the mysterious Affair at Styles chapter 3 the night of_the tragedy

to_make this part of_my story clear, I append the following plan of_the first floor of Styles . the servants' rooms are reached through_the door B . they_have no communication with_the right wing, where the Inglethorps' rooms were situated .

it seemed to_be the middle of_the night when i_was awakened by Lawrence Cavendish . he had a candle in_his hand, and_the agitation of_his face told me at once that something was seriously wrong .

" what's the matter ? '' I asked, sitting up in bed, and trying to collect my scattered thoughts .

" we_are afraid my mother is very ill . she seems_to_be having some kind of fit . unfortunately she has locked herself in .''

"I'll come at once .''

I sprang out of bed; and, pulling on adressing- gown, followed Lawrence along the passage and_the gallery to_the right wing of_the house .

John Cavendish joined us, and one_or_two of_the servants were standing round in a state of awe- stricken excitement . Lawrence turned to_his brother .

" what do_you_think we had better do ? ''

never, i_thought, had his indecision of character been more apparent .

John rattled the handle of Mrs Inglethorp's door violently, but with no effect . it_was obviously locked or bolted on_the inside . the whole household was aroused by now . the most alarming sounds were audible from_the interior of_the room . clearly something must_be_done .

" try going through Mr Inglethorp's room, sir,'' cried Dorcas ."Oh, the poor mistress ! ''

suddenly I realized that Alfred Inglethorp was not with_us -- that he alone had given no sign of_his presence .John opened the door of_his room . it_was pitch dark, but Lawrence was following with_the candle, and by its feeble light we saw that_the bed had_not_been slept in, and_that there_was no sign of_the room having been occupied .

we went straight to_the connecting door . that, too, was locked or bolted on_the inside . what_was to_be_done ?

"Oh, dear, sir,'' cried Dorcas, wringing her hands, " what ever shall we_do ? ''

" we_must try and break the door in, I suppose . it'll be a tough job, though . here, let one_of_the maids go down and wake Baily and tell him to_go for Dr .Wilkins at once . now then, we'll have a try at_the door . half a moment, though, isn't there a door into miss Cynthia's rooms ? ''

" yes, sir, but that's always bolted . it's never been undone .''

" well, we_might just see .''

he ran rapidly down the corridor to Cynthia's room .Mary Cavendish was there, shaking the girl -- who must_have been an unusually sound sleeper -- and trying to wake her .

in a moment or two he_was back .

" no good . that's bolted too . we_must break in_the door . i_think this_one is a shade less solid than_the one in_the passage .''

we strained and heaved together . the framework of_the door was solid, and for_a_long_time it resisted our efforts, but at last we_felt it give beneath our weight, and finally, with aresounding crash, it_was burst open .

we stumbled in together, Lawrence still holding his candle .Mrs Inglethorp was lying on_the bed, her whole form agitated by violent convulsions, in one of_which she must_have overturned the table beside her . as_we entered, however, her limbs relaxed, and she fell back upon_the pillows .

John strode across the room, and lit the gas .Turning to Annie, one_of_the housemaids, he sent her downstairs to_the dining- room for brandy . then he went across to_his mother whilst I unbolted the door that gave on_the corridor .

I turned to Lawrence, to suggest_that I had better leave them now that there_was no further need of_my services, but the words were frozen on my lips . never have I seen such a ghastly look on any man's face . he_was white as chalk, the candle he held in_his shaking hand was sputtering onto the carpet, and_his eyes, petrified with terror, or some such kindred emotion, stared fixedly over my head at a point on_the further wall . it_was as_though he had seen something that turned him to stone .I instinctively followed the direction of_his eyes, but I could_see nothing unusual . the still feebly flickering ashes in_the grate, and_the row of prim ornaments on_the mantelpiece, were surely harmless enough .

the violence of Mrs Inglethorp's attack seemed to_be passing . she was able to_speak in short gasps .

