Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-VI
then?" `
` `
` "They would not be shaken because twelve stupid men had happened `
` to make a mistake! But that will not occur. For one thing, a `
` country jury is not anxious to take responsibility upon itself, `
` and Mr. Inglethorp stands practically in the position of local `
` squire. Also," he added placidly, "I should not allow it!" `
` `
` "_You_ would not allow it?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` I looked at the extraordinary little man, divided between `
` annoyance and amusement. He was so tremendously sure of himself. `
` As though he read my thoughts, he nodded gently. `
` `
` "Oh, yes, mon ami, I would do what I say." He got up and laid his `
` hand on my shoulder. His physiognomy underwent a complete `
` change. Tears came into his eyes. "In all this, you see, I `
` think of that poor Mrs. Inglethorp who is dead. She was not `
` extravagantly loved--no. But she was very good to us Belgians--I `
` owe her a debt." `
` `
` I endeavoured to interrupt, but Poirot swept on. `
` `
` "Let me tell you this, Hastings. She would never forgive me if I `
` let Alfred Inglethorp, her husband, be arrested now--when a word `
` from me could save him!" `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VI. `
` `
` THE INQUEST `
` `
` `
` In the interval before the inquest, Poirot was unfailing in his `
` activity. Twice he was closeted with Mr. Wells. He also took `
` long walks into the country. I rather resented his not taking me `
` into his confidence, the more so as I could not in the least `
` guess what he was driving at. `
` `
` It occurred to me that he might have been making inquiries at `
` Raikes's farm; so, finding him out when I called at Leastways `
` Cottage on Wednesday evening, I walked over there by the fields, `
` hoping to meet him. But there was no sign of him, and I `
` hesitated to go right up to the farm itself. As I walked away, I `
` met an aged rustic, who leered at me cunningly. `
` `
` "You'm from the Hall, bain't you?" he asked. `
` `
` "Yes. I'm looking for a friend of mine whom I thought might have `
` walked this way." `
` `
` "A little chap? As waves his hands when he talks? One of them `
` Belgies from the village?" `
` `
` "Yes," I said eagerly. "He has been here, then?" `
` `
` "Oh, ay, he's been here, right enough. More'n once too. Friend `
` of yours, is he? Ah, you gentlemen from the Hall--you'n a pretty `
` lot!" And he leered more jocosely than ever. `
` `
` "Why, do the gentlemen from the Hall come here often?" I asked, `
` as carelessly as I could. `
` `
` He winked at me knowingly. `
` `
` "_One_ does, mister. Naming no names, mind. And a very liberal `
` gentleman too! Oh, thank you, sir, I'm sure." `
` `
` I walked on sharply. Evelyn Howard had been right then, and I `
` experienced a sharp twinge of disgust, as I thought of Alfred `
` Inglethorp's liberality with another woman's money. Had that `
` piquant gipsy face been at the bottom of the crime, or was it the `
` baser mainspring of money? Probably a judicious mixture of both. `
` `
` On one point, Poirot seemed to have a curious obsession. He once `
` or twice observed to me that he thought Dorcas must have made an `
` error in fixing the time of the quarrel. He suggested to her `
` repeatedly that it was 4.30, and not 4 o'clock when she had heard `
` the voices. `
` `
` But Dorcas was unshaken. Quite an hour, or even more, had `
` elapsed between the time when she had heard the voices and 5 `
` o'clock, when she had taken tea to her mistress. `
` `
` The inquest was held on Friday at the Stylites Arms in the `
` village. Poirot and I sat together, not being required to give `
` evidence. `
` `
` The preliminaries were gone through. The jury viewed the body, `
` and John Cavendish gave evidence of identification. `
` `
` Further questioned, he described his awakening in the early hours `
` of the morning, and the circumstances of his mother's death. `
` `
` The medical evidence was next taken. There was a breathless `
` hush, and every eye was fixed on the famous London specialist, `
