the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第4节
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〃And who is Dr。 Bauerstein？〃
〃He's staying in the village doing a rest cure； after a bad nervous
breakdown。 He's a London specialist； a very clever manone of the
greatest living experts on poisons； I believe。〃
〃And he's a great friend of Mary's；〃 put in Cynthia； the irrepressible。
John Cavendish frowned and changed the subject。
〃Come for a stroll； Hastings。 This has been a most rotten business。
She always had a rough tongue； but there is no stauncher friend in England
than Evelyn Howard。〃
He took the path through the plantation； and we walked down to the
village through the woods which bordered one side of the estate。
As we passed through one of the gates on our way home again； a
pretty young woman of gipsy type coming in the opposite direction bowed
and smiled。
〃That's a pretty girl；〃 I remarked appreciatively。
John's face hardened。
〃That is Mrs。 Raikes。〃
〃The one that Miss Howard〃
〃Exactly；〃 said John； with rather unnecessary abruptness。
I thought of the white…haired old lady in the big house； and that vivid
wicked little face that had just smiled into ours； and a vague chill of
foreboding crept over me。 I brushed it aside。
〃Styles is really a glorious old place；〃 I said to John。
He nodded rather gloomily。
〃Yes； it's a fine property。 It'll be mine some dayshould be mine now
by rights； if my father had only made a decent will。 And then I shouldn't
be so damned hard up as I am now。〃
〃Hard up； are you？〃
〃My dear Hastings； I don't mind telling you that I'm at my wit's end for
money。〃
〃Couldn't your brother help you？〃
〃Lawrence？ He's gone through every penny he ever had； publishing
rotten verses in fancy bindings。 No； we're an impecunious lot。 My
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
mother's always been awfully good to us； I must say。 That is； up to now。
Since her marriage； of course〃 he broke off； frowning。
For the first time I felt that； with Evelyn Howard； something
indefinable had gone from the atmosphere。 Her presence had spelt
security。 Now that security was removedand the air seemed rife with
suspicion。 The sinister face of Dr。 Bauerstein recurred to me
unpleasantly。 A vague suspicion of every one and everything filled my
mind。 Just for a moment I had a premonition of approaching evil。
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
CHAPTER II。 THE 16TH AND
17TH OF JULY
I had arrived at Styles on the 5th of July。 I come now to the events
of the 16th and 17th of that month。 For the convenience of the reader I
will recapitulate the incidents of those days in as exact a manner as
possible。 They were elicited subsequently at the trial by a process of
long and tedious cross…examinations。
I received a letter from Evelyn Howard a couple of days after her
departure； telling me she was working as a nurse at the big hospital in
Middlingham； a manufacturing town some fifteen miles away； and
begging me to let her know if Mrs。 Inglethorp should show any wish to be
reconciled。
The only fly in the ointment of my peaceful days was Mrs。
Cavendish's extraordinary； and； for my part； unaccountable preference for
the society of Dr。 Bauerstein。 What she saw in the man I cannot imagine；
but she was always asking him up to the house； and often went off for long
expeditions with him。 I must confess that I was quite unable to see his
attraction。
The 16th of July fell on a Monday。 It was a day of turmoil。 The
famous bazaar had taken place on Saturday； and an entertainment； in
connection with the same charity； at which Mrs。 Inglethorp was to recite a
War poem； was to be held that night。 We were all busy during the
morning arranging and decorating the Hall in the village where it was to
take place。 We had a late luncheon and spent the afternoon resting in the
garden。 I noticed that John's manner was somewhat unusual。 He
seemed very excited and restless。
After tea； Mrs。 Inglethorp went to lie down to rest before her efforts in
the evening and I challenged Mary Cavendish to a single at tennis。
About a quarter to seven； Mrs。 Inglethorp called us that we should be
late as supper was early that night。 We had rather a scramble to get ready
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
in time； and before the meal was over the motor was waiting at the door。
The entertainment was a great success； Mrs。 Inglethorp's recitation
receiving tremendous applause。 There were also some tableaux in which
Cynthia took part。 She did not return with us； having been asked to a
supper party； and to remain the night with some friends who had been
acting with her in the tableaux。
The following morning； Mrs。 Inglethorp stayed in bed to breakfast； as
she was rather overtired； but she appeared in her briskest mood about
12。30； and swept Lawrence and myself off to a luncheon party。
〃Such a charming invitation from Mrs。 Rolleston。 Lady Tadminster's
sister； you know。 The Rollestons came over with the Conquerorone of
our oldest families。〃
Mary had excused herself on the plea of an engagement with Dr。
Bauerstein。
We had a pleasant luncheon； and as we drove away Lawrence
suggested that we should return by Tadminster； which was barely a mile
out of our way； and pay a visit to Cynthia in her dispensary。 Mrs。
Inglethorp replied that this was an excellent idea； but as she had several
letters to write she would drop us there； and we could come back with
Cynthia in the pony…trap。
We were detained under suspicion by the hospital porter； until Cynthia
appeared to vouch for us； looking very cool and sweet in her long white
overall。 She took us up to her sanctum； and introduced us to her fellow
dispenser； a rather awe…inspiring individual； whom Cynthia cheerily
addressed as 〃Nibs。〃
〃What a lot of bottles！〃 I exclaimed； as my eye travelled round the
small room。 〃Do you really know what's in them all？〃
〃Say something original；〃 groaned Cynthia。 〃Every single person
who comes up here says that。 We are really thinking of bestowing a prize
on the first individual who does *NOT say： 'What a lot of bottles！' And I
know the next thing you're going to say is： 'How many people have you
poisoned？' 〃
I pleaded guilty with a laugh。
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〃If you people only knew how fatally easy it is to poison some one by
mistake； you wouldn't joke about it。 Come on； let's have tea。 We've got
all sorts of secret stories in that cupboard。 No； Lawrencethat's the
poison cupboard。 The big cupboardthat's right。〃
We had a very cheery tea； and assisted Cynthia to wash up afterwards。
We had just put away the last tea…spoon when a knock came at the door。
The countenances of Cynthia and Nibs were suddenly petrified into a stern
and forbidding expression。
〃Come in；〃 said Cynthia； in a sharp professional tone。
A young and rather scared looking nurse appeared with a bottle which
she proffered to Nibs； who waved her towards Cynthia with the somewhat
enigmatical remark：
〃_I_'m not really here to…day。〃
Cynthia took the bottle and examined it with the severity of a judge。
〃This should have been sent up this morning。〃
〃Sister is very sorry。 She forgot。〃
〃Sister should read the rules outside the door。〃
I gathered from the little nurse's expression that there was not the least
likelihood of her having the hardihood to retail this message to the dreaded
〃Sister〃。
