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but we do hope, if there has been foul play, to bring the murderer to justice."

"Amen to that," said Dorcas fiercely. "And, naming no names, there's one in

this house that none of us could ever abide! And an ill day it was when first

he darkened the threshold."

Poirot waited for her indignation to subside, and then, resuming his

business-like tone, he asked:

Now, as to this quarrel? What is the first you heard of it?"

Well, sir, I happened to be going along the hall outside yesterday----"

What time was that?"

I couldn't say exactly, sir, but it wasn't tea-time by a long way. Perhaps four

o'clock--or it may have been a bit later. Well, sir, as I said, I happened to be

passing along, when I heard voices very loud and angry in here. I didn't

exactly mean to listen, but--well, there it is. I stopped. The door was shut,

but the mistress was speaking very sharp and clear, and I heard what she

said quite plainly. 'You have lied to me, and deceived me,' she said. I didn't

hear what Mr. Inglethorp replied. He spoke a good bit lower than she did--

but she answered: 'How dare you? I have kept you and clothed you and fed

you! You owe everything to me! And this is how you repay me! By bringing

disgrace upon our name!' Again I didn't hear what he said, but she went on:

'Nothing that you can say will make any difference. I see my duty clearly. My

mind is made up. You need not think that any fear of publicity, or scandal

between husband and wife will deter me.' Then I thought I heard them

coming out, so I went off quickly."

You are sure it was Mr. Inglethorp's voice you heard?"

Oh, yes, sir, whose else's could it be?"

Well, what happened next?"

Later, I came back to the hall; but it was all quiet. At five o'clock, Mrs.

Inglethorp rang the bell and told me to bring her a cup of tea--nothing to

eat--to the boudoir. She was looking dreadful--so white and upset. 'Dorcas,'

she says, 'I've had a great shock.' 'I'm sorry for that, m'm,' I says. 'You'll feel

better after a nice hot cup of tea, m'm.' She had something in her hand. I

don't know if it was a letter, or just a piece of paper, but it had writing on it,

The Mysterious Affair at Styles