°´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£¡
tenaciously¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡written¡¡¡¡¡¡proof¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡husband's¡¡¡¡¡¡infidelity¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡
demanded¡¡it¡¡from¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp¡¡who¡¡assured¡¡her£»¡¡quite¡¡truly£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had¡¡
nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡that¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Cavendish¡¡did¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡
thought¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Inglethorp¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡shielding¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡stepson¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡
Cavendish¡¡is¡¡a¡¡very¡¡resolute¡¡woman£»¡¡and£»¡¡behind¡¡her¡¡mask¡¡of¡¡reserve£»¡¡she¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡madly¡¡¡¡¡¡jealous¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡husband¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡determined¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡get¡¡¡¡¡¡hold¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡
paper¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡costs£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡resolution¡¡¡¡¡¡chance¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡aid¡£¡¡She¡¡
happened¡¡to¡¡pick¡¡up¡¡the¡¡key¡¡of¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp's¡¡despatch¡case£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡
been¡¡lost¡¡that¡¡morning¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡her¡¡mother¡in¡law¡¡invariably¡¡kept¡¡
all¡¡important¡¡papers¡¡in¡¡this¡¡particular¡¡case¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Cavendish£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡plans¡¡as¡¡only¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡woman¡¡¡¡¡¡driven¡¡
desperate¡¡through¡¡jealousy¡¡could¡¡have¡¡done¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡time¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡
she¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡unbolted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡door¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡leading¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Cynthia's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡£¡¡
Possibly¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡applied¡¡¡¡¡¡oil¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡hinges£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡opened¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡167¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡168¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡
noiselessly¡¡when¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡put¡¡off¡¡her¡¡project¡¡until¡¡the¡¡early¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡morning¡¡as¡¡being¡¡safer£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡servants¡¡were¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡hearing¡¡
her¡¡¡¡¡¡move¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡£¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡dressed¡¡¡¡¡¡completely¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
land¡¡kit£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡her¡¡way¡¡quietly¡¡through¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Cynthia's¡¡room¡¡
into¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡paused¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡Cynthia¡¡interrupted£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡woken¡¡up¡¡if¡¡anyone¡¡had¡¡come¡¡through¡¡my¡¡room£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡if¡¡you¡¡were¡¡drugged£»¡¡mademoiselle¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Drugged£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Mais£»¡¡oui£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡remember¡¨he¡¡addressed¡¡us¡¡collectively¡¡again¡¨that¡¡through¡¡all¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡tumult¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡noise¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡next¡¡¡¡¡¡door¡¡¡¡¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Cynthia¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡slept¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡
admitted¡¡of¡¡two¡¡possibilities¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Either¡¡her¡¡sleep¡¡was¡¡feignedwhich¡¡I¡¡did¡¡
not¡¡believeor¡¡her¡¡unconsciousness¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡by¡¡artificial¡¡means¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨With¡¡this¡¡latter¡¡idea¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mind£»¡¡I¡¡examined¡¡all¡¡the¡¡coffee¡cups¡¡most¡¡
carefully£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡remembering¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Cavendish¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡
Mademoiselle¡¡Cynthia¡¡her¡¡coffee¡¡the¡¡night¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡took¡¡a¡¡sample¡¡from¡¡
each¡¡cup£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡them¡¡analysedwith¡¡no¡¡result¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡counted¡¡the¡¡cups¡¡
carefully£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡event¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡removed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Six¡¡¡¡¡¡persons¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
taken¡¡¡¡¡¡coffee£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡six¡¡¡¡¡¡cups¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡duly¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡confess¡¡¡¡¡¡myself¡¡
mistaken¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Then¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡discovered¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡guilty¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡grave¡¡¡¡¡¡oversight¡£¡¡
Coffee¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡in¡¡for¡¡seven¡¡persons£»¡¡not¡¡six£»¡¡for¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Bauerstein¡¡
had¡¡been¡¡there¡¡that¡¡evening¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡changed¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡affair£»¡¡
for¡¡there¡¡was¡¡now¡¡one¡¡cup¡¡missing¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡servants¡¡noticed¡¡nothing£»¡¡since¡¡
