'Colonel Clapperton!' said General Forbes.
He said it with an effect midway between a snort and a sniff1.
Miss Ellie Henderson leaned forward, a strand2 of her soft grey hair blowing across her face. Hereyes, dark and snapping, gleamed with a wicked pleasure.
'Such a soldierly-looking man? she said with malicious3 intent, and smoothed back the lock of hairto await the result.
'Soldierly!' exploded General Forbes. He tugged4 at his military moustache and his face becamebright red.
'In the Guards, wasn't he?' murmured Miss Henderson, completing her work.
'Guards? Guards? Pack of nonsense. Fellow was on the music hall stagel Fact! Joined up and wasout in France counting tins of plum and apple. Huns dropped a stray bomb and he went home witha flesh wound in the arm. Somehow or other got into Lady Carrington's hospital.' 'So that's howthey met.' 'Fact! Fellow played the wounded hero. Lady Carrington had no sense and oceans ofmoney. Old Carrington had been in munitions5. She'd been a widow only six months. This fellowsnaps her up in no time. She wangled him a job at the War Office. Colonel Clappertonl Pahl' hesnorted.
'And before the war he was on the music hall stage,' mused6 Miss Henderson, trying to reconcilethe distinguished8 grey- haired Colonel Clapperton with a red- nosed comedian9 singing mirth-provoking songs.
'Fact!' said General Forbes. 'Heard it from old Basaingtonffrench.
And he heard it from old Badger10 Cotterill who'd got it from Snooks Parker.' Miss Hendersonnodded brightly. 'That does seem to settle it!' she said.
A fleeting11 smile showed for a minute on the face of a small man sitting near them. MissHenderson noticed the smile. She was observant. It had shown appreciation12 of the ironyunderlying her last remark - irony13 which the General never for a moment suspected.
The General himself did not notice the smiles. He glanced at his watch, rose and remarked:
'Exercise. Got to keep oneself fit on a boat,' and passed out through the open door on to the deck.
Miss Henderson glanced at the man who had smiled. It was a well-bred glance indicating that shewas ready to enter into conversation with a fellow traveller.
'He is energetic - yes?' said the little man.
'He goes round the deck forty-eight times exactly,' said Miss Henderson. 'What an old gossip! Andthey say we are the scandal-loving sex.' 'What an impoliteness!' 'Frenchmen are always polite,'
said Miss Henderson - there was the nuance14 of a question in her voice.
The little man responded promptly15. 'Belgian, mademoiselle.' 'Obi Belgian.' 'Hercule Poirot. Atyour service.' The name aroused some memory. Surely she had heard it before - ? 'Are youenjoying this trip, M. Poirot?' 'Frankly16, no. It was an imbecility to allow myself to be persuaded tocome. I detest17 la mcr. Never does it remain tranquil18 no, not for a little minute.' 'Well, you admit it'squite calm now.' M. Poirot admitted this grudgingly19. '.4 ce moment, yes. That is why I revive. Ionce more interest myself in what passes around me - your very adept20 handling of the GeneralForbes, for instance.' 'You mean -' Miss Henderson paused. ttercule Poirot bowed. 'Your methodsof extracting the scandalous matter. Admirable?
Miss Henderson laughed in an unashamed manner. 'That touch about the Guards? I knew thatwould bring the old boy up spluttering and gasping21.' She leaned forward confidentially22. 'I admit Ilife scandal - the more ill-natured, the betterl'
Poirot looked thoughtfully at her - her slim well-preserved figure, her keen dark eyes, her greyhair; a woman of forty-five who was content to look her age.
Ellie said abruptly23: 'I have it! Aren't you the great detective?' Poirot bowed. 'You are too amiable,mademoiselle.' But he made no disclaimer.
'How thrilling,' said Miss Henderson. 'Are you "hot on the trail" as they say in books? Have we acriminal secretly in our midst? Or am I being indiscreet?' 'Not at all. Not at all. It pains me todisappoint your expectations, but I am simply here, like everyone else, to amuse myself.' He said itin such a gloomy voice that Miss Henderson laughed.
