11. The case for the prosecution by Agatha Christie
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the mysterious Affair at Styles chapter 11 the case for_the prosecution

the trial of John Cavendish for_the murder of_his stepmother took place two months later .

of_the intervening weeks i_will say little, but my admiration and sympathy went out unfeignedly to Mary Cavendish . she ranged herself passionately on her husband's side, scorning the mere idea of_his guilt, and fought for him tooth and nail .

I expressed my admiration to Poirot, and he nodded thoughtfully .

" yes, she_is of_those women who show at their best in adversity . it brings out all that_is sweetest and truest in_them . her pride and her jealousy have -- ''

" jealousy ? '' I queried .

" yes . have_you not realized that she_is an unusually jealous woman ? as i_was saying, her pride and jealousy have_been laid aside . she thinks of nothing but her husband, and_the terrible fate that_is hanging over him .''

he spoke very feelingly, and I looked at him earnestly, remembering that last afternoon, when he had_been deliberating whether or not to_speak . with_his tenderness for "a woman's happiness,'' I_felt glad that_the decision had_been taken out of_his hands .

" even now,'' I_said, " I_can hardly believe it . you_see, up_to_the very last minute, i_thought it_was Lawrence ! ''

Poirot grinned .

" I_know you_did .''

" but John ! my old friend John ! ''

" every murderer is probably somebody's old friend,'' observed Poirot philosophically ." you_cannot mix up sentiment and reason .''

" I_must say i_think you might_have given me a hint .''

" perhaps, mon ami, I_did_not do_so, just because he_was your old friend .''

i_was rather disconcerted by_this, remembering how I had busily passed on to John what I believed to_be Poirot's views concerning Bauerstein . he, by_the_way, had_been acquitted of_the charge brought against him . nevertheless, although he had_been too clever for_them this_time, and_the charge of espionage could_not_be brought home to him, his wings were pretty well clipped for_the future .

I asked Poirot whether he thought John would_be condemned . to my intense surprise, he replied that, on_the contrary, he_was extremely likely to_be acquitted .

" but, Poirot -- '' I protested .

"Oh, my friend, have I not said to_you all along that I_have no proofs . it_is one_thing to_know that a man is guilty, it_is quite another matter to_prove him so . and, in this_case, there_is terribly little evidence . that_is_the whole trouble .I, Hercule Poirot, know, but I lack the last link in my chain . and unless I_can find that missing link -- '' he shook his head gravely .

" when did you first suspect John Cavendish ? '' I asked, after a minute or two .

" did you not suspect him at all ? ''

" no, indeed .''

" not after_that fragment of conversation you overheard between Mrs Cavendish and her mother- in- law, and her subsequent lack of frankness at_the inquest ? ''

" no .''

" did you not put two and two together, and reflect that if_it_was not Alfred Inglethorp who was quarrelling with_his wife -- and you remember, he strenuously denied it at_the inquest -- it must_be either Lawrence or John . now, if_it_was Lawrence, Mary Cavendish's conduct was just as inexplicable . but if, on_the other hand, it_was John, the whole thing was explained quite naturally .''

" so,'' I cried, a light breaking in upon me, " it_was John who quarrelled with_his mother that afternoon ? ''

" exactly .''

" and you_have known this all along ? ''

" certainly .Mrs Cavendish's behaviour could only be explained that way .''

" and yet you say he_may_be acquitted ? ''

Poirot shrugged his shoulders .

" certainly I_do . at_the police court proceedings, we_shall hear the case for_the prosecution, but in all probability his solicitors will advise him to reserve his defence . that_will_be sprung upon us at_the trial . and -- ah, by_the_way, I_have a word of caution to_give_you, my friend . I_must not appear in_the case .''

" what ? ''

" no . officially, I_have nothing to_do with it . until I_have found that last link in my chain, I_must remain behind the scenes .Mrs Cavendish must think I_am working for her husband, not against him .''

" I_say, that's playing it a bit low down,'' I protested .

" not at all . we_have to deal with a most clever and unscrupulous man, and we_must use any means in_our power -- otherwise he_will slip through our fingers . that_is why I_have_been careful to remain in_the background . all the discoveries have_been made by Japp, and Japp will take all the credit . if I_am called upon to_give evidence at all'' -- he smiled broadly -- " it_will probably be as a witness for_the defence .''

I_could hardly believe my ears .

" it_is quite en règle,'' continued Poirot ." strangely enough, I_can give evidence that_will demolish one contention of_the prosecution .''

" which one ? ''

" the one that relates to_the destruction of_the will .John Cavendish did_not destroy that_will .''

Poirot was a true prophet . i_will_not go into_the details of_the police court proceedings, as it involves many tiresome repetitions . i_will merely state baldly that John Cavendish reserved his defence, and was duly committed for trial .

September found us all in London .Mary took a house in Kensington, Poirot being included in_the family party .

