°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
good¡¡bit¡¡lower¡¡than¡¡she¡¡didbut¡¡she¡¡answered£º¡¡'How¡¡dare¡¡you£¿¡¡I¡¡have¡¡kept¡¡
you¡¡and¡¡clothed¡¡you¡¡and¡¡fed¡¡you£¡¡¡You¡¡owe¡¡everything¡¡to¡¡me£¡¡¡And¡¡this¡¡is¡¡
how¡¡you¡¡repay¡¡me£¡¡¡By¡¡bringing¡¡disgrace¡¡upon¡¡our¡¡name£¡'¡¡Again¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡
hear¡¡what¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡went¡¡on£º¡¡'Nothing¡¡that¡¡you¡¡can¡¡say¡¡will¡¡make¡¡
any¡¡difference¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡see¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡clearly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡mind¡¡is¡¡made¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡need¡¡
not¡¡think¡¡that¡¡any¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡publicity£»¡¡or¡¡scandal¡¡between¡¡husband¡¡and¡¡wife¡¡
will¡¡¡¡¡¡deter¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£'¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡coming¡¡¡¡¡¡out£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡off¡¡
quickly¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡sure¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Inglethorp's¡¡voice¡¡you¡¡heard£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes£»¡¡sir£»¡¡whose¡¡else's¡¡could¡¡it¡¡be£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡what¡¡happened¡¡next£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡40¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡41¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Later£»¡¡I¡¡came¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡quiet¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡five¡¡o'clock£»¡¡
Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Inglethorp¡¡¡¡¡¡rang¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bell¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡told¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡bring¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡cup¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡tea¡¡
nothing¡¡to¡¡eatto¡¡the¡¡boudoir¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡dreadfulso¡¡white¡¡¡¡and¡¡
upset¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Dorcas£»'¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡says£»¡¡¡¡¡¡'I've¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡shock¡£'¡¡¡¡¡¡'I'm¡¡¡¡¡¡sorry¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡that£»¡¡
m'm£»'¡¡I¡¡says¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'You'll¡¡feel¡¡better¡¡after¡¡a¡¡nice¡¡hot¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡tea£»¡¡m'm¡£'¡¡She¡¡had¡¡
something¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡if¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡letter£»¡¡or¡¡just¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡
paper£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡had¡¡writing¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡kept¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡it£»¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡
couldn't¡¡¡¡¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡written¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡whispered¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡herself£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡
though¡¡she¡¡had¡¡forgotten¡¡I¡¡was¡¡there£º¡¡'These¡¡few¡¡wordsand¡¡everything's¡¡
changed¡£'¡¡And¡¡then¡¡she¡¡says¡¡to¡¡me£º¡¡'Never¡¡trust¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡Dorcas£»¡¡they're¡¡not¡¡
worth¡¡¡¡¡¡it£¡'¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡hurried¡¡¡¡¡¡off£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡strong¡¡¡¡¡¡cup¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡tea£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡
thanked¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡she'd¡¡feel¡¡better¡¡when¡¡she'd¡¡drunk¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡
what¡¡to¡¡do£»'¡¡she¡¡says¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'Scandal¡¡between¡¡husband¡¡and¡¡wife¡¡is¡¡a¡¡dreadful¡¡
thing£»¡¡Dorcas¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I'd¡¡rather¡¡hush¡¡it¡¡up¡¡if¡¡I¡¡could¡£'¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Cavendish¡¡came¡¡in¡¡
just¡¡then£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡didn't¡¡say¡¡any¡¡more¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡still¡¡had¡¡the¡¡letter£»¡¡or¡¡whatever¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hand£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡would¡¡she¡¡be¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡it¡¡afterwards£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know£»¡¡sir£»¡¡I¡¡expect¡¡she¡¡would¡¡lock¡¡it¡¡up¡¡in¡¡that¡¡purple¡¡
case¡¡of¡¡hers¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Is¡¡that¡¡where¡¡she¡¡usually¡¡kept¡¡important¡¡papers£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡brought¡¡it¡¡down¡¡with¡¡her¡¡every¡¡morning£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡it¡¡up¡¡
every¡¡night¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡did¡¡she¡¡lose¡¡the¡¡key¡¡of¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡missed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡yesterday¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡lunch¡time£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sir£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡told¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡look¡¡
carefully¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡very¡¡much¡¡put¡¡out¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡she¡¡had¡¡a¡¡duplicate¡¡key£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Dorcas¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡very¡¡curiously¡¡at¡¡him¡¡and£»¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡so¡¡was¡¡
I¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡was¡¡all¡¡this¡¡about¡¡a¡¡lost¡¡key£¿¡¡Poirot¡¡smiled¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Never¡¡¡¡¡¡mind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Dorcas£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡business¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡things¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Is¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
