Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-VI
"It is just an idea of mine," explained Lawrence. "Of course I `
` may be quite wrong, but it still seems to me that my mother's `
` death might be accounted for by natural means." `
` `
` "How do you make that out, Mr. Cavendish?" `
` `
` "My mother, at the time of her death, and for some time before `
` it, was taking a tonic containing strychnine." `
` `
` "Ah!" said the Coroner. `
` `
` The jury looked up, interested. `
` `
` "I believe," continued Lawrence, "that there have been cases `
` where the cumulative effect of a drug, administered for some `
` time, has ended by causing death. Also, is it not possible that `
` she may have taken an overdose of her medicine by accident?" `
` `
` "This is the first we have heard of the deceased taking `
` strychnine at the time of her death. We are much obliged to you, `
` Mr. Cavendish." `
` `
` Dr. Wilkins was recalled and ridiculed the idea. `
` `
` "What Mr. Cavendish suggests is quite impossible. Any doctor `
` would tell you the same. Strychnine is, in a certain sense, a `
` cumulative poison, but it would be quite impossible for it to `
` result in sudden death in this way. There would have to be a `
` long period of chronic symptoms which would at once have `
` attracted my attention. The whole thing is absurd." `
` `
` "And the second suggestion? That Mrs. Inglethorp may have `
` inadvertently taken an overdose?" `
` `
` "Three, or even four doses, would not have resulted in death. `
` Mrs. Inglethorp always had an extra large amount of medicine made `
` up at a time, as she dealt with Coot's, the Cash Chemists in `
` Tadminster. She would have had to take very nearly the whole `
` bottle to account for the amount of strychnine found at the `
` post-mortem." `
` `
` "Then you consider that we may dismiss the tonic as not being in `
` any way instrumental in causing her death?" `
` `
` "Certainly. The supposition is ridiculous." `
` `
` The same juryman who had interrupted before here suggested that `
` the chemist who made up the medicine might have committed an `
` error. `
` `
` "That, of course, is always possible," replied the doctor. `
` `
` But Dorcas, who was the next witness called, dispelled even that `
` possibility. The medicine had not been newly made up. On the `
` contrary, Mrs. Inglethorp had taken the last dose on the day of `
` her death. `
` `
` So the question of the tonic was finally abandoned, and the `
` Coroner proceeded with his task. Having elicited from Dorcas how `
` she had been awakened by the violent ringing of her mistress's `
` bell, and had subsequently roused the household, he passed to the `
` subject of the quarrel on the preceding afternoon. `
` `
` Dorcas's evidence on this point was substantially what Poirot and `
` I had already heard, so I will not repeat it here. `
` `
` The next witness was Mary Cavendish. She stood very upright, and `
` spoke in a low, clear, and perfectly composed voice. In answer `
` to the Coroner's question, she told how, her alarm clock having `
` aroused her at 4.30 as usual, she was dressing, when she was `
` startled by the sound of something heavy falling. `
` `
` "That would have been the table by the bed?" commented the `
` Coroner. `
` `
` "I opened my door," continued Mary, "and listened. In a few `
` minutes a bell rang violently. Dorcas came running down and woke `
` my husband, and we all went to my mother-in-law's room, but it `
` was locked----" `
` `
` The Coroner interrupted her. `
` `
` "I really do not think we need trouble you further on that point. `
` We know all that can be known of the subsequent happenings. But `
` I should be obliged if you would tell us all you overheard of the `
` quarrel the day before." `
` `
` "I?" `
` `
` There was a faint insolence in her voice. She raised her hand `
` and adjusted the ruffle of lace at her neck, turning her head a `
` little as she did so. And quite spontaneously the thought `
` flashed across my mind: "She is gaining time!" `
` `
` "Yes. I understand," continued the Coroner deliberately, "that `
` you were sitting reading on the bench just outside the long `
` window of the boudoir. That is so, is it not?" `
` `
` This was news to me and glancing sideways at Poirot, I fancied `
` that it was news to him as well. `
` `
` There was the faintest pause, the mere hesitation of a moment, `
` before she answered: `
` `
` "Yes, that is so." `
` `
` "And the boudoir window was open, was it not?" `
` `
` Surely her face grew a little paler as she answered: `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Then you cannot have failed to hear the voices inside, `
` especially as they were raised in anger. In fact, they would be `
` more audible where you were than in the hall." `
` `
` "Possibly." `
` `
` "Will you repeat to us what you overheard of the quarrel?" `
` `
` "I really do not remember hearing anything." `
` `
` "Do you mean to say you did not hear voices?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, I heard the voices, but I did not hear what they said." `