'Oh! Well, you will be able to get ashore24 tomorrow at Alexandria.
You have been to Egypt before?' 'Never, mademoiselle.' Miss Henderson rose somewhat abruptly.
'I think I shall join the General on his constitutional,' she announced.
Poirot sprang politely to his feet.
She gave him a little nod and passed out on to the deck.
A faint puzzled look showed for a moment in Poirot's eyes, then, a little smile creasing25 his lips, herose, put his head through the door and glanced down the deck. Miss Henderson was leaningagainst the rail talking to a tall, soldierly-looking man.
Poirot's smile deepened. He drew himself back into the smoking-room with the same exaggeratedcare with which a tortoise withdraws itself into its shell. For the moment he had the smoking-roomto himself, though he rightly conjectured26 that that would not last long.
It did not. Mrs Clapperton, her cdrefully waved platinum27 head protected with a net, her massagedand dieted form dressed in a smart sports suit, came through the door from the bar with thepurposeful air of a woman who has always been able to pay top price for anything she needed.
She said: 'John - ? Ohl Good morning, M. Poirot - have you seen John?' 'He's on the starboarddeck, madame. Shall I - ?'
She arrested him with a gesture. 'I'll sit here a minute.' She at down in a regal fashion in the chairopposite him. From the distance she had looked a possible twenty-eight. Now, in spite of herexquisitely made-up face, her delicately plucked eyebrows29, she looked not her actual forty-nineyears, but a possible fifty-five.
Her eyes were a hard pale blue with tiny pupils.
'I was sorry not to have seen you at dinner last night,' she said.
'It was just a shade choppy, of course -' 'Prdcisgrnent,' said Poirot with feeling.
'Luckily, I am an excellent sailor,' said Mrs Clapperton. 'I say luckily, because, with my weakheart, seasickness30 would probably be the death of me.' 'You have the weak heart, madame?' 'Yes, Ihave to be most careful. I must not overtire myself AR the specialists say so!' Mrs Clapperton hadembarked on the - to her - ever-fascinating topic of her health. 'John, poor darting31, wears himselfout trying to prevent me from doing too much. I live so intensely, if you know what I mean, M.
Poirot?' 'Yes, yes.' 'He always says to me: "Try to be more of a vegetable, Adeline." But I can't.
Life was meant to be lived, I feel. As a matter of fact I wore myself out as a girl in the war. Myhospital - you've heard of my hospital? Of course I had nurses and matrons and all that but Iactually ran it.' She sighed.
'Your vitality32 is marvellous, dear lady,' said Poirot, with the slightly mechanical air of oneresponding to his cue.
Mrs Clapperton gave a girlish laugh.
'Everyone tells me how young I ami It's absurd. I never try to pretend I'm a day less than forty-three,' she continued with lightly mendacious33 candour, 'but a lot of people find it hard to believe.
"You're so alive, Adeline," they ay to me. But really, M.
Poirot, what would one be if one wasn't alive?' 'Dead,' said Poirot.
Mrs Clapperton frowned. The reply was not to her liking34. The man, she decided35, was trying to befunny. She got up and said coldly: 'I must find John.' As she stepped through the door she droppedher handbag. It
opened and the contents flew far and wide. Poirot rushed gallantly37 to the rescue. It was some fewminutes before the lipsticks38, vanit boxes, cigarette case and lighter39 and other odds40 and ends werecollected. Mrs Clapperton thanked him politely, then she swep! down the deck and said, 'John '
Colonel Clapperton was still deep in conversation with Mis Henderson. He swung round and camequickly to meet his wife.
He bent41 over her protectively. Her deck chair - was it in the right place? Wouldn't it be better - ?
His manner was courteous42 - full of gentle consideration. Clearly an adored wife spoilt by aradoring husband.
Miss Ellie Henderson looked out at the horizon as though. something about it rather disgusted her.
