ac.themysteriousaffairatstyles-第35节

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may　have　taken　the　idea　from　one　of　the　many　books　lying　about　when　Mademoiselle　Cynthia　was　studying　for　her　exam。　Anyway；　she　was　familiar　with　the　fact　that　the　addition　of　a　bromide　to　a　mixture　containing　strychnine　would　cause　the　precipitation　of　the　latter。　Probably　the　idea　came　to　her　quite　suddenly。　Mrs。　Inglethorp　had　a　box　of　bromide　powders；　which　she　occasionally　took　at　night。　What　could　be　easier　than　quietly　to　dissolve　one　or　more　of　those　powders　in　Mrs。　Inglethorp's　large　sized　bottle　of　medicine　when　it　came　from　Coot's？　The　risk　is　practically　nil。　The　tragedy　will　not　take　place　until　nearly　a　fortnight　later。　If　anyone　has　seen　either　of　them　touching　the　medicine；　they　will　have　forgotten　it　by　that　time。　Miss　Howard　will　have　engineered　her　quarrel；　and　departed　from　the　house。　The　lapse　of　time；　and　her　absence；　will　defeat　all　suspicion。　Yes；　it　was　a　clever　idea！　If　they　had　left　it　alone；　it　is　possible　the　crime　might　never　have　been　brought　home　to　them。　But　they　were　not　satisfied。　They　tried　to　be　too　clever　　and　that　was　their　undoing。''　
　Poirot　puffed　at　his　tiny　cigarette；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　ceiling。　
　‘‘They　arranged　a　plan　to　throw　suspicion　on　John　Cavendish；　by　buying　strychnine　at　the　village　chemist's；　and　signing　the　register　in　his　hand…writing。　
　‘‘On　Monday　Mrs。　Inglethorp　will　take　the　last　dose　of　her　medicine。　On　Monday；　therefore；　at　six　o'clock；　Alfred　Inglethorp　arranges　to　be　seen　by　a　number　of　people　at　a　spot　far　removed　from　the　village。　Miss　Howard　has　previously　made　up　a　cock　and　bull　story　about　him　and　Mrs。　Raikes　to　account　for　his　holding　his　tongue　afterwards。　At　six　o'clock；　Miss　Howard；　disguised　as　Alfred　Inglethorp；　enters　the　chemist's　shop；　with　her　story　about　a　dog；　obtains　the　strychnine；　and　writes　the　name　of　Alfred　Inglethorp　in　John's　handwriting；　which　she　had　previously　studied　carefully。　
　‘‘But；　as　it　will　never　do　if　John；　too；　can　prove　an　alibi；　she　writes　him　an　anonymous　note　　still　copying　his　hand…writing　　which　takes　him　to　a　remote　spot　where　it　is　exceedingly　unlikely　that　anyone　will　see　him。　
　‘‘So　far；　all　goes　well。　Miss　Howard　goes　back　to　Middlingham。　Alfred　Inglethorp　returns　to　Styles。　There　is　nothing　that　can　promise　him　in　any　way；　since　it　is　Miss　Howard　who　has　the　strychnine；　which；　after　all；　is　only　wanted　as　a　blind　to　throw　suspicion　on　John　Cavendish。　
　‘‘But　now　a　hitch　occurs。　Mrs。　Inglethorp　does　not　take　her　medicine　that　night。　The　broken　bell；　Cynthia's　absence　　arranged　by　Inglethorp　through　his　wife　　all　these　are　wasted。　And　then　　he　makes　his　slip。　
　‘‘Mrs。　Inglethorp　is　out；　and　he　sits　down　to　write　to　his　acplice；　who；　he　fears；　may　be　in　a　panic　at　the　nonsuccess　of　their　plan。　It　is　probable　that　Mrs。　Inglethorp　returned　earlier　than　he　expected。　Caught　in　the　act；　and　somewhat　flurried　he　hastily　shuts　and　locks　his　desk。　He　fears　that　if　he　remains　in　the　room　he　may　have　to　open　it　again；　and　that　Mrs。　Inglethorp　might　catch　sight　of　the　letter　before　he　could　snatch　it　up。　So　he　goes　out　and　walks　in　the　woods；　little　dreaming　that　Mrs。　Inglethorp　will　open　his　desk；　and　discover　the　incriminating　document。　