I myself had_been given a job at_the war office, so was able to_see them continually .

as_the weeks went by, the state of Poirot's nerves grew worse and worse . that " last link'' he talked about was still lacking . privately, I hoped it might remain so, for what happiness could there be for Mary, if John were_not acquitted ?

on September 15th John Cavendish appeared in_the dock at_the old Bailey, charged with " the Wilful murder of Emily Agnes Inglethorp,'' and pleaded " not guilty .''

sir Ernest Heavywether, the famous K .C ., had_been engaged to defend him .

Mr Philips, K .C ., opened the case for_the crown .

the murder, he_said, was a most premeditated and cold- blooded one . it_was neither more nor less_than_the deliberate poisoning of a fond and trusting woman by_the stepson to_whom she had_been more than a mother . ever_since his boyhood, she had supported him . he and_his wife had lived at Styles court in every luxury, surrounded by her care and attention . she had_been their kind and generous benefactress .

he proposed to_call witnesses to show how the prisoner, a profligate and spendthrift, had_been at_the end of_his financial tether, and had also been carrying on an intrigue with a certain Mrs Raikes, aneighbouring farmer's wife . this having come to_his stepmother's ears, she taxed him with it on_the afternoon before her death, and a quarrel ensued, part of which_was overheard . on_the previous day, the prisoner had purchased strychnine at_the village chemist's shop, wearing a disguise by_means of_which he hoped to throw the onus of_the crime upon another man -- to wit, Mrs Inglethorp's husband, of whom he had_been bitterly jealous . luckily for_Mr Inglethorp, he had_been able to_produce an unimpeachable alibi .

on_the afternoon of July 17th, continued counsel, immediately after_the quarrel with her son, Mrs Inglethorp made a new will . this_will was found destroyed in_the grate of her bedroom the following morning, but evidence had come to light which showed that_it had_been drawn up in favour of her husband . deceased had already made a will in_his favour before her marriage, but -- and Mr Philips wagged an expressive forefinger -- the prisoner was not aware of_that . what had induced the deceased to_make a fresh will, with_the old one still extant, he could_not_say . she was an old lady, and might possibly have forgotten the former one; or -- this seemed to him more likely -- she may_have had an idea that_it_was revoked by her marriage, as there had_been some conversation on_the_subject .Ladies were_not always very_well versed in legal knowledge . she had, about a year before, executed a will in favour of_the prisoner . he_would call evidence to show that_it_was the prisoner who ultimately handed his stepmother her coffee on_the fatal night . later in_the evening, he had sought admission to her room, on_which occasion, no_doubt, he_found an opportunity of destroying the will which, as far as he_knew, would render the one in_his favour valid .

the prisoner had_been arrested in consequence of_the discovery, in_his room, by detective inspector Japp -- a most brilliant officer -- of_the identical phial of strychnine which had_been sold at_the village chemist's to_the supposed Mr Inglethorp on_the day before_the murder . it would_be for_the jury to decide whether or not these damning facts constituted an overwhelming proof of_the prisoner's guilt .

and, subtly implying that a jury which did_not so decide, was quite unthinkable, Mr Philips sat down and wiped his forehead .

the first witnesses for_the prosecution were mostly those who had_been called at_the inquest, the medical evidence being again taken first .

sir Ernest Heavywether, who was famous all over England for_the unscrupulous manner in_which he bullied witnesses, only asked two questions .

"I take it, Dr .Bauerstein, that strychnine, as a drug, acts quickly ? ''

" yes .''

" and_that you_are unable to account for_the delay in this_case ? ''

" yes .''

" thank_you .''

Mr Mace identified the phial handed him by counsel as_that sold by him to " Mr Inglethorp .'' pressed, he admitted that he only knew Mr Inglethorp by sight . he had never spoken to him . the witness was not cross- examined .

Alfred Inglethorp was called, and denied having purchased the poison . he also denied having quarrelled with_his wife . various witnesses testified to_the accuracy of_these statements .

the gardeners' evidence, as_to_the witnessing of_the will was taken, and then Dorcas was called .

Dorcas, faithful to her " young gentlemen,'' denied strenuously that_it could_have_been John's voice she heard, and resolutely declared, in_the teeth of everything, that_it_was Mr Inglethorp who had_been in_the boudoir with her mistress .a rather wistful smile passed across the face of_the prisoner in_the dock . he_knew only too well how useless her gallant Defiance was, since it_was not the object of_the defence to deny this point .Mrs Cavendish, of_course, could_not_be called upon to_give evidence against her husband .

after various questions on other matters, Mr Philips asked:

" in_the month of June last, do_you remember a parcel arriving for_Mr Lawrence Cavendish from Parkson's ? ''

Dorcas shook her head .

"I don't remember, sir . it may have_done, but Mr Lawrence was away from home part of June .''

" in_the event of a parcel arriving for him whilst he_was away, what would_be_done with it ? ''

" it would either be put in_his room or sent on after him .''

" by_you ? ''

" no, sir, i_should leave it on_the hall table . it would_be miss Howard who_would attend to anything like that .''