Standing43 in the smoking-room door, Poirot looked on.
A hoarse44 quavering voice behind him said: 'I'd take a hatchet45 to that woman if I were her husband.'
The old gentleman known disrespectfully among the younger set on board as the Grandfather ofAll the Tea Planters, had just shuffled46 in. 'Boyl' he called. 'Get me a whisky peg47.' Poirot stooped toretrieve a torn scrap48 of notepaper, an over. looked item from the contents of Mrs Clapperton's bag.
Part of. prescription49, he noted50, containing digitalin. He put it in hi.' pocket, meaning to restore it toMrs Clapperton later.
'Yes,' went on the aged28 passenger. 'Poisonous woman, l remember a woman like that in Poona. In'87 that was.' 'Did anyone take a hatchet to her?' inquired Poirot.
The old gentleman shook his head sadly.
'Worried her husband into his grave within the year. Clapperton ought to assert himself. Gives hiswife her head too much.' 'She holds the purse strings51,' said Poirot gravely.
'Ha, ha!' chuckled52 the old gentleman. 'You've put the matter in a nutshell. Holds the purse strings.
Ha, hal' Two girls burst into the smoking-room. One had a round face with freckles53 and dark hairstreaming out in a windswept con7. fusion54, the other had freckles and curly chestnut55 hair.
'A rescue - a rescue? cried Kitty Mooney. 'Pam and I are going to rescue Colonel Clapperton.'
'From his wife,' gasped56 Pamela Cregan.
'We think he's a pet...' 'And she's just awful - she won't let him do anything,' the two girlsexclaimed.
'And if he isn't with her, he's usually grabbed by the Henderson woman...' 'Who's quite nice. Butterribly old...' They ran out, gasping in between giggles57: 'A rescue - a rescueThat the rescue of Colonel Clapperton was no isolated58 sally, but a fixed59 project was made clearthat same evening when the eighteen- year- old Pam Cregan came up to Hercule Poirot, andmurmured: 'Watch us, M. Poirot. He's going to be cut out from under her nose and taken to walkin the moonlight on the boat deck.' It was just at that moment that Colonel Clapperton was saying:
'I grant you the price of a Rolls-Royce. But it's practically good for a lifetime. Now my car - ' 'Mycar, I think, John.' Mrs Clapperton's voice was shrill60 and penetrating61.
He showed no annoyance62 at her ungraciousness. Either he was used to it by this time, or else 'Orelse?' thought Poirot and let himself speculate.
'Certainly, my dear, your car,' Clapperton bowed to his wife and finished what he had been saying,perfectly63 unruffled.
'Voild ce qu'on appelle le pukka sahib,' thought Poirot. 'But the General Forbes says thatClapperton is no gentleman at all. I wonder now.' There was a suggestion of bridge. MrsClapperton, General Forbes and a hawk-eyed couple sat down to it. Miss Henderson had excusedherself and gone out on deck.
'What about your husband?' asked General Forbes, hesitating.
'John won't play,' said Mrs Clapperton. 'Most tiresome64 of him.' The four bridge players beganshuffling the cards.
Pam and Kitty advanced on Colonel Clapperton. Each one took an arm.
'You're coming with us!' said Pam. 'To the boat deck. There's a moon.'
'Don't be foolish, John,' said Mrs Clapperton. 'You'll catch a chill.'
'llot with us, he won't,' said Kitty. 'We're hot stuff!'
He went with them, laughing.
Poirot noticed that Mrs Clapperton said No Bid to her initial bid of Two Clubs.
He strolled out on to the promenade66 deck. Miss Henderson was standing by the rail. She lookedround expectantly as he came to stand beside her and he saw the drop in her expression.
They chatted for a while. Then presently as he fell silent she asked: 'What are you thinking about?'
Poirot replied: 'I am wondering about my knowledge of English.
Mrs Clapperton said: "John won't play bridge." Is not "can't play" the usual term?'