　‘‘But　this；　as　we　know；　is　what　happened。　Mrs。　Inglethorp　reads　it；　and　bees　aware　of　the　perfidy　of　her　husband　and　Evelyn　Howard；　though；　unfortunately；　the　sentence　about　the　bromides　conveys　no　warning　to　her　mind。　She　knows　that　she　is　in　danger　　but　is　ignorant　of　where　the　danger　lies。　She　decides　to　say　nothing　to　her　husband；　but　sits　down　and　writes　to　her　solicitor；　asking　him　to　e　on　the　morrow；　and　she　also　determines　to　destroy　immediately　the　will　which　she　has　just　made。　She　keeps　the　fatal　letter。''　
　‘‘It　was　to　discover　that　letter；　then；　that　her　husband　forced　the　lock　of　the　despatch…case？''　
　‘‘Yes；　and　from　the　enormous　risk　he　ran　we　can　see　how　fully　he　realized　its　importance。　That　letter　excepted；　there　was　absolutely　nothing　to　connect　him　with　the　crime。''　
　‘‘There's　only　one　thing　I　can't　make　out；　why　didn't　he　destroy　it　at　once　when　he　got　hold　of　it？''　
　‘‘Because　he　did　not　dare　take　the　biggest　risk　of　all　　that　of　keeping　it　on　his　own　person。''　
　‘‘I　don't　understand。''　
　‘‘Look　at　it　from　his　point　of　view。　I　have　discovered　that　there　were　only　five　short　minutes　in　which　he　could　have　taken　it　　the　five　minutes　immediately　before　our　own　arrival　on　the　scene；　for　before　that　time　Annie　was　brushing　the　stairs；　and　would　have　seen　anyone　who　passed　going　to　the　right　wing。　Figure　to　yourself　the　scene！　He　enters　the　room；　unlocking　the　door　by　means　of　one　of　the　other　doorkeys　　they　were　all　much　alike。　He　hurries　to　the　despatch…case　　it　is　locked；　and　the　keys　are　nowhere　to　be　seen。　That　is　a　terrible　blow　to　him；　for　it　means　that　his　presence　in　the　room　cannot　be　concealed　as　he　had　hoped。　But　he　sees　clearly　that　everything　must　be　risked　for　the　sake　of　that　damning　piece　of　evidence。　Quickly；　he　forces　the　lock　with　a　penknife；　and　turns　over　the　papers　until　he　finds　what　he　is　looking　for。　
　‘‘But　now　a　fresh　dilemma　arises：　he　dare　not　keep　that　piece　of　paper　on　him。　He　may　be　seen　leaving　the　room　　he　may　be　searched。　If　the　paper　is　found　on　him；　it　is　certain　doom。　Probably；　at　this　minute；　too；　he　hears　the　sounds　below　of　Mr。　Wells　and　John　leaving　the　boudoir。　He　must　act　quickly。　Where　can　he　hide　this　terrible　slip　of　paper？　The　contents　of　the　waste…paper…basket　are　kept　and　in　any　case；　are　sure　to　be　examined。　There　are　no　means　of　destroying　it；　and　he　dare　not　keep　it。　He　looks　round；　and　he　sees　　what　do　you　think；　mon　ami？''　
　I　shook　my　head。　
　‘‘In　a　moment；　he　has　torn　the　letter　into　long　thin　strips；　and　rolling　them　up　into　spills　he　thrusts　them　hurriedly　in　amongst　the　other　spills　in　the　vase　on　the　mantle…piece。''　
　I　uttered　an　exclamation。　
　‘‘No　one　would　think　of　looking　there；''　Poirot　continued。　‘‘And　he　will　be　able；　at　his　leisure；　to　e　back　and　destroy　this　solitary　piece　of　evidence　against　him。''　
　‘‘Then；　all　the　time；　it　was　in　the　spill　vase　in　Mrs。　Inglethorp's　bedroom；　under　our　very　noses？''　I　cried。　
