'Truth,' I observed, laying aside the Daily Nervrraonger, 'is stranger than fiction?
The remark was not, perhaps, an original one. It appeared to incense1 my friend. Tilting2 his egg-shaped head on one side, the little man carefully flicked3 an imaginary fleck4 of dust from hiscarefully creased5 trousers, and observed: 'How profoundt What a thinker is my friend Hastingsl'
Without displaying any annoyance6 at this quite uncalled-for gibe7, I tapped the sheet I had laidaside.
'You've read this morning's paper?' 'I have. And after reading it, I folded it anew symmetrically.
I did not cast it on the floor as you have done, with your so lamentable8 absence of order andmethod.' (That is the worst of Poirot. Order and Method are his gods.
He goes so far as to attribute all his success to them.) 'Then you saw the account of the murder ofHenry Reedburn, the impresario9? It was that which prompted my remark. Not only is truthstranger than fiction - it is more dramatic. Think of that solid middle-class English family, theOglanders. Father and mother, son and daughter, typical of thousands of families all over thiscountry. The men of the family go to the city every day; the women look after the house. Theirlives are perfectly10 peaceful, and utterly11 monotonous12. Last night they were sitting in their neatsuburban drawing-room at Daisymead, Streatham, playing bridge.
Suddenly, without any warning, the french window bursts open, and a woman staggers into theroom. Her grey satin frock is marked with a crimson14 stain. She utters one word, "Murder!" beforeshe sinks to the ground insensible. It is possible that they recognize her from her pictures asValerie Saintclair, the famous dancer who has lately taken London by storm!'
'Is this your eloquence15, or that of the Daily Newsmonger?' inquired Poirot.
'The Daily Newsmonger was in a hurry to go to press, and contented16 itself with bare facts. But thedramatic possibilities of the story struck me at once.' Poirot nodded thoughtfully. 'Wherever thereis human nature, there is drama. But - it is not always just where you think it is.
Remember that. Still, I too am interested in the case, since it is likely that I shall be connected withit.' 'Indeed?' 'Yes. A gentleman rang me up this morning, and made an appointment with me onbehalf of Prince Paul of Maurania.' 'But what has that to do with it?' 'You do not read your prettylittle English scandal-papers. The ones with the funny stories, and % little mouse has heard -" or"a little bird would like to know -" See here.' I followed his short stubby finger along theparagraph: ' - whether the foreign prince and the famous dancer are really affinities17! And if thelady likes her new diamond ringl' 'And now to resume your so dramatic narrative,' said Poirot.
'Mademoiselle Saintclair had just fainted on the drawing- room carpet at Daisymead, youremember.' I shrugged18. 'As a result of Mademoiselle's first murmured words when she cameround, the two male Oglanders stepped out, one to fetch a doctor to attend to the lady, who wasevidently suffering terribly from shock, and the other to the police-station whence after telling hisstory, he accompanied the police to Mort Dsir, Mr Reedburn's magnificent villa20, which is situatedat no great distance from Daisymead. There they found the great man, who by the way suffersfrom a somewhat unsavoury reputation, lying in the library with the back of his head cracked openlike an eggshell.' 'I have cramped21 your style,' said Poirot kindly22. 'Forgive me, I pray... Ah, here isM. le Prince?
Our distinguished23 visitor was announced under the title of Count Feodor. He was a strange-looking youth, tall, eager, with a
TO
weak chin, the famous Mauranberg mouth, and the dark fiery24 eyes of a fanatic25.
'M. Poirot?'
My friend bowed.
'Monsieur, I am in terrible trouble, greater than I can well express - '
Poirot waved his hand. 'I comprehend your anxiety. Mademois-elle Saintclair is a very dear friend,is it not so?'
The Prince replied simply: 'I hope to make her my wife.' Poirot sat up in his chair, and his eyesopened.
