CHAPTER I THE AFFAIR AT THE VICTORY BALL
Pure chance led my friend Hercule Poirot, formerly1 chief of the Belgian force, to be connectedwith the Styles Case. His success brought him notoriety, and he decided2 to devote himself to thesolving of problems in crime. Having been wounded on the Somme and invalided3 out of theArmy, I finally took up my quarters with him in London. Since I have a first-hand knowledge ofmost of his cases, it has been suggested to me that I select some of the most interesting and placethem on record. In doing so, I feel that I cannot do better than begin with that strange tangle5 whicharoused such widespread public interest at the time. I refer to the affair at the Victory Ball.
Although perhaps it is not so fully6 demonstrative of Poirot's peculiar7 methods as some of the moreobscure cases, its sensational8 features, the well- known people involved, and the tremendouspublicity given it by the Press, make it stand out as a cause cdldbre and I have long felt that it isonly fitting that Poirot's connection with the solution should be given to the world.
It was a fine morning in spring, and we were sitting in Poirot's rooms. My little friend, neat anddapper as ever, his egg-shaped head tilted9 slightly on one side, was delicately applying a newpomade to his moustache. A certain harmless vanity was a characteristic of Poirot's and fell intoline with his general love of order and method. The Daily Newsmonger, which I had been reading,had slipped to the floor, and I was deep in a brown study when Poirot's voice recalled me.
'Of what are you thinking so deeply, mon ami?'
'To tell you the truth,' I replied, 'I was puzzling over this unaccountable affair at the Victory Ball.
The papers are full of it.' I tapped the sheet with my finger as I spoke10.
'Yes?' 'The more one reads of it, the more shrouded11 in mystery the whole thing becomesl' Iwarmed to my subject. 'Who killed Lord Cronshaw? Was Coco Courtenay's death on the samenight a mere12 coincidence? Was it an accident? Or did she deliberately13 take an overdose ofcocaine?' I stopped, and then added dramatically: 'These are the questions I ask myself.' Poirot,somewhat to my annoyance15, did not play up. He was peering into the glass, and merely murmured:
'Decidedly, this new pomade, it is a marvel16 for the moustaches!' Catching17 my eye, however, headded hastily: 'Quite so--and how do you reply to your questions?' But before I could answer, thedoor opened, and our landlady18 announced Inspector19 Japp.
The Scotland Yard man was an old friend of ours and we greeted him warmly.
'Ah, my good Japp,' cried Poirot, 'and what brings you to see us?' 'Well, Monsieur Poirot,' saidJapp, seating himself and nodding to me, 'I'm on a case that strikes me as being very much in yourline, and I came along to know whether you'd care to have a finger in the pie?' Poirot had a goodopinion of Japp's abilities, though deploring20 his lamentable21 lack of method; but I, for my part,considered that the detective's highest talent lay in the gentle art of seeking favours under the guiseof conferring them!
'It's this Victory Ball,' said Japp persuasively22. 'Come, now, you'd like to have a hand in that.' Poirotsmiled at me.
'My friend Hastings would, at all events. He was just holding forth23 on the subject, n' est-ce pas,tnon ami?' 'Well, sir,' said Japp condescendingly, 'you shall be in it too.
I can tell you, it's something of a feather in your cap to have inside knowledge of a case like this.
Well, here's to business. You know the main facts of the case, I suppose, Monsieur Poirot?' 'Fromthe papers only--and the imagination of the journalist is sometimes misleading. Recount the wholestory to' me.'
Japp cross legs comfortably and began.
'As all the and his wife knows, on Tuesday last a grand ?ictory Ball was, held. Every twopenny-halfpenny hop24 calls itself that nowadays, but this was the real thing, held at the Colossus tta!l, andall London at it--including young Lord Cronshaw and his party.' 'His dossier?' interrupted Poirot. 'Ishould say his bioscope no, how do you call it - biograph?' 'Viscount Cronshaw was the fifthviscount, twenty-five years of age, rich, unmarried, and very fond of the theatrical25 world.
There were rumours26 of his being engaged to Miss Courtenay of the Albany Theatre, who wasknown to her friends as "Coco" and xho was, by all accounts, a very fascinating young lady.'