'She takes it as a personal insult that he doesn't, I suppose,' said Ellie drily. 'The man was a foolever to have married her.'
In the darkness Poirot smiled. 'You don't think it's just possible that the marriage may be asuccess?' he asked diffidently.
'With a woman like that?'
Poirot shrugged67 his shoulders. 'Many odious68 women have devoted69 husbands. An enigma70 of nature.
You will admit that nothing she says or does appears to gall36 him.' Miss Henderson wasconsidering her reply when Mrs Clapperton's voice floated out through the smoking- roomwindow.
'No - I don't think I will play another rubber. So stuffy71. I think I'll go up and get some air on theboat deck.'
'Good night,' said Miss Hendersom 'I'm going to bed.' She disappeared abruptly.
Poirot strolled forward to the lounge - deserted72 save for Colonel Clapperton and the two girls. Hewas doing card tricks for them and noting the dexterity73 of his shuffling65 and handling of the cards,Poirot remembered the General's story of a career on the music hall stage.
'I see you enjoy the cards even though you do not play bridge,' he remarked.
'I've my reasons for not playing bridge,' said Clapperton, his charming smile breaking out. 'I'llshow you. We'll play one hand.' He dealt the cards rapidly. 'Pick up your hands. Well, what aboutit?' He laughed at the bewildered expression on Kitty's face.
He laid down his hand and the others followed suit. Kitty held the entire club suit, M. Poirot thehearts, Pam the diamonds and Colonel Clapperton the spades.
'You see?' he said. 'A man who can deal his partner and his adversaries74 any hand he pleases hadbetter stand aloof75 from a friendly gamet If the luck goes too much his way, ill-natured thingsmight be said.'
'Ohl' gasped Kitty. 'How could you do that? It all looked perfectly ordinary.'
'The quickness of the hand deceives the eye,' said Poirot sententiously - and caught the suddenchange in the Colonel's expression.
It was as though he realized that he had been off his guard for a moment or two.
Poirot smiled. The conjuror76 had shown himself through the mask of the pukka sahib.
The ship reached Alexandria at dawn the following morning.
As Poirot came up from breakfast he found the two girls all ready to go on shore. They weretalking to Colonel Clapperton.
'We ought to get off now,' urged Kitty. 'The passport people will be going off the ship presently.
You'll come with us, won't you? You wouldn't let us go ashore all by ourselves? Awful thingsmight happen to us.'
'I certainly don't think you ought to go by yourselves, said Clapperton, smiling. 'But I'm not suremy wife feels up to it.'
'That's too bad,' said Pam. 'But she can have a nice long rest.'
Colonel Clapperton looked a little irresolute77. Evidently the desire to play truant78 was strong uponhim. He noticed Poirot.
'Hullo, M. Poirot - you going ashore?' 'No, I think not,' M. Poirot replied.
'I'll - I'll -just have a word with Adeline,' decided Colonel Clapperton.
'We'll come with you,' said Pam. She flashed a wink79 at Poirot.
'Perhaps we can persuade her to come too,' she added gravely.
Colonel Clapperton seemed to welcome this suggestion. He looked decidedly relieved.
'Come along then, the pair of you,' he said lightly. They all three went along the passage of B decktogether.
Poirot, whose cabin was just opposite the Clappertons, followed them out of curiosity.
Colonel Clapperton rapped a little nervously80 at the cabin door.
'Adeline, my dear, are you up?'
The sleepy voice of Mrs Clapperton from within replied: 'Oh, bother - what is it?'
'It's John. What about going ashore?'
'Certainly not.' The voice was shrill and decisive. 'I've had a very bad night. I shall stay in bedmost of the day.'
Pam nipped in quickly. 'Oh, Mrs Clapperton, I'm so sorry. We did so want you to come with us.
Are you sure you're not up to it?'
'I'm quite certain. Mrs Clapperton's voice sounded even shriller.
The Colonel was turning the door-handle without result.
