New Aster Grade 7 Ch12: The Mysterious Affair at Styles PDF

## New Aster Grade 7 ### Ch12: The Mysterious Affair at Styles ### The Mysterious Affair - In Styles Court, an Essex country manor England, Emily Inglethorp, the owner has been murdered. - She was previously married to Mr Cavendish. - Emily later married a young man, Mr Alfred Inglethorp. - In the...

## New Aster Grade 7 ### Ch12: The Mysterious Affair at Styles ### The Mysterious Affair - In Styles Court, an Essex country manor England, Emily Inglethorp, the owner has been murdered. - She was previously married to Mr Cavendish. - Emily later married a young man, Mr Alfred Inglethorp. - In the household are her stepsons John and Lawrence Cavendish; John's wife Mary Cavendish; Evelyn Howard, Emily’s companion. - Hercule Poirot has been brought to Styles to investigate the crime by Arthur Hastings. - Arthur Hastings is the speaker of the story. - The papers, of course, had been full of the tragedy. - Glaring headlines, sandwiched biographies of every member of the household, subtle innuendoes, the usual familiar tag about the police having a clue. - It was a slack time. - The war was momentarily inactive, and the newspapers seized with avidity on this crime in fashionable life. - “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” was the topic of the moment. ### Naturally it was very annoying for the Cavendishes. - The house was constantly besieged by reporters, who were consistently denied admission, but who continued to haunt the village and the grounds, where they lay in wait with cameras, for any unwary members of the household. - We all lived in a blast of publicity. - The Scotland Yard men came and went, examining, questioning, lynx-eyed and reserved of tongue. ### After breakfast, Dorcas came up to me rather mysteriously, and asked if she might have a few words with me. - “Certainly. What is it, Dorcas?” - “Well, it's just this, sir. You'll be seeing the Belgian gentleman today perhaps?” I nodded. - “Well, sir, you know how he asked me so particular if the mistress, or anyone else, had a green dress?” ### “Yes, yes. You have found one?” My interest was aroused. - “No, not that, sir. But since then I've remembered what the young gentlemen'—John and Lawrence were still the ‘young gentlemen’ to Dorcas—‘call the dressing-up box.” - “It's up in the front attic, sir. A great chest, full of old clothes and fancy dresses, and what not. And it came to me sudden like that there might be a green dress amongst them. So, if you'd tell the Belgian gentleman—” - “I will tell him, Dorcas,” I promised. - “Thank you very much, sir. A very nice gentleman he is, sir. And quite a different class from them two detectives from London, what goes prying about, and asking questions.” ### Dear old Dorcas! As she stood there, with her honest face upturned to mine, I thought what a fine specimen she was of the old-fashioned servant that is so fast dying out. - I thought I might as well go down to the village at once, and look up Poirot; but I met him half-way, coming up to the house, and at once gave him Dorcas’s message. - We entered the house by one of the windows. - There was no one in the hall, and we went straight up to the attic. - Sure enough, there was the chest, a fine old piece, all studded with brass nails, and full to overflowing with every imaginable type of garment. - He seemed somewhat apathetic in the search, as though he expected no great results from it. - Suddenly he gave an exclamation. - “What is it?” - “Look!” ### The chest was nearly empty, and there, reposing right at the bottom, was a magnificent black beard. - “Ohó!” said Poirot. “Ohó!” He turned it over in his hands, examining it closely. - “New,” he remarked. “Yes, quite new.” ### After a moment’s hesitation, he replaced it in the chest. - He went straight to the pantry, where we found Dorcas busily polishing her silver. - Poirot wished her good morning with Gallic politeness, and went on: - “We have been looking through that chest, Dorcas. I am much obliged to you for mentioning it. There is, indeed, a fine collection there. Are they often used, may I ask?” - “Well, sir, not very often nowadays, though from time to time we do have what the young gentlemen call ‘a dress-up night.’ And very funny it is sometimes, sir. Mr Lawrence, he's wonderful. Most comic! I shall never forget the night he came down as the Char of Persia, I think he called it—a sort of Eastern King it was. “Mind, Dorcas,” he says, “you’ll have to be very respectful.”’” - “These evenings must have been great fun,” said Poirot genially. “I suppose Mr Lawrence wore that fine black beard in the chest upstairs, when he was Shah of Persia?” - “He did have a beard, sir,” replied Dorcas, smiling. “And well I know it, for he borrowed two skeins of my black wool to make it with! And I’m sure it looked wonderfully natural at a distance.” - “I didn’t know as there was a beard up there at all. It must have been got quite lately, I think. There was a red wig, I know, but nothing else in the way of hair.” - “So Dorcas knows nothing about that black beard,” said Poirot thoughtfully, as we walked out into the hall again. - “Do you think it is the one?” I whispered eagerly. - Poirot nodded. - “I do. You notice it had been trimmed?” - “No.” - “Yes. It was cut exactly the shape of Mr Inglethorp’s, and I found one or two snipped hairs. Hastings, this affair is very deep.” - “Who put it in the chest, I wonder?” - “Someone with a good deal of intelligence,” remarked Poirot dryly. “You realise that he chose the one place in the house to hide it where its presence would not be remarked? Yes, he is intelligent. But we must be more intelligent. We must be so