The Prince continued: 'I should not be the first of my family to make a morganatic marriage. Mybrother Alexander has also defied the Emperor. We are living now in more enlightened days, freefrom the old caste-prejudice. Besides, Mademoiselle Saint-clair, in actual fact, is quite my equal inrank. You have heard hints as to her history?'
'There are many romantic stories of her origin - not an un-common thing with famous dancers. Ihave heard that she is the daughter of an Irish charwoman, also the story which makes her mothera Russian grand duchess.'
'The first story is, of course, nonsense,' said the young man.
'But the second is true. Valerie, though bound to secrecy26, has let me guess as much. Besides, sheproves it unconsciously in a thousand ways. I believe in heredity, M. Poirot.'
'I oo believe in heredity,' said Poirot thoughtfully. 'I have seen some strange things in connectionwith it - mol qui oou parle.
But to business, M. le Prince. What do you want of me? What do you fear? I may speak freely,may I not? Is there anything to connect Mademoiselle Saintclair with the crime? She knewReedburn of course?'
'Yes. He professed27 to be in love with her.'
'And she?'
'She would have nothing to say to him.'
Poirot looked at him keenly. 'Had she any reason to fear him?'
The young man hesitated. 'There was an incident. You know Zara, the clairvoyant28?'
'NO,'
'She is wonderful. You should consult her some time. Valerie and I went to see her last week. Sheread the cards for us. She spoke29 to Valerie of trouble - of gathering30 clouds; then she turned up thelast card - the covering card, they call it. It was the king of clubs. She said to Valerie: "Beware.
There is a man who holds you in his power. You fear him - you are in great danger through him.
You know whom I mean?" Valerie was white to the lips.
She nodded and said: "Yes, yes, I know." Shortly afterwards we left. Zara's last words to Valeriewere: "Beware of the king of clubs. Danger threatens you!" I questioned Valerie. She would tellme nothing - assured me that all was well. But now, after last night, I am more sure than ever thatin the king of clubs Valerie saw Reedburn, and that he was the man she feared.'
The Prince paused abruptly31. 'Now you understand my agitation32 when I opened the paper thismorning. Supposing Valerie, in a fit of madness - oh, it is impossible?
Poirot rose from his seat, and patted the young man kindly on the shoulder. 'Do not distressyourself, I beg of you. Leave it in my hands.'
'You will go to Streatham? I gather she is still there, at Daisy mead13 - prostrated33 by the shock.'
'I will go at once.'
'I have arranged matters - through the embassy. You will be allowed access everywhere.'
'Then we will depart - Hastings, you will accompany me? Au revoir, M. le Prince.'
Mon Ddsir was an exceptionally fine villa, thoroughly34 modern and comfortable. A short carriage-drive led upto it from the road, and beautiful gardens extended behind the house for some acres.
On mentioning Prince Paul's name, the butler who answered the door at once took us to the sceneof the tragedy. The library was a magnificent room, running from back to front of the wholebuilding, with a window at either end, one giving on the front carriage-drive, and the other on thegarden. It was in the recess35 of the latter that the body had lain. It had been removed not longbefore, the police having concluded their examination.
'That is annoying,' I murmured to Poirot. 'Who knows what clues they may have destroyed?'
My little friend smiled. 'Eh - eh! How often must I tell you that dues come from oithin? In the littlegrey cells of the brain lies the solution of every mystery.'
He turned to the butler. 'I suppose, except for the removal of the body, the room has not beentouched?'
'No, sir. It's just as it was when the police came up last night.'
'These curtains, now. I see they pull right across the window-recess.
They are the same in the other window. Were they drawn36 last night?'
'Yes, sir. I draw them every night.'
'Then Reedburn must have drawn them back himself?'
'I suppose so, sir.'
'Did you know your master expected a visitor last night?'
'He did not say so, sir. But he gave orders he was not to be disturbed after dinner. You see, sir,there is a door leading out of the library on to the terrace at the side of the house. He could haveadmitted anyone that way.'
'Was he in the habit of doing that?'
The butler coughed discreetly37. 'I believe so, sir.'