Annie£»¡¡the¡¡housemaid£»¡¡who¡¡took¡¡in¡¡the¡¡coffee£»¡¡brought¡¡in¡¡seven¡¡cups£»¡¡not¡¡
knowing¡¡that¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Inglethorp¡¡never¡¡drank¡¡it£»¡¡whereas¡¡Dorcas£»¡¡who¡¡cleared¡¡
them¡¡away¡¡the¡¡following¡¡morning£»¡¡found¡¡six¡¡as¡¡usualor¡¡strictly¡¡speaking¡¡
she¡¡found¡¡five£»¡¡the¡¡sixth¡¡being¡¡the¡¡one¡¡found¡¡broken¡¡in¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp's¡¡
room¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡confident¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡missing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡cup¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡
Cynthia¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡an¡¡additional¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡that¡¡belief¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡all¡¡the¡¡
cups¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡contained¡¡¡¡¡¡sugar£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡¡¡¡¡Cynthia¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡took¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡168¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡169¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡
her¡¡coffee¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡attention¡¡was¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡Annie¡¡about¡¡some¡¡
'salt'¡¡on¡¡the¡¡tray¡¡of¡¡coco¡¡which¡¡she¡¡took¡¡every¡¡night¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp's¡¡
room¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡accordingly¡¡¡¡¡¡secured¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sample¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡coco£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡sent¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡
analysed¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡already¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡done¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡Dr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Bauerstein£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Lawrence¡¡
quickly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡exactly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡analyst¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡asked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡report¡¡¡¡¡¡whether¡¡
strychnine¡¡was£»¡¡or¡¡was¡¡not£»¡¡present¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡have¡¡it¡¡tested£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡did£»¡¡
for¡¡a¡¡narcotic¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨For¡¡a¡¡narcotic£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Here¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡analyst's¡¡¡¡¡¡report¡£¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Cavendish¡¡¡¡¡¡administered¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
safe£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡effectual£»¡¡¡¡¡¡narcotic¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡both¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Inglethorp¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡
Cynthia¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡possible¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡mauvais¡¡¡¡¡¡quart¡¡¡¡¡¡d'heure¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
consequence£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Imagine¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡feelings¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡in¡law¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡suddenly¡¡
taken¡¡ill¡¡and¡¡dies£»¡¡and¡¡immediately¡¡after¡¡she¡¡hears¡¡the¡¡word¡¡'Poison'£¡¡¡She¡¡
has¡¡¡¡¡¡believed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sleeping¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡draught¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡administered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡perfectly¡¡
harmless£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡for¡¡one¡¡terrible¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡must¡¡have¡¡
feared¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Inglethorp's¡¡¡¡¡¡death¡¡¡¡¡¡lay¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡seized¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡
panic£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡influence¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡hurries¡¡downstairs£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡quickly¡¡¡¡drops¡¡
the¡¡coffee¡cup¡¡and¡¡saucer¡¡used¡¡by¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Cynthia¡¡into¡¡a¡¡large¡¡brass¡¡
vase£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡is¡¡discovered¡¡later¡¡by¡¡Monsieur¡¡Lawrence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡coco¡¡she¡¡dare¡¡not¡¡touch¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Too¡¡many¡¡eyes¡¡are¡¡upon¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Guess¡¡at¡¡her¡¡
relief¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡strychnine¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡mentioned£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡discovers¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
tragedy¡¡is¡¡not¡¡her¡¡doing¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡are¡¡now¡¡able¡¡to¡¡account¡¡for¡¡the¡¡symptoms¡¡of¡¡strychnine¡¡poisoning¡¡
being¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡long¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡making¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡appearance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡narcotic¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡taken¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡
strychnine¡¡will¡¡delay¡¡the¡¡action¡¡of¡¡the¡¡poison¡¡for¡¡some¡¡hours¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot¡¡paused¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mary¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡the¡¡colour¡¡slowly¡¡rising¡¡in¡¡her¡¡
face¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡¡¡true£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Monsieur¡¡¡¡¡¡Poirot¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡
awful¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡my¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡forget¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡you¡¡are¡¡wonderful¡£¡¡
