9. Dr. Bauerstein by Agatha Christie
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The Mysterious Affair at Styles Chapter 9 Dr .Bauerstein

I HAD had no opportunity as_yet of passing on Poirot's message to Lawrence .But now, as I strolled out on_the lawn, still nursing agrudge against my friend's high-handedness, I_saw Lawrence on_the croquet lawn, aimlessly knocking acouple of very ancient balls about, with astill more ancient mallet .

It struck me that_it would_be agood opportunity to deliver my message .Otherwise, Poirot himself might relieve me of it . it_was true that I_did_not quite gather its purport, but I flattered myself that by Lawrence's reply, and perhaps alittle skillful cross-examination on my part, i_should soon perceive its significance .Accordingly I accosted him .

"I've been looking for_you,'' I remarked untruthfully .

" have_you ? ''

"Yes .The truth is, I've got amessage for_you -- from Poirot .''

"Yes ? ''

" he_told me to wait until i_was alone with_you,'' I_said, dropping my voice significantly, and watching him intently out_of_the corner of_my eye . I_have always been rather good at what_is called, I believe, creating an atmosphere .

"Well ? ''

there_was no change of expression in_the dark melancholic face .Had he any idea of what i_was about to_say ?

" this_is_the message .'' I dropped my voice still lower ." 'Find the extra coffee-cup, and you_can rest in peace .' ''

"What on earth does he mean ? '' Lawrence stared at me in quite unaffected astonishment .

"Don't you_know ? ''

"Not in_the least . do_you ? ''

i_was compelled to shake my head .

"What extra coffee-cup ? ''

"I don't know .''

"He'd better ask Dorcas, or one_of_the maids, if he_wants to_know about coffee-cups .It's their business, not mine .I don't know anything about_the coffee-cups, except that we've got some that_are never used, which are aperfect dream ! Old Worcester .You're not aconnoisseur, are_you, Hastings ? ''

I shook my head .

"You miss alot .areally perfect bit of old china -- it's pure delight to handle it, or even to look at it .''

"Well, what am I to_tell Poirot ? ''

"Tell him I don't know what he's talking about .It's double Dutch to_me .''

"All right .''

i_was moving off towards the house again when he suddenly called me back .

" I_say, what_was the end of_that message ? Say it over again, will_you ? ''

" 'Find the extra coffee-cup, and you_can rest in peace .' are_you sure you don't know what it means ? '' I asked him earnestly .

He shook his head .

"No,'' he_said musingly, "I don't .I -- i_wish I_did .''

The boom of_the gong sounded from_the house, and we went in together .Poirot had_been asked by John to remain to lunch, and was already seated at_the table .

By tacit consent, all mention of_the tragedy was barred .We conversed on_the war, and other outside topics .But after_the cheese and biscuits had_been handed round, and Dorcas had left the room, Poirot suddenly leant forward to Mrs Cavendish .

"Pardon me, madame, for recalling unpleasant memories, but I_have alittle idea'' -- Poirot's "little ideas'' were becoming aperfect byword -- "and would like to ask one_or_two questions .''

"Of me ? Certainly .''

" you_are too amiable, madame .What i_want to ask is_this: the door leading into Mrs Inglethorp's room from_that of Mademoiselle Cynthia, it_was bolted, you say ? ''

"Certainly it_was bolted,'' replied Mary Cavendish, rather surprised ." I_said so at_the inquest .''

"Bolted ? ''

"Yes .'' She looked perplexed .

"I mean,'' explained Poirot, " you_are_sure it_was bolted, and not merely locked ? ''

"Oh, I_see what you mean .No, I don't know . I_said bolted, meaning that_it_was fastened, and I_could_not open it, but I believe all the doors were found bolted on_the inside .''

"Still, as far as_you_are concerned, the door might equally well have_been locked ? ''

"Oh, yes .''

"You yourself did_not happen to notice, madame, when_you entered Mrs Inglethorp's room, whether that door was bolted or not ? ''

"I -- I believe it_was .''

"But you_did_not_see it ? ''

"No .I -- never looked .''

"But I_did,'' interrupted Lawrence suddenly ."I happened to notice that_it_was bolted .''

"Ah, that settles it .'' And Poirot looked crestfallen .

I_could_not help rejoicing that, for once, one of_his "little ideas'' had come to naught .

After lunch Poirot begged me to accompany him home .I consented rather stiffly .

" you_are annoyed, is_it not so ? '' he asked anxiously, as_we walked through_the park .

"Not at all,'' I_said coldly .

" that_is well .That lifts agreat load from my mind .''

this_was not quite what I had intended .I had hoped that

he_would_have observed the stiffness of_my manner .Still, the fervour of_his words went towards the appeasing of_my just displeasure .I thawed .

" I_gave Lawrence your message,'' I_said .

"And what did he say ? he_was entirely puzzled ? ''

"Yes . I_am quite_sure he had no idea of what you meant .''

I had expected Poirot to_be disappointed; but, to my surprise, he replied that that was as he had thought, and_that he_was very_glad .My pride forbade me to ask any questions .

Poirot switched off on another tack .

"Mademoiselle Cynthia was not at lunch to-day ? How was_that ? ''

" she_is at_the hospital again .She resumed work to-day .''

"Ah, she_is an industrious little demoiselle .And pretty too . she_is like pictures I_have_seen in Italy . i_would rather like to_see that dispensary of hers . do_you_think she_would show it to_me ? ''

" I_am_sure she_would be delighted .It's an interesting little place .''

"Does she go there every day ? ''

"She has all Wednesdays off, and comes back to lunch on Saturdays .Those are her only times off .''

" i_will remember .Women are doing great work nowadays, and Mademoiselle Cynthia is clever -- oh, yes, she has brains, that little one .''

"Yes .I believe she has passed quite astiff exam .''

"Without doubt .After all, it_is very responsible work .I suppose they_have very strong poisons there ? ''

"Yes, she showed them to_us . they_are kept locked up in alittle cupboard .I believe they_have to_be very careful .They always take out the key before leaving the room .''

"Indeed . it_is near the window, this cupboard ? ''

"No, right the other side of_the room .Why ? ''

Poirot shrugged his shoulders .

"I wondered . that_is all . will_you come in ? ''

We had reached the cottage .

"No . i_think I'll be getting back . I_shall go round the long way through_the woods .''

The woods round Styles were very beautiful . after_the walk across the open park, it_was pleasant to saunter lazily through_the cool glades . there_was hardly abreath of wind, the very chirp of_the birds was faint and subdued .I strolled on alittle way, and finally flung myself down at_the foot of agrand old beech-tree .My thoughts of mankind were kindly and charitable .I even forgave Poirot for_his absurd secrecy . in_fact, i_was at peace with_the world .Then I yawned .

i_thought about_the crime, and it struck me as being very unreal and far off .

I yawned again .

Probably, i_thought, it really never happened . of_course, it_was all abad dream .The truth of_the matter was that_it_was Lawrence who had murdered Alfred Inglethorp with acroquet mallet .But it_was absurd of John to_make such afuss about_it, and to_go shouting out: "I tell you I won't have it ! ''

I woke up with astart .

At once I realized that i_was in avery awkward predicament .For, about twelve feet away from me, John and Mary Cavendish were standing facing each_other, and_they were evidently quarrelling .And, quite as evidently, they were unaware of_my vicinity, for before I_could move or speak John repeated the words which had aroused me from my dream .

"I tell you, Mary, I won't have it .''

Mary's voice came, cool and liquid:

"

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