'Good. Continue!' 'Lord Cronshaw.'s party consisted of six people: he himself, his uncle, theHonourable Eustace Beltane, a pretty American widow, Mrs Mallaby, a young actor, ChrisDavidson, his wife, and last but not least, Mis Coco Courtenay. It was a fancy-dress ball, as youknow, and the Cronshaw party represented the old Italian Comedy - whatever that may be.' 'TheCon, media dell'.4rte,' murmured Poirot. 'I know.' 'Anyway, the costumes were copied from a setof china figures forming part of Eustace Beltane's collection. Lord Cronshaw was Harlequin;Beltane was Punchinello; Mrs Mallaby matched him as Pulcinella; the IDavidsons were Pierrotand Pierrette; and Miss Courtenay, of course, was Columbine. Now, quite early in the evening itwas apparent that there was something wrong. Lord Cronshaw was moody28 and strange in hismanner. When the party met together for supper in a small private room engaged by the host,everyone noticed that he and Miss Courtenay were no longer on speaking- terms. She hadobviously been crying, and seemed on the verge29 of hysterics. The meal was an uncomfortable one,and as they all left the supper-room, she turned to Chris Davidson and requested him audibly totake her home, as she was "sick of the ball". The young actor hesitated, glancing at LordCronshaw, and finally drew them both back to the supper-room.
'But all his efforts to secure a reconciliation30 were unavailing, and he accordingly got a taxi andescorted the now weeping Miss Courtenay back to her flat. Although obviously very much upset,she did not confide31 in him, merely reiterating32 again and again that she would "make old Cronchsorry for this?' That is the only hint we have that her death might not have been accidental, and it'sprecious little to go upon. By the time Davidson had quieted her down somewhat, it was too late toreturn to the Colossus Hall, and Davidson accordingly went straight home to his flat in Chelsea,where his wife arrived shortly afterwards, bearing the news of the terrible tragedy that hadoccurred after his departure.
'Lord Cronshaw, it seems, became more and more moody as the ball went on. He kept away fromhis party, and they hardly saw him during the rest of the evening. It was about one-thirty a.m., justbefore the grand cotillion when everyone was to unmask, that Captain Digby, a brother officerwho knew his disguise, noticed him standing33 in a box gazing down on the scene.
'"Hullo, Cronchl" he called. "Come down and be sociablel What are you moping about up therefor like a boiled owl4? Come along; there's a good old rag coming on now." '"Right?' respondedCronshaw. "Wait for me, or I'll never find you in the crowd." 'He turned and left the box as hespoke. Captain Digby, who had Mrs Davidson with him, waited. The minutes passed, but LordCronshaw did not appear. Finally Digby grew impatient.
' "Does the fellow think we're going to wait all night for him?" he exclaimed.
'At that moment Mrs Mallaby joined them, and they explained the situation.
'"Say, now," cried the pretty widow vivaciously34, "he's like a bear with a sore head tonight. Let's goright away and rout35 him out." 'The search commenced, but met with no success until it occurred toMrs Mallaby that he might possibly be found in the room where they had supped an hour earlier.
They made their
way there. What a sight met their eyes! There was Harlequin, sure enough, but stretched on theground with a table-knife in his heart!'
Japp stopped, and Poirot nodded, and said with the relish36 of the specialist: 'Une belle37 affaire! Andthere was no clue as to the perpetrator of the deed? But how should there be!'
'Well,' continued the inspector, 'you know the rest. The tragedy was a double one. Next day therewere headlines in all the papers, and a brief statement to the effect that Miss Courtenay, thepopular actress, had been discovered dead in her bed, and that her death was due to an overdose ofcocaine. Now, was it accident or suicide? Her maid, who was called upon to give evidence,admitted that Miss Courtenay was a confirmed taker of the drug, and a verdict of accidental deathwas returned. Nevertheless we can't leave the possibility of suicide out of account. Her death isparticularly unfortunate, since it leaves us no clue now to the cause of the quarrel the precedingnight. By the way, a small enamel38 box was found on the dead man. It had Coco written across it indiamonds, and was half full of cocaine14. It was identified by Miss Courtenay's maid as belonging toher mis-tress, who nearly always carried it about with her, since it con-tained her supply of thedrug to which she was fast becoming a slave.'
