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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
THE MYSTERIOUS
AFFAIR AT STYLES
AGATHA CHRISTIE
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
CHAPTER I。 I GO TO STYLES
The intense interest aroused in the public by what was known at the
time as 〃The Styles Case〃 has now somewhat subsided。 Nevertheless； in
view of the world…wide notoriety which attended it； I have been asked；
both by my friend Poirot and the family themselves； to write an account of
the whole story。 This； we trust； will effectually silence the sensational
rumours which still persist。
I will therefore briefly set down the circumstances which led to my
being connected with the affair。
I had been invalided home from the Front； and； after spending some
months in a rather depressing Convalescent Home； was given a month's
sick leave。 Having no near relations or friends； I was trying to make up
my mind what to do； when I ran across John Cavendish。 I had seen very
little of him for some years。 Indeed； I had never known him particularly
well。 He was a good fifteen years my senior； for one thing； though he
hardly looked his forty…five years。 As a boy； though； I had often stayed at
Styles； his mother's place in Essex。
We had a good yarn about old times； and it ended in his inviting me
down to Styles to spend my leave there。
〃The mater will be delighted to see you againafter all those years；〃
he added。
〃Your mother keeps well？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； yes。 I suppose you know that she has married again？〃
I am afraid I showed my surprise rather plainly。 Mrs。 Cavendish；
who had married John's father when he was a widower with two sons； had
been a handsome woman of middle…age as I remembered her。 She
certainly could not be a day less than seventy now。 I recalled her as an
energetic； autocratic personality； somewhat inclined to charitable and
social notoriety； with a fondness for opening bazaars and playing the Lady
Bountiful。 She was a most generous woman； and possessed a
considerable fortune of her own。
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
Their country…place； Styles Court； had been purchased by Mr。
Cavendish early in their married life。 He had been completely under his
wife's ascendancy； so much so that； on dying； he left the place to her for
her lifetime； as well as the larger part of his income； an arrangement that
was distinctly unfair to his two sons。 Their step…mother； however； had
always been most generous to them； indeed； they were so young at the
time of their father's remarriage that they always thought of her as their
own mother。
Lawrence； the younger； had been a delicate youth。 He had qualified
as a doctor but early relinquished the profession of medicine； and lived at
home while pursuing literary ambitions； though his verses never had any
marked success。
John practiced for some time as a barrister； but had finally settled
down to the more congenial life of a country squire。 He had married two
years ago； and had taken his wife to live at Styles； though I entertained a
shrewd suspicion that he would have preferred his mother to increase his
allowance； which would have enabled him to have a home of his own。
Mrs。 Cavendish； however； was a lady who liked to make her own plans；
and expected other people to fall in with them； and in this case she
certainly had the whip hand； namely： the purse strings。
John noticed my surprise at the news of his mother's remarriage and
smiled rather ruefully。
〃Rotten little bounder too！〃 he said savagely。 〃I can tell you；
Hastings； it's making life jolly difficult for us。 As for Evieyou
remember Evie？〃
〃No。〃
〃Oh； I suppose she was after your time。 She's the mater's factotum；
companion； Jack of all trades！ A great sportold Evie！ Not precisely
young and beautiful； but as game as they make them。〃
〃You were going to say？〃
〃Oh； this fellow！ He turned up from nowhere； on the pretext of being a
second cousin or something of Evie's； though she didn't seem particularly
keen to acknowledge the relationship。 The fellow is an absolute outsider；
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
anyone can see that。 He's got a great black beard； and wears patent
leather boots in all weathers！ But the mater cottoned to him at once； took
him on as secretaryyou know how she's always running a hundred
societies？〃
I nodded。
〃Well； of course the war has turned the hundreds into thousands。 No
doubt the fellow was very useful to her。 But you could have knocked us
all down with a feather when； three months ago； she suddenly announced
that she and Alfred were engaged！ The fellow must be at least twenty
years younger than she is！ It's simply bare…faced fortune hunting； but there
you areshe is her own mistress； and she's married him。〃
〃It must be a difficult situation for you all。〃
〃Difficult！ It's damnable！〃
Thus it came about that； three days later； I descended from the train at
Styles St。 Mary； an absurd little station； with no apparent reason for
existence； perched up in the midst of green fields and country lanes。
John Cavendish was waiting on the platform； and piloted me out to the car。
〃Got a drop or two of petrol still； you see；〃 he remarked。 〃Mainly
owing to the mater's activities。〃
The village of Styles St。 Mary was situated about two miles from the
little station； and Styles Court lay a mile the other side of it。 It was a still；
warm day in early July。 As one looked out over the flat Essex country；
lying so green and peaceful under the afternoon sun； it seemed almost
impossible to believe that； not so very far away； a great war was running
its appointed course。 I felt I had suddenly strayed into another world。
As we turned in at the lodge gates； John said：
〃I'm afraid you'll find it very quiet down here； Hastings。〃
〃My dear fellow； that's just what I want。〃
〃Oh； it's pleasant enough if you want to lead the idle life。 I drill with
the volunteers twice a week； and lend a hand at the farms。 My wife
works regularly 'on the land'。 She is up at five every morning to milk；
and keeps at it steadily until lunchtime。 It's a jolly good life taking it all
roundif it weren't for that fellow Alfred Inglethorp！〃 He checked the car
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
suddenly； and glanced at his watch。 〃I wonder if we've time to pick up
Cynthia。 No； she'll have started from the hospital by now。〃
〃Cynthia！ That's not your wife？〃
〃No； Cynthia is a protegee of my mother's； the daughter of an old
schoolfellow of hers； who married a rascally solicitor。 He came a
cropper； and the girl was left an orphan and penniless。 My mother came
to the rescue； and Cynthia has been with us nearly two years now。 She
works in the Red Cross Hospital at Tadminster； seven miles away。〃
As he spoke the last words； we drew up in front of the fine old house。
A lady in a stout tweed skirt； who was bending over a flower bed；
straightened herself at our approach。
〃Hullo； Evie； here's our wounded hero！ Mr。 HastingsMiss Howard。〃
Miss Howard shook hands with a hearty； almost painful； grip。 I had
an impression of very blue eyes in a sunburnt face。 She was a pleasant…
looking woman of about forty； with a deep voice； almost manly in its
stentorian tones； and had a large sensible square body； with feet to match
these last encased in good thick boots。 H