Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-VI
"When Mr. Hastings and Mr. Lawrence came in yesterday evening, `
` they found your mistress busy writing letters. I suppose you can `
` give me no idea to whom these letters were addressed?" `
` `
` "I'm afraid I couldn't, sir. I was out in the evening. Perhaps `
` Annie could tell you, though she's a careless girl. Never `
` cleared the coffee-cups away last night. That's what happens `
` when I'm not here to look after things." `
` `
` Poirot lifted his hand. `
` `
` "Since they have been left, Dorcas, leave them a little longer, I `
` pray you. I should like to examine them." `
` `
` "Very well, sir." `
` `
` "What time did you go out last evening?" `
` `
` "About six o'clock, sir." `
` `
` "Thank you, Dorcas, that is all I have to ask you." He rose and `
` strolled to the window. "I have been admiring these flower beds. `
` How many gardeners are employed here, by the way?" `
` `
` "Only three now, sir. Five, we had, before the war, when it was `
` kept as a gentleman's place should be. I wish you could have `
` seen it then, sir. A fair sight it was. But now there's only `
` old Manning, and young William, and a new-fashioned woman `
` gardener in breeches and such-like. Ah, these are dreadful `
` times!" `
` `
` "The good times will come again, Dorcas. At least, we hope so. `
` Now, will you send Annie to me here?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." `
` `
` "How did you know that Mrs. Inglethorp took sleeping powders?" I `
` asked, in lively curiosity, as Dorcas left the room. "And about `
` the lost key and the duplicate?" `
` `
` "One thing at a time. As to the sleeping powders, I knew by `
` this." He suddenly produced a small cardboard box, such as `
` chemists use for powders. `
` `
` "Where did you find it?" `
` `
` "In the wash-stand drawer in Mrs. Inglethorp's bedroom. It was `
` Number Six of my catalogue." `
` `
` "But I suppose, as the last powder was taken two days ago, it is `
` not of much importance?" `
` `
` "Probably not, but do you notice anything that strikes you as `
` peculiar about this box?" `
` `
` I examined it closely. `
` `
` "No, I can't say that I do." `
` `
` "Look at the label." `
` `
` I read the label carefully: " 'One powder to be taken at bedtime, `
` if required. Mrs. Inglethorp.' No, I see nothing unusual." `
` `
` "Not the fact that there is no chemist's name?" `
` `
` "Ah!" I exclaimed. "To be sure, that is odd!" `
` `
` "Have you ever known a chemist to send out a box like that, `
` without his printed name?" `
` `
` "No, I can't say that I have." `
` `
` I was becoming quite excited, but Poirot damped my ardour by `
` remarking: `
` `
` "Yet the explanation is quite simple. So do not intrigue `
` yourself, my friend." `
` `
` An audible creaking proclaimed the approach of Annie, so I had no `
` time to reply. `
` `
` Annie was a fine, strapping girl, and was evidently labouring `
` under intense excitement, mingled with a certain ghoulish `
` enjoyment of the tragedy. `
` `
` Poirot came to the point at once, with a business-like briskness. `
` `
` "I sent for you, Annie, because I thought you might be able to `
` tell me something about the letters Mrs. Inglethorp wrote last `
` night. How many were there? And can you tell me any of the names `
` and addresses?" `
` `
` Annie considered. `
` `
` "There were four letters, sir. One was to Miss Howard, and one `
` was to Mr. Wells, the lawyer, and the other two I don't think I `
` remember, sir--oh, yes, one was to Ross's, the caterers in `
` Tadminster. The other one, I don't remember." `
` `
` "Think," urged Poirot. `
` `
` Annie racked her brains in vain. `
` `
` "I'm sorry, sir, but it's clean gone. I don't think I can have `
` noticed it." `
` `
` "It does not matter," said Poirot, not betraying any sign of `
` disappointment. "Now I want to ask you about something else. `
` There is a saucepan in Mrs. Inglethorp's room with some coco in `
` it. Did she have that every night?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, it was put in her room every evening, and she warmed `
` it up in the night--whenever she fancied it." `
` `
` "What was it? Plain coco?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, made with milk, with a teaspoonful of sugar, and two `
` teaspoonfuls of rum in it." `
` `
` "Who took it to her room?" `
` `
` "I did, sir." `
` `
` "Always?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "At what time?" `
` `
` "When I went to draw the curtains, as a rule, sir." `
` `
` "Did you bring it straight up from the kitchen then?" `
` `
` "No, sir, you see there's not much room on the gas stove, so Cook `
` used to make it early, before putting the vegetables on for `