Evelyn Howard was called and, after being examined on other points, was questioned as_to_the parcel .

"Don't remember .Lots of parcels come . can't remember one special one .''

" you_do_not know if_it_was sent after Mr Lawrence Cavendish to Wales, or whether it_was put in_his room ? ''

"Don't think it_was sent after him . should_have remembered it if_it_was .''

"Supposing a parcel arrived addressed to Mr Lawrence Cavendish, and afterwards it disappeared, should you remark its absence ? ''

" no, don't think so . i_should think some one had taken charge of it .''

"I believe, miss Howard, that_it_was you who found this sheet of brown paper ? '' he held up the same dusty piece which Poirot and I had examined in_the morning- room at Styles .

" yes, I_did .''

" how did you come to look for_it ? ''

" the Belgian detective who was employed on_the case asked me to search for_it .''

" where did you eventually discover it ? ''

" on_the top of -- of -- a wardrobe .''

" on top of_the prisoner's wardrobe ? ''

"I -- I believe so .''

" did you not find it yourself ? ''

" yes .''

" then you_must know where you found it ? ''

" yes, it_was on_the prisoner's wardrobe .''

" that_is better .''

an assistant from Parkson's, theatrical Costumiers, testified that on June 29th, they had supplied a black beard to Mr L .Cavendish, as requested . it_was ordered by letter, and a postal order was enclosed . no, they had_not kept the letter . all transactions were entered in their books . they had sent the beard, as directed, to "L .Cavendish, Esq ., Styles court .''

sir Ernest Heavywether rose ponderously .

" where was_the letter written from ? ''

" from Styles court .''

" the same address to_which you sent the parcel ? ''

" yes .''

" and_the letter came from there ? ''

" yes .''

like a beast of prey, Heavywether fell upon him:

" how do_you_know ? ''

"I -- I don't understand .''

" how do_you_know that letter came from Styles ? did you notice the postmark ? ''

" no -- but -- ''

"Ah, you_did_not notice the postmark ! and yet you affirm so confidently that_it came from Styles . it might, in_fact, have_been any postmark ? ''

"Y -- es .''

" in_fact, the letter, though written on stamped notepaper, might_have_been posted from anywhere ? from Wales, for instance ? ''

the witness admitted that such might_be the case, and sir Ernest signified that he_was satisfied .

Elizabeth Wells, second housemaid at Styles, stated that after she had gone to bed she remembered that she had bolted the front door, instead of leaving it on_the latch as Mr Inglethorp had requested . she had accordingly gone downstairs again to rectify her error .Hearing a slight noise in_the west wing, she had peeped along the passage, and had seen Mr John Cavendish knocking at Mrs Inglethorp's door .

sir Ernest Heavywether made short work of her, and under his unmerciful bullying she contradicted herself hopelessly, and sir Ernest sat down again with a satisfied smile on_his face .

with_the evidence of Annie, as_to_the candle grease on_the floor, and as_to seeing the prisoner take_the coffee into_the boudoir, the proceedings were adjourned until the following day .

as_we went home, Mary Cavendish spoke bitterly against the prosecuting counsel .

" that hateful man ! what a net he has drawn around my poor John ! how he twisted every little fact until he_made it seem what it wasn't ! ''

" well,'' I_said consolingly, " it_will_be the other way about to- morrow .''

" yes,'' she said meditatively; then suddenly dropped her voice ." Mr Hastings, you_do_not think -- surely it could_not have_been Lawrence -- Oh, no, that could_not_be ! ''

but I myself was puzzled, and as_soon_as i_was alone with Poirot I asked him what he thought sir Ernest was driving at .

"Ah ! '' said Poirot appreciatively ." he_is a clever man, that sir Ernest .''

" do_you_think he believes Lawrence guilty ? ''

" I_do_not_think he believes or cares anything ! no, what he_is trying for is to create such confusion in_the minds of_the jury that_they_are divided in their opinion as to_which brother did it . he_is endeavouring to_make out that_there_is quite as_much evidence against Lawrence as against John -- and I_am not at all sure that he_will_not succeed .''

detective- inspector Japp was_the first witness called when_the trial was reopened, and gave his evidence succinctly and briefly . after relating the earlier events, he proceeded:

"Acting on information received, superintendent Summerhaye and myself searched the prisoner's room, during his temporary absence from_the house . in_his chest of drawers, hidden beneath some underclothing, we_found: first, a pair of gold-rimmed pince-nez similar to_those worn by_Mr Inglethorp'' -- these were exhibited -- " secondly, this phial .''

the phial was_that already recognized by_the chemist's assistant, a tiny bottle of blue glass, containing a few grains of a white crystalline powder, and labelled: " strychnine Hydrochloride . poison .''

a fresh piece of evidence discovered by_the detectives since_the police court proceedings was a long, almost new piece of blotting- paper . it had_been found in Mrs Inglethorp's cheque book, and on

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