'Was Lord Cronshaw himself addicted39 to the drug?'
'Very far from it. He held unusually strong views on the subject of dope.'
Poirot nodded thoughtfully.
'But since the box was in his possession, he knew that MissCourtenay took it. Suggestive, that, is it not, my good Japp?' 'Ah!' said Japp rather vaguely40.
I smiled.
'Well,' said Japp, 'that's the case. What do you think of it?' 'You found no clue of any kind that hasnot been reported?' 'Yes, there was this.' Japp took a small object from his pocket and handed itover to Poirot. It was a small pompon of emerald green silk, with some ragged41 threads hangingfrom it, as though it had been wrenched42 violently away.
'We found it in the dead man's hand, which was tightly clenched43 over it,' explained the inspector.
Poirot handed it back without any comment and asked: 'Had Lord Cronshaw any enemies?'
'None that anyone knows of. He seemed a popular young fellow.'
'Who benefits by his death?'
'His uncle, the Honourable27 Eustace Beltane, comes into the title and estates. There are one or twosuspicious facts against him.
Several people declare that they heard a violent altercation44 going on in the little supper-room, andthat Eustace Beltane was one of the disputants. You see, the table-knife being snatched up off thetable would fit in with the murder being done in the heat of a quarrel.'
'What does Mr Beltane say about the matter?'
'Declares one of the waiters was the worse for liquor, and that he was giving him a dressing45 down.
Also that it was nearer to one than half past. You see, Captain Digby's evidence fixes the timepretty accurately46. Only about ten minutes elapsed between his speaking to Cronshaw and thefinding of the body.'
'And in any case I suppose Mr Beltane, as Punchinello, was wearing a hump and a ruffle47?'
'I don't know the exact details of the costumes,' said Jap. p, looking curiously48 at Poirot. 'Andanyway, I don't quite see what that has got to do with it?'
'No?' There was a hint of mockery in Poirot's smile. He con-tinued quietly, his eyes shining withthe green light I had learned to recognize so well: 'There was a curtain in this little supper room,was there not?'
'Yes, but - '
'With a space behind it sufficient to conceal49 a man?'
'Yes - in fact, there's a small recess50, but how you knew about it - you haven't been to the place,have you, Monsieur Poirot?'
'No, my good Japp, I supplied the curtain from my brain.
Without it, the drama is not reasonable. And always one must be reasonable. But tell me, did theynot send for a doctor?'
'At once, of course. But there was nothing to be done. Death must have been instantaneous.' Poirotnodded rather impatiently.
'Yes, yes, I understand. This doctor, now, he gave evidence at the inquest?' 'Yes.' 'Did he saynothing of any unusual symptom - was there nothing about the appearance of the body whichstruck him as being abnormal?' Japp stared hard at the little man.
'Yes, Monsieur Poirot. I don't know what you're getting at, but he did mention that there was atension and stiffness about the limbs which he was quite at a loss to account for.' 'Aha!' said Poirot.
'Aha[ Mon Dieul Japp, that gives one to think, does it not?' I saw that it had certainly not givenJapp to think.
'If you're thinking of poison, monsieur, who on earth would poison a man first and then stick aknife into him?' 'In truth that would be ridiculous,' agreed Poirot placidly51.
'Now is there anything you want to see, monsieur? If you'd like to examine the room where thebody was found - ' Poirot waved his hand.
'Not in the least. You have told me the only thing that interests me - Lord Cronshaw's views on thesubject of drug-taking.' 'Then there's nothing you want to see?' 'Just one thing.' 'What is that?' 'Theset of china figures from which the costumes were copied.' Japp stared.
'Well, you're a funny one!' 'You can manage that for me?' 'Come round to Berkely Square now ifyou like. Mr Beltane or His Lordship, as I should say now - won't object.'
We set off at once in a taxi. The new Lord Cronshaw was not at home, but at Japp's request wewere shown into the 'china room', where the gems52 of the collection were kept. Japp looked roundhim rather helplessly.