` supper. Then I used to bring it up, and put it on the table by `
` the swing door, and take it into her room later." `
` `
` "The swing door is in the left wing, is it not?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "And the table, is it on this side of the door, or on the `
` farther--servants' side?" `
` `
` "It's this side, sir." `
` `
` "What time did you bring it up last night?" `
` `
` "About quarter-past seven, I should say, sir." `
` `
` "And when did you take it into Mrs. Inglethorp's room?" `
` `
` "When I went to shut up, sir. About eight o'clock. Mrs. `
` Inglethorp came up to bed before I'd finished." `
` `
` "Then, between 7.15 and 8 o'clock, the coco was standing on the `
` table in the left wing?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." Annie had been growing redder and redder in the face, `
` and now she blurted out unexpectedly: `
` `
` "And if there _was_ salt in it, sir, it wasn't me. I never took `
` the salt near it." `
` `
` "What makes you think there was salt in it?" asked Poirot. `
` `
` "Seeing it on the tray, sir." `
` `
` "You saw some salt on the tray?" `
` `
` "Yes. Coarse kitchen salt, it looked. I never noticed it when I `
` took the tray up, but when I came to take it into the mistress's `
` room I saw it at once, and I suppose I ought to have taken it `
` down again, and asked Cook to make some fresh. But I was in a `
` hurry, because Dorcas was out, and I thought maybe the coco `
` itself was all right, and the salt had only gone on the tray. So `
` I dusted it off with my apron, and took it in." `
` `
` I had the utmost difficulty in controlling my excitement. `
` Unknown to herself, Annie had provided us with an important piece `
` of evidence. How she would have gaped if she had realized that `
` her "coarse kitchen salt" was strychnine, one of the most deadly `
` poisons known to mankind. I marvelled at Poirot's calm. His `
` self-control was astonishing. I awaited his next question with `
` impatience, but it disappointed me. `
` `
` "When you went into Mrs. Inglethorp's room, was the door leading `
` into Miss Cynthia's room bolted?" `
` `
` "Oh! Yes, sir; it always was. It had never been opened." `
` `
` "And the door into Mr. Inglethorp's room? Did you notice if that `
` was bolted too?" `
` `
` Annie hesitated. `
` `
` "I couldn't rightly say, sir; it was shut but I couldn't say `
` whether it was bolted or not." `
` `
`
` they found your mistress busy writing letters. I suppose you can `
` give me no idea to whom these letters were addressed?" `
` `
` "I'm afraid I couldn't, sir. I was out in the evening. Perhaps `
` Annie could tell you, though she's a careless girl. Never `
` cleared the coffee-cups away last night. That's what happens `
` when I'm not here to look after things." `
` `
` Poirot lifted his hand. `
` `
` "Since they have been left, Dorcas, leave them a little longer, I `
` pray you. I should like to examine them." `
` `
` "Very well, sir." `
` `
` "What time did you go out last evening?" `
` `
` "About six o'clock, sir." `
` `
` "Thank you, Dorcas, that is all I have to ask you." He rose and `
` strolled to the window. "I have been admiring these flower beds. `
` How many gardeners are employed here, by the way?" `
` `
` "Only three now, sir. Five, we had, before the war, when it was `
` kept as a gentleman's place should be. I wish you could have `
` seen it then, sir. A fair sight it was. But now there's only `
` old Manning, and young William, and a new-fashioned woman `
` gardener in breeches and such-like. Ah, these are dreadful `
` times!" `
` `
` "The good times will come again, Dorcas. At least, we hope so. `
` Now, will you send Annie to me here?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." `
` `
` "How did you know that Mrs. Inglethorp took sleeping powders?" I `
` asked, in lively curiosity, as Dorcas left the room. "And about `
` the lost key and the duplicate?" `
` `
` "One thing at a time. As to the sleeping powders, I knew by `
` this." He suddenly produced a small cardboard box, such as `
` chemists use for powders. `
` `
` "Where did you find it?" `
` `
` "In the wash-stand drawer in Mrs. Inglethorp's bedroom. It was `
` Number Six of my catalogue." `
` `
` "But I suppose, as the last powder was taken two days ago, it is `
` not of much importance?" `
` `
` "Probably not, but do you notice anything that strikes you as `
` peculiar about this box?" `
` `
` I examined it closely. `
` `
` "No, I can't say that I do." `
` `
` "Look at the label." `
` `
` I read the label carefully: " 'One powder to be taken at bedtime, `
` if required. Mrs. Inglethorp.' No, I see nothing unusual." `
` `
` "Not the fact that there is no chemist's name?" `
` `
