the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第41章
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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 wifeand you remember；
he strenuously denied it at the inquestit 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。〃
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〃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。 Andah；
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 regle；〃 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。
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
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； a neighbouring
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 manto 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
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favour of her husband。 Deceased had already made a will in his favour
before her marriage； butand Mr。 Philips wagged an expressive
forefingerthe 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； orthis seemed to him more likelyshe 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 Jappa most brilliant officerof 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
