Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-VI
`
` Emily Inglethorpe `
` `
` `
` It was handed to the jury who scrutinized it attentively. `
` `
` "I fear it does not help us much," said the Coroner, with a sigh. `
` "There is no mention of any of the events of that afternoon." `
` `
` "Plain as a pikestaff to me," said Miss Howard shortly. "It `
` shows clearly enough that my poor old friend had just found out `
` she'd been made a fool of!" `
` `
` "It says nothing of the kind in the letter," the Coroner pointed `
` out. `
` `
` "No, because Emily never could bear to put herself in the wrong. `
` But I know her. She wanted me back. But she wasn't going to own `
` that I'd been right. She went round about. Most people do. `
` Don't believe in it myself." `
` `
` Mr. Wells smiled faintly. So, I noticed, did several of the `
` jury. Miss Howard was obviously quite a public character. `
` `
` "Anyway, all this tomfoolery is a great waste of time," continued `
` the lady, glancing up and down the jury disparagingly. `
` "Talk--talk--talk! When all the time we know perfectly well----" `
` `
` The Coroner interrupted her in an agony of apprehension: `
` `
` "Thank you, Miss Howard, that is all." `
` `
` I fancy he breathed a sigh of relief when she complied. `
` `
` Then came the sensation of the day. The Coroner called Albert `
` Mace, chemist's assistant. `
` `
` It was our agitated young man of the pale face. In answer to the `
` Coroner's questions, he explained that he was a qualified `
` pharmacist, but had only recently come to this particular shop, `
` as the assistant formerly there had just been called up for the `
` army. `
` `
` These preliminaries completed, the Coroner proceeded to business. `
` `
` "Mr. Mace, have you lately sold strychnine to any unauthorized `
` person?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "When was this?" `
` `
` "Last Monday night." `
` `
` "Monday? Not Tuesday?" `
` `
` "No, sir, Monday, the 16th." `
` `
` "Will you tell us to whom you sold it?" `
` `
` You could have heard a pin drop. `
` `
` "Yes, sir. It was to Mr. Inglethorp." `
` `
` Every eye turned simultaneously to where Alfred Inglethorp was `
` sitting, impassive and wooden. He started slightly, as the `
` damning words fell from the young man's lips. I half thought he `
` was going to rise from his chair, but he remained seated, `
` although a remarkably well acted expression of astonishment rose `
` on his face. `
` `
` "You are sure of what you say?" asked the Coroner sternly. `
` `
` "Quite sure, sir." `
` `
` "Are you in the habit of selling strychnine indiscriminately over `
` the counter?" `
` `
` The wretched young man wilted visibly under the Coroner's frown. `
` `
` "Oh, no, sir--of course not. But, seeing it was Mr. Inglethorp `
` of the Hall, I thought there was no harm in it. He said it was `
` to poison a dog." `
` `
` Inwardly I sympathized. It was only human nature to endeavour to `
` please "The Hall"--especially when it might result in custom `
` being transferred from Coot's to the local establishment. `
` `
` "Is it not customary for anyone purchasing poison to sign a `
` book?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, Mr. Inglethorp did so." `
` `
` "Have you got the book here?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` It was produced; and, with a few words of stern censure, the `
` Coroner dismissed the wretched Mr. Mace. `
` `
` Then, amidst a breathless silence, Alfred Inglethorp was called. `
` Did he realize, I wondered, how closely the halter was being `
` drawn around his neck? `
` `
` The Coroner went straight to the point. `
` `
` "On Monday evening last, did you purchase strychnine for the `
` purpose of poisoning a dog?" `
` `
` Inglethorp replied with perfect calmness: `
` `
` "No, I did not. There is no dog at Styles, except an outdoor `
` sheepdog, which is in perfect health." `
` `
` "You deny absolutely having purchased strychnine from Albert Mace `
` on Monday last?" `
` `
` "I do." `
` `
` "Do you also deny _this_?" `
` `
` The Coroner handed him the register in which his signature was `
` inscribed. `
` `
` "Certainly I do. The hand-writing is quite different from mine. `
` I will show you." `
` `
` He took an old envelope out of his pocket, and wrote his name on `
