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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
into the fender； handling them with the greatest caution。 Suddenly； he
gave a faint exclamation。
〃The forceps； Hastings！〃
I quickly handed them to him； and with skill he extracted a small piece
of half charred paper。
〃There； mon ami！〃 he cried。 〃What do you think of that？〃
I scrutinized the fragment。 This is an exact reproduction of it：
I was puzzled。 It was unusually thick； quite unlike ordinary
notepaper。 Suddenly an idea struck me。
〃Poirot！〃 I cried。 〃This is a fragment of a will！〃
〃Exactly。〃
I looked up at him sharply。
〃You are not surprised？〃
〃No；〃 he said gravely； 〃I expected it。〃
I relinquished the piece of paper； and watched him put it away in his
case； with the same methodical care that he bestowed on everything。 My
brain was in a whirl。 What was this complication of a will？ Who had
destroyed it？ The person who had left the candle grease on the floor？
Obviously。 But how had anyone gained admission？ All the doors had
been bolted on the inside。
〃Now； my friend；〃 said Poirot briskly； 〃we will go。 I should like to
ask a few questions of the parlourmaidDorcas； her name is； is it not？〃
We passed through Alfred Inglethorp's room； and Poirot delayed long
enough to make a brief but fairly comprehensive examination of it。 We
went out through that door； locking both it and that of Mrs。 Inglethorp's
room as before。
I took him down to the boudoir which he had expressed a wish to see；
and went myself in search of Dorcas。
When I returned with her； however； the boudoir was empty。
〃Poirot；〃 I cried； 〃where are you？〃
〃I am here； my friend。〃
He had stepped outside the French window； and was standing；
apparently lost in admiration； before the various shaped flower beds。
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
〃Admirable！〃 he murmured。 〃Admirable！ What symmetry！ Observe
that crescent； and those diamondstheir neatness rejoices the eye。 The
spacing of the plants； also； is perfect。 It has been recently done； is it not
so？〃
〃Yes； I believe they were at it yesterday afternoon。 But come in
Dorcas is here。〃
〃Eh bien； eh bien！ Do not grudge me a moment's satisfaction of the
eye。〃
〃Yes； but this affair is more important。〃
〃And how do you know that these fine begonias are not of equal
importance？〃
I shrugged my shoulders。 There was really no arguing with him if he
chose to take that line。
〃You do not agree？ But such things have been。 Well； we will come in
and interview the brave Dorcas。〃
Dorcas was standing in the boudoir； her hands folded in front of her；
and her grey hair rose in stiff waves under her white cap。 She was the
very model and picture of a good old…fashioned servant。
In her attitude towards Poirot； she was inclined to be suspicious； but he
soon broke down her defences。 He drew forward a chair。
〃Pray be seated； mademoiselle。〃
〃Thank you； sir。〃
〃You have been with your mistress many years； is it not so？〃
〃Ten years； sir。〃
〃That is a long time； and very faithful service。 You were much
attached to her； were you not？〃
〃She was a very good mistress to me； sir。〃
〃Then you will not object to answering a few questions。 I put them
to you with Mr。 Cavendish's full approval。〃
〃Oh； certainly； sir。〃
〃Then I will begin by asking you about the events of yesterday
afternoon。 Your mistress had a quarrel？〃 43》
〃Yes； sir。 But I don't know that I ought〃 Dorcas hesitated。 Poirot
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
looked at her keenly。
〃My good Dorcas； it is necessary that I should know every detail of
that quarrel as fully as possible。 Do not think that you are betraying your
mistress's secrets。 Your mistress lies dead； and it is necessary that we
should know allif we are to avenge her。 Nothing can bring her back to
life； but we do hope； if there has been foul play； to bring the murderer to
justice。〃
〃Amen to that；〃 said Dorcas fiercely。 〃And； naming no names； there's
*ONE in this house that none of us could ever abide！ And an ill day it was
when first *HE darkened the threshold。〃
Poirot waited for her indignation to subside； and then； resuming his
business…like tone； he asked：
〃Now； as to this quarrel？ What is the first you heard of it？〃
〃Well； sir； I happened to be going along the hall outside yesterday〃
〃What time was that？〃
〃I couldn't say exactly； sir； but it wasn't tea…time by a long way。
Perhaps four o'clockor it may have been a bit later。 Well； sir； as I said； I
happened to be passing along； when I heard voices very loud and angry in
here。 I didn't exactly mean to listen； butwell； there it is。 I stopped。
The door was shut； but the mistress was speaking very sharp and clear； and
I heard what she said quite plainly。 'You have lied to me； and deceived
me；' she said。 I didn't hear what Mr。 Inglethorp replied。 He spoke a
good bit lower than she didbut she answered： 'How dare you？ I have kept
you and clothed you and fed you！ You owe everything to me！ And this is
how you repay me！ By bringing disgrace upon our name！' Again I didn't
hear what he said； but she went on： 'Nothing that you can say will make
any difference。 I see my duty clearly。 My mind is made up。 You need
not think that any fear of publicity； or scandal between husband and wife
will deter me。' Then I thought I heard them coming out； so I went off
quickly。〃
〃You are sure it was Mr。 Inglethorp's voice you heard？〃
〃Oh； yes； sir； whose else's could it be？〃
〃Well； what happened next？〃
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
〃Later； I came back to the hall； but it was all quiet。 At five o'clock；
Mrs。 Inglethorp rang the bell and told me to bring her a cup