Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter I. I Go to Styles
Aswepassedthroughoneofthegatesonourwayhomeagain,aprettyyoungwomanofgipsytypecomingintheoppositedirectionbowedandsmiled.
“That’saprettygirl,”Iremarkedappreciatively.
John’sfacehardened.
“ThatisMrs.Raikes.”
“TheonethatMissHoward——”
“Exactly,”saidJohn,withratherunnecessaryabruptness.
Ithoughtofthewhite-hairedoldladyinthebighouse,andthatvividwickedlittlefacethathadjustsmiledintoours,andavaguechillofforebodingcreptoverme.Ibrusheditaside.
“Stylesisreallyagloriousoldplace,”IsaidtoJohn.
Henoddedrathergloomily.
“Yes,it’safineproperty.It’llbeminesomeday—shouldbeminenowbyrights,ifmyfatherhadonlymadeadecentwill.AndthenIshouldn’tbesodamnedhardupasIamnow.”
“Hardup,areyou?”
“MydearHastings,Idon’tmindtellingyouthatI’matmywits’endformoney.”
“Couldn’tyourbrotherhelpyou?”
“Lawrence?He’sgonethrougheverypennyheeverhad,publishingrottenversesinfancybindings.No,we’reanimpecuniouslot.Mymother’salwaysbeenawfullygoodtous,Imustsay.Thatis,uptonow.Sincehermarriage,ofcourse——”hebrokeoff,frowning.
ForthefirsttimeIfeltthat,withEvelynHoward,somethingindefinablehadgonefromtheatmosphere.Herpresencehadspeltsecurity.Nowthatsecuritywasremoved—andtheairseemedrifewithsuspicion.ThesinisterfaceofDr.Bauersteinrecurredtomeunpleasantly.Avaguesuspicionofeveryoneandeverythingfilledmymind
