I expect she would lock it up in that `
` purple case of hers." `
` `
` "Is that where she usually kept important papers?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir. She brought it down with her every morning, and took `
` it up every night." `
` `
` "When did she lose the key of it?" `
` `
` "She missed it yesterday at lunch-time, sir, and told me to look `
` carefully for it. She was very much put out about it." `
` `
` "But she had a duplicate key?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, sir." `
` `
` Dorcas was looking very curiously at him and, to tell the truth, `
` so was I. What was all this about a lost key? Poirot smiled. `
` `
` "Never mind, Dorcas, it is my business to know things. Is this `
` the key that was lost?" He drew from his pocket the key that he `
` had found in the lock of the despatch-case upstairs. `
` `
` Dorcas's eyes looked as though they would pop out of her head. `
` `
` "That's it, sir, right enough. But where did you find it? I `
` looked everywhere for it." `
` `
` "Ah, but you see it was not in the same place yesterday as it was `
` to-day. Now, to pass to another subject, had your mistress a `
` dark green dress in her wardrobe?" `
` `
` Dorcas was rather startled by the unexpected question. `
` `
` "No, sir." `
` `
` "Are you quite sure?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, sir." `
` `
` "Has anyone else in the house got a green dress?" `
` `
` Dorcas reflected. `
` `
` "Miss Cynthia has a green evening dress." `
` `
` "Light or dark green?" `
` `
` "A light green, sir; a sort of chiffon, they call it." `
` `
` "Ah, that is not what I want. And nobody else has anything `
` green?" `
` `
` "No, sir--not that I know of." `
` `
` Poirot's face did not betray a trace of whether he was `
` disappointed or otherwise. He merely remarked: `
` `
` "Good, we will leave that and pass on. Have you any reason to `
` believe that your mistress was likely to take a sleeping powder `
` last night?" `
` `
` "Not _last_ night, sir, I know she didn't." `
` `
` "Why do you know so positively?" `
` `
` "Because the box was empty. She took the last one two days ago, `
` and she didn't have any more made up." `
` `
` "You are quite sure of that?" `
` `
` "Positive, sir." `
` `
` "Then that is cleared up! By the way, your mistress didn't ask `
` you to sign any paper yesterday?" `
` `
` "To sign a paper? No, sir." `
` `
` "When Mr. Hastings and Mr. Lawrence came in yesterday evening, `
`