Reading Help The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-VI
"I should like to speak to you in private," said Dr. Bauerstein. `
` He turned to John. "You do not object?" `
` `
` "Certainly not." `
` `
` We all trooped out into the corridor, leaving the two doctors `
` alone, and I heard the key turned in the lock behind us. `
` `
` We went slowly down the stairs. I was violently excited. I have `
` a certain talent for deduction, and Dr. Bauerstein's manner had `
` started a flock of wild surmises in my mind. Mary Cavendish laid `
` her hand upon my arm. `
` `
` "What is it? Why did Dr. Bauerstein seem so--peculiar?" `
` `
` I looked at her. `
` `
` "Do you know what I think?" `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "Listen!" I looked round, the others were out of earshot. I `
` lowered my voice to a whisper. "I believe she has been poisoned! `
` I'm certain Dr. Bauerstein suspects it." `
` `
` "_What_?" She shrank against the wall, the pupils of her eyes `
` dilating wildly. Then, with a sudden cry that startled me, she `
` cried out: "No, no--not that--not that!" And breaking from me, `
` fled up the stairs. I followed her, afraid that she was going to `
` faint. I found her leaning against the bannisters, deadly pale. `
` She waved me away impatiently. `
` `
` "No, no--leave me. I'd rather be alone. Let me just be quiet `
` for a minute or two. Go down to the others." `
` `
` I obeyed her reluctantly. John and Lawrence were in the `
` dining-room. I joined them. We were all silent, but I suppose I `
` voiced the thoughts of us all when I at last broke it by saying: `
` `
` "Where is Mr. Inglethorp?" `
` `
` John shook his head. `
` `
` "He's not in the house." `
` `
` Our eyes met. Where _was_ Alfred Inglethorp? His absence was `
` strange and inexplicable. I remembered Mrs. Inglethorp's dying `
` words. What lay beneath them? What more could she have told us, `
` if she had had time? `
` `
` At last we heard the doctors descending the stairs. Dr. Wilkins `
` was looking important and excited, and trying to conceal an `
` inward exultation under a manner of decorous calm. Dr. `
` Bauerstein remained in the background, his grave bearded face `
` unchanged. Dr. Wilkins was the spokesman for the two. He `
` addressed himself to John: `
` `
` "Mr. Cavendish, I should like your consent to a postmortem." `
` `
` "Is that necessary?" asked John gravely. A spasm of pain crossed `
` his face. `
` `
` "Absolutely," said Dr. Bauerstein. `
` `
` "You mean by that----?" `
` `
` "That neither Dr. Wilkins nor myself could give a death `
` certificate under the circumstances." `
` `
` John bent his head. `
` `
` "In that case, I have no alternative but to agree." `
` `
` "Thank you," said Dr. Wilkins briskly. "We propose that it `
` should take place to-morrow night--or rather to-night." And he `
` glanced at the daylight. "Under the circumstances, I am afraid `
` an inquest can hardly be avoided--these formalities are `
` necessary, but I beg that you won't distress yourselves." `
` `
` There was a pause, and then Dr. Bauerstein drew two keys from his `
` pocket, and handed them to John. `
` `
` "These are the keys of the two rooms. I have locked them and, in `
` my opinion, they would be better kept locked for the present." `
` `
` The doctors then departed. `
` `
` I had been turning over an idea in my head, and I felt that the `
` moment had now come to broach it. Yet I was a little chary of `
` doing so. John, I knew, had a horror of any kind of publicity, `
` and was an easygoing optimist, who preferred never to meet `
` trouble half-way. It might be difficult to convince him of the `
` soundness of my plan. Lawrence, on the other hand, being less `
` conventional, and having more imagination, I felt I might count `
` upon as an ally. There was no doubt that the moment had come for `
` me to take the lead. `
` `
` "John," I said, "I am going to ask you something." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "You remember my speaking of my friend Poirot? The Belgian who is `
` here? He has been a most famous detective." `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "I want you to let me call him in--to investigate this matter." `
` `
` "What--now? Before the post-mortem?" `
` `
` "Yes, time is an advantage if--if--there has been foul play." `
` `
` "Rubbish!" cried Lawrence angrily. "In my opinion the whole `
` thing is a mare's nest of Bauerstein's! Wilkins hadn't an idea of `
` such a thing, until Bauerstein put it into his head. But, like `
` all specialists, Bauerstein's got a bee in his bonnet. Poisons `
` are his hobby, so of course he sees them everywhere." `
` `
` I confess that I was surprised by Lawrence's attitude. He was so `
` seldom vehement about anything. `
` `
` John hesitated. `
` `
` "I can't feel as you do, Lawrence," he said at last. "I'm `
` inclined to give Hastings a free hand, though I should prefer to `
` wait a bit. We don't want any unnecessary scandal." `
` `
` "No, no," I cried eagerly, "you need have no fear of that. `
` Poirot is discretion itself." `
` `
` "Very well, then, have it your own way. I leave it in your `
` hands. Though, if it is as we suspect, it seems a clear enough `