" better now -- very sudden -- stupid of me -- to lock myself in .''

a shadow fell on_the bed and, looking up, I_saw Mary Cavendish standing near the door with her arm around Cynthia . she seemed to_be supporting the girl, who looked utterly dazed and unlike herself . her face was heavily flushed, and she yawned repeatedly .

" poor Cynthia is quite frightened,'' said Mrs Cavendish in a low clear voice . she herself, I noticed, was dressed in her white land smock . then it must_be later than i_thought . I_saw that a faint streak of daylight was showing through_the curtains of_the windows, and_that the clock on_the mantelpiece pointed to close upon five o'clock .

a strangled cry from_the bed startled me .a fresh access of pain seized the unfortunate old lady . the convulsions were of a violence terrible to behold . everything was confusion . we thronged round her, powerless to help or alleviate .a final convulsion lifted her from_the bed, until she appeared to rest upon her head and her heels, with her body arched in an extraordinary manner . in vain Mary and John tried to administer more brandy . the moments flew . again the body arched itself in_that peculiar fashion .

at_that moment, Dr .Bauerstein pushed his way authoritatively into_the room . for_one instant he stopped dead, staring at_the figure on_the bed, and, at_the same instant, Mrs Inglethorp cried out in a strangled voice, her eyes fixed on_the doctor:

" Alfred -- Alfred -- -- '' then she fell back motionless on_the pillows .

with a stride, the doctor reached the bed, and seizing her arms worked them energetically, applying what I_knew to_be artificial respiration . he issued a few short sharp orders to_the servants . an imperious wave of_his hand drove us all to_the door . we watched him, fascinated, though i_think we all knew in_our hearts that_it_was too late, and_that nothing could_be_done now .I could_see by_the expression on_his face that he himself had little hope .

finally he abandoned his task, shaking his head gravely . at_that moment, we heard footsteps outside, and Dr .Wilkins, Mrs Inglethorp's own doctor, aportly, fussy little man, came bustling in .

in a few words Dr .Bauerstein explained how he had happened to_be passing the lodge gates as_the car came out, and had run up_to_the house as fast as he_could, whilst the car went on to fetch Dr .Wilkins . with a faint gesture of_the hand, he indicated the figure on_the bed .

"Ve -- ry sad .Ve -- ry sad,'' murmured Dr .Wilkins ." poor dear lady . always did far too_much -- far too_much -- against my advice .I warned her . her heart was far from strong .' take it easy,' I_said to her, ' take -- it -- easy' . but no -- her zeal for good works was too great . nature rebelled .Na -- ture -- re -- belled .''

Dr .Bauerstein, I noticed, was watching the local doctor narrowly . he still kept his eyes fixed on him as he spoke .

" the convulsions were of a peculiar violence, Dr .Wilkins . I_am sorry you were_not here in_time to witness them . they were quite -- tetanic in character .''

"Ah ! '' said Dr .Wilkins wisely .

" i_should like to_speak to_you in private,'' said Dr .Bauerstein . he turned to John ." you_do_not object ? ''

" certainly not .''

we all trooped out into_the corridor, leaving the two doctors alone, and I heard the key turned in_the lock behind us .

we went slowly down the stairs . i_was violently excited . I_have a certain talent for deduction, and Dr .Bauerstein's manner had started a flock of wild surmises in my mind .Mary Cavendish laid her hand upon my arm .

" what_is it ? why did Dr .Bauerstein seem so -- peculiar ? ''

I looked at her .

" do_you_know what i_think ? ''

" what ? ''

" listen ! '' I looked round, the others were out of earshot .I lowered my voice to a whisper ."I believe she has_been poisoned ! I'm certain Dr .Bauerstein suspects it .''

