Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the mysterious affair at styles(˹´ú¶û˹µÄ¹ÖÊÂ) >

µÚ29½Ú

the mysterious affair at styles(˹´ú¶û˹µÄ¹ÖÊÂ)-µÚ29½Ú

С˵£º the mysterious affair at styles(˹´ú¶û˹µÄ¹ÖÊÂ) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡will¡¡watch£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Evelyn¡¡Howard¡¡bowed¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡help¡¡doing¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡always¡¡watchingalways¡¡hoping¡¡I¡¡

shall¡¡be¡¡proved¡¡wrong¡£¡¨¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡113¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡114¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡we¡¡are¡¡wrong£»¡¡well¡¡and¡¡good£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Poirot¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡¡one¡¡will¡¡be¡¡more¡¡

pleased¡¡than¡¡I¡¡shall¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡if¡¡we¡¡are¡¡right£¿¡¡If¡¡we¡¡are¡¡right£»¡¡Miss¡¡Howard£»¡¡

on¡¡whose¡¡side¡¡are¡¡you¡¡then£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡know£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Come¡¡now¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡could¡¡be¡¡hushed¡¡up¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡must¡¡be¡¡no¡¡hushing¡¡up¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡Emily¡¡herself¡¨¡¡She¡¡broke¡¡off¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Miss¡¡Howard£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Poirot¡¡gravely£»¡¡¡¨this¡¡is¡¡unworthy¡¡of¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡she¡¡took¡¡her¡¡face¡¡from¡¡her¡¡hands¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡quietly£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡Evelyn¡¡Howard¡¡who¡¡spoke£¡¡¨¡¡She¡¡

flung¡¡her¡¡head¡¡up¡¡proudly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨*THIS¡¡is¡¡Evelyn¡¡Howard£¡¡¡And¡¡she¡¡is¡¡on¡¡the¡¡

side¡¡of¡¡Justice£¡¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡cost¡¡be¡¡what¡¡it¡¡may¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡with¡¡these¡¡words£»¡¡she¡¡

walked¡¡firmly¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot£»¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡her£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨goes¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡valuable¡¡¡¡¡¡ally¡£¡¡

That¡¡woman£»¡¡Hastings£»¡¡has¡¡got¡¡brains¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡a¡¡heart¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reply¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Instinct¡¡is¡¡a¡¡marvellous¡¡thing£»¡¨¡¡mused¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡

can¡¡neither¡¡be¡¡explained¡¡nor¡¡ignored¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡and¡¡Miss¡¡Howard¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡know¡¡what¡¡you¡¡are¡¡talking¡¡about£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡

observed¡¡coldly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Perhaps¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡realize¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡still¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Really£¿¡¡Is¡¡that¡¡so£»¡¡mon¡¡ami£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Enlighten¡¡me£»¡¡will¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot¡¡¡¡¡¡studied¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡attentively¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡moment¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

intense¡¡surprise£»¡¡he¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡decidedly¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡my¡¡friend¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡look¡¡here£»¡¡why¡¡not£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Two¡¡is¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡a¡¡secret¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡is¡¡very¡¡unfair¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡back¡¡facts¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡keeping¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡facts¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡¡¡¡¡fact¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡

possession¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡can¡¡draw¡¡your¡¡own¡¡deductions¡¡from¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡time¡¡it¡¡

is¡¡a¡¡question¡¡of¡¡ideas¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Still£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡interesting¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡very¡¡earnestly£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡114¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡115¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡see£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡sadly£»¡¡¡¨*YOU¡¡have¡¡no¡¡instincts¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡intelligence¡¡you¡¡were¡¡requiring¡¡just¡¡now£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡pointed¡¡out¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡two¡¡often¡¡go¡¡together£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Poirot¡¡enigmatically¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡remark¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡utterly¡¡¡¡irrelevant¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

trouble¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡answer¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡decided¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡interesting¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

important¡¡discoveriesas¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡I¡¡shouldI¡¡would¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡to¡¡myself£»¡¡

and¡¡surprise¡¡Poirot¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ultimate¡¡result¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡times¡¡when¡¡it¡¡is¡¡one's¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡assert¡¡oneself¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡115¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡116¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡IX¡¡Dr¡£¡¡BAUERSTEIN¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡HAD¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡opportunity¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡passing¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot's¡¡¡¡¡¡message¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