` who was known to be one of the greatest authorities of the day on `
` the subject of toxicology. `
` `
` In a few brief words, he summed up the result of the post-mortem. `
` Shorn of its medical phraseology and technicalities, it amounted `
` to the fact that Mrs. Inglethorp had met her death as the result `
` of strychnine poisoning. Judging from the quantity recovered, `
` she must have taken not less than three-quarters of a grain of `
` strychnine, but probably one grain or slightly over. `
` `
` "Is it possible that she could have swallowed the poison by `
` accident?" asked the Coroner. `
` `
` "I should consider it very unlikely. Strychnine is not used for `
` domestic purposes, as some poisons are, and there are `
` restrictions placed on its sale." `
` `
` "Does anything in your examination lead you to determine how the `
` poison was administered?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "You arrived at Styles before Dr. Wilkins, I believe?" `
` `
` "That is so. The motor met me just outside the lodge gates, and `
` I hurried there as fast as I could." `
` `
` "Will you relate to us exactly what happened next?" `
` `
` "I entered Mrs. Inglethorp's room. She was at that moment in a `
` typical tetanic convulsion. She turned towards me, and gasped `
` out: 'Alfred--Alfred----' " `
` `
` "Could the strychnine have been administered in Mrs. Inglethorp's `
` after-dinner coffee which was taken to her by her husband?" `
` `
` "Possibly, but strychnine is a fairly rapid drug in its action. `
` The symptoms appear from one to two hours after it has been `
` swallowed. It is retarded under certain conditions, none of `
` which, however, appear to have been present in this case. I `
` presume Mrs. Inglethorp took the coffee after dinner about eight `
` o'clock, whereas the symptoms did not manifest themselves until `
` the early hours of the morning, which, on the face of it, points `
` to the drug having been taken much later in the evening." `
` `
` "Mrs. Inglethorp was in the habit of drinking a cup of coco in `
` the middle of the night. Could the strychnine have been `
` administered in that?" `
` `
` "No, I myself took a sample of the coco remaining in the saucepan `
` and had it analysed. There was no strychnine present." `
` `
` I heard Poirot chuckle softly beside me. `
` `
` "How did you know?" I whispered. `
` `
` "Listen." `
` `
` "I should say"--the doctor was continuing--"that I would have `
` been considerably surprised at any other result." `
` `
` "Why?" `
` `
` "Simply because strychnine has an unusually bitter taste. It can `
` be detected in a solution of 1 in 70,000, and can only be `
` disguised by some strongly flavoured substance. Coco would be `
` quite powerless to mask it." `
` `
` One of the jury wanted to know if the same objection applied to `
` coffee. `
` `
` "No. Coffee has a bitter taste of its own which would probably `
` cover the taste of strychnine." `
` `
` "Then you consider it more likely that the drug was administered `
` in the coffee, but that for some unknown reason its action was `
` delayed." `
` `
` "Yes, but, the cup being completely smashed, there is no `
` possibility of analyzing its contents." `
` `
` This concluded Dr. Bauerstein's evidence. Dr. Wilkins `
` corroborated it on all points. Sounded as to the possibility of `
` suicide, he repudiated it utterly. The deceased, he said, `
` suffered from a weak heart, but otherwise enjoyed perfect health, `
` and was of a cheerful and well-balanced disposition. She would `
` be one of the last people to take her own life. `
` `
` Lawrence Cavendish was next called. His evidence was quite `
` unimportant, being a mere repetition of that of his brother. `
` Just as he was about to step down, he paused, and said rather `
` hesitatingly: `
` `
` "I should like to make a suggestion if I may?" `
` `
` He glanced deprecatingly at the Coroner, who replied briskly: `
` `
` "Certainly, Mr. Cavendish, we are here to arrive at the truth of `
` this matter, and welcome anything that may lead to further `
` elucidation." `
` `
` "It is just an idea of mine," explained Lawrence. "Of course I `