` A faint spot of colour came into her cheek. "I am not in the `
` habit of listening to private conversations." `
` `
` The Coroner persisted. `
` `
` "And you remember nothing at all? _Nothing_, Mrs. Cavendish? Not `
` one stray word or phrase to make you realize that it _was_ a `
` private conversation?" `
` `
` She paused, and seemed to reflect, still outwardly as calm as `
` ever. `
` `
` "Yes; I remember. Mrs. Inglethorp said something--I do not `
` remember exactly what--about causing scandal between husband and `
` wife." `
` `
` "Ah!" the Coroner leant back satisfied. "That corresponds with `
` what Dorcas heard. But excuse me, Mrs. Cavendish, although you `
` realized it was a private conversation, you did not move away? `
` You remained where you were?" `
` `
` I caught the momentary gleam of her tawny eyes as she raised `
` them. I felt certain that at that moment she would willingly `
` have torn the little lawyer, with his insinuations, into pieces, `
` but she replied quietly enough: `
` `
` "No. I was very comfortable where I was. I fixed my mind on my `
` book." `
` `
` "And that is all you can tell us?" `
` `
` "That is all." `
` `
` The examination was over, though I doubted if the Coroner was `
` entirely satisfied with it. I think he suspected that Mary `
` Cavendish could tell more if she chose. `
` `
` Amy Hill, shop assistant, was next called, and deposed to having `
` sold a will form on the afternoon of the 17th to William Earl, `
` under-gardener at Styles. `
` `
` William Earl and Manning succeeded her, and testified to `
` witnessing a document. Manning fixed the time at about 4.30, `
` William was of the opinion that it was rather earlier. `
` `
` Cynthia Murdoch came next. She had, however, little to tell. `
` She had known nothing of the tragedy, until awakened by Mrs. `
` Cavendish. `
` `
` "You did not hear the table fall?" `
` `
` "No. I was fast asleep." `
` `
` The Coroner smiled. `
` `
` "A good conscience makes a sound sleeper," he observed. "Thank `
` you, Miss Murdoch, that is all." `
` `
` "Miss Howard." `
` `
` Miss Howard produced the letter written to her by Mrs. Inglethorp `
` on the evening of the 17th. Poirot and I had, of course already `
` seen it. It added nothing to our knowledge of the tragedy. The `
` following is a facsimile: `
` `
` STYLES COURT `
` ESSEX hand written note: July 17th My `
` dear Evelyn `
` `
` Can we not bury the hachet? I have found it hard to forgive the `
` things you said `
` `
` against my dear husband but I am an old woman & very fond of you `
` `
` Yours affectionately, `
` `
`
` may be quite wrong, but it still seems to me that my mother's `
` death might be accounted for by natural means." `
` `
` "How do you make that out, Mr. Cavendish?" `
` `
` "My mother, at the time of her death, and for some time before `
` it, was taking a tonic containing strychnine." `
` `
` "Ah!" said the Coroner. `
` `
` The jury looked up, interested. `
` `
` "I believe," continued Lawrence, "that there have been cases `
` where the cumulative effect of a drug, administered for some `
` time, has ended by causing death. Also, is it not possible that `
` she may have taken an overdose of her medicine by accident?" `
` `
` "This is the first we have heard of the deceased taking `
` strychnine at the time of her death. We are much obliged to you, `
` Mr. Cavendish." `
` `
` Dr. Wilkins was recalled and ridiculed the idea. `
` `
` "What Mr. Cavendish suggests is quite impossible. Any doctor `
` would tell you the same. Strychnine is, in a certain sense, a `
` cumulative poison, but it would be quite impossible for it to `
` result in sudden death in this way. There would have to be a `
` long period of chronic symptoms which would at once have `
` attracted my attention. The whole thing is absurd." `
` `
` "And the second suggestion? That Mrs. Inglethorp may have `
` inadvertently taken an overdose?" `
` `
` "Three, or even four doses, would not have resulted in death. `
` Mrs. Inglethorp always had an extra large amount of medicine made `
` up at a time, as she dealt with Coot's, the Cash Chemists in `
` Tadminster. She would have had to take very nearly the whole `
` bottle to account for the amount of strychnine found at the `
` post-mortem." `
` `
` "Then you consider that we may dismiss the tonic as not being in `
` any way instrumental in causing her death?" `
` `
` "Certainly. The supposition is ridiculous." `
` `
` The same juryman who had interrupted before here suggested that `
` the chemist who made up the medicine might have committed an `
` error. `
` `
` "That, of course, is always possible," replied the doctor. `
` `
` But Dorcas, who was the next witness called, dispelled even that `
` possibility. The medicine had not been newly made up. On the `
` contrary, Mrs. Inglethorp had taken the last dose on the day of `
` her death. `
` `
` So the question of the tonic was finally abandoned, and the `
` Coroner proceeded with his task. Having elicited from Dorcas how `
` she had been awakened by the violent ringing of her mistress's `
