Загадочное происшествие в Стайлзе
Chapter II. The 16th and 17th of July
“Havesomecoffee,andtelluswhatyouhavebeenupto.”
“Thankyou,Iwill.”Helaughedratherruefully,ashedescribedhowhehaddiscoveredaveryrarespeciesofferninaninaccessibleplace,andinhiseffortstoobtainithadlosthisfooting,andslippedignominiouslyintoaneighbouringpond.
“Thesunsoondriedmeoff,”headded,“butI’mafraidmyappearanceisverydisreputable.”
Atthisjuncture,Mrs.InglethorpcalledtoCynthiafromthehall,andthegirlranout.
“Justcarryupmydespatch-case,willyou,dear?I’mgoingtobed.”
Thedoorintothehallwasawideone.IhadrisenwhenCynthiadid,Johnwasclosebyme.TherewerethereforethreewitnesseswhocouldswearthatMrs.Inglethorpwascarryinghercoffee,asyetuntasted,inherhand.
MyeveningwasutterlyandentirelyspoiltbythepresenceofDr.Bauerstein.Itseemedtomethemanwouldnevergo.Heroseatlast,however,andIbreathedasighofrelief.
“I’llwalkdowntothevillagewithyou,”saidMr.Inglethorp.“Imustseeouragentoverthoseestateaccounts.”HeturnedtoJohn.“Nooneneedsitup.Iwilltakethelatch-key.”
