the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第22节
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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。〃
I was puzzled。 The man spoke with such quiet assurance that I was
staggered。 I looked at Poirot。 There was an expression of exultation on
his face which I could not understand。 Was he at last convinced of Alfred
Inglethorp's guilt？
〃Mr。 Inglethorp；〃 said the Coroner； 〃you have heard your wife's dying
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words repeated here。 Can you explain them in any way？〃
〃Certainly I can。〃
〃You can？〃
〃It seems to me very simple。 The room was dimly lighted。 Dr。
Bauerstein is much of my height and build； and； like me； wears a beard。
In the dim light； and suffering as she was； my poor wife mistook him for
me。〃
〃Ah！〃 murmured Poirot to himself。 〃But it is an idea； that！〃
〃You think it is true？〃 I whispered。
〃I do not say that。 But it is truly an ingenious supposition。〃
〃You read my wife's last words as an accusation〃Inglethorp was
continuing〃they were； on the contrary； an appeal to me。〃
The Coroner reflected a moment； then he said：
〃I believe； Mr。 Inglethorp； that you yourself poured out the coffee； and
took it to your wife that evening？〃
〃I poured it out； yes。 But I did not take it to her。 I meant to do so；
but I was told that a friend was at the hall door； so I laid down the coffee
on the hall table。 When I came through the hall again a few minutes later；
it was gone。〃
This statement might； or might not； be true； but it did not seem to me
to improve matters much for Inglethorp。 In any case； he had had ample
time to introduce the poison。
At that point； Poirot nudged me gently； indicating two men who were
sitting together near the door。 One was a little； sharp； dark； ferret…faced
man； the other was tall and fair。
I questioned Poirot mutely。 He put his lips to my ear。
〃Do you know who that little man is？〃
I shook my head。
〃That is Detective Inspector James Japp of Scotland Yard Jimmy
Japp。 The other man is from Scotland Yard too。 Things are moving
quickly； my friend。〃
I stared at the two men intently。 There was certainly nothing of the
policeman about them。 I should never have suspected them of being
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official personages。
I was still staring； when I was startled and recalled by the verdict being
given：
〃Wilful Murder against some person or persons unknown。〃
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CHAPTER VII。 POIROT PAYS
HIS DEBTS
As we came out of the Stylites Arms； Poirot drew me aside by a
gentle pressure of the arm。 I understood his object。 He was waiting for
the Scotland Yard men。
In a few moments； they emerged； and Poirot at once stepped forward；
and accosted the shorter of the two。
〃I fear you do not remember me； Inspector Japp。〃
〃Why； if it isn't Mr。 Poirot！〃 cried the Inspector。 He turned to the
other man。 〃You've heard me speak of Mr。 Poirot？ It was in 1904 he and
I worked togetherthe Abercrombie forgery caseyou remember； he was
run down in Brussels。 Ah； those were great days； moosier。 Then； do
you remember 'Baron' Altara？ There was a pretty rogue for you！ He eluded
the clutches of half the police in Europe。 But we nailed him in Antwerp
thanks to Mr。 Poirot here。〃
As these friendly reminiscences were being indulged in； I drew nearer；
and was introduced to Detective…Inspector Japp； who； in his turn；
introduced us both to his companion； Superintendent Summerhaye。 〃I
need hardly ask what you are doing here； gentlemen；〃 remarked Poirot。
Japp closed one eye knowingly。
〃No； indeed。 Pretty clear case I should say。〃
But Poirot answered gravely：
〃There I differ from you。〃
〃Oh； come！〃 said Summerhaye； opening his lips for the first time。
〃Surely the whole thing is clear as daylight。 The man's caught red…
handed。 How he could be such a fool beats me！〃
But Japp was looking attentively at Poirot。
〃Hold your fire； Summerhaye；〃 he remarked jocularly。 〃Me and
Moosier here have met beforeand there's no man's judgment I'd sooner
take than his。 If I'm not greatly mistaken； he's got something up his
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sleeve。 Isn't that so； moosier？〃
Poirot smiled。
〃I have drawn certain conclusionsyes。〃
Summerhaye was still looking rather sceptical； but Japp continued his
scrutiny of Poirot。
〃It's this way；〃 he said； 〃so far； we've only seen the case from the
outside。 That's where the Yard's at a disadvantage in a case of this kind；
where the murder's only out； so to speak； after the inquest。 A lot depends
on being on the spot first thing； and that's where Mr。 Poirot's had the start
of us。 We shouldn't have been here as soon as this even； if it hadn't been
for the fact that there was a smart doctor on the spot； who gave us the tip
through the Coroner。 But you've been on the spot from the first； and you
may have picked up some little hints。 From the evidence at the inquest；
Mr。 Inglethorp murdered his wife as sure as I stand here； and if anyone but
you hinted the contrary I'd laugh in his face。 I must say I was surprised
the jury didn't bring it in Wilful Murder against him right off。 I think
they would have； if it hadn't been for the Coronerhe seemed to be
holding them back。〃
〃Perhaps； though； you have a warrant for his arrest in your pocket
now；〃 suggested Poirot。
A kind of wooden shutter of officialdom came down from Japp's
expressive countenance。
〃Perhaps I have； and perhaps I haven't；〃 he remarked dryly。
Poirot looked at him thoughtfully。
〃I am very anxious； Messieurs； that he should not be arrested。〃
〃I dare say；〃 observed Summerhaye sarcastically。
Japp was regarding Poirot with comical perplexity。
〃Can't you go a little further； Mr。 Poirot？ A wink's as good as a nod
from you。 You've been on the spotand the Yard doesn't want to make
any mistakes； you know。〃
Poirot nodded gravely。
〃That is exactly what I thought。 Well； I will tell you this。 Use your
warrant： Arrest Mr。 Inglethorp。 But it will bring you no kudosthe case
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against him will be dismissed at once！ Comme ca！〃 And he snapped his
fingers expressively。
Japp's face grew grave； though Summerhaye gave an incredulous
snort。
As for me； I was literally dumb with astonishment。 I could only
conclude that Poirot was mad。
Japp had taken out a handkerchief； and was gently dabbing his brow。
〃I daren't do it； Mr。 Poirot。 I'd take your word； but there's others over
me who'll be asking what the devil I mean by it。 Can't you give me a
little more to go on？〃
Poirot reflected a moment。
〃It can be done；〃 he said at last。 〃I admit I do not wish it。 It forces
my hand。 I would have preferred to work in the dark just for the present；
but what you say is very justthe word of a Belgian policeman； whose