` case. God forgive me if I am wronging him!" `
` `
` I looked at my watch. It was six o'clock. I determined to lose `
` no time. `
` `
` Five minutes' delay, however, I allowed myself. I spent it in `
` ransacking the library until I discovered a medical book which `
` gave a description of strychnine poisoning. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER IV. `
` `
` POIROT INVESTIGATES `
` `
` `
` The house which the Belgians occupied in the village was quite `
` close to the park gates. One could save time by taking a narrow `
` path through the long grass, which cut off the detours of the `
` winding drive. So I, accordingly, went that way. I had nearly `
` reached the lodge, when my attention was arrested by the running `
` figure of a man approaching me. It was Mr. Inglethorp. Where `
` had he been? How did he intend to explain his absence? `
` `
` He accosted me eagerly. `
` `
` "My God! This is terrible! My poor wife! I have only just heard." `
` `
` "Where have you been?" I asked. `
` `
` "Denby kept me late last night. It was one o'clock before we'd `
` finished. Then I found that I'd forgotten the latch-key after `
` all. I didn't want to arouse the household, so Denby gave me a `
` bed." `
` `
` "How did you hear the news?" I asked. `
` `
` "Wilkins knocked Denby up to tell him. My poor Emily! She was so `
` self-sacrificing--such a noble character. She over-taxed her `
` strength." `
` `
` A wave of revulsion swept over me. What a consummate hypocrite `
` the man was! `
` `
` "I must hurry on," I said, thankful that he did not ask me `
` whither I was bound. `
` `
` In a few minutes I was knocking at the door of Leastways Cottage. `
` `
` Getting no answer, I repeated my summons impatiently. A window `
` above me was cautiously opened, and Poirot himself looked out. `
` `
` He gave an exclamation of surprise at seeing me. In a few brief `
` words, I explained the tragedy that had occurred, and that I `
` wanted his help. `
` `
` "Wait, my friend, I will let you in, and you shall recount to me `
` the affair whilst I dress." `
` `
` In a few moments he had unbarred the door, and I followed him up `
` to his room. There he installed me in a chair, and I related the `
` whole story, keeping back nothing, and omitting no circumstance, `
` however insignificant, whilst he himself made a careful and `
` deliberate toilet. `
` `
` I told him of my awakening, of Mrs. Inglethorp's dying words, of `
` her husband's absence, of the quarrel the day before, of the `
` scrap of conversation between Mary and her mother-in-law that I `
` had overheard, of the former quarrel between Mrs. Inglethorp and `
`
` He turned to John. "You do not object?" `
` `
` "Certainly not." `
` `
` We all trooped out into the corridor, leaving the two doctors `
` alone, and I heard the key turned in the lock behind us. `
` `
` We went slowly down the stairs. I was violently excited. I have `
` a certain talent for deduction, and Dr. Bauerstein's manner had `
` started a flock of wild surmises in my mind. Mary Cavendish laid `
` her hand upon my arm. `
` `
` "What is it? Why did Dr. Bauerstein seem so--peculiar?" `
` `
` I looked at her. `
` `
` "Do you know what I think?" `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "Listen!" I looked round, the others were out of earshot. I `
` lowered my voice to a whisper. "I believe she has been poisoned! `
` I'm certain Dr. Bauerstein suspects it." `
` `
` "_What_?" She shrank against the wall, the pupils of her eyes `
` dilating wildly. Then, with a sudden cry that startled me, she `
` cried out: "No, no--not that--not that!" And breaking from me, `
` fled up the stairs. I followed her, afraid that she was going to `
` faint. I found her leaning against the bannisters, deadly pale. `
` She waved me away impatiently. `
` `
` "No, no--leave me. I'd rather be alone. Let me just be quiet `
` for a minute or two. Go down to the others." `
` `
` I obeyed her reluctantly. John and Lawrence were in the `
` dining-room. I joined them. We were all silent, but I suppose I `
` voiced the thoughts of us all when I at last broke it by saying: `
` `
` "Where is Mr. Inglethorp?" `
` `
` John shook his head. `
` `
` "He's not in the house." `
` `
` Our eyes met. Where _was_ Alfred Inglethorp? His absence was `
` strange and inexplicable. I remembered Mrs. Inglethorp's dying `
` words. What lay beneath them? What more could she have told us, `
` if she had had time? `
` `
` At last we heard the doctors descending the stairs. Dr. Wilkins `
` was looking important and excited, and trying to conceal an `
` inward exultation under a manner of decorous calm. Dr. `
` Bauerstein remained in the background, his grave bearded face `
` unchanged. Dr. Wilkins was the spokesman for the two. He `
` addressed himself to John: `
` `
` "Mr. Cavendish, I should like your consent to a postmortem." `
` `
` "Is that necessary?" asked John gravely. A spasm of pain crossed `
` his face. `
` `
` "Absolutely," said Dr. Bauerstein. `
` `
` "You mean by that----?" `
` `
` "That neither Dr. Wilkins nor myself could give a death `
` certificate under the circumstances." `
` `
` John bent his head. `
` `