'I don't see how you'll ever find the ones you want, monsieur.' But Poirot had already drawn53 achair in front of the mantelpiece and was hopping54 up upon it like a nimble robin55. Above themirror, on a small shelf to themselves, stood six china figures. Poirot examined them minutely,making a few comments to us as he did so.
'Les voildl The old Italian Comedy. Three pairsl Harlequin and Columbine, Pierrot and Pierrette -very dainty in white and green - and Punchinello and Pulcinella in mauve and yellow.
Very elaborate, the costume of Punchinello - ruffles57 and frills, a hump, a high hat. Yes, as Ithought, very elaborate.' He replaced the figures carefully, and jumped down.
Japp looked unsatisfied, but as Poirot had clearly no intention of explaining anything, the detectiveput the best face he could upon the matter. As we were preparing to leave, the master of the housecame in, and Japp performed the necessary introductions.
The sixth Viscount Cronshaw was a man of about fifty, suave58 in manner, with a handsome,dissolute face. Evidently an elderly roll , with the languid manner of a poseur59. I took an instantdislike to him. He greeted us graciously enough, declaring he had heard great accounts of Poirot'sskill, and placing himself at our disposal in every way.
'The police are doing all they can, I know,' Poirot said.
'But I much fear the mystery of my nephew's death will never be cleared up. The whole thingseems utterly60 mysterious.' Poirot was watching him keenly. 'Your nephew had no enemies that youknow of?' 'None whatever. I am sure of that.' He paused;and then went on: 'If there are anyquestions you would like to ask - ' 'Only one.' Poirot's voice was serious. 'The costumes - theywere reproduced exactly from your figurines?' 'To the smallest detail.' 'Thank you, milor'. That isall I wanted to be sure of. I wish you good day.'
'And whm next?' inquired Japp as we hurried down the street.
'I've got to report at the Yard, you know.' 'Bienl I will not detain you. I have one other little matterto attend to, and then - ' 'Yes?' 'The case will be complete.' 'What? You don't mean it! You knowwho killed Lord Cron-8haw?' 'Parfaitement.' 'Who was it? Eustace Beltane?' 'Ah, mon ami, youknow my little weaknessl Always I have a desire to keep the threads in my own hands up to thelast minute.
But have no fear. I will reveal all when the time comes. I want no credit - the affair shall be yours,on the condition that you permit me to play out the dgnouernent my own way.' 'That's fair enough,'
said Japp. 'That is, if the dgnouement ever comesl But I say, you are an oyster61, aren't you?' Poirotsmiled.
'Well, so long. I'm off to the Yard.' He strode off down the street, and Poirot hailed a pasing taxi.
'Where are we going now?' I asked in lively curiosity.
'To Chelsea to see the Davidsons.' He gave the address to the driver.
'What do you think of the new Lord Cronshaw?' I asked.
'What says my good friend Hastings?' 'I distrust him instinctively62.' 'You think he is the "wickeduncle" of the story-books, eh?' 'Don't you?' The, I think he was most amiable63 towards us,' saidPoirot noncommittally.
'Because he had his reasonsl' Poirot looked at me, shook his head sadly, and murmured somethingthat sounded like: 'No method.'
The Davidsons lived on the third floor of a block of 'mansion64' flats. Mr Davidson was out, wevcere told, but Mrs Davidson was at home. We were ushered65 into a long, low room with garishOriental hangings. The air felt close and oppressive, and therewas an overpowering fragrance66 of joss-sticks. Mrs Davidson came to us almost immediately, asmall, fair creature whose fragility would have seemed pathetic and appealing had it not been forthe rather shrewd and calculating gleam in her light blue eyes.
Poirot explained our connection with the case, and she shook her head sadly.
'Poor Cronch - and poor Coco too We were both so fond of her, and her death has been a terriblegrief to us. What is it you want to ask me? Must I really go over all that dreadful evening again?'
'Oh, madame, believe me, I would not harass67 your feelings unnecessarily. Indeed, Inspector Japphas told me all that is needful. I only wish to see the costume you wore at the ball that night.'
The lady looked somewhat surprised, and Poirot continued smoothly68: 'You comprehend, madame,that I work on the system of my country. There we always "reconstruct" the crime. It is possiblethat I may have an actual reprdsentatbn, and if so, you understand, the costumes would beimportant.'