` it, handing it to the jury. It was certainly utterly dissimilar. `
` `
` "Then what is your explanation of Mr. Mace's statement?" `
` `
` Alfred Inglethorp replied imperturbably: `
` `
` "Mr. Mace must have been mistaken." `
` `
` The Coroner hesitated for a moment, and then said: `
` `
` "Mr. Inglethorp, as a mere matter of form, would you mind telling `
` us where you were on the evening of Monday, July 16th?" `
` `
` "Really--I can't remember." `
` `
` "That is absurd, Mr. Inglethorp," said the Coroner sharply. `
` "Think again." `
` `
` Inglethorp shook his head. `
` `
` "I cannot tell you. I have an idea that I was out walking." `
` `
` "In what direction?" `
` `
` "I really can't remember." `
` `
` The Coroner's face grew graver. `
` `
` "Were you in company with anyone?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Did you meet anyone on your walk?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "That is a pity," said the Coroner dryly. "I am to take it then `
` that you decline to say where you were at the time that Mr. Mace `
` positively recognized you as entering the shop to purchase `
` strychnine?" `
` `
` "If you like to take it that way, yes." `
` `
` "Be careful, Mr. Inglethorp." `
` `
` Poirot was fidgeting nervously. `
` `
` "Sacre!" he murmured. "Does this imbecile of a man _want_ to be `
` arrested?" `
` `
` Inglethorp was indeed creating a bad impression. His futile `
` denials would not have convinced a child. The Coroner, however, `
` passed briskly to the next point, and Poirot drew a deep breath `
` of relief. `
` `
` "You had a discussion with your wife on Tuesday afternoon?" `
` `
` "Pardon me," interrupted Alfred Inglethorp, "you have been `
` misinformed. I had no quarrel with my dear wife. The whole `
` story is absolutely untrue. I was absent from the house the `
` entire afternoon." `
` `
` "Have you anyone who can testify to that?" `
` `
` "You have my word," said Inglethorp haughtily. `
` `
` The Coroner did not trouble to reply. `
` `
` "There are two witnesses who will swear to having heard your `
` disagreement with Mrs. Inglethorp." `
` `
` "Those witnesses were mistaken." `
` `
`
` Emily Inglethorpe `
` `
` `
` It was handed to the jury who scrutinized it attentively. `
` `
` "I fear it does not help us much," said the Coroner, with a sigh. `
` "There is no mention of any of the events of that afternoon." `
` `
` "Plain as a pikestaff to me," said Miss Howard shortly. "It `
` shows clearly enough that my poor old friend had just found out `
` she'd been made a fool of!" `
` `
` "It says nothing of the kind in the letter," the Coroner pointed `
` out. `
` `
` "No, because Emily never could bear to put herself in the wrong. `
` But I know her. She wanted me back. But she wasn't going to own `
` that I'd been right. She went round about. Most people do. `
` Don't believe in it myself." `
` `
` Mr. Wells smiled faintly. So, I noticed, did several of the `
` jury. Miss Howard was obviously quite a public character. `
` `
` "Anyway, all this tomfoolery is a great waste of time," continued `
` the lady, glancing up and down the jury disparagingly. `
` "Talk--talk--talk! When all the time we know perfectly well----" `
` `
` The Coroner interrupted her in an agony of apprehension: `
` `
` "Thank you, Miss Howard, that is all." `
` `
` I fancy he breathed a sigh of relief when she complied. `
` `
` Then came the sensation of the day. The Coroner called Albert `
` Mace, chemist's assistant. `
` `
` It was our agitated young man of the pale face. In answer to the `
` Coroner's questions, he explained that he was a qualified `
` pharmacist, but had only recently come to this particular shop, `
` as the assistant formerly there had just been called up for the `
` army. `
` `
` These preliminaries completed, the Coroner proceeded to business. `
` `
` "Mr. Mace, have you lately sold strychnine to any unauthorized `
` person?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` "When was this?" `
` `
` "Last Monday night." `
` `
` "Monday? Not Tuesday?" `
` `
` "No, sir, Monday, the 16th." `
` `
` "Will you tell us to whom you sold it?" `
` `
` You could have heard a pin drop. `
` `
` "Yes, sir. It was to Mr. Inglethorp." `
` `
` Every eye turned simultaneously to where Alfred Inglethorp was `
