Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе

           LadyTadminster,ourMember’swife—shewasthelateLordAbbotsbury’sdaughter—doesthesame.Sheagreeswithmethatonemustsetanexampleofeconomy.Wearequiteawarhousehold;nothingiswastedhere—everyscrapofwastepaper,even,issavedandsentawayinsacks.”

           Iexpressedmyappreciation,andJohntookmeintothehouseandupthebroadstaircase,whichforkedrightandlefthalf-waytodifferentwingsofthebuilding.Myroomwasintheleftwing,andlookedoutoverthepark.

           Johnleftme,andafewminuteslaterIsawhimfrommywindowwalkingslowlyacrossthegrassarminarmwithCynthiaMurdoch.IheardMrs.Inglethorpcall“Cynthia”impatiently,andthegirlstartedandranbacktothehouse.Atthesamemoment,amansteppedoutfromtheshadowofatreeandwalkedslowlyinthesamedirection.Helookedaboutforty,verydarkwithamelancholyclean-shavenface.Someviolentemotionseemedtobemasteringhim.Helookedupatmywindowashepassed,andIrecognizedhim,thoughhehadchangedmuchinthefifteenyearsthathadelapsedsincewelastmet.ItwasJohn’syoungerbrother,LawrenceCavendish.Iwonderedwhatitwasthathadbroughtthatsingularexpressiontohisface.

           ThenIdismissedhimfrommymind,andreturnedtothecontemplationofmyownaffairs.

           Theeveningpassedpleasantlyenough;andIdreamedthatnightofthatenigmaticalwoman,MaryCavendish.

           Thenextmorningdawnedbrightandsunny,andIwasfulloftheanticipationofadelightfulvisit.

           IdidnotseeMrs.