Chapter I. I Go to Styles

           Theintenseinterestarousedinthepublicbywhatwasknownatthetimeas“TheStylesCase”hasnowsomewhatsubsided.Nevertheless,inviewoftheworld-widenotorietywhichattendedit,Ihavebeenasked,bothbymyfriendPoirotandthefamilythemselves,towriteanaccountofthewholestory.This,wetrust,willeffectuallysilencethesensationalrumourswhichstillpersist.

           Iwillthereforebrieflysetdownthecircumstanceswhichledtomybeingconnectedwiththeaffair.

           IhadbeeninvalidedhomefromtheFront;and,afterspendingsomemonthsinaratherdepressingConvalescentHome,wasgivenamonth’ssickleave.Havingnonearrelationsorfriends,Iwastryingtomakeupmymindwhattodo,whenIranacrossJohnCavendish.Ihadseenverylittleofhimforsomeyears.Indeed,Ihadneverknownhimparticularlywell.Hewasagoodfifteenyearsmysenior,foronething,thoughhehardlylookedhisforty-fiveyears.Asaboy,though,IhadoftenstayedatStyles,hismother’splaceinEssex.

           Wehadagoodyarnaboutoldtimes,anditendedinhisinvitingmedowntoStylestospendmyleavethere.

           “Thematerwillbedelightedtoseeyouagain—afterallthoseyears,”headded.

           “Yourmotherkeepswell?”Iasked.

           “Oh,yes.Isupposeyouknowthatshehasmarriedagain?”

           IamafraidIshowedmysurpriseratherplainly.Mrs.Cavendish,whohadmarriedJohn’sfatherwhenhewasawidowerwithtwosons,hadbeenahandsomewomanofmiddle-ageasIrememberedher.Shecertainlycouldnotbeadaylessthanseventynow.