intelligent that he does not suspect us of being intelligent at all.” ### “There, mon ami, you will be of great assistance to me.” - I was pleased with the compliment. There had been times when I hardly thought that Poirot appreciated me at my true worth. - “Yes,” he continued, staring at me thoughtfully, “you will beinvaluable.” - This was naturally gratifying, but Poirot’s next words were not so welcome. - “I must have an ally in the house,” he observed reflectively. - “You have me,” I protested. - “True, but you are not sufficient.” - I was hurt, and showed it. Poirot hurried to explain himself. - “I want somebody who is not associated with us in any way. Here comes Miss Howard,” said Poirot suddenly. “She is the very person. But I am in her black books, since I cleared Mr Inglethorp. Still, we can but try.” ### With a nod that was barely civil, Miss Howard assented to Poirot’s request for a few minutes’ conversation. - We went into the little morning-room, and Poirot closed the door. - “Do you remember, mademoiselle, that I once asked you to help me? It is this. Do you still believe that Mrs Inglethorp’s husband is the criminal?” - “You needn’t think your pretty explanations influence me in the slightest. I’ll admit that it wasn’t he who bought the medicine at the chemist’s shop. If I’m convinced he did it, it doesn’t matter a jot to me how he did it.” - “Miss Howard, do you remember a conversation that took place on the day of my friend’s arrival here? Do you remember affirming that if a crime had been committed, and anyone you loved had been hurt, you felt certain that you would know by instinct who the criminal was, even if you were quite unable to prove it?” - Poirot curtly, “Your instinct is not against Mr Inglethorp. You wish to believe he committed the crime. You believe him capable of committing it. But your instinct tells you he did not commit it. It tells you more—shall I go on?” - She was staring at him, fascinated, and made a slight affirmative movement of the hand. ### “You are trying to drown and stifle your instinct, which tells you another name—Miss Howard cried wildly, flinging up her hands. “I don’t know what put such a wild—such a dreadful—idea into my head!” - “Don’t ask me about it,” continued Miss Howard, “because I shan’t tell you. I won’t admit it, even to myself. I must be mad to think of such a thing.” - Poirot nodded, as if satisfied. - “I am going to ask you nothing. It is enough for me that it is as I thought. And I—I, too, have an instinct. We are working together towards a common end. You will help me in spite of yourself. I ask you nothing but you will be my ally. You will not be able to help yourself. You will do the only thing that I want of you.” - “And that is?” - “You will watch!” - Evelyn Howard bowed her head. - “Yes, I can’t help doing that. I am always watching—always hoping I shall be proved wrong.” - “There,” said Poirot, looking after her, “goes a very valuable ally. That woman, Hastings, has got brains as well as a heart.” - I did not reply. - “You and Miss Howard seem to know what you are talking about,” I observed coldly. “Perhaps you don’t realise that I am still in the dark. Enlighten me, will you?” - Poirot studied me attentively for a moment or two. Then, to my intense surprise, he shook his head decidedly. - “No, my friend. Two is enough for a secret.” - “Well, I think it is very unfair to keep back facts from me.” - “Every fact that I know is in your possession. You can draw your own deductions from them. This time it is a question of ideas. You see,” he said sadly, “you have no instincts.” - “It was intelligence you were requiring just now,” I pointed out. ### “The two often go together,” said Poirot enigmatically. - The remark seemed so utterly irrelevant that I did not even take the trouble to answer it. - But I decided that if I made any interesting and important discoveries—as no doubt I should—I would keep them to myself, and surprise Poirot with the ultimate result. - There are times when it is one’s duty to assert oneself. ### Comprehension - **How is the “Mysterious Affair at Styles” presented by the press?** - **Was Dorcas a loyal servant? Give reasons.** - **Why did they feel that the culprit was intelligent?** - **Who was Miss Howard? What did she know about the crime?** - **What were Hercule Poirot’s criteria for an ally?** - **How did Poirot convince Miss Howard to think on the right track?** - **Why was Hastings not a suitable ally?** - **Hastings, this affair is very deep. ** - **Who said these words?** - **Why did he think that the affair was very deep?** - **What was the enigma surrounding the affair?** - **There, mon ami, you will be of great assistance to me.** - **Who expected whom to be a great assistance?** - **Why did he require his assistance?** - **Why did the speaker approve of him?** - **I don’t know what put such a wild—such a dreadful—idea into my head!** - **Who is the speaker?