Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе

           ItookanearlyopportunityoftestingthatstatementbystationingmyfriendMonsieurHastingsintheleftwingofthebuilding,justoutsideMrs.Cavendish’sdoor.Imyself,incompanywiththepolice,wenttothedeceased’sroom,andwhilstthereI,apparentlyaccidentally,knockedoverthetableinquestion,butfoundthat,asIhadexpected,MonsieurHastingshadheardnosoundatall.ThisconfirmedmybeliefthatMrs.Cavendishwasnotspeakingthetruthwhenshedeclaredthatshehadbeendressinginherroomatthetimeofthetragedy.Infact,Iwasconvincedthat,farfromhavingbeeninherownroom,Mrs.Cavendishwasactuallyinthedeceased’sroomwhenthealarmwasgiven.”

           IshotaquickglanceatMary.Shewasverypale,butsmiling.

           “Iproceededtoreasononthatassumption.Mrs.Cavendishisinhermother-in-law’sroom.Wewillsaythatsheisseekingforsomethingandhasnotyetfoundit.SuddenlyMrs.Inglethorpawakensandisseizedwithanalarmingparoxysm.Sheflingsoutherarm,overturningthebedtable,andthenpullsdesperatelyatthebell.Mrs.Cavendish,startled,dropshercandle,scatteringthegreaseonthecarpet.Shepicksitup,andretreatsquicklytoMademoiselleCynthia’sroom,closingthedoorbehindher.Shehurriesoutintothepassage,fortheservantsmustnotfindherwheresheis.Butitistoolate!Alreadyfootstepsareechoingalongthegallerywhichconnectsthetwowings.Whatcanshedo?Quickasthought,shehurriesbacktotheyounggirl’sroom,andstartsshakingherawake.Thehastilyarousedhouseholdcometroopingdownthepassage.