`
` `
` "They would not be shaken because twelve stupid men had happened `
` to make a mistake! But that will not occur. For one thing, a `
` country jury is not anxious to take responsibility upon itself, `
` and Mr. Inglethorp stands practically in the position of local `
` squire. Also," he added placidly, "I should not allow it!" `
` `
` "_You_ would not allow it?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` I looked at the extraordinary little man, divided between `
` annoyance and amusement. He was so tremendously sure of himself. `
` As though he read my thoughts, he nodded gently. `
` `
` "Oh, yes, mon ami, I would do what I say." He got up and laid his `
` hand on my shoulder. His physiognomy underwent a complete `
` change. Tears came into his eyes. "In all this, you see, I `
` think of that poor Mrs. Inglethorp who is dead. She was not `
` extravagantly loved--no. But she was very good to us Belgians--I `
` owe her a debt." `
` `
` I endeavoured to interrupt, but Poirot swept on. `
` `
` "Let me tell you this, Hastings. She would never forgive me if I `
` let Alfred Inglethorp, her husband, be arrested now--when a word `
` from me could save him!" `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER VI. `
` `
` THE INQUEST `
` `
` `
` In the interval before the inquest, Poirot was unfailing in his `
` activity. Twice he was closeted with Mr. Wells. He also took `
` long walks into the country. I rather resented his not taking me `
` into his confidence, the more so as I could not in the least `
` guess what he was driving at. `
` `
` It occurred to me that he might have been making inquiries at `
` Raikes's farm; so, finding him out when I called at Leastways `
` Cottage on Wednesday evening, I walked over there by the fields, `
` hoping to meet him. But there was no sign of him, and I `
` hesitated to go right up to the farm itself. As I walked away, I `
` met an aged rustic, who leered at me cunningly. `
` `
` "You'm from the Hall, bain't you?" he asked. `
` `
` "Yes. I'm looking for a friend of mine whom I thought might have `
` walked this way." `
` `
` "A little chap? As waves his hands when he talks? One of them `
` Belgies from the village?" `
` `
` "Yes," I said eagerly. "He has been here, then?" `
` `
` "Oh, ay, he's been here, right enough. More'n once too. Friend `
` of yours, is he? Ah, you gentlemen from the Hall--you'n a pretty `
` lot!" And he leered more jocosely than ever. `
` `
` "Why, do the gentlemen from the Hall come here often?" I asked, `
` as carelessly as I could. `
` `
` He winked at me knowingly. `
` `
` "_One_ does, mister. Naming no names, mind. And a very liberal `
` gentleman too! Oh, thank you, sir, I'm sure." `
` `
` I walked on sharply. Evelyn Howard had been right then, and I `
` experienced a sharp twinge of disgust, as I thought of Alfred `
` Inglethorp's liberality with another woman's money. Had that `
` piquant gipsy face been at the bottom of the crime, or was it the `
` baser mainspring of money? Probably a judicious mixture of both. `
` `
` On one point, Poirot seemed to have a curious obsession. He once `
` or twice observed to me that he thought Dorcas must have made an `
` error in fixing the time of the quarrel. He suggested to her `
` repeatedly that it was 4.30, and not 4 o'clock when she had heard `
` the voices. `
` `
` But Dorcas was unshaken. Quite an hour, or even more, had `
` elapsed between the time when she had heard the voices and 5 `
` o'clock, when she had taken tea to her mistress. `
` `
` The inquest was held on Friday at the Stylites Arms in the `
` village. Poirot and I sat together, not being required to give `
` evidence. `
` `
` The preliminaries were gone through. The jury viewed the body, `
` and John Cavendish gave evidence of identification. `
` `
` Further questioned, he described his awakening in the early hours `
` of the morning, and the circumstances of his mother's death. `
` `
` The medical evidence was next taken. There was a breathless `
` hush, and every eye was fixed on the famous London specialist, `