'What is it, John? The door's locked. I don't want to be dis-turbed by the stewards82.'
'Sorry, my dear, sorry. Just wanted my Baedeker.'
'Well, you can't have it,' snapped Mrs Clapperton. 'I'm not going to get out of bed. Do go away,John, and let me have a little peace.'
'Certainly, certainly, my dear.' The Colonel backed away from the door. Pam and Kitty closed inon him.
'Let's start at once. Thank goodness your hat's on your head.
Oh, gracious - your passport isn't in the cabin, is it?'
'As a matter of fact it's in my pocket - ' began the Colonel.
Kitty squeezed his arm. 'Glory be!' she exclaimed. 'Now, come on.'
Leaning over the rail, Poirot watched the three of them leave the ship. He heard a faint intake83 ofbreath beside him and turned to see Miss Henderson. Her eyes were fastened on the threeretreating figures.
'So they've gone ashore,' she said flatly.
'Yes. Are you going?' She had a shade hat, he noticed, and a smart bag and shoes.
There was a shore- going appearance about her. Nevertheless, after the most infinitesimal ofpauses, she shook her head.
'No,' she said. 'I think I'll stay on board. I have a lot of letters to write.' She turned and left him.
Puffing84 after his morning tour of forty-eight rounds of the deck, General Forbes took her place.
'Aha? he exclaimed as his eyes noted the retreating figures of the Colonel and the two girls. 'Sothat's the game! Where's the Madam?' Poirot explained that Mrs Clapperton was having a quietday in bed.
'Don't you believe it!' the old warrior85 closed one knowing eye.
'She'll be up for tiffin - and if the poor devil's found to be absent without leave, there'll be ructions.'
But the General's prognostications were not fulfilled. Mrs Clapperton did not appear at lunch andby the time the Colonel and his attendant damsels returned to the ship at four o'clock, she had notshown herself.
Poirot was in his cabin and heard the husband's slightly guilty knock on his cabin door. Heard theknock repeated, the cabin door tried, and finally heard the Colonel's call to a steward81.
'Look here, I can't get an answer. Have you a key?' Poirot rose quickly from his bunk86 and cameout into the passage.
The news went like wildfire round the ship. With horrified87 incredulity people heard that MrsClapperton had been found dead in her bunk - a native dagger88 driven through her heart. A string ofamber beads89 was found on the floor of her cabin.
Rumour91 succeeded rumour. All bead90 sellers who had been allowed on board that day were beingrounded up and questionedl A large sum in cash had disappeared from a drawer in the cabinl Thenotes had been tracedl They had not been tracedl Jewellery worth a fortune had been takenl Nojewellery had been taken at alll A steward had been arrested and had confessed to the murderl'What is the truth of it all?' demanded Miss Ellie Henderson waylaying92 Poirot. Her face was paleand troubled.
'My dear lady, how should I know?'
'Of course you know,' said Miss Henderson.
It was late in the evening. Most people had retired93 to their cabins. Miss Henderson led Poirot to acouple of deck chairs on the sheltered side of the ship. 'Now tell me,' she commanded.
Poirot surveyed her thoughtfully. 'It's an interesting case,' he said.
'Is it true that she had some very valuabte jewellry stolen?' Poirot shook his head. 'No. Nojewellery was taken. A small amount of loose cash that was in a drawer has disappeared, though.'
'I'll never feel safe on a ship again,' said Miss Henderson with a shiver. 'Any clue as to which ofthose coffee-coloured brutes94 did it?'
'No,' said Hercule Poirot. 'The whole thing is rather - strange.' 'What do you mean?' asked Elliesharply.
Poirot spread out his hands. 'Eh bien - take the facts. Mrs Clapperton had been dead at least fivehour when she was found.
Some money had disappeared. A string of beads was on the floor by her bed. The door was lockedand the key was missing. The window - 0indo, not port-hole - gives on the deck and was open.'
'Well?' asked the woman impatiently.
'Do you not think it is curious for a murder to be committed under those particular circumstances?
