The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Imagination is a good servant, and a bad master.

Nevertheless, in view of the world-wide notoriety which attended it, I have been asked, both by my friend Poirot and the family themselves, to write an account of the whole story. This, we trust, will effectually silence the sensational rumours which still persist.
I will therefore briefly set down the circumstances which led to my being connected with the affair.

We had a good yarn about old times, and it ended in his inviting me down to Styles to spend my leave there.

John Cav­endish

“Every mur­derer is prob­ably some­body’s old friend,”

Now there is no murder without a motive.”

Fire in her eyes, ice in her voice. I did not won­der that the blood rose to John’s face in a crim­son tide.

Lawrence blushed, and then smiled awkwardly. A man in love is a sorry spectacle. Now Cynthia had looked charming.

The colossal cheek of the little man! Who on earth but Poirot would have thought of a trial for murder as a restorer of conjugal happiness!

“Every murderer is probably somebody's old friend,” observed Poirot philosophically. “You cannot mix up sentiment and reason.”