` who was known to be one of the greatest authorities of the day on `
` the subject of toxicology. `
` `
` In a few brief words, he summed up the result of the post-mortem. `
` Shorn of its medical phraseology and technicalities, it amounted `
` to the fact that Mrs. Inglethorp had met her death as the result `
` of strychnine poisoning. Judging from the quantity recovered, `
` she must have taken not less than three-quarters of a grain of `
` strychnine, but probably one grain or slightly over. `
` `
` "Is it possible that she could have swallowed the poison by `
` accident?" asked the Coroner. `
` `
` "I should consider it very unlikely. Strychnine is not used for `
` domestic purposes, as some poisons are, and there are `
` restrictions placed on its sale." `
` `
` "Does anything in your examination lead you to determine how the `
` poison was administered?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "You arrived at Styles before Dr. Wilkins, I believe?" `
` `
` "That is so. The motor met me just outside the lodge gates, and `
` I hurried there as fast as I could." `
` `
` "Will you relate to us exactly what happened next?" `
` `
` "I entered Mrs. Inglethorp's room. She was at that moment in a `
` typical tetanic convulsion. She turned towards me, and gasped `
` out: 'Alfred--Alfred----' " `
` `
` "Could the strychnine have been administered in Mrs. Inglethorp's `
` after-dinner coffee which was taken to her by her husband?" `
` `
` "Possibly, but strychnine is a fairly rapid drug in its action. `
` The symptoms appear from one to two hours after it has been `
` swallowed. It is retarded under certain conditions, none of `
` which, however, appear to have been present in this case. I `
` presume Mrs. Inglethorp took the coffee after dinner about eight `
` o'clock, whereas the symptoms did not manifest themselves until `
` the early hours of the morning, which, on the face of it, points `
` to the drug having been taken much later in the evening." `
` `
` "Mrs. Inglethorp was in the habit of drinking a cup of coco in `
` the middle of the night. Could the strychnine have been `
` administered in that?" `
` `
` "No, I myself took a sample of the coco remaining in the saucepan `
` and had it analysed. There was no strychnine present." `
` `
` I heard Poirot chuckle softly beside me. `
` `
` "How did you know?" I whispered. `
` `
` "Listen." `
` `
` "I should say"--the doctor was continuing--"that I would have `
` been considerably surprised at any other result." `
` `
` "Why?" `
` `
` "Simply because strychnine has an unusually bitter taste. It can `
` be detected in a solution of 1 in 70,000, and can only be `
` disguised by some strongly flavoured substance. Coco would be `
` quite powerless to mask it." `
` `
` One of the jury wanted to know if the same objection applied to `
` coffee. `
` `
` "No. Coffee has a bitter taste of its own which would probably `
` cover the taste of strychnine." `
` `
` "Then you consider it more likely that the drug was administered `
` in the coffee, but that for some unknown reason its action was `
` delayed." `
` `
` "Yes, but, the cup being completely smashed, there is no `
` possibility of analyzing its contents." `
` `
` This concluded Dr. Bauerstein's evidence. Dr. Wilkins `
` corroborated it on all points. Sounded as to the possibility of `
` suicide, he repudiated it utterly. The deceased, he said, `
` suffered from a weak heart, but otherwise enjoyed perfect health, `
` and was of a cheerful and well-balanced disposition. She would `
` be one of the last people to take her own life. `
` `
` Lawrence Cavendish was next called. His evidence was quite `
` unimportant, being a mere repetition of that of his brother. `
` Just as he was about to step down, he paused, and said rather `
` hesitatingly: `
` `
` "I should like to make a suggestion if I may?" `
` `
` He glanced deprecatingly at the Coroner, who replied briskly: `
` `
` "Certainly, Mr. Cavendish, we are here to arrive at the truth of `
` this matter, and welcome anything that may lead to further `
` elucidation." `
` `
` "It is just an idea of mine," explained Lawrence. "Of course I `
`