Poirot strode to the door in question. It was unlocked. He stepped through it on to the terracewhich joined the drive on the right; on the left it led up to a red brick wall.
'The fruit garden, sir. There is a door leading into it farther along, but it was always locked at sixo'clock.'
Poirot nodded, and re-entered the library, the butler following.
'Did you hear nothing of last night's events?'
'Well, sir, we heard voices in the library, a little before nine.
But that wasn't unusual, especially being a lady's voice. But of course, once we were all in theservants' hall, right the other side, we didn't hear anything at all. And then, about eleven o'clock,the police came.'
'How many voices did you hear?'
'I couldn't say, sir. I only noticed the lady's.'
'Ahl'
'I beg pardon, sir, but Dr Ryan is still in the house, if you would care to see him.'
We jumped at the suggestion, and in a few minutes the doctor, a cheery, middle-aged38 man, joinedus, and gave Poirot all the information he required. Reedburn had been lying near the window, hishead by the marble window-seat. There were two wounds, one between the eyes, and the other,the fatal one, on the back of the head.
'He was lying on his back?'
'Yes. There is the mark.' He pointed39 to a small dark stain on the floor.
'Could not the blow on the back of the head have been caused by his striking the floor?'
'Impossible. Whatever the weapon was, it penetrated40 some distance into the skull41.'
Poirot looked thoughtfully in front of him. In the embrasure of each window was a carved marbleseat, the arms being fashioned in the form of a lion's head. A light came into Poirot's eyes.
'Supposing he had fallen backward on this projecting lion's head, and slipped from there to theground. Would not that cause a wound such as you describe?'
'Yes, it would. But the angle at which he was lying makes that theory impossible. And besides,there could not fail to be traces of blood on the marble of the seat.'
'Unless they were washed away?'
The doctor shrugged his shoulders. 'That is hardly likely. It would be to no one's advantage to givean accident the appearance of murder.'
'Quite so,' acquiesced42 Poirot. 'Could either of the blows have been struck by a woman, do youthink?'
'Oh, quite out of the question, I should say. You are thinking of Mademoiselle Saintclair, Isuppose?'
'I think of no one in particular until I am sure,' said Poirot gently.
He turned his attention to the open french window, and the doctor continued:
'It is through here that Mademoiselle Saintclair fled. You can just catch a glimpse of Daisymeadbetween the trees. Of course, there are many houses nearer to the front of the house on the road,but as it happens, Daisymead, though some distance away, is the only house visible this side.'
'Thank you for your amiability43, Doctor,' said Poirot. 'Come, Hastings, we will follow the footstepsof Mademoiselle.'
Poirot led the way down through the garden, out through an iron gate, across a short stretch ofgreen and in through the garden gate of Daisymead, which was an unpretentious little house inabout half an acre of ground. There was a small flight of steps leading up to a french window.
Poirot nodded in their direction.
'That is the way Mademoiselle Saintclair went. For us, who have not her urgency to plead, it willbe better to go round to the front door.' A maid admitted us and took us into the drawing-room,then went in search of Mrs Oglander. The room had evidently not been touched since the nightbefore. The ashes were still in the grate, and the bridge-table was still in the centre of the room,with a dummy44 exposed, and the hands thrown down. The place was somewhat overloaded45 withgimcrack ornaments46, and a good many family portraits of surpassing ugliness adorned47 the walls.
Poirot gazed at them more leniently48 than I did, and straightened one or two that were hanging ashade askew49. 'La famille, it is a strong tie, is it not? Sentiment, it takes the place of beauty.' Iagreed, my eyes being fixed50 on a family group comprising a gentleman with whiskers, a lady witha high 'front' of hair, a stolid51, thick- set boy, and two little girls tied up with a good manyunnecessary bows of ribbon. I took this to be the Oglander family in earlier days, and studied itwith interest.
The door opened, and a young woman came in. Her dark hair was neatly52 arranged, and she wore adrab-coloured sportscoat and a tweed skirt.