` "Ah!" I exclaimed. "To be sure, that is odd!" `
` `
` "Have you ever known a chemist to send out a box like that, `
` without his printed name?" `
` `
` "No, I can't say that I have." `
` `
` I was becoming quite excited, but Poirot damped my ardour by `
` remarking: `
` `
` "Yet the explanation is quite simple. So do not intrigue `
` yourself, my friend." `
` `
` An audible creaking proclaimed the approach of Annie, so I had no `
` time to reply. `
` `
` Annie was a fine, strapping girl, and was evidently labouring `
` under intense excitement, mingled with a certain ghoulish `
` enjoyment of the tragedy. `
` `
` Poirot came to the point at once, with a business-like briskness. `
` `
` "I sent for you, Annie, because I thought you might be able to `
` tell me something about the letters Mrs. Inglethorp wrote last `
` night. How many were there? And can you tell me any of the names `
` and addresses?" `
` `
` Annie considered. `
` `
` "There were four letters, sir. One was to Miss Howard, and one `
` was to Mr. Wells, the lawyer, and the other two I don't think I `
` remember, sir--oh, yes, one was to Ross's, the caterers in `
` Tadminster. The other one, I don't remember." `
` `
` "Think," urged Poirot. `
` `
` Annie racked her brains in vain. `
` `
` "I'm sorry, sir, but it's clean gone. I don't think I can have `
` noticed it." `
` `
` "It does not matter," said Poirot, not betraying any sign of `
` disappointment. "Now I want to ask you about something else. `
` There is a saucepan in Mrs. Inglethorp's room with some coco in `
` it. Did she have that every night?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, it was put in her room every evening, and she warmed `
` it up in the night--whenever she fancied it." `
` `
` "What was it? Plain coco?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, made with milk, with a teaspoonful of sugar, and two `
` teaspoonfuls of rum in it." `
` `
` "Who took it to her room?" `
` `
` "I did, sir." `
` `
` "Always?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "At what time?" `
` `
` "When I went to draw the curtains, as a rule, sir." `
` `
` "Did you bring it straight up from the kitchen then?" `
` `
` "No, sir, you see there's not much room on the gas stove, so Cook `
` used to make it early, before putting the vegetables on for `
` supper. Then I used to bring it up, and put it on the table by `
` the swing door, and take it into her room later." `
` `
` "The swing door is in the left wing, is it not?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "And the table, is it on this side of the door, or on the `
` farther--servants' side?" `
` `
` "It's this side, sir." `
` `
` "What time did you bring it up last night?" `
` `
` "About quarter-past seven, I should say, sir." `
` `
` "And when did you take it into Mrs. Inglethorp's room?" `
` `
` "When I went to shut up, sir. About eight o'clock. Mrs. `
` Inglethorp came up to bed before I'd finished." `
` `
` "Then, between 7.15 and 8 o'clock, the coco was standing on the `
` table in the left wing?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." Annie had been growing redder and redder in the face, `
` and now she blurted out unexpectedly: `
` `
` "And if there _was_ salt in it, sir, it wasn't me. I never took `
` the salt near it." `
` `
` "What makes you think there was salt in it?" asked Poirot. `
` `
` "Seeing it on the tray, sir." `
` `
` "You saw some salt on the tray?" `
` `
` "Yes. Coarse kitchen salt, it looked. I never noticed it when I `
` took the tray up, but when I came to take it into the mistress's `
` room I saw it at once, and I suppose I ought to have taken it `
` down again, and asked Cook to make some fresh. But I was in a `
` hurry, because Dorcas was out, and I thought maybe the coco `
` itself was all right, and the salt had only gone on the tray. So `
` I dusted it off with my apron, and took it in." `
` `
` I had the utmost difficulty in controlling my excitement. `
` Unknown to herself, Annie had provided us with an important piece `
` of evidence. How she would have gaped if she had realized that `
` her "coarse kitchen salt" was strychnine, one of the most deadly `
` poisons known to mankind. I marvelled at Poirot's calm. His `
` self-control was astonishing. I awaited his next question with `
` impatience, but it disappointed me. `
` `
` "When you went into Mrs. Inglethorp's room, was the door leading `
` into Miss Cynthia's room bolted?" `
` `
` "Oh! Yes, sir; it always was. It had never been opened." `
` `
` "And the door into Mr. Inglethorp's room? Did you notice if that `
` was bolted too?" `
` `
` Annie hesitated. `
` `
` "I couldn't rightly say, sir; it was shut but I couldn't say `
` whether it was bolted or not." `
` `
`