` sitting, impassive and wooden. He started slightly, as the `
` damning words fell from the young man's lips. I half thought he `
` was going to rise from his chair, but he remained seated, `
` although a remarkably well acted expression of astonishment rose `
` on his face. `
` `
` "You are sure of what you say?" asked the Coroner sternly. `
` `
` "Quite sure, sir." `
` `
` "Are you in the habit of selling strychnine indiscriminately over `
` the counter?" `
` `
` The wretched young man wilted visibly under the Coroner's frown. `
` `
` "Oh, no, sir--of course not. But, seeing it was Mr. Inglethorp `
` of the Hall, I thought there was no harm in it. He said it was `
` to poison a dog." `
` `
` Inwardly I sympathized. It was only human nature to endeavour to `
` please "The Hall"--especially when it might result in custom `
` being transferred from Coot's to the local establishment. `
` `
` "Is it not customary for anyone purchasing poison to sign a `
` book?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, Mr. Inglethorp did so." `
` `
` "Have you got the book here?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir." `
` `
` It was produced; and, with a few words of stern censure, the `
` Coroner dismissed the wretched Mr. Mace. `
` `
` Then, amidst a breathless silence, Alfred Inglethorp was called. `
` Did he realize, I wondered, how closely the halter was being `
` drawn around his neck? `
` `
` The Coroner went straight to the point. `
` `
` "On Monday evening last, did you purchase strychnine for the `
` purpose of poisoning a dog?" `
` `
` Inglethorp replied with perfect calmness: `
` `
` "No, I did not. There is no dog at Styles, except an outdoor `
` sheepdog, which is in perfect health." `
` `
` "You deny absolutely having purchased strychnine from Albert Mace `
` on Monday last?" `
` `
` "I do." `
` `
` "Do you also deny _this_?" `
` `
` The Coroner handed him the register in which his signature was `
` inscribed. `
` `
` "Certainly I do. The hand-writing is quite different from mine. `
` I will show you." `
` `
` He took an old envelope out of his pocket, and wrote his name on `
` it, handing it to the jury. It was certainly utterly dissimilar. `
` `
` "Then what is your explanation of Mr. Mace's statement?" `
` `
` Alfred Inglethorp replied imperturbably: `
` `
` "Mr. Mace must have been mistaken." `
` `
` The Coroner hesitated for a moment, and then said: `
` `
` "Mr. Inglethorp, as a mere matter of form, would you mind telling `
` us where you were on the evening of Monday, July 16th?" `
` `
` "Really--I can't remember." `
` `
` "That is absurd, Mr. Inglethorp," said the Coroner sharply. `
` "Think again." `
` `
` Inglethorp shook his head. `
` `
` "I cannot tell you. I have an idea that I was out walking." `
` `
` "In what direction?" `
` `
` "I really can't remember." `
` `
` The Coroner's face grew graver. `
` `
` "Were you in company with anyone?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Did you meet anyone on your walk?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "That is a pity," said the Coroner dryly. "I am to take it then `
` that you decline to say where you were at the time that Mr. Mace `
` positively recognized you as entering the shop to purchase `
` strychnine?" `
` `
` "If you like to take it that way, yes." `
` `
` "Be careful, Mr. Inglethorp." `
` `
` Poirot was fidgeting nervously. `
` `
` "Sacre!" he murmured. "Does this imbecile of a man _want_ to be `
` arrested?" `
` `
` Inglethorp was indeed creating a bad impression. His futile `
` denials would not have convinced a child. The Coroner, however, `
` passed briskly to the next point, and Poirot drew a deep breath `
` of relief. `
` `
` "You had a discussion with your wife on Tuesday afternoon?" `
` `
` "Pardon me," interrupted Alfred Inglethorp, "you have been `
` misinformed. I had no quarrel with my dear wife. The whole `
` story is absolutely untrue. I was absent from the house the `
` entire afternoon." `
` `
` "Have you anyone who can testify to that?" `
` `
` "You have my word," said Inglethorp haughtily. `
` `
` The Coroner did not trouble to reply. `
` `
` "There are two witnesses who will swear to having heard your `
` disagreement with Mrs. Inglethorp." `
` `
` "Those witnesses were mistaken." `
` `
`