The Mysterious Affair at Styles | Page 6

broke off, frowning.
For the first time I felt that, with Evelyn Howard, something
indefinable had gone from the atmosphere. Her presence had spelt
security. Now that security was removed--and the air seemed rife with
suspicion. The sinister face of Dr. Bauerstein recurred to me
unpleasantly. A vague suspicion of every one and everything filled my
mind. Just for a moment I had a premonition of approaching evil.
CHAPTER II.
THE 16TH AND 17TH OF JULY
I had arrived at Styles on the 5th of July. I come now to the events of
the 16th and 17th of that month. For the convenience of the reader I
will recapitulate the incidents of those days in as exact a manner as
possible. They were elicited subsequently at the trial by a process of
long and tedious cross-examinations.
I received a letter from Evelyn Howard a couple of days after her
departure, telling me she was working as a nurse at the big hospital in
Middlingham, a manufacturing town some fifteen miles away, and
begging me to let her know if Mrs. Inglethorp should show any wish to
be reconciled.
The only fly in the ointment of my peaceful days was Mrs. Cavendish's
extraordinary, and, for my part, unaccountable preference for the
society of Dr. Bauerstein. What she saw in the man I cannot imagine,
but she was always asking him up to the house, and often went off for
long expeditions with him. I must confess that I was quite unable to see
his attraction.
The 16th of July fell on a Monday. It was a day of turmoil. The famous

bazaar had taken place on Saturday, and an entertainment, in
connection with the same charity, at which Mrs. Inglethorp was to
recite a War poem, was to be held that night. We were all busy during
the morning arranging and decorating the Hall in the village where it
was to take place. We had a late luncheon and spent the afternoon
resting in the garden. I noticed that John's manner was somewhat
unusual. He seemed very excited and restless.
After tea, Mrs. Inglethorp went to lie down to rest before her efforts in
the evening and I challenged Mary Cavendish to a single at tennis.
About a quarter to seven, Mrs. Inglethorp called us that we should be
late as supper was early that night. We had rather a scramble to get
ready in time; and before the meal was over the motor was waiting at
the door.
The entertainment was a great success, Mrs. Inglethorp's recitation
receiving tremendous applause. There were also some tableaux in
which Cynthia took part. She did not return with us, having been asked
to a supper party, and to remain the night with some friends who had
been acting with her in the tableaux.
The following morning, Mrs. Inglethorp stayed in bed to breakfast, as
she was rather overtired; but she appeared in her briskest mood about
12.30, and swept Lawrence and myself off to a luncheon party.
"Such a charming invitation from Mrs. Rolleston. Lady Tadminster's
sister, you know. The Rollestons came over with the Conqueror--one of
our oldest families."
Mary had excused herself on the plea of an engagement with Dr.
Bauerstein.
We had a pleasant luncheon, and as we drove away Lawrence
suggested that we should return by Tadminster, which was barely a
mile out of our way, and pay a visit to Cynthia in her dispensary. Mrs.
Inglethorp replied that this was an excellent idea, but as she had several
letters to write she would drop us there, and we could come back with

Cynthia in the pony-trap.
We were detained under suspicion by the hospital porter, until Cynthia
appeared to vouch for us, looking very cool and sweet in her long white
overall. She took us up to her sanctum, and introduced us to her fellow
dispenser, a rather awe-inspiring individual, whom Cynthia cheerily
addressed as "Nibs."
"What a lot of bottles!" I exclaimed, as my eye travelled round the
small room. "Do you really know what's in them all?"
"Say something original," groaned Cynthia. "Every single person who
comes up here says that. We are really thinking of bestowing a prize on
the first individual who does not say: 'What a lot of bottles!' And I
know the next thing you're going to say is: 'How many people have you
poisoned?' "
I pleaded guilty with a laugh.
"If you people only knew how fatally easy it is to poison some one by
mistake, you wouldn't joke about it. Come on, let's have tea. We've got
all sorts of secret stories in that cupboard. No, Lawrence--that's the
poison cupboard. The big cupboard--that's right."
We had a very cheery tea, and assisted Cynthia to wash up afterwards.
We had just put