Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter XII. The Last Link
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“Andyet,”Icriedindignantly,“afterthat,yougavemetworeasonswhyMissHowardcouldnothavecommittedthecrime!”
“Andverygoodreasonstoo,”repliedPoirot.“Foralongtimetheywereastumbling-blocktomeuntilIrememberedaverysignificantfact:thatsheandAlfredInglethorpwerecousins.Shecouldnothavecommittedthecrimesingle-handed,butthereasonsagainstthatdidnotdebarherfrombeinganaccomplice.And,then,therewasthatratherover-vehementhatredofhers!Itconcealedaveryoppositeemotion.Therewas,undoubtedly,atieofpassionbetweenthemlongbeforehecametoStyles.Theyhadalreadyarrangedtheirinfamousplot—thatheshouldmarrythisrich,butratherfoolisholdlady,inducehertomakeawillleavinghermoneytohim,andthengaintheirendsbyaverycleverlyconceivedcrime.Ifallhadgoneastheyplanned,theywouldprobablyhaveleftEngland,andlivedtogetherontheirpoorvictim’smoney.
“Theyareaveryastuteandunscrupulouspair.Whilesuspicionwastobedirectedagainsthim,shewouldbemakingquietpreparationsforaverydifferentdénouement.ShearrivesfromMiddlinghamwithallthecompromisingitemsinherpossession.Nosuspicionattachestoher.Nonoticeispaidtohercomingandgoinginthehouse.ShehidesthestrychnineandglassesinJohn’sroom.Sheputsthebeardintheattic.Shewillseetoitthatsoonerorlatertheyaredulydiscovered.”
“Idon’tquiteseewhytheytriedtofixtheblameonJohn,”Iremarked.“ItwouldhavebeenmucheasierforthemtobringthecrimehometoLawrence.