Mrs Davidson still looked a bit doubtful.
'I've heard of reconstructing a crime, of course,' she said. 'But ,I didn't know you were so particularabout details. But I'll fetch the dress now.'
She left the room and returned almost immediately with a dainty wisp of white satin and green.
Poirot took it from her and examined it, handing it back with a bow.
'Merci, madameI see you have had the misfortune to lose one of your green pompons, the one onthe shoulder here.'
'Yes, it got torn off at the ball. I picked it up and gave it to poorLord Cronshaw to keep for me.' 'That was after supper?' 'Yes.'
'Not long before the tragedy, perhaps?'
A faint look of alarm came into Mrs Davidson's pale eyes, and she replied quickly: 'Oh no - longbefore that. Quite soon after supper, in fact.'
'I see. Well, that is all. I will not derange69 you further. Bonjour, ttladame.' 'Well,' I said, as weemerged from the building, 'that explains the mystery of the green pompon.' 'I wonder.' 'Why,what do you mean?' 'You saw me examine the dress, Hastings?' 'Yes?' 'Eh bien, the pompon thatwas missing had not been wrenched off, as the lady said. On the contrary, it had been cut off, myfriend, cut off with scissors. The threads were all quite even.' 'Dear reel' I exclaimed. 'Thisbecomes more and more involved.' 'On the contrary,' replied Poirot placidly, 'it becomes more andmore simple.' 'Poirot,' I cried, 'one day I shall murder you! Your habit of finding everythingperfectly simple is aggravating70 to the last degree!' 'But when I explain, rnon ami, is it not alwaysperfectly simple?' 'Yes; that is the annoying part of it! I feel then that I could have done it myself.'
'And so you could, Hastings, so you could. If you would but take the trouble of arranging yourideas! Without method - ' 'Yes, yes,' I said hastily, for I knew Poirot's eloquence71 when started onhis favourite theme only too well. 'Tell me, what do we do next? Are you really going toreconstruct the crime?' 'Hardly that. Shall we say that the drama is over, but that I propose to add a- harlequinade?'
The following Tuesday was fixed72 upon by Poirot as the day for this mysterious performance. Thepreparations greatly intrigued73 me. A white screen was erected74 at one side of the room, flanked byheavy curtains at either side. A man with some lighting75 apparatus76 arrived next, and finally a groupof members of the theatrical profession, who disappeared into Poirot's bedroom, which had beenrigged up as a temporary dressing-room.
Shortly before eight, Japp arrived, in no very cheerful mood. I gathered that the official detectivehardly approved of Poirot's plan.
'Bit melodramatic, like all his ideas. But there, it can do no harm, and as he says, it might save us agood bit of trouble. He'a been very smart over the case. I was on the same scent77 myself, of course -' I felt instinctively that Japp was straining the truth here - 'but there, I promised to let him play thething out his own way. Ahl Here is the crowd.'
His Lordship arrived first, escorting Mrs Mallaby, whom I had not as yet seen. She was a pretty,dark-haired woman, and appeared perceptibly nervous. The Davidsons followed. Chris Davidsonalso I saw for the first time. He was handsome enough in a rather obvious style, tall and dark, withthe easy grace of the actor.
Poirot had arranged seats for the party facing the screen. This was illuminated78 by a bright light.
Poirot switched out the other lights so that the room was in darkness except for the screen.
Poirot's voice rose out of the gloom.
'Messieurs, mesdames, a word of explanation. Six figures in turn will pass across the screen. Theyare familiar to you. Pierrot and his Pierrette; Punchinello the buffoon79, and elegant Pulcinella;beautiful Columbine, lightly dancing, Harlequin, the sprite, invisible to manl'
With these words of introduction, the show began. In turn each figure that Poirot had mentionedbounded before the screen, stayed there a moment poised80, and then vanished. The lights went up,and a sigh of relief went round. Everyone had been nervous, fearing they knew not what. Itseemed to me that the proceedings81 had gone singularly flat. If the criminal was among us, andPoirot expected him to break down at the mere sight of a familiar figure, the device had failedsignally - as it was almost bound to do. Poirot, however, appeared not a whit56 discomposed.
