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hostility seemed to settle down upon the company。 Miss Howard； in
particular； took no pains to conceal her feelings。 Mrs。 Inglethorp；
however； seemed to notice nothing unusual。 Her volubility； which I
remembered of old； had lost nothing in the intervening years； and she
poured out a steady flood of conversation； mainly on the subject of the
forthcoming bazaar which she was organizing and which was to take place
shortly。 Occasionally she referred to her husband over a question of days
or dates。 His watchful and attentive manner never varied。 From the
very first I took a firm and rooted dislike to him； and I flatter myself that
my first judgments are usually fairly shrewd。
Presently Mrs。 Inglethorp turned to give some instructions about
letters to Evelyn Howard； and her husband addressed me in his
painstaking voice：
〃Is soldiering your regular profession； Mr。 Hastings？〃
〃No； before the war I was in Lloyd's。〃
〃And you will return there after it is over？〃
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〃Perhaps。 Either that or a fresh start altogether。〃
Mary Cavendish leant forward。
〃What would you really choose as a profession； if you could just
consult your inclination？〃
〃Well； that depends。〃
〃No secret hobby？〃 she asked。 〃Tell meyou're drawn to something？
Every one isusually something absurd。〃
〃You'll laugh at me。〃
She smiled。
〃Perhaps。〃
〃Well； I've always had a secret hankering to be a detective！〃
〃The real thingScotland Yard？ Or Sherlock Holmes？〃
〃Oh； Sherlock Holmes by all means。 But really； seriously； I am
awfully drawn to it。 I came across a man in Belgium once； a very
famous detective； and he quite inflamed me。 He was a marvellous little
fellow。 He used to say that all good detective work was a mere matter of
method。 My system is based on histhough of course I have progressed
rather further。 He was a funny little man； a great dandy； but wonderfully
clever。〃
〃Like a good detective story myself；〃 remarked Miss Howard。 〃Lots
of nonsense written； though。 Criminal discovered in last chapter。 Every
one dumbfounded。 Real crimeyou'd know at once。〃
〃There have been a great number of undiscovered crimes；〃 I argued。
〃Don't mean the police； but the people that are right in it。 The family。
You couldn't really hoodwink them。 They'd know。〃
〃Then；〃 I said； much amused； 〃you think that if you were mixed up in
a crime； say a murder； you'd be able to spot the murderer right off？〃
〃Of course I should。 Mightn't be able to prove it to a pack of lawyers。
But I'm certain I'd know。 I'd feel it in my fingertips if he came near me。〃
〃It might be a 'she；' 〃 I suggested。
〃Might。 But murder's a violent crime。 Associate it more with a
man。〃
〃Not in a case of poisoning。〃 Mrs。 Cavendish's clear voice startled me。
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〃Dr。 Bauerstein was saying yesterday that； owing to the general ignorance
of the more uncommon poisons among the medical profession； there were
probably countless cases of poisoning quite unsuspected。〃
〃Why； Mary； what a gruesome conversation！〃 cried Mrs。 Inglethorp。
〃It makes me feel as if a goose were walking over my grave。 Oh； there's
Cynthia！〃
A young girl in V。 A。 D。 uniform ran lightly across the lawn。
〃Why； Cynthia； you are late to…day。 This is Mr。 Hastings Miss
Murdoch。〃
Cynthia Murdoch was a fresh…looking young creature； full of life and
vigour。 She tossed off her little V。 A。 D。 cap； and I admired the
great loose waves of her auburn hair； and the smallness and whiteness of
the hand she held out to claim her tea。 With dark eyes and eyelashes she
would have been a beauty。
She flung herself down on the ground beside John； and as I handed her
a plate of sandwiches she smiled up at me。
〃Sit down here on the grass； do。 It's ever so much nicer。〃
I dropped down obediently。
〃You work at Tadminster； don't you； Miss Murdoch？〃
She nodded。
〃For my sins。〃
〃Do they bully you； then？〃 I asked； smiling。
〃I should like to see them！〃 cried Cynthia with dignity。
〃I have got a cousin who is nursing；〃 I remarked。 〃And she is
terrified of 'Sisters'。〃
〃I don't wonder。 Sisters *ARE； you know； Mr。 Hastings。 They
simp…ly *ARE！ You've no idea！ But I'm not a nurse； thank heaven； I work
in the dispensary。〃
〃How many people do you poison？〃 I asked； smiling。
Cynthia smiled too。
〃Oh； hundreds！〃 she said。
〃Cynthia；〃 called Mrs。 Inglethorp； 〃do you think you could write a few
notes for me？〃
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THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
〃Certainly； Aunt Emily。〃
She jumped up promptly； and something in her manner reminded me
that her position was a dependent one； and that Mrs。 Inglethorp； kind as
she might be in the main； did not allow her to forget it。
My hostess turned to me。
〃John will show you your room。 Supper is at half…past seven。 We
have given up late dinner for some time now。 Lady Tadminster； our
Member's wifeshe was the late Lord Abbotsbury's daughterdoes the
same。 She agrees with me that one must set an example of economy。
We are quite a war household； nothing is wasted hereevery scrap of
waste paper； even； is saved and sent away in sacks。〃
I expressed my appreciation； and John took me into the house and up
the broad staircase； which forked right and left half…way to different wings
of the building。 My room was in the left wing； and looked out over the
park。
John left me； and a few minutes later I saw him from my window
walking slowly across the grass arm in arm with Cynthia Murdoch。 I
heard Mrs。 Inglethorp call 〃Cynthia〃 impatiently； and the girl started and
ran back to the house。 At the same moment； a man stepped out from the
shadow of a tree and walked slowly in the same direction。 He loo