She looked at us inquiringly. Poirot stepped forward. 'Miss Oglander? I regret to derange53 you -especially after all you have been through. The whole affair must have been most disturbing.' 'Ithas been rather upsetting,' admitted the young lady cautiously. I began to think that the elementsof drama were wasted on Miss Oglander, that her lack of imagination rose superior to any tragedy.
I was confirmed in this belief as she continued: 'I must apologize for the state this room is in.
Servants get so foolishly excited.'
'It was here that you were sitting last night, n'est-ce pas?' 'Yes, we were playing bridge aftersupper, when - ' 'Excuse me - how long had you been playing?'
'Well -' Miss Oglander considered. 'I really can't say. I suppose it must have been about teno'clock. We had had several rubbers, I know.'
'And you yourself were sitting - where?'
'Facing the window. I was playing with my mother and had gone one no trump54. Suddenly, withoutany warning, the window burst open, and Miss Saintclair staggered into the room.'
'You recognized her?'
'I had a vague idea her face was familiar.'
'She is still here, is she not?'
'Yes, but she refuses to see anyone. She is still quite prostrated.'
'I think she will see me. Will you tell her that I am here at the express request of Prince Paul ofMaurania?'
I fancied that the mention of a royal prince rather shook Miss Oglander's imperturbable55 calm. Butshe left the room on her errand without any further remark, and returned almost im-mediately tosay that Mademoiselle Saintclair would see us in her room.
We followed her upstairs, and into a fair-sized light bedroom.
On a couch by the window a woman was lying who turned her head as we entered. The contrastbetween the two women struck me at once, the more so as in actual features and colouring theywere not unalike - but oh, the difference! Not a look, not a gesture of Valerie Saintelair's butexpressed drama. She seemed to exhale56 an atmosphere of romance. A scarlet57 flannel58 dressing-gown covered her feet - a homely59 garment in all conscience; but the charm of her personalityinvested it with an exotic fiavour, and it seemed an Eastern robe of glowing colour.
Her large dark eyes fastened themselves on Poirot.
'You come from Paul?' Her voice matched her appearance - t was full and languid.
'Yes, mademoiselle. I am here to serve him - and you.' 'What do you want to know?'
'Everything that happened last night. But everythingl'
She smiled rather wearily.
'Do you think I should lie? I am not stupid. I see well enough that there can be no concealment60. Heheld a secret of mine, that man who is dead. He threatened me with it. For Paul's sake, Iendeavoured to make terms with him. I could not risk losing Paul ·.. Now that he is dead, I amsafe. But for all that, I did not kill him.'
Poirot shook his head with a smile. 'It is not necessary to tell me that, mademoiselle. Now recountto me what happened last night.'
'I offered him money. He appeared to be willing to treat with me. He appointed last night at nineo'clock. I was to go to Mort D6sir. I knew the place; I had been there before. I was to go round tothe side door into the library, so that the servants should not see me.'
'Excuse me, mademoiselle, but were you not afraid to trust yourself alone there at night?'
Was it my fancy, or was there a momentary61 pause before she answered?
'Perhaps I was. But you see, there was no one I could ask to go with me. And I was desperate.
Reedburn admitted me to the library. Oh, that manl I am glad he is dead! He played with me, as acat does with a mouse. He taunted62 me. I begged and implored63 him on my knees. I offered himevery jewel I have. All in vain!
Then he named his own terms. Perhaps you can guess what they were. I refused. I told him what Ithought of him. I raved64 at him.
He remained calmly smiling. And then, as I fell to silence at last, there was a sound - from behindthe curtain in the window.
He heard it too. He strode to the curtains and flung them wide apart. There was a man there, hiding- a dreadful-looking man, a sort of tramp. He struck at Mr Reedburn - then he struck again, and hewent down. The tramp clutched at me with his bloodstainedhand. I tore myself free, slipped through the window, and ran for my life. Then I perceived thelights in this house, and made for them. The blinds were up, and I saw some people playingbridge.
