the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第7章
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〃Just carry up my despatch…case； will you； dear？ I'm going to bed。〃
The door into the hall was a wide one。 I had risen when Cynthia did；
John was close by me。 There were therefore three witnesses who could
swear that Mrs。 Inglethorp was carrying her coffee； as yet untasted； in her
hand。
My evening was utterly and entirely spoilt by the presence of Dr。
Bauerstein。 It seemed to me the man would never go。 He rose at last；
however； and I breathed a sigh of relief。
〃I'll walk down to the village with you；〃 said Mr。 Inglethorp。 〃I must
see our agent over those estate accounts。〃 He turned to John。 〃No one
need sit up。 I will take the latch…key。〃
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
CHAPTER III。 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 a dressing…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 usthat 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；
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
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 girlwho must have been an unusually sound
sleeperand 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 a resounding 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
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
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 nowvery suddenstupid of meto 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；
