Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе

           Youwillrememberthat,inconsequenceoftheWareconomicspracticedatStyles,nowastepaperwasthrownaway.Therewasthereforenomeansofdestroyingathickdocumentsuchasawill.ThemomentIheardofafirebeinglightedinMrs.Inglethorp’sroom,Ileapedtotheconclusionthatitwastodestroysomeimportantdocument—possiblyawill.Sothediscoveryofthecharredfragmentinthegratewasnosurprisetome.Ididnot,ofcourse,knowatthetimethatthewillinquestionhadonlybeenmadethisafternoon,andIwilladmitthat,whenIlearntthatfact,Ifellintoagrievouserror.IcametotheconclusionthatMrs.Inglethorp’sdeterminationtodestroyherwillaroseasadirectconsequenceofthequarrelshehadthatafternoon,andthatthereforethequarreltookplaceafter,andnotbeforethemakingofthewill.

           “Here,asweknow,Iwaswrong,andIwasforcedtoabandonthatidea.Ifacedtheproblemfromanewstandpoint.Now,atfouro’clock,Dorcasoverheardhermistresssayingangrily:‘Youneednotthinkthatanyfearofpublicity,orscandalbetweenhusbandandwifewilldeterme.”Iconjectured,andconjecturedrightly,thatthesewordswereaddressed,nottoherhusband,buttoMr.JohnCavendish.Atfiveo’clock,anhourlater,sheusesalmostthesamewords,butthestandpointisdifferent.SheadmitstoDorcas,‘Idon’tknowwhattodo;scandalbetweenhusbandandwifeisadreadfulthing.’Atfouro’clockshehasbeenangry,butcompletelymistressofherself.Atfiveo’clocksheisinviolentdistress,andspeaksofhavinghadagreatshock.