I almost fell into the room. I just managed to gasp65 out "Murder!" and then everything went black -'
'Thank you, mademoiselle. It must have been a great shock to your nervous system. As to thistramp, could you describe him?
Do you remember what he was wearing?'
'No - it was all so quick. But I should know the man anywhere.
His face is burnt in on my brain.'
'Just one more question, mademoiselle. The curtains of the other window, the one giving on thedrive, were they drawn?'
For the first time a puzzled expression crept over the dancer's face. She seemed to be trying toremember.
'Eh bien, mademoiselle?'
'I think - I am almost sure - yes, quite sure! They were not drawn.'
'That is curious, since the other ones were. No matter. It is, I dare say, of no great importance. Youare remaining here long, mademoiselle?'
'The doctor thinks I shall be fit to return to town tomorrow.' She looked round the room. MissOglander had gone out. 'Thee people, they are very kind - but they are not of my world. I 8hockthem! And to me - well, I am not fond of the bourgeoisiel'
A faint note of bitterness underlay66 her words.
Poirot nodded. 'I understand. I hope I have not fatigued67 you unduly68 with my questions?'
'Not at all, monsieur. I am only too anxious Paul should know all as soon as possible.'
'Then I will wish you good day, mademoiselle.'
As Poirot was leaving the room, he paused, and pounced69 on a pair of patent-leather slippers70.
'Yours, mademoiselle?'
'Yes, monsieur. They have just been cleaned and brought up.' 'Ah!' said Poirot, as we descendedthe stairs. 'It seems that the domestics are not too excited to clean shoes, though they forget agrate. Well, rnon ami, at first there appeared to be one or two points of interest, but I fear, I verymuch fear, that we must regard the case as finished. It all seems straightforward71 enouth.' 'And themurderer?' 'Hercule Poirot does not hunt down tramps,' replied my fried grandiloquently72.
Miss Oglander met us in the hall. 'If you will wait in the drawig-room a minute, Mamma wouldlike to speak to you.' The room was still untouched, and Poirot idly gathered upthe cards, shufflingthem with his tiny, fastidiously groomed73 han& 'Do you know. what I think, my friend?' 'No?' Isaid eagerly.
'I think that Miss Oglander made a mistake in going one ao trump. She should have gone threespades.' 'Poirott You are the limit.' 'Mon Dieu, I cannot always be talking blood and thunderl'
Suddenly he stiffenet: 'Hastings - Hastings. Seel The king of clubs is missing from the pack]'
'garal' I cried.
'Eh?' He did not seem to understand my allusion74. Mechanically he stacked the cards and put themaway in their cases. His face was very grave.
'Hastings,' he said at last, 'I, Hercule Poirot, have come near to making a big mistake - a very bigmistake.' I gazed at him, impressed, but utterly uncomprehending.
'We must begin again, Hastings. Yes, we must begin again.
But this time we shall not err19.' He was interrupted by the entrance of a handsome middle-agedlady. She carried some household books in her hand. P0irot bowed to her.
'Do I understand, sir, that you are a friend of - er -8aintdair's?' 'I come from a friend of hers,madame.' 'Oh, I see. I thought perhaps - ' Poirot suddenly waved brusquely at the window.
'Your blinds were not pulled down last night?' 'No - I suppose that is why Miss Saintclair saw thelight plainly.'
'There was moonlight last night. I wonder that you did not see Mademoiselle Saintclair from yourseat here facing the windows?'
'I suppose we were engrossed75 with our game. Nothing like this has ever happened before to us.'
'I can quite believe that, madame. And I will put your mind at rest. Mademoiselle Saintclair isleaving tomorrow.'
'Oh!' The good lady's face cleared.
'And I will wish you good morning, madame.'
A servant was cleaning the steps as we went out of the front door. Poirot addressed her.
'Was it you who cleaned the shoes of the young lady upstairs?'
