〃Cynthia herself。〃
〃La pauvre petite！ And she was concerned？〃
〃She said that she did not mind at all。〃
〃Then she certainly did mind very much；〃 remarked Poirot。 〃They
are like thatles femmes！〃
〃What you say about Lawrence is a great surprise to me；〃 I said。
〃But why？ It was most obvious。 Did not Monsieur Lawrence make
the sour face every time Mademoiselle Cynthia spoke and laughed with
his brother？ He had taken it into his long head that Mademoiselle Cynthia
was in love with Monsieur John。 When he entered his mother's room；
and saw her obviously poisoned； he jumped to the conclusion that
Mademoiselle Cynthia knew something about the matter。 He was nearly
driven desperate。 First he crushed the coffee…cup to powder under his
feet； remembering that *SHE had gone up with his mother the night before；
and he determined that there should be no chance of testing its contents。
Thenceforward； he strenuously； and quite uselessly； upheld the theory of
'Death from natural causes'。〃
〃And what about the 'extra coffee…cup'？〃
〃I was fairly certain that it was Mrs。 Cavendish who had hidden it； but
I had to make sure。 Monsieur Lawrence did not know at all what I meant；
but； on reflection； he came to the conclusion that if he could find an extra
coffee…cup anywhere his lady love would be cleared of suspicion。 And
he was perfectly right。〃
〃One thing more。 What did Mrs。 Inglethorp mean by her dying
words？〃
〃They were； of course； an accusation against her husband。〃
182
… Page 183…
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
〃Dear me； Poirot；〃 I said with a sigh； 〃I think you have explained
everything。 I am glad it has all ended so happily。 Even John and his
wife are reconciled。〃
〃Thanks to me。〃
〃How do you meanthanks to you？〃
〃My dear friend； do you not realize that it was simply and solely the
trial which has brought them together again？ That John Cavendish still
loved his wife； I was convinced。 Also； that she was equally in love with
him。 But they had drifted very far apart。 It all arose from a
misunderstanding。 She married him without love。 He knew it。 He is a
sensitive man in his way； he would not force himself upon her if she did
not want him。 And； as he withdrew； her love awoke。 But they are both
unusually proud； and their pride held them inexorably apart。 He drifted
into an entanglement with Mrs。 Raikes； and she deliberately cultivated the
friendship of Dr。 Bauerstein。 Do you remember the day of John
Cavendish's arrest； when you found me deliberating over a big decision？〃
〃Yes； I quite understood your distress。〃
〃Pardon me； mon ami； but you did not understand it in the least。 I
was trying to decide whether or not I would clear John Cavendish at once。
I could have cleared himthough it might have meant a failure to convict
the real criminals。 They were entirely in the dark as to my real attitude
up to the very last momentwhich partly accounts for my success。〃
〃Do you mean that you could have saved John Cavendish from being
brought to trial？〃
〃Yes； my friend。 But I eventually decided in favour of 'a woman's
happiness'。 Nothing but the great danger through which they have passed
could have brought these two proud souls together again。〃
I looked at Poirot in silent amazement。 The colossal cheek of the
little man！ Who on earth but Poirot would have thought of a trial for
murder as a restorer of conjugal happiness！
〃I perceive your thoughts； mon ami；〃 said Poirot； smiling at me。 〃No
one but Hercule Poirot would have attempted such a thing！ And you are
wrong in condemning it。 The happiness of one man and one woman is
183
… Page 184…
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
the greatest thing in all the world。〃
His words took me back to earlier events。 I remembered Mary as she
lay white and exhausted on the sofa； listening； listening。 There had come
the sound of the bell below。 She had started up。 Poirot had opened the
door； and meeting her agonized eyes had nodded gently。 〃Yes； madame；〃
he said。 〃I have brought him back to you。〃 He had stood aside； and as I
went out I had seen the look in Mary's eyes； as John Cavendish had caught
his wife in his arms。
〃Perhaps you are right； Poirot；〃 I said gently。 〃Yes； it is the greatest
thing in the world。〃
Suddenly； there was a tap at the door； and Cynthia peeped in。
〃II only〃
〃Come in；〃 I said； springing up。
She came in； but did not sit down。
〃Ionly wanted to tell you something〃
〃Yes？〃
Cynthia fidgeted with a little tassel for some moments； then； suddenly
exclaiming： 〃You dears！〃 kissed first me and then Poirot； and rushed out
of the room again。
〃What on earth does this mean？〃 I asked； surprised。
It was very nice to be kissed by Cynthia； but the publicity of the salute
rather impaired the pleasure。
〃It means that she has discovered Monsieur Lawrence does not dislike
her as much as she thought；〃 replied Poirot philosophically。
〃But〃
〃Here he is。〃
Lawrence at that moment passed the door。
〃Eh！ Monsieur Lawrence；〃 called Poirot。 〃We must congratulate you；
is it not so？〃
Lawrence blushed； and then smiled awkwardly。 A man in love is a
sorry spectacle。 Now Cynthia had looked charming。
I sighed。
〃What is it； mon ami？〃
184
… Page 185…
THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
〃Nothing；〃 I said sadly。 〃They are two delightful women！〃
〃And neither of them is for you？〃 finished Poirot。 〃Never mind。
Console yourself； my friend。 We may hunt together again； who knows？
And then〃
185