9. Dr. Bauerstein by Agatha Christie
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.He'd better come to tea there one day . I_must fix it up with_him .He's such adear little man ! But he_is funny . he_made me take_the brooch out of_my tie the other day, and put it in again, because he_said it wasn't straight .''

I laughed .

"It's quite amania with_him .''

"Yes, isn't it ? ''

We were silent for aminute or two, and then, glancing in_the direction of Mary Cavendish, and dropping her voice, Cynthia said:

" Mr Hastings .''

"Yes ? ''

"After tea, i_want to_talk to_you .''

Her glance at Mary had set me thinking .I fancied that between_these two there existed very little sympathy . for_the first time, it occurred to_me to wonder about_the girl's future .Mrs Inglethorp had made no provisions of any kind for her, but I imagined that John and Mary would probably insist on her making her home with_them -- at any rate until the end of_the war .John, I_knew, was very fond of her, and would_be sorry to let her go .

John, who had gone into_the house, now reappeared .His good-natured face wore an unaccustomed frown of anger .

"Confound those detectives ! I_can't think what they're after ! They've been in every room in_the house -- turning things inside out, and upside down .It really is too bad ! I suppose they took advantage of_our all being out . I_shall go for_that fellow Japp, when I next see him ! ''

"Lot of Paul Prys,'' grunted Miss Howard .

Lawrence opined that_they had to_make ashow of doing something .

Mary Cavendish said nothing .

After tea, I invited Cynthia to_come for awalk, and we sauntered off into_the woods together .

"Well ? '' I inquired, as_soon_as we were protected from prying eyes by_the leafy screen .

With asigh, Cynthia flung herself down, and tossed off her hat .The sunlight, piercing through_the branches, turned the auburn of her hair to quivering gold .

" Mr Hastings -- you_are always so kind, and you_know such alot .''

It struck me at_this moment that Cynthia was really avery charming girl ! Much more charming than Mary, who never said things of_that kind .

"Well ? '' I asked benignantly, as she hesitated .

" i_want to ask your advice .What shall I_do ? ''

"Do ? ''

"Yes . you_see, Aunt Emily always told me i_should_be provided for .I suppose she forgot, or didn't think she was likely to die -- anyway, I_am not provided for ! And I don't know what to_do . do_you_think I ought to_go away from here at once ? ''

"Good heavens, no ! They don't want to part with_you, I'm sure .''

Cynthia hesitated amoment, plucking up the grass with her tiny hands .Then she said: " Mrs Cavendish does .She hates me .''

"Hates you ? '' I cried, astonished .

Cynthia nodded .

"Yes .I don't know why, but she_can't bear me; and he_can't, either .''

"There I_know you're wrong,'' I_said warmly ." on_the contrary, John is very fond of you .''

"Oh, yes -- John .I meant Lawrence .Not, of_course, that I care whether Lawrence hates me or not .Still, it's rather horrid when no one loves you, isn't it ? ''

"But they_do, Cynthia dear,'' I_said earnestly ."I'm sure you_are mistaken .Look, there_is John -- and Miss Howard -- ''

Cynthia nodded rather gloomily ."Yes, John likes me, i_think, and of_course Evie, for all her gruff ways, wouldn't be unkind to afly .But Lawrence never speaks to_me if he_can help it, and Mary can hardly bring herself to_be civil to_me .She wants Evie to stay on, is begging her to, but she doesn't want me, and -- and -- I don't know what to_do .'' Suddenly the poor child burst out crying .

I don't know what possessed me .Her beauty, perhaps, as she sat there, with_the sunlight glinting down on her head; perhaps the sense of relief at encountering someone who so obviously could_have no connection with_the tragedy; perhaps honest pity for her youth and loneliness .Anyway, I leant forward, and taking her little hand, I_said awkwardly:

"Marry me, Cynthia .''

Unwittingly, I had hit upon asovereign remedy for her tears .She sat up at once, drew her hand away, and said, with some asperity:

"Don't be silly ! ''

i_was alittle annoyed .

"I'm not being silly . I_am asking you to_do me the honour of becoming my wife .''

To my intense surprise, Cynthia burst out laughing, and called me a"funny dear .''

"It's perfectly sweet of you,'' she said, "but you_know you don't want to ! ''

"Yes, I_do .I've got -- ''

"Never mind what you've got .You don't really want to -- and I don't either .''

"Well, of_course, that settles it,'' I_said stiffly ."But I don't see anything to laugh at .There's nothing funny about aproposal .''

"No, indeed,'' said Cynthia ."Somebody might accept you next_time .Good-bye, you've cheered me up very_much .''

And, with afinal uncontrollable burst of merriment, she vanished through_the trees .

Thinking over the interview, it struck me as being profoundly unsatisfactory .

It occurred to_me suddenly that i_would go down to_the village, and look up Bauerstein .Somebody ought_to_be keeping an eye on_the fellow . at_the same time, it would_be wise to allay any suspicions he_might_have as to_his being suspected .I remembered how Poirot had relied on my diplomacy .Accordingly, I went to_the little house with_the "Apartments'' card inserted in_the window, where I_knew he lodged, and tapped on_the door .

An old woman came and opened it .

"Good afternoon,'' I_said pleasantly ."Is Dr .Bauerstein in ? ''

She stared at me .

"Haven't you heard ? ''

"Heard what ? ''

"About him .''

"What about him ? ''

"He's took .''

"Took ? Dead ? ''

"No, took by_the perlice .''

" by_the police ! '' I gasped ." do_you_mean they've arrested him ? ''

"Yes, that's it, and -- ''

I waited to hear no more, but tore up the village to_find Poirot .

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