He stepped forward, beaming.
'Now, messieurs and mesdames, will you be so good as to tell me, one at a time what it is that wehave just seen? Will you begin, milor'?'
The gentleman looked rather puzzled. 'I'm afraid I don't quite understand.'
'Just tell me what we have been seeing.'
'I - er - well, I should say we have seen six figures passing in front of a screen and dressed torepresent the personages in the old Italian Comedy, or - er - ourselves the other night.'
'Never mind the other night, milor',' broke in Poirot. 'The first part of your speech was what Iwanted. Madame you agree with Milor' Cronshaw?;He had turned as he spoke to Mrs Mallaby.
'I - er - yes, of course.'
'You agree that you have seen six figures representing the Italian Comedy?'
'Why, certainly.'
'Monsieur Davidson? You too?' 'Yes.' 'Madame?' 'Yes.'
'Hastings? Japp? Yes? You are all in accord?'
He looked around upon us; his face grew rather pale, and his eyes were green as any cat's.
'And yet - you are all wrong/Your eyes have lied to you - as they lied to you on the night of theVictory Ball. To "see things with your own eyes", as they say, is not always to see the truth.
One must see with eyes of the mind; one must employ the little cells of grey! Know, then, thattonight and on the night of the Victory Ball, you saw not six figures but five! Seel'
The lights went out again. A figure bounded in front of the screen - Pierrotl'Who is that?' demanded Poirot. 'Is it Pierrot?' 'Yes,' we all cried.
'Look again['
With a swift movement the man divested82 himself of his loose Pierrot garb83. There in the limelightstood glittering Harlequinl At the same moment there was a cry and an overturned chair.
'Curse you,' snarled84 Davidson's voice. 'Curse youl How did you gue?'
When came the clink of handcuffs and Japp's calm official voice.
'I arrest you, Christopher Davidson - charge of murderingViscount Cronshaw - anything you say used in evidence against you.'
It was a quarter of an hour later. A recherch little supper had appeared; and Poirot, beaming allover his face, was dispensing85 hospitality and answering our eager questions.
'It was all very simple. The circumstances in which the green pompon was found suggested atonce that it had been torn from the costume of the murderer. I dismissed Pierrette from my mind(since it takes considerable strength to drive a table-knife home) and fixed upon Pierrot as thecriminal. But Pierrot left the ball nearly two hours before the murder was committed. So he musteither have returned to the ball later to kill Lord Cronshaw, or eh bien, he must have killed himbefore he left! Wras that impossible?
Who had seen Lord Cronshaw after supper that evening? Only Mrs Davidson, whose statement, Isuspected, was a deliberate fabrication uttered with the object of accounting86 for the missingpompon, which, of course, she cut from her own dress to replace the one missing on her husband'scostume. But then, Harlequin, who was seen in the box at one- thirty, must have been animpersonation.
For a moment, earlier, I had considered the possibility of Mr Beltane being the guilty party. Butwith his elaborate costume, it was clearly impossible that he could have doubled the roles ofPunchinello and Harlequin. On the other hand, to David-son, a young man of about the sameheight as the murdered man and an actor by profession, the thing was simplicity87 itself.
'But one thing worried me. Surely a doctor could not fail to perceive the difference between a manwho had been dead two hours and one who had been dead ten minutes! Eh &n, the doctor didperceive it! But he was not taken to the body and asked "How long has this man been dead?" Onthe contrary, he was informed that the man had been seen alive ten minutes ago, and so he merelycommented at the inquest on the abnormal stiffening88 of the limbs for which he was quite unable toaccountl 'All was now marching famously for my theory. Davidson had killed Lord Cronshawimmediately after supper, when., as you remember, he was seen to draw him back into the supper-room.
Then he departed with Miss Courtenay, left her at the door of her flat (instead of going in and trying to pacify89 her as he affirmed) and returned post-haste to the Colossus - but as Harlequin, not Pierrot - a simple transformation90 effected by removing his outer costume.'
The uncle of the dead man leaned forward, his eyes perplexed91.
'But if so, he must have come to the ball prepared to kill his victim. What earthly motive92 could he have had? The motive, that's what I can't get.'