` "In that case, I have no alternative but to agree." `
` `
` "Thank you," said Dr. Wilkins briskly. "We propose that it `
` should take place to-morrow night--or rather to-night." And he `
` glanced at the daylight. "Under the circumstances, I am afraid `
` an inquest can hardly be avoided--these formalities are `
` necessary, but I beg that you won't distress yourselves." `
` `
` There was a pause, and then Dr. Bauerstein drew two keys from his `
` pocket, and handed them to John. `
` `
` "These are the keys of the two rooms. I have locked them and, in `
` my opinion, they would be better kept locked for the present." `
` `
` The doctors then departed. `
` `
` I had been turning over an idea in my head, and I felt that the `
` moment had now come to broach it. Yet I was a little chary of `
` doing so. John, I knew, had a horror of any kind of publicity, `
` and was an easygoing optimist, who preferred never to meet `
` trouble half-way. It might be difficult to convince him of the `
` soundness of my plan. Lawrence, on the other hand, being less `
` conventional, and having more imagination, I felt I might count `
` upon as an ally. There was no doubt that the moment had come for `
` me to take the lead. `
` `
` "John," I said, "I am going to ask you something." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "You remember my speaking of my friend Poirot? The Belgian who is `
` here? He has been a most famous detective." `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "I want you to let me call him in--to investigate this matter." `
` `
` "What--now? Before the post-mortem?" `
` `
` "Yes, time is an advantage if--if--there has been foul play." `
` `
` "Rubbish!" cried Lawrence angrily. "In my opinion the whole `
` thing is a mare's nest of Bauerstein's! Wilkins hadn't an idea of `
` such a thing, until Bauerstein put it into his head. But, like `
` all specialists, Bauerstein's got a bee in his bonnet. Poisons `
` are his hobby, so of course he sees them everywhere." `
` `
` I confess that I was surprised by Lawrence's attitude. He was so `
` seldom vehement about anything. `
` `
` John hesitated. `
` `
` "I can't feel as you do, Lawrence," he said at last. "I'm `
` inclined to give Hastings a free hand, though I should prefer to `
` wait a bit. We don't want any unnecessary scandal." `
` `
` "No, no," I cried eagerly, "you need have no fear of that. `
` Poirot is discretion itself." `
` `
` "Very well, then, have it your own way. I leave it in your `
` hands. Though, if it is as we suspect, it seems a clear enough `
` case. God forgive me if I am wronging him!" `
` `
` I looked at my watch. It was six o'clock. I determined to lose `
` no time. `
` `
` Five minutes' delay, however, I allowed myself. I spent it in `
` ransacking the library until I discovered a medical book which `
` gave a description of strychnine poisoning. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER IV. `
` `
` POIROT INVESTIGATES `
` `
` `
` The house which the Belgians occupied in the village was quite `
` close to the park gates. One could save time by taking a narrow `
` path through the long grass, which cut off the detours of the `
` winding drive. So I, accordingly, went that way. I had nearly `
` reached the lodge, when my attention was arrested by the running `
` figure of a man approaching me. It was Mr. Inglethorp. Where `
` had he been? How did he intend to explain his absence? `
` `
` He accosted me eagerly. `
` `
` "My God! This is terrible! My poor wife! I have only just heard." `
` `
` "Where have you been?" I asked. `
` `
` "Denby kept me late last night. It was one o'clock before we'd `
` finished. Then I found that I'd forgotten the latch-key after `
` all. I didn't want to arouse the household, so Denby gave me a `
` bed." `
` `
` "How did you hear the news?" I asked. `
` `
` "Wilkins knocked Denby up to tell him. My poor Emily! She was so `
` self-sacrificing--such a noble character. She over-taxed her `
` strength." `
` `
` A wave of revulsion swept over me. What a consummate hypocrite `
` the man was! `
` `
` "I must hurry on," I said, thankful that he did not ask me `
` whither I was bound. `
` `
` In a few minutes I was knocking at the door of Leastways Cottage. `
` `
` Getting no answer, I repeated my summons impatiently. A window `
` above me was cautiously opened, and Poirot himself looked out. `
` `
` He gave an exclamation of surprise at seeing me. In a few brief `
` words, I explained the tragedy that had occurred, and that I `
` wanted his help. `
` `
` "Wait, my friend, I will let you in, and you shall recount to me `
` the affair whilst I dress." `
` `
` In a few moments he had unbarred the door, and I followed him up `
` to his room. There he installed me in a chair, and I related the `
` whole story, keeping back nothing, and omitting no circumstance, `
` however insignificant, whilst he himself made a careful and `
` deliberate toilet. `
` `
` I told him of my awakening, of Mrs. Inglethorp's dying words, of `
` her husband's absence, of the quarrel the day before, of the `
` scrap of conversation between Mary and her mother-in-law that I `
` had overheard, of the former quarrel between Mrs. Inglethorp and `
`