The maid shook her head. 'No, sir. I don't think they've been cleaned.'
'Who cleaned them, then?' I inquired of Poirot, as we walked down the road.
'Nobody. They did not need cleaning.'
'I grant that walking on the road or path on a fine night would not soil them. But surely after goingthrough the long grass of the garden, they would have been soiled and stained.'
'Yes,' said Poirot with a curi(us smile. 'In that case, I agree, they would have been stained.'
'But - '
'Have patience a little half-hour, my friend. We are going back to Mon Dsir.'
The butler looked surprised at our reappearance, but offered no objection to our returning to thelibrary.
'Hi, that's the wrong window, Poirot,' I cried as he made for the one overlooking the carriage-drive.
'I think not, my friend. See here.' He pointed to the marble lion's head. On it was a faintdiscoloured smear76. He shifted his finger and pointed to a similar stain on the polished floor.
'Some one struck Reedburn a blow with his clenched77 fist between the eyes. He fell backward onthis projecting bit of marble, then slipped to the floor. Afterwards, he was dragged across the floorto the other window, and laid there instead, but not quite at the same angle, as the Doctor'sevidence told us.'
'But why? It seems utterly unnecessary.' 'On the contrary, it was essential. Also, it is the key to themurderer's identity - though, by the way, he had no intention of killing78 Reedburn, and so it ishardly permissible79 to call him a murderer. He must be a very strong manl' 'Because of havingdragged the body across the floor?' 'Not altogether. It has been an interesting case. I nearly madean imbecile of myself, though.' 'Do you mean to say it is over, that you know everything?' 'Yes.' Aremembrance smote80 me. 'No,' I cried. 'There is one thing you do not know!' 'And that?' 'You donot know where the missing king of clubs isl' 'Eh? Oh, that is droll81! That is very droll, my friend.'
'Why?' 'Because it is in my pocketl' He drew it forth82 with a flourish.
'Ohl' I said, rather crestfallen83. 'Where did you find it?
Here?' 'There was nothing sensational84 about it. It had simply not been taken out with the othercards. It was in the box.' 'H'm All the same, it gave you an idea, didn't it?' 'Yes, my friend. Ipresent my respects to His Majesty85.' 'And to Madame Zaral' 'Ah, yes - to the lady also.' 'Well, whatare we going to do now?' 'We are going to return to town. But I must have a few words with acertain lady at Daisymead first.' The same little maid opened the door to us.
'They're all at lunch now, sir - unless it's Miss $aintclair you want to see, and she's resting.' 'It willdo if I can see Mrs Oglander for a few minutes. Will you tell her?' We were led into the drawing-room to wait. I had a glimpse of the family in the dining-room as we passed, now reinforced bythe presence of two heavy, solid-looking men, one with a moustache, the other with a beard also.
In a few minutes Mrs Oglander came into the room, looking inquiringly at Poirot, who bowed.
'Madame, we, in our country, have a great tenderness, a great respect for the mother. The mi, redefamille, she is everything!' Mrs Oglander looked rather astonished at this opening.
'It is for that reason that I have come - to allay86 a mother's anxiety. The murderer of Mr Reedburnwill not be discovered.
Have no fear. I, Hercule Poirot, tell you so. I am right, am I not?
Or is it a wife that I must reassure87?'
There was a moment's pause. Mrs Oglander seemed searching Poirot with her eyes. At last shesaid quietly: 'I don't know how you know - but yes, you are right.'
Poirot nodded gravely. 'That is all, madame. But do not be uneasy. Your English policemen havenot the eyes of Hercule Poirot.' He tapped the family portrait on the wall with his finger-nail.
'You had another daughter once. She is dead, madame?'
Again there was a pause, as she searched him with her eyes.
Then she answered: 'Yes, she is dead.'
'Ahl' said Poirot briskly. 'Well, we must return to town. You permit that I return the king of clubsto the pack? It was your only slip. You understand, to have played bridge for an hour or so, withonly fifty-one cards - well, no one who knows anything of the game would credit it for a minute!