'Ah! There we come to the second tragedy - that of Miss Courtenay. There was one simple point which everyone over-looked.
Miss Courtenay died of cocaine poisoning - but her supply of the drug was in the enamel box which was found on Lord Cronshaw's body. Where, then, did she obtain the dose which killed her? Only one person could have supplied her with it -Davidson.
And that explains everything. It accounts for her friendship with the Davidsons and her demand that Davidson should escort her home. Lord Cronshaw, who was almost fanatic-ally opposed to drug-taking, discovered that she was addicted to cocaine, and suspected that Davidson supplied her with it.
Davidson doubtless denied this, but Lord Cronshaw determined93 to get the truth from Miss Courtenay at the ball. He could forgive the wretched girl, but he would certainly have no mercy on the man who made a living by trafficking in drugs. Exposure and ruin confronted Davidson. He went to the ball determined thatCronshaw's silence must be obtained at any cost.'
'Was Coco's death an accident, then?'
'I suspect that it was an accident cleverly engineered by Davidson. She was furiously angry with Cronshaw, first for his reproaches, and secondly94 for taking her cocaine from her. Davidson supplied her with more, and probably suggested her augmenting95 the dose as a defiance96 to "old Cronch'T'One other thing,' I said. 'The recess and the curtain? How did you know about them?'
'Why, rnon ami, that was the most simple of all. Waiters had been in and out of that little room, so,obviously, the body couldnot have been lying where it was found on the floor. There must be some place in the room where it could be hidden. I deduced a curtain and a recess behind it. Davidson dragged the body there,and later, after drawing attention to himself in the box, he dragged it out again before finally leaving the Hall. It was one of his best moves. He is a clever fellow?
But in Poirot's green eyes I read unmistakably the unspoken remark: 'But not quite so clever as Hercule Poirotl'
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
formerly
|
|
| adv.从前，以前 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
invalided
|
|
| 使伤残（invalid的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
owl
|
|
| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
tangle
|
|
| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
sensational
|
|
| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
shrouded
|
|
| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
cocaine
|
|
| n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
marvel
|
|
| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
landlady
|
|
| n.女房东，女地主 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
inspector
|
|
| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
deploring
|
|
| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
21
lamentable
|
|
| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
persuasively
|
|
| adv.口才好地；令人信服地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
hop
|
|
| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
theatrical
|
|
| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
rumours
|
|
| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
honourable
|
|
| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
moody
|
|
| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
verge
|
|
| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
reconciliation
|
|
| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
confide
|
|
| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
reiterating
|
|
| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
vivaciously
|
|
| adv.快活地；活泼地；愉快地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
rout
|
|
| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
relish
|
|
| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
belle
|
|
| n.靓女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
enamel
|
|
| n.珐琅，搪瓷，瓷釉；(牙齿的)珐琅质 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
addicted
|
|
| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
wrenched
|
|
| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
altercation
|
|
| n.争吵，争论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
accurately
|
|
| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
ruffle
|
|
| v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
recess
|
|
| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
placidly
|
|
| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
gems
|
|
| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
hopping
|
|
| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
robin
|
|
| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
whit
|
|
| n.一点，丝毫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
ruffles
|
|
| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
suave
|
|
| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
poseur
|
|
| n.装模作样的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
oyster
|
|
| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
instinctively
|
|
| adv.本能地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
ushered
|
|
| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
fragrance
|
|
| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
harass
|
|
| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
smoothly
|
|
| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
derange
|
|
| v.使精神错乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
aggravating
|
|
| adj.恼人的，讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
eloquence
|
|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
intrigued
|
|
| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
ERECTED
|
|
| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
apparatus
|
|
| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
illuminated
|
|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
buffoon
|
|
| n.演出时的丑角 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
poised
|
|
| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
divested
|
|
| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
dispensing
|
|
| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
accounting
|
|
| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
simplicity
|
|
| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
stiffening
|
|
| n. (使衣服等)变硬的材料, 硬化 动词stiffen的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
pacify
|
|
| vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
transformation
|
|
| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
perplexed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
secondly
|
|
| adv.第二，其次 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
augmenting
|
|
| 使扩张 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
defiance
|
|
| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |