Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter XII. The Last Link
YourusheddowntoStyles,andfounditstillthere?”
“Yes,anditwasaracefortime.”
“ButIstillcan’tunderstandwhyInglethorpwassuchafoolastoleaveittherewhenhehadplentyofopportunitytodestroyit.”
“Ah,buthehadnoopportunity.Isawtothat.”
“You?”
“Yes.Doyourememberreprovingmefortakingthehouseholdintomyconfidenceonthesubject?”
“Yes.”
“Well,myfriend,Isawtherewasjustonechance.IwasnotsurethenifInglethorpwasthecriminalornot,butifhewasIreasonedthathewouldnothavethepaperonhim,butwouldhavehiddenitsomewhere,andbyenlistingthesympathyofthehouseholdIcouldeffectuallypreventhisdestroyingit.Hewasalreadyundersuspicion,andbymakingthematterpublicIsecuredtheservicesofabouttenamateurdetectives,whowouldbewatchinghimunceasingly,andbeinghimselfawareoftheirwatchfulnesshewouldnotdareseekfurthertodestroythedocument.Hewasthereforeforcedtodepartfromthehouse,leavingitinthespillvase.”
“ButsurelyMissHowardhadampleopportunitiesofaidinghim.”
“Yes,butMissHowarddidnotknowofthepaper’sexistence.Inaccordancewiththeirprearrangedplan,sheneverspoketoAlfredInglethorp.Theyweresupposedtobedeadlyenemies,anduntilJohnCavendishwassafelyconvictedtheyneitherofthemdaredriskameeting.OfcourseIhadawatchkeptonMr.Inglethorp,hopingthatsoonerorlaterhewouldleadmetothehiding-place.Buthewastooclevertotakeanychances.