Bonjourl'
'find now, my friend,' said Poirot as we stepped towards the station, 'you see it all?
'I see nothing! Who killed Reedburn?'
'John Oglander, Junior. I was not quite sure if it was the father or the son, but I fixed on the son asbeing the stronger and younger of the two. It had to be one of them, because of the win-dow.'
'Why?'
'There were four exits from the library - two doors, two win-dows; but evidently only one woulddo. Three exits gave on the front, directly or indirectly88. The tragedy had to occur in the backwindow in order to make it appear that Valerie Saintclair came to Daisymead by chance. Really,of course, she fainted, and John
Oglander carried her across over his shoulders. That is why I said he must be a strong man.' 'Didthey go there together, then?' 'Yes. You remember Valerie's hesitation89 when I asked her if she wasnot afraid to go alone? John Oglander went with her which didn't improve Reedburn's temper, Ifancy. They quarrelled, and it was probably some insult levelled at ?alerie that made Oglander hithim. The rest, you know.' 'But why the bridge?' 'Bridge presupposes four players. A simple thinglike that carries a lot of conviction. Who would have supposed that there had been only threepeople in that room all the evening?' I was still puzzled.
'There's one thing I don't understand. What have the Oglanders to do with the dancer ValerieSaintclair?' 'Ah, that I wonder you did not see. And yet you looked long enough at that picture onthe wall - longer than I did. Mrs Oglander's other daughter may be dead to her family, but theworld knows her as Valerie Saintclairl' 'What?' 'Did you not see the resemblance the moment yousaw the two sisters together?' 'No,' I confessed. 'I only thought how extraordinarily90 dissimilar theywere.' 'That is because your mind is so open to external romantic impressions, my dear Hastings.
The features are almost identical.
$o is the colouring. The interesting thing is that ?alerie is ashamed of her family, and her family isashamed of her. Nevertheless, in a moment of peril91, she turned to her brother for help, and whenthings went wrong, they all hung together in a remarkable92 way.
Family strength is a marvellous thing. They can all act, that family. That is where Valerie gets herhistrionic talent from. I, like Prince Paul, believe in heredityl They deceived rnel But for a luckyaccident, and test question to Mrs Oglander by which I got her to contradict her daughter's accountof how they were sitting, the Oglander family would have put a defeat on Hercule Poirot.' 'Whatshall you tell the Prince?'
'That Valerie could not possibly have committed the crime, and that I doubt if that tramp will everbe found. Also, to convey my compliments to Zara. A curious coincidence, thatl I think I shall callthis little affair the Adventure of the King of Clubs.
What do you think, my friend?'
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incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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tilting
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flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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fleck
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| n.斑点，微粒 vt.使有斑点，使成斑驳 | |
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creased
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴 | |
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annoyance
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gibe
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lamentable
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impresario
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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13
mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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14
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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affinities
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| n.密切关系( affinity的名词复数 )；亲近；（生性）喜爱；类同 | |
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18
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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19
err
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| vi.犯错误，出差错 | |
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20
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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fanatic
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| n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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clairvoyant
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| adj.有预见的；n.有预见的人 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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30
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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prostrated
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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dummy
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| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
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overloaded
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| a.超载的，超负荷的 | |
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46
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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leniently
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| 温和地，仁慈地 | |
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askew
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| adv.斜地；adj.歪斜的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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derange
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| v.使精神错乱 | |
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54
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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exhale
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| v.呼气，散出，吐出，蒸发 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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underlay
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| v.位于或存在于（某物）之下( underlie的过去式 )；构成…的基础（或起因），引起n.衬垫物 | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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69
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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71
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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grandiloquently
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73
groomed
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| v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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74
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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76
smear
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| v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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permissible
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| adj.可允许的，许可的 | |
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80
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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81
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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82
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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83
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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85
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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86
allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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87
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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88
indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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89
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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91
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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