the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第5节
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likelihood of her having the hardihood to retail this message to the dreaded
〃Sister〃。
〃So now it can't be done until to…morrow；〃 finished Cynthia。
〃Don't you think you could possibly let us have it to…night？〃
〃Well；〃 said Cynthia graciously； 〃we are very busy； but if we have time
it shall be done。〃
The little nurse withdrew； and Cynthia promptly took a jar from the
shelf； refilled the bottle； and placed it on the table outside the door。
I laughed。
〃Discipline must be maintained？〃
〃Exactly。 Come out on our little balcony。 You can see all the
outside wards there。〃
I followed Cynthia and her friend and they pointed out the different
wards to me。 Lawrence remained behind； but after a few moments
Cynthia called to him over her shoulder to come and join us。 Then she
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looked at her watch。
〃Nothing more to do； Nibs？〃
〃No。〃
〃All right。 Then we can lock up and go。〃
I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon。
Compared to John； he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know。
He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect； being
unusually shy and reserved。 Yet he had a certain charm of manner； and I
fancied that； if one really knew him well； one could have a deep affection
for him。 I had always fancied that his manner to Cynthia was rather
constrained； and that she on her side was inclined to be shy of him。 But
they were both gay enough this afternoon； and chatted together like a
couple of children。
As we drove through the village； I remembered that I wanted some
stamps； so accordingly we pulled up at the post office。
As I came out again； I cannoned into a little man who was just entering。
I drew aside and apologised； when suddenly； with a loud exclamation； he
clasped me in his arms and kissed me warmly。
〃Mon ami Hastings！〃 he cried。 〃It is indeed mon ami Hastings！〃
〃Poirot！〃 I exclaimed。
I turned to the pony…trap。
〃This is a very pleasant meeting for me； Miss Cynthia。 This is my
old friend； Monsieur Poirot； whom I have not seen for years。〃
〃Oh； we know Monsieur Poirot；〃 said Cynthia gaily。 〃But I had no
idea he was a friend of yours。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 said Poirot seriously。 〃I know Mademoiselle Cynthia。
It is by the charity of that good Mrs。 Inglethorp that I am here。〃 Then； as I
looked at him inquiringly： 〃Yes； my friend； she had kindly extended
hospitality to seven of my countrypeople who； alas； are refugees from
their native land。 We Belgians will always remember her with gratitude。〃
Poirot was an extraordinary looking little man。 He was hardly more
than five feet； four inches； but carried himself with great dignity。 His
head was exactly the shape of an egg； and he always perched it a little on
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one side。 His moustache was very stiff and military。 The neatness of
his attire was almost incredible。 I believe a speck of dust would have
caused him more pain than a bullet wound。 Yet this quaint dandyfied
little man who； I was sorry to see； now limped badly； had been in his time
one of the most celebrated members of the Belgian police。 As a detective；
his flair had been extraordinary； and he had achieved triumphs by
unravelling some of the most baffling cases of the day。
He pointed out to me the little house inhabited by him and his fellow
Belgians； and I promised to go and see him at an early date。 Then he
raised his hat with a flourish to Cynthia； and we drove away。
〃He's a dear little man；〃 said Cynthia。 〃I'd no idea you knew him。〃
〃You've been entertaining a celebrity unawares；〃 I replied。
And； for the rest of the way home； I recited to them the various
exploits and triumphs of Hercule Poirot。
We arrived back in a very cheerful mood。 As we entered the hall；
Mrs。 Inglethorp came out of her boudoir。 She looked flushed and upset。
〃Oh； it's you；〃 she said。
〃Is there anything the matter； Aunt Emily？〃 asked Cynthia。
〃Certainly not；〃 said Mrs。 Inglethorp sharply。 〃What should there
be？〃 Then catching sight of Dorcas； the parlourmaid； going into the
dining…room； she called to her to bring some stamps into the boudoir。
〃Yes； m'm。〃 The old servant hesitated； then added diffidently： 〃Don't
you think； m'm； you'd better get to bed？ You're looking very tired。〃
〃Perhaps you're right； Dorcasyesnonot now。 I've some letters I
must finish by post…time。 Have you lighted the fire in my room as I told
you？〃
〃Yes； m'm。〃
〃Then I'll go to bed directly after supper。〃
She went into the boudoir again； and Cynthia stared after her。
〃Goodness gracious！ I wonder what's up？〃 she said to Lawrence。
He did not seem to have heard her； for without a word he turned on his
heel and went out of the house。
I suggested a quick game of tennis before supper and； Cynthia
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agreeing； I ran upstairs to fetch my racquet。
Mrs。 Cavendish was coming down the stairs。 It may have been my
fancy； but she； too； was looking odd and disturbed。
〃Had a good walk with Dr。 Bauerstein？〃 I asked； trying to appear as
indifferent as I could。
〃I didn't go；〃 she replied abruptly。 〃Where is Mrs。 Inglethorp？〃
〃In the boudoir。〃
Her hand clenched itself on the banisters； then she seemed to nerve
herself for some encounter； and went rapidly past me down the stairs
across the hall to the boudoir； the door of which she shut behind her。
As I ran out to the tennis court a few moments later； I had to pass the
open boudoir window； and was unable to help overhearing the following
scrap of dialogue。 Mary Cavendish was saying in the voice of a woman
desperately controlling herself：
〃Then you won't show it to me？〃
To which Mrs。 Inglethorp replied：
〃My dear Mary； it has nothing to do with that matter。〃
〃Then show it to me。〃
〃I tell you it is not what you imagine。 It does not concern you in the
least。〃
To which Mary Cavendish replied； with a rising bitterness：
〃Of course； I might have known you would shield him。〃
Cynthia was waiting for me； and greeted me eagerly with：
〃I say！ There's been the most awful row！ I've got it all out of Dorcas。〃
〃What kind of a row？〃
〃Between Aunt Emily and *HIM。 I do hope she's found him out at
last！〃
〃Was Dorcas there； then？〃
〃Of course not。 She 'happened to be near the door'。 It was a real old
bust…up。 I do wish I knew what it was all about。〃
I thought of Mrs。 Raikes's gipsy face； and Evelyn Howard's warnings；
but wisely decided to hold my peace； whilst Cynthia exhausted every
possible hypothesis； and cheerfully hoped； 〃Aunt Emily will send him
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away； and will never speak to him again。〃
I was anxious to get hold of John； but he was nowhere to be seen。
Evidently something very momentous had occurred that afternoon。 I
tried to forget the few words I had overheard； but； do what I would； I
could not dismiss them altogether from my mind。 What was Mary
Cavendish's concern in the matter？
Mr。 Inglethorp was in the drawing…room when I came down to supper。
His face was impassive as ever； and the strange unreality of the man struck
me afresh。
Mrs。 Inglethorp came down last。 She still looked agitated； and during
the meal there was a somewhat constrained silence。 Inglethorp wa