key¡¡that¡¡was¡¡lost£¿¡¨¡¡He¡¡drew¡¡from¡¡his¡¡pocket¡¡the¡¡key¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡found¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡lock¡¡of¡¡the¡¡despatch¡case¡¡upstairs¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Dorcas's¡¡eyes¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡though¡¡they¡¡would¡¡pop¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡41¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡42¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡sir£»¡¡¡¡¡¡right¡¡¡¡¡¡enough¡£¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡find¡¡¡¡¡¡it£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡
everywhere¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡see¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡place¡¡yesterday¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡¡
day¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡pass¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡another¡¡¡¡¡¡subject£»¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡mistress¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡dark¡¡¡¡¡¡green¡¡
dress¡¡in¡¡her¡¡wardrobe£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Dorcas¡¡was¡¡rather¡¡startled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡¡question¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Are¡¡you¡¡quite¡¡sure£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Has¡¡anyone¡¡else¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡got¡¡a¡¡green¡¡dress£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Dorcas¡¡reflected¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Miss¡¡Cynthia¡¡has¡¡a¡¡green¡¡evening¡¡dress¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Light¡¡or¡¡dark¡¡green£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡light¡¡green£»¡¡sir£»¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡chiffon£»¡¡they¡¡call¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡not¡¡what¡¡I¡¡want¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡nobody¡¡else¡¡has¡¡anything¡¡green£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡sirnot¡¡that¡¡I¡¡know¡¡of¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot's¡¡face¡¡did¡¡not¡¡betray¡¡a¡¡trace¡¡of¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡was¡¡disappointed¡¡or¡¡
otherwise¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡merely¡¡remarked£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Good£»¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡pass¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Have¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡reason¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
believe¡¡that¡¡your¡¡mistress¡¡was¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a¡¡sleeping¡¡powder¡¡last¡¡night£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡*LAST¡¡night£»¡¡sir£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡she¡¡didn't¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡so¡¡positively£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Because¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡box¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡empty¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡took¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡days¡¡¡¡¡¡ago£»¡¡
and¡¡she¡¡didn't¡¡have¡¡any¡¡more¡¡made¡¡up¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡quite¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡that£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Positive£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡that¡¡is¡¡cleared¡¡up£¡¡¡By¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡your¡¡mistress¡¡didn't¡¡ask¡¡you¡¡to¡¡
sign¡¡any¡¡paper¡¡yesterday£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨To¡¡sign¡¡a¡¡paper£¿¡¡No£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Hastings¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Lawrence¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡yesterday¡¡¡¡¡¡evening£»¡¡
they¡¡found¡¡your¡¡mistress¡¡busy¡¡writing¡¡letters¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡can¡¡give¡¡me¡¡
no¡¡idea¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡these¡¡letters¡¡were¡¡addressed£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡afraid¡¡I¡¡couldn't£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Perhaps¡¡Annie¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡42¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡43¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡
could¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡though¡¡she's¡¡a¡¡careless¡¡girl¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Never¡¡cleared¡¡the¡¡coffee¡cups¡¡
away¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That's¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡happens¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡here¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡look¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡
things¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot¡¡lifted¡¡his¡¡hand¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Since¡¡they¡¡have¡¡been¡¡left£»¡¡Dorcas£»¡¡leave¡¡them¡¡a¡¡little¡¡longer£»¡¡I¡¡pray¡¡
you¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡them¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Very¡¡well£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡time¡¡did¡¡you¡¡go¡¡out¡¡last¡¡evening£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨About¡¡six¡¡o'clock£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you£»¡¡Dorcas£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡all¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡strolled¡¡
to¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡window¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡admiring¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡flower¡¡¡¡¡¡beds¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡
gardeners¡¡are¡¡employed¡¡here£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡way£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Only¡¡three¡¡now£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Five£»¡¡we¡¡had£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡war£»¡¡when¡¡it¡¡was¡¡kept¡¡
as¡¡a¡¡gentleman's¡¡place¡¡should¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡you¡¡could¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡it¡¡then£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡
A¡¡¡¡¡¡fair¡¡¡¡¡¡sight¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡there's¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡Manning£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡
William£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡new¡fashioned¡¡woman¡¡gardener¡¡in¡¡breeches¡¡and¡¡such¡like¡£¡¡
Ah£»¡¡these¡¡are¡¡dreadful¡¡times£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡times¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡again£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Dorcas¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡least£»¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡hope¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡£¡¡
Now£»¡¡will¡¡you¡¡send¡¡Annie¡¡to¡¡me¡¡here£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thank¡¡you£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Inglethorp¡¡¡¡¡¡took¡¡¡¡¡¡sleeping¡¡¡¡¡¡powders£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
asked£»¡¡in¡¡lively¡¡curiosity£»¡¡¡¡as¡¡Dorcas¡¡left¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lost¡¡
key¡¡and¡¡the¡¡duplicate£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨One¡¡thing¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡¡powders£»¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡by¡¡this¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡
suddenly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡produced¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡small¡¡¡¡¡¡cardboard¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡box£»¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡chemists¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡use¡¡¡¡for¡¡
powders¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Where¡¡did¡¡you¡¡find¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨In¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wash¡stand¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡drawer¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Inglethorp's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bedroom¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡was¡¡
Number¡¡Six¡¡of¡¡my¡¡catalogue¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡I¡¡suppose£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡last¡¡powder¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡two¡¡days¡¡ago£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡of¡¡
much¡¡importance£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Probably¡¡not£»¡¡but¡¡do¡¡you¡¡notice¡¡anything¡¡that¡¡strikes¡¡you¡¡as¡¡peculiar¡¡
about¡¡this¡¡box£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡43¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡44¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡examined¡¡it¡¡closely¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡do¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡label¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡read¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡label¡¡¡¡¡¡carefully£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡'One¡¡¡¡¡¡powder¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡taken¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡bedtime£»¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡
required¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp¡£'¡¡No£»¡¡I¡¡see¡¡nothing¡¡unusual¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡chemist's¡¡name£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ah£¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡exclaimed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨To¡¡be¡¡sure£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡odd£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Have¡¡you¡¡ever¡¡known¡¡a¡¡chemist¡¡to¡¡send¡¡out¡¡a¡¡box¡¡like¡¡that£»¡¡without¡¡
his¡¡printed¡¡name£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡becoming¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡excited£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡Poirot¡¡¡¡¡¡damped¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡ardour¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡
remarking£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yet¡¡the¡¡explanation¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡simple¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡do¡¡not¡¡intrigue¡¡yourself£»¡¡my¡¡
friend¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡An¡¡¡¡¡¡audible¡¡¡¡¡¡creaking¡¡¡¡¡¡proclaimed¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡approach¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡Annie£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡
time¡¡to¡¡reply¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Annie¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡fine£»¡¡¡¡¡¡strapping¡¡¡¡¡¡girl£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡evidently¡¡¡¡¡¡labouring¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡
intense¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡excitement£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡mingled¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡certain¡¡¡¡¡¡ghoulish¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡enjoyment¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡
tragedy¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡point¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡business¡like¡¡briskness¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡sent¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡Annie£»¡¡because¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡you¡¡might¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡
something¡¡about¡¡the¡¡letters¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp¡¡wrote¡¡last¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡many¡¡
were¡¡there£¿¡¡And¡¡can¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡names¡¡and¡¡addresses£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Annie¡¡considered¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡were¡¡four¡¡letters£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡was¡¡to¡¡Miss¡¡Howard£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡was¡¡
to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Wells£»¡¡the¡¡lawyer£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡I¡¡remember£»¡¡sir¡¡
oh£»¡¡yes£»¡¡one¡¡was¡¡to¡¡Ross's£»¡¡the¡¡caterers¡¡in¡¡Tadminster¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡other¡¡one£»¡¡I¡¡
don't¡¡remember¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Think£»¡¨¡¡u