` bell, and had subsequently roused the household, he passed to the `
` subject of the quarrel on the preceding afternoon. `
` `
` Dorcas's evidence on this point was substantially what Poirot and `
` I had already heard, so I will not repeat it here. `
` `
` The next witness was Mary Cavendish. She stood very upright, and `
` spoke in a low, clear, and perfectly composed voice. In answer `
` to the Coroner's question, she told how, her alarm clock having `
` aroused her at 4.30 as usual, she was dressing, when she was `
` startled by the sound of something heavy falling. `
` `
` "That would have been the table by the bed?" commented the `
` Coroner. `
` `
` "I opened my door," continued Mary, "and listened. In a few `
` minutes a bell rang violently. Dorcas came running down and woke `
` my husband, and we all went to my mother-in-law's room, but it `
` was locked----" `
` `
` The Coroner interrupted her. `
` `
` "I really do not think we need trouble you further on that point. `
` We know all that can be known of the subsequent happenings. But `
` I should be obliged if you would tell us all you overheard of the `
` quarrel the day before." `
` `
` "I?" `
` `
` There was a faint insolence in her voice. She raised her hand `
` and adjusted the ruffle of lace at her neck, turning her head a `
` little as she did so. And quite spontaneously the thought `
` flashed across my mind: "She is gaining time!" `
` `
` "Yes. I understand," continued the Coroner deliberately, "that `
` you were sitting reading on the bench just outside the long `
` window of the boudoir. That is so, is it not?" `
` `
` This was news to me and glancing sideways at Poirot, I fancied `
` that it was news to him as well. `
` `
` There was the faintest pause, the mere hesitation of a moment, `
` before she answered: `
` `
` "Yes, that is so." `
` `
` "And the boudoir window was open, was it not?" `
` `
` Surely her face grew a little paler as she answered: `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Then you cannot have failed to hear the voices inside, `
` especially as they were raised in anger. In fact, they would be `
` more audible where you were than in the hall." `
` `
` "Possibly." `
` `
` "Will you repeat to us what you overheard of the quarrel?" `
` `
` "I really do not remember hearing anything." `
` `
` "Do you mean to say you did not hear voices?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes, I heard the voices, but I did not hear what they said." `
` A faint spot of colour came into her cheek. "I am not in the `
` habit of listening to private conversations." `
` `
` The Coroner persisted. `
` `
` "And you remember nothing at all? _Nothing_, Mrs. Cavendish? Not `
` one stray word or phrase to make you realize that it _was_ a `
` private conversation?" `
` `
` She paused, and seemed to reflect, still outwardly as calm as `
` ever. `
` `
` "Yes; I remember. Mrs. Inglethorp said something--I do not `
` remember exactly what--about causing scandal between husband and `
` wife." `
` `
` "Ah!" the Coroner leant back satisfied. "That corresponds with `
` what Dorcas heard. But excuse me, Mrs. Cavendish, although you `
` realized it was a private conversation, you did not move away? `
` You remained where you were?" `
` `
` I caught the momentary gleam of her tawny eyes as she raised `
` them. I felt certain that at that moment she would willingly `
` have torn the little lawyer, with his insinuations, into pieces, `
` but she replied quietly enough: `
` `
` "No. I was very comfortable where I was. I fixed my mind on my `
` book." `
` `
` "And that is all you can tell us?" `
` `
` "That is all." `
` `
` The examination was over, though I doubted if the Coroner was `
` entirely satisfied with it. I think he suspected that Mary `
` Cavendish could tell more if she chose. `
` `
` Amy Hill, shop assistant, was next called, and deposed to having `
` sold a will form on the afternoon of the 17th to William Earl, `
` under-gardener at Styles. `
` `
` William Earl and Manning succeeded her, and testified to `
` witnessing a document. Manning fixed the time at about 4.30, `
` William was of the opinion that it was rather earlier. `
` `
` Cynthia Murdoch came next. She had, however, little to tell. `
` She had known nothing of the tragedy, until awakened by Mrs. `
` Cavendish. `
` `
` "You did not hear the table fall?" `
` `
` "No. I was fast asleep." `
` `
` The Coroner smiled. `
` `
` "A good conscience makes a sound sleeper," he observed. "Thank `
` you, Miss Murdoch, that is all." `
` `
` "Miss Howard." `
` `
` Miss Howard produced the letter written to her by Mrs. Inglethorp `
` on the evening of the 17th. Poirot and I had, of course already `
` seen it. It added nothing to our knowledge of the tragedy. The `
` following is a facsimile: `
` `
` STYLES COURT `
` ESSEX hand written note: July 17th My `
` dear Evelyn `
` `
` Can we not bury the hachet? I have found it hard to forgive the `
` things you said `
` `
` against my dear husband but I am an old woman & very fond of you `
` `
` Yours affectionately, `
` `
`