Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter V. “It Isn’t Strychnine, Is It?”
Itwaswrittenononeofthoseprintedwillforms,andwitnessedbytwooftheservants—notDorcas.”
“DidMr.Inglethorpknowofit?”
“Hesaysnot.”
“Onemighttakethatwithagrainofsalt,”Iremarkedsceptically.“Allthesewillsareveryconfusing.Tellme,howdidthosescribbledwordsontheenvelopehelpyoutodiscoverthatawillwasmadeyesterdayafternoon?”
Poirotsmiled.
“Monami,haveyouever,whenwritingaletter,beenarrestedbythefactthatyoudidnotknowhowtospellacertainword?”
“Yes,often.Isupposeeveryonehas.”
“Exactly.Andhaveyounot,insuchacase,triedthewordonceortwiceontheedgeoftheblotting-paper,orasparescrapofpaper,toseeifitlookedright?Well,thatiswhatMrs.Inglethorpdid.Youwillnoticethattheword‘possessed’isspeltfirstwithone‘s’andsubsequentlywithtwo—correctly.Tomakesure,shehadfurthertrieditinasentence,thus:‘Iampossessed.’Now,whatdidthattellme?IttoldmethatMrs.Inglethorphadbeenwritingtheword‘possessed’thatafternoon,and,havingthefragmentofpaperfoundinthegratefreshinmymind,thepossibilityofawill—(adocumentalmostcertaintocontainthatword)—occurredtomeatonce.Thispossibilitywasconfirmedbyafurthercircumstance.Inthegeneralconfusion,theboudoirhadnotbeensweptthatmorning,andnearthedeskwereseveraltracesofbrownmouldandearth.Theweatherhadbeenperfectlyfineforsomedays,andnoordinarybootswouldhaveleftsuchaheavydeposit.