I¡¡understand¡¡now¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡I¡¡meant¡¡when¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you¡¡that¡¡you¡¡could¡¡safely¡¡confess¡¡to¡¡Papa¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡169¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡170¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡STYLES¡¡
Poirot£»¡¡eh£¿¡¡But¡¡you¡¡would¡¡not¡¡trust¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡see¡¡everything¡¡now£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Lawrence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡drugged¡¡coco£»¡¡taken¡¡on¡¡
top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡poisoned¡¡coffee£»¡¡amply¡¡accounts¡¡for¡¡the¡¡delay¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Exactly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡was¡¡the¡¡coffee¡¡poisoned£»¡¡or¡¡was¡¡it¡¡not£¿¡¡We¡¡come¡¡to¡¡a¡¡
little¡¡difficulty¡¡here£»¡¡since¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp¡¡never¡¡drank¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What£¿¡¨¡¡The¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡surprise¡¡was¡¡universal¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡remember¡¡my¡¡speaking¡¡of¡¡a¡¡stain¡¡on¡¡the¡¡carpet¡¡in¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡
Inglethorp's¡¡room£¿¡¡There¡¡were¡¡some¡¡peculiar¡¡points¡¡about¡¡that¡¡stain¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡
was¡¡still¡¡damp£»¡¡it¡¡exhaled¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡odour¡¡of¡¡coffee£»¡¡and¡¡imbedded¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
nap¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡carpet¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡splinters¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡china¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
happened¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡plain¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡minutes¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡placed¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
little¡¡¡¡¡¡case¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡table¡¡¡¡¡¡near¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡window£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡table£»¡¡¡¡¡¡tilting¡¡¡¡¡¡up£»¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
deposited¡¡it¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡on¡¡precisely¡¡the¡¡identical¡¡spot¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡exactly¡¡the¡¡
same¡¡way£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp¡¡had¡¡laid¡¡down¡¡her¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡coffee¡¡on¡¡reaching¡¡
her¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡¡¡¡¡¡before£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡treacherous¡¡¡¡¡¡table¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡played¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
same¡¡trick¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡happened¡¡next¡¡is¡¡mere¡¡guess¡¡work¡¡on¡¡my¡¡part£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡should¡¡say¡¡
that¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Inglethorp¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡broken¡¡cup¡¡and¡¡placed¡¡it¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡¡by¡¡
the¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Feeling¡¡in¡¡need¡¡of¡¡a¡¡stimulant¡¡of¡¡some¡¡kind£»¡¡she¡¡heated¡¡up¡¡her¡¡
coco£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡drank¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡off¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡£¡¡Now¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡faced¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡new¡¡
problem¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡know¡¡the¡¡coco¡¡contained¡¡no¡¡strychnine¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡coffee¡¡was¡¡
never¡¡¡¡¡¡drunk¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡strychnine¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡administered¡¡¡¡¡¡between¡¡
seven¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡nine¡¡¡¡¡¡o'clock¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡evening¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡¡¡¡¡third¡¡¡¡¡¡medium¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡therea¡¡
medium¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡suitable¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡disguising¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡taste¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡strychnine¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡is¡¡
extraordinary¡¡no¡¡one¡¡has¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡Poirot¡¡looked¡¡round¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡
then¡¡answered¡¡himself¡¡impressively¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Her¡¡medicine£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡mean¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡murderer¡¡¡¡¡¡introduced¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡strychnine¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
tonic£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡cried¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡need¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡introduce¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡already¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
mixture¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡strychnine¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡killed¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Inglethorp¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡identical¡¡
strychnine¡¡prescribed¡¡by¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Wilkins¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡make¡¡that¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡
read¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡extract¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡book¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡dispensing¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
Dispensary¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡Cross¡¡Hospital¡¡at¡¡Tadminster£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡170¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡171¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡MYSTERIOUS¡¡AFFAIR¡¡AT¡¡S