　Poirot　nodded。　
　‘‘Yes；　my　friend。　That　is　where　I　discovered　my　‘last　link；'　and　I　owe　that　very　fortunate　discovery　to　you。''　
　‘‘To　me？''　
　‘‘Yes。　Do　you　remember　telling　me　that　my　hand　shook　as　I　was　straightening　the　ornaments　on　the　mantel…piece？''　
　‘‘Yes；　but　I　don't　see　　　''　
　‘‘No；　but　I　saw。　Do　you　know；　my　friend；　I　remembered　that　earlier　in　the　morning；　when　we　had　been　there　together；　I　had　straightened　all　the　objects　on　the　mantel…piece。　And；　if　they　were　already　straightened；　there　would　be　no　need　to　straighten　them　again；　unless；　in　the　meantime；　some　one　else　had　touched　them。''　
　‘‘Dear　me；''　I　murmured；　‘‘so　that　is　the　explanation　of　your　extraordinary　behaviour。　You　rushed　down　to　Styles；　and　found　it　still　there？''　
　‘‘Yes；　and　it　was　a　race　for　time。''　
　‘‘But　I　still　can't　understand　why　Inglethorp　was　such　a　fool　as　to　leave　it　there　when　he　had　plenty　of　opportunity　to　destroy　it。''　
　‘‘Ah；　but　he　had　no　opportunity。　I　saw　to　that。''　
　‘‘You？''　
　‘‘Yes。　Do　you　remember　reproving　me　for　taking　the　household　into　my　confidence　on　the　subject？''　
　‘‘Yes。''　
　‘‘Well；　my　friend；　I　saw　there　was　just　one　chance。　I　was　not　sure　then　if　Inglethorp　was　the　criminal　or　not；　but　if　he　was　I　reasoned　that　he　would　not　have　the　paper　on　him；　but　would　have　hidden　it　somewhere；　and　by　enlisting　the　sympathy　of　the　household　I　could　effectually　prevent　his　destroying　it。　He　was　already　under　suspicion；　and　by　making　the　matter　public　I　secured　the　services　of　about　ten　amateur　detectives；　who　would　be　watching　him　unceasingly；　and　being　himself　aware　of　their　watchfulness　he　would　not　dare　seek　further　to　destroy　the　document。　He　was　therefore　forced　to　depart　from　the　house；　leaving　it　in　the　spill　vase。''　
　‘‘But　surely　Miss　Howard　had　ample　opportunities　of　aiding　him。''　
　‘‘Yes；　but　Miss　Howard　did　not　know　of　the　paper's　existence。　In　accordance　with　their　prearranged　plan；　she　never　spoke　to　Alfred　Inglethorp。　They　were　supposed　to　be　deadly　enemies；　and　until　John　Cavendish　was　safely　convicted　they　neither　of　them　dared　risk　a　meeting。　Of　course　I　had　a　watch　kept　on　Mr。　Inglethorp；　hoping　that　sooner　or　later　he　would　lead　me　to　the　hiding…place。　But　he　was　too　clever　to　take　any　chances。　The　paper　was　safe　where　it　was；　since　no　one　had　thought　of　looking　there　in　the　first　week；　it　was　not　likely　they　would　do　so　afterwards。　But　for　your　lucky　remark；　we　might　never　have　been　able　to　bring　him　to　justice。''　
　‘‘I　understand　that　now；　but　when　did　you　first　begin　to　suspect　Miss　Howard？''　
　‘‘When　I　discovered　that　she　had　told　a　lie　at　the　inquest　about　the　letter　she　had　received　from　Mrs。　Inglethorp。''　
　‘‘Why；　what　was　there　to　lie　about？''　
　‘‘You　saw　that　letter？　Do　you　recall　its　general　appearance？''　
　‘‘Yes　　more　or　less。''　
　‘‘You　will　recollect；　then；　that　Mrs。　Inglethorp　wrote　a　very　distinctive　hand；　and　left　large　clear　spaces　between　her　words。　But　if　you　look　at　the　date　at　the　top　of　the　letter　you　will　notice　that　‘July　17th'　is　quite　different　in　this　respect。　Do　you　see　what　I　m