" what ? '' she shrank against the wall, the pupils of her eyes dilating wildly . then, with a sudden cry that startled me, she cried out: " no, no -- not that -- not that ! '' and breaking from me, fled up the stairs .I followed her, afraid that she was going to faint . I_found her leaning against the bannisters, deadly pale . she waved me away impatiently .

" no, no -- leave me .I'd rather be alone . let me just be quiet for a minute or two . go down to_the others .''

I obeyed her reluctantly .John and Lawrence were in_the dining- room .I joined them . we were all silent, but I suppose I voiced the thoughts of us all when I at last broke it by saying:

" where is Mr Inglethorp ? ''

John shook his head .

" he's not in_the house .''

our eyes met . where was Alfred Inglethorp ? his absence was strange and inexplicable .I remembered Mrs Inglethorp's dying words . what lay beneath them ? what more could she have told us, if she had had time ?

at last we heard the doctors descending the stairs .Dr .Wilkins was looking important and excited, and trying to conceal an inward exultation under a manner of decorous calm .Dr .Bauerstein remained in_the background, his grave bearded face unchanged .Dr .Wilkins was_the spokesman for_the two . he addressed himself to John:

" Mr Cavendish, i_should like your consent to a postmortem .''

" is_that necessary ? '' asked John gravely .a spasm of pain crossed his face .

" absolutely,'' said Dr .Bauerstein .

" you mean by_that -- -- ? ''

" that neither Dr .Wilkins nor myself could give a death certificate under the circumstances .''

John bent his head .

" in_that case, I_have no alternative but to agree .''

" thank_you,'' said Dr .Wilkins briskly ." we propose that_it should take place to- morrow night -- or rather to- night .'' and he glanced at_the daylight ." under the circumstances, I_am afraid an inquest can hardly be avoided -- these formalities are necessary, but I beg that you won't distress yourselves .''

there_was a pause, and then Dr .Bauerstein drew two keys from_his pocket, and handed them to John .

" these are the keys of_the two rooms . I_have locked them and, in my opinion, they_would_be better kept locked for_the_present .''

the doctors then departed .

I had_been turning over an idea in my head, and I_felt that_the moment had now come to broach it . yet i_was a little chary of doing_so .John, I_knew, had a horror of any kind of publicity, and was an easygoing optimist, who preferred never to meet trouble half- way . it might_be difficult to_convince him of_the soundness of_my plan . Lawrence, on_the other hand, being less conventional, and having more imagination, I_felt I_might count upon as an ally . there_was no_doubt that_the moment had come for_me to take_the lead .

"John,'' I_said, " I_am going to ask_you something .''

" well ? ''

" you remember my speaking of_my friend Poirot ? the Belgian who_is here ? he has_been a most famous detective .''

" yes .''

" i_want you to let me call him in -- to investigate this_matter .''

" what -- now ? before_the post-mortem ? ''

" yes, time is an advantage if -- if -- there_has_been foul play .''

" rubbish ! '' cried Lawrence angrily ." in my opinion the whole thing is a mare's nest of Bauerstein's ! Wilkins hadn't an idea of_such a thing, until Bauerstein put it into his head . but, like all specialists, Bauerstein's got a bee in_his bonnet .Poisons are his hobby, so of_course he sees them everywhere .''

I confess that i_was surprised by Lawrence's attitude . he_was so seldom vehement about anything .

John hesitated .

" I_can't feel as_you_do, Lawrence,'' he_said at last ."I'm inclined to_give Hastings a free hand, though i_should prefer to wait a bit . we don't want any unnecessary scandal .''

" no, no,'' I cried eagerly, " you_need have no fear of_that .Poirot is discretion itself .''

" very_well, then, have it your own way .I leave it in your hands . though, if_it_is as_we suspect, it seems a clear enough case . god forgive me if I_am wronging him ! ''

I looked at my watch . it_was six o'clock .I determined to lose no time .

Five minutes' delay, however, I allowed myself .I spent it in ransacking the library until I discovered a medical book which gave a description of strychnine poisoning .