Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе

           AmyHill,shopassistant,wasnextcalled,anddeposedtohavingsoldawillformontheafternoonofthe17thtoWilliamEarl,under-gardeneratStyles.

           WilliamEarlandManningsucceededher,andtestifiedtowitnessingadocument.Manningfixedthetimeataboutfour-thirty,Williamwasoftheopinionthatitwasratherearlier.

           CynthiaMurdochcamenext.Shehad,however,littletotell.Shehadknownnothingofthetragedy,untilawakenedbyMrs.Cavendish.

           “Youdidnothearthetablefall?”

           “No.Iwasfastasleep.”

           TheCoronersmiled.

           “Agoodconsciencemakesasoundsleeper,”heobserved.“Thankyou,MissMurdoch,thatisall.”

           “MissHoward.”

           MissHowardproducedtheletterwrittentoherbyMrs.Inglethorpontheeveningofthe17th.PoirotandIhad,ofcoursealreadyseenit.Itaddednothingtoourknowledgeofthetragedy.Thefollowingisafacsimile:

           STYLESCOURT

           ESSEX

           handwrittennote:

           July17th

           MydearEvelyn

           Canwenotbury

           thehachet?Ihave

           foundithardtoforgive

           thethingsyousaid

           againstmydearhusband

           butIamanoldwoman

           &veryfondofyou

           Yoursaffectionately,

           EmilyInglethorpe

           Itwashandedtothejurywhoscrutinizeditattentively.

           “Ifearitdoesnothelpusmuch,”saidtheCoroner,withasigh.“Thereisnomentionofanyoftheeventsofthatafternoon.”

           “Plainasapikestafftome,”saidMissHowardshortly.