** *** ### Ch16: The Holy Panchayat Read this story to understand the system of justice in villages. ### Jumman Sheikh and Algu Chowdhry were very close friends. - They were partners in farming. Some of their dealings were also done jointly. - Their friendship began when they were boys, and Jumman’s father, Jumraati, was their tutor. ### Jumman had an old aunt who had some property but no other near relation than Jumman. - Jumman had requested her to transfer this property in his name. - Until the transfer deed had been registered the aunt was pampered. - But this came to an end as soon as the transfer deed was stamped. - Now the poor aunt had to swallow bitter words every day. ### At last, she said to Jumman, 'Son, I can't carry on like this. - You pay me a sum every month and I shall live by myself.' - Jumman said rudely, “Do you think we grow money here?” - The aunt was upset. - She threatened to call the panchayat. - Jumman laughed heartily like the hunter who laughs to himself as he watches the deer walking into his trap. - He said, “Why not, call the panchayat by all means. Let things be decided once for all.” ### One evening, the panchayat gathered under a tree. - The members of the panchayat sat down and the old woman presented her case. - Ramdhan Mishra, many of whose clients had been won over by Jumman, said, “Jumman mian, choose your panchayat members. Decide just now. Afterwards you will have to accept their judgement.” - Jumman said, “The word of the panchayat is the word of Allah. Let my aunt choose anyone she wants. I have no objection.” - The old woman said, “Hope you trust Algu Chowdhry. I accept him as the sarpanch.” - Jumman was delighted, but hiding his feelings he said, “Let it be Algu. For me, Ramdhan and Algu are the same.” ### Algu didn't want to get involved in this. - He said, “Khaala, you know that Jumman is my close friend.” - The old woman said, “Son, no one barters his imaan for friendship. God resides in the heart of a panch. Whatever the panch says is the word of God.” - Algu said, “Shaikh Jumman, you and I are old friends. But at this moment you and Khaala are equal in my eyes. You can put forward your case before the panchayat.” - After listening to both the parties, Algu announced the judgement. - “Shaikh Jumman, the panchayat has considered this matter. To us it looks fair and just that Khaala Jaan be given a monthly allowance. We are of the view that the property is valuable enough to provide Khaala Jaan a monthly allowance. This is our decision.” ### Jumman was stunned to hear this decision. - This judgement shook the very basis of Algu and Jumman’s friendship. - The old intimacy was gone. ### The success in doing a good deed takes a long time to come, but not so in the case of bad deeds. - And the opportunity to get back at Algu came to Jumman very soon. - A year ago, Algu had purchased a handsome pair of oxen from Batesar. - The oxen were of the Pachchain breed. - Out of pure chance one of the oxen died just a month after Jumman’s panchayat. - Jumman said to his friends that Algu had been punished for treachery. - One may rest content but God from above keeps watch on our good and bad deeds. - Algu, on the other hand, began to suspect that Jumman had poisoned the ox. ### Algu finally decided to sell off the other ox. - A trader named Samjhu Sahu bought the ox. - As soon as he bought it, he began to drive it hard. - He made three to four trips every day, without caring to feed the animal properly. ### One day on his fourth trip, Samjhu put a double load on him. - The ox collapsed, and did not rise again. - Who would pull the cart now? - He was burning with anger. - He had sold many sacks of gur and many tins of ghee and was carrying about 25° rupees with him. - In addiction, there were a few sacks of salt and tins of oil on the cart. - He couldn't leave them here. - Helpless he decided to spend the night in the cart. - In the morning when he got up, he found his money and some of his tins stolen. - He reached home wailing and weeping. - When his wife heard the story, first she cried and then started cursing Algu for having sold them a useless ox. ### Many months passed. - Whenever Algu went to their house to ask for the price of the ox, both husband and wife would start abusing him. - Finally, they decided to go to the panchayat. ### The panchayat began its meeting. - Ramdhan Mishra said, “Why waste time? Let us elect the five members. Come Chowdhry, whom do you elect?” - Algu said in a humble voice, “Let Samjhu choose.” - Samjhu stood up and said sharply, “I choose Jumman Shaikh.” ### An awareness of the burden of a responsibility often alters our narrow outlook. - When we lose our way, this awareness shows us the light. - Jumman Shaikh also became conscious of such a responsibility, the moment he was given the high office of the sarpanch. - He realised that at this moment he was seated on the highest throne of justice and righteousness. - Whatever he uttered now would be the word of God, and any prejudice of his mind must not contaminate that voice. - He must not deviate even a bit from truth. ### He announced the judgement. - “Algu Chowdhry and Samjhu Sahu, it is proper that Samjhu should pay the price of the ox. The ox was not suffering from any disease when he bought it. If the price had been paid then, Samjhu would not have been able to raise this question.” ### Algu Chowdhry was overjoyed. - He stood up and shouted, “Victory to panch-parmeshwar!” - This was echoed from all sides, “Victory to panch-parmeshwar.” - Everyone admired Jumman’s judgement. “This is justice. This is not the work of man. God himself resides in the panch-parmeshwar.” ### At the end, Jumman came to Algu and, embracing him, said, “Ever since you had given the judgement against me, I had become your enemy. But today, I have realised that while sitting on that seat of judgement, you are no one’s friend or foe. You cannot think of anything except justice.” ### Comprehension - **Describe the relationship between Jumman and Algu.** - **What was Jumman’s behaviour towards his aunt? What step did the aunt to take?** - **How did the judgement proclaimed by Algu impact their friendship?** - **Why did Jumman say that Algu had been punished for treachery?** - **How was the altercation between Algu and Jumman settled?** - **Why did the villagers have an unwavering faith in the Panch?** - **Do you think we grow money here?** - **Who is the speaker and why did he say it?**