Lawrence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡now£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡strolled¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡lawn£»¡¡still¡¡nursing¡¡a¡¡grudge¡¡

against¡¡my¡¡friend's¡¡high¡­handedness£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡Lawrence¡¡on¡¡the¡¡croquet¡¡lawn£»¡¡

aimlessly¡¡knocking¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡very¡¡ancient¡¡balls¡¡about£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡still¡¡more¡¡

ancient¡¡mallet¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡struck¡¡me¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡good¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡deliver¡¡my¡¡message¡£¡¡

Otherwise£»¡¡Poirot¡¡himself¡¡might¡¡relieve¡¡me¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡true¡¡that¡¡I¡¡did¡¡

not¡¡quite¡¡gather¡¡its¡¡purport£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡flattered¡¡myself¡¡that¡¡by¡¡Lawrence's¡¡reply£»¡¡

and¡¡perhaps¡¡a¡¡little¡¡skillful¡¡cross¡­examination¡¡on¡¡my¡¡part£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡soon¡¡

perceive¡¡its¡¡significance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Accordingly¡¡I¡¡accosted¡¡him¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I've¡¡been¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡remarked¡¡untruthfully¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Have¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡truth¡¡is£»¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡a¡¡message¡¡for¡¡youfrom¡¡Poirot¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡told¡¡me¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡until¡¡I¡¡was¡¡alone¡¡with¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡dropping¡¡my¡¡

voice¡¡significantly£»¡¡and¡¡watching¡¡him¡¡intently¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡my¡¡eye¡£¡¡

I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡always¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡rather¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡called£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡believe£»¡¡¡¡¡¡creating¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡

atmosphere¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡change¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡expression¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡dark¡¡¡¡melancholic¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡face¡£¡¡

Had¡¡he¡¡any¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡what¡¡I¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡say£¿¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡message¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡dropped¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡voice¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡lower¡£¡¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡'Find¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

extra¡¡coffee¡­cup£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡can¡¡rest¡¡in¡¡peace¡£'¡¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡earth¡¡¡¡¡¡does¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡mean£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Lawrence¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡stared¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡quite¡¡

unaffected¡¡astonishment¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡you¡¡know£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Do¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡shake¡¡my¡¡head¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡extra¡¡coffee¡­cup£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡know¡£¡¨¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡116¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡117¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨He'd¡¡¡¡¡¡better¡¡¡¡¡¡ask¡¡¡¡¡¡Dorcas£»¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡maids£»¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡wants¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡

about¡¡coffee¡­cups¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It's¡¡their¡¡business£»¡¡not¡¡mine¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡anything¡¡

about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡coffee¡­cups£»¡¡¡¡¡¡except¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡we've¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡used£»¡¡

which¡¡are¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡dream£¡¡¡Old¡¡Worcester¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You're¡¡not¡¡a¡¡connoisseur£»¡¡are¡¡

you£»¡¡Hastings£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡shook¡¡my¡¡head¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡miss¡¡a¡¡lot¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡really¡¡perfect¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡old¡¡chinait's¡¡pure¡¡delight¡¡to¡¡

handle¡¡it£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡what¡¡am¡¡I¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡Poirot£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡him¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡he's¡¡talking¡¡about¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It's¡¡double¡¡Dutch¡¡to¡¡

me¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡right¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡off¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡house¡¡again¡¡when¡¡he¡¡suddenly¡¡called¡¡me¡¡

back¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡say£»¡¡what¡¡was¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡that¡¡message£¿¡¡Say¡¡it¡¡over¡¡again£»¡¡will¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨¡¡'Find¡¡the¡¡extra¡¡coffee¡­cup£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡can¡¡rest¡¡in¡¡peace¡£'¡¡Are¡¡you¡¡sure¡¡

you¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡it¡¡means£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡earnestly¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡musingly£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡II¡¡wish¡¡I¡¡did¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡boom¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡gong¡¡¡¡¡¡sounded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡house£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡

together¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡asked¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡John¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡remain¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡lunch£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

already¡¡seated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡By¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡tacit¡¡¡¡consent£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡mention¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tragedy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡barred¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡

conversed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡war£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡outside¡¡topics¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡after¡¡the¡¡cheese¡¡and¡¡

biscuits¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡handed¡¡¡¡¡¡round£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Dorcas¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡room£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot¡¡

suddenly¡¡leant¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Cavendish¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Pardon¡¡me£»¡¡madame£»¡¡for¡¡recalling¡¡unpleasant¡¡memories£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡

little¡¡idea¡¨Poirot's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨little¡¡¡¡ideas¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡becoming¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡byword¡¨and¡¡

would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡one¡¡or¡¡two¡¡questions¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡me£¿¡¡Certainly¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡too¡¡amiable£»¡¡madame¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡is¡¡this£º¡¡the¡¡door¡¡

leading¡¡into¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp's¡¡room¡¡from¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Cynthia£»¡¡it¡¡

was¡¡bolted£»¡¡you¡¡say£¿¡¨¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡117¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡118¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Certainly¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡bolted£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡replied¡¡¡¡¡¡Mary¡¡¡¡¡¡Cavendish£»¡¡¡¡¡¡rather¡¡¡¡¡¡surprised¡£¡¡

¡¨I¡¡said¡¡so¡¡at¡¡the¡¡inquest¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Bolted£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡perplexed¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡mean£»¡¨¡¡explained¡¡Poirot£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡are¡¡sure¡¡it¡¡was¡¡bolted£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡merely¡¡

locked£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡I¡¡see¡¡what¡¡you¡¡mean¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡said¡¡bolted£»¡¡meaning¡¡

that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡fastened£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡open¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡doors¡¡

were¡¡found¡¡bolted¡¡on¡¡the¡¡inside¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Still£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡you¡¡are¡¡concerned£»¡¡the¡¡door¡¡might¡¡equally¡¡well¡¡have¡¡

been¡¡locked£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡yourself¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡happen¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡notice£»¡¡¡¡¡¡madame£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡entered¡¡

Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp's¡¡room£»¡¡whether¡¡that¡¡door¡¡was¡¡bolted¡¡or¡¡not£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨II¡¡believe¡¡it¡¡was¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡you¡¡did¡¡not¡¡see¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Inever¡¡looked¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡did£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡interrupted¡¡¡¡¡¡Lawrence¡¡¡¡¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡happened¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡notice¡¡

that¡¡it¡¡*WAS¡¡bolted¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡that¡¡settles¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡Poirot¡¡looked¡¡crestfallen¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡rejoicing¡¡that£»¡¡for¡¡once£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡¡¨little¡¡ideas¡¨¡¡had¡¡

come¡¡to¡¡naught¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡lunch¡¡Poirot¡¡begged¡¡me¡¡to¡¡accompany¡¡him¡¡home¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡consented¡¡

rather¡¡stiffly¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡annoyed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡so£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡asked¡¡¡¡¡¡anxiously£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡walked¡¡

through¡¡the¡¡park¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡coldly¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡is¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡lifts¡¡a¡¡great¡¡load¡¡from¡¡my¡¡mind¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡what¡¡I¡¡had¡¡intended¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡hoped¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡

have¡¡observed¡¡the¡¡stiffness¡¡of¡¡my¡¡manner¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Still£»¡¡the¡¡fervour¡¡of¡¡his¡¡words¡¡

went¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡appeasing¡¡of¡¡my¡¡just¡¡displeasure¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡thawed¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡gave¡¡Lawrence¡¡your¡¡message£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡what¡¡did¡¡he¡¡say£¿¡¡He¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡puzzled£¿¡¨¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨1£© ²È£¨3£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