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1、THEUNEXPECTEDGUESTAgathaChristieCHAPTERONEItwasshortlybeforemidnightonachillyNovemberevening,andswirlsofmistobscuredpartsofthedark,narrow,tree-linedcountryroadinSouthWales,notfarfromtheBristolChannelwhenceafoghornsoundeditsmelancholyboomautomaticallyeveryfewmoments.Occasionally,thedistan
2、tbarkingofadogcouldbeheard,andthemelancholycallofanight-bird.Whatfewhousestherewerealongtheroad,whichwaslittlebetterthanalane,wereaboutahalf-mileapart.Ononeofitsdarkeststretchestheroadturned,passingahandsome,three-storeyhousestandingwellbackfromitsspaciousgarden,anditwasatthisspotthataca
3、rsat,itsfrontwheelscaughtintheditchatthesideoftheroad.Aftertwoorthreeattemptstoaccelerateoutoftheditch,thedriverofthecarmusthavedecideditwasnousepersevering,andtheenginefellsilent.Aminuteortwopassedbeforethedriveremergedfromthevehicle,slammingthedoorbehindhim.Hewasasomewhatthick-set,sand
4、y-hairedmanofaboutthirty-five,withanoutdoorlookabouthim,dressedinaroughtweedsuitanddarkovercoatandwearingahat.Usingatorchtofindhisway,hebegantowalkcautiouslyacrossthelawntowardsthehouse,stoppinghalfwaytosurveytheeighteenth-centurybuilding'selegantfacade.Thehouseappearedtobeintotaldarknes
5、sasheapproachedthefrenchwindowsonthatsideoftheedificewhichfacedhim.Afterturningtolookbackatthelawnhehadcrossed,andtheroadbeyondit,hewalkedrightuptothefrenchwindows,ranhishandsovertheglass,andpeeredin.Unabletodiscernanymovementwithin,heknockedonthewindow.Therewasnoresponse,andafterapauseh
6、eknockedagainmuchlouder.Whenherealizedthathisknockingwasnothavinganyeffect,hetriedthehandle.Immediately,thewindowopenedandhestumbledintoaroomthatwasindarkness.Insidetheroom,hepausedagain,asthoughattemptingtodiscernanysoundormovement.Then,'Hello,'hecalled.'Isanyonethere?'Flashinghistorcha
7、roundtheroomwhichrevealeditselftobeawell-furnishedstudy,itswallslinedwithbooks,hesawinthecentreoftheroomahandsomemiddle-agedmansittinginawheelchairfacingthefrenchwindows,witharugoverhisknees.Themanappearedtohavefallenasleepinhischair.'Oh,hello,'saidtheintruder.'Ididn'tmea