Remember that the postcard sellers, money changers and bead sellers who are allowed on boardare all well known to the police.'
'The stewards usually lock your cabin, all the same,' Ellie pointed95 out.
'Yes, to prevent any chance of petty pilfering96. But this - was murder.'
'What exactly are you thinking of, M. Poirot?' Her voice sounded a little breathless.
'I am thinking of the locked door.'
Miss Henderson considered this. 'I don't see anything in that.
The man left by the door, locked it and took the key with him soaa to avoid having the murder discovered too soon. Quite intelli- gent of him, for it wasn'tdiscovered until four o'clock in the afternoon.'
'No, no, mademoiselle, you don't appreciate the point I'm trying to make. I'm not worried as tohow he got out, but as to how he got in.'
'The window of course.'
'C'est possible. But it would be a very narrow fit - and there were people passing up and down thedeck all the time, remember.' 'Then through the door,' said Miss Henderson impatiently.
'But you forget, mademoiselle. Mrs Clapperton had loehed the door on the ira/de. She had done sobefore Colonel Clapperton left the boat this morning. He actually tried it - so we knoro that is ao.'
'Nonsense. It probably stuck - or he didn't turn the handle properly.'
'But it does not rest on his word. We actually heard MrsClapperton herself say so.'
'We?'
'Miss Mooney, Miss Cregan, Colonel Clapperton and myself.' Ellie Henderson tapped a neatlyshod foot. She did not speak for a moment or two. Then she said in a slightly irritable97 tone: 'Well -what exactly do you deduce from that? If Mrs Clapperton could lock the door she could unlock ittoo, I suppose.'
'Precisely98, precisely.' Poirot turned a beaming face upon her.
'And you see where that leads us. Mrs Clapperton unlocked the door and let the murderer in. Nowwould she be likely to do that for a bead seller?'
Ellie objected: 'She might not have known who it was. He may have knocked - she got up andopened the door - and he forced his way in and killed her.'
Poirot shook his head. '.4u contraire. She was lying peacefully in bed when she was stabbed.'
Miss Henderson stared at him. 'What's your idea?' she asked abruptly.
Poirot smiled. 'Well, it looks, does it not, as though she knew the person she admitted...'
'You mean,' said Miss Henderson and her voice sounded a little harsh, 'that the murderer is apassenger on the ship?' Poirot nodded. 'It seems indicated.' 'And the string of beads left on thefloor was a blind?' 'Precisely.' 'The theft of the money also?' 'Exactly.' There was a pause, thenMiss Henderson said slowly: 'I thought Mrs Clapperton a very unpleasant woman and I don't thinkanyone on board really liked her - but there wasn't anyone who had any reason to kill her.' 'Excepther husband, perhaps,' said Poirot.
'You don't really think - ' She stopped.
'It is the opinion of every person on this ship that Colonel Clapperton would have been quitejustified in "taking a hatchet to her". That was, I think, the expression used.' Ellie Hendersonlooked at him - waiting.
'But I am bound to say,' went on Poirot, 'that I myself have not noted any signs of exasperation99 onthe good Colonel's part. Also, what is more important, he had an alibi100. He was with those two girlsall day and did not return to the ship till four o'clock. By then, Mrs Clapperton had been deadmany hours.' There was another minute of silence. Ellie Henderson said softly: 'But you still think- a passenger on the ship?' Poirot bowed his head.
Ellie Henderson laughed suddenly - a reckless defiant101 laugh.
'Your theory may be difficult to prove, M. Poirot. There are a good many passengers on this ship.'
Poirot bowed to her. 'I will use a phrase from one of your detective story writers. "I have mymethods, Watson." '
The following evening, at dinner, every passenger found a typewritten slip by his plate requestinghim to be in the main loung at 8.30. When the company were assembled, the Captain stepped on tothe raised platform where the orchestra usually played and addressed them.
'Ladies and gentlemen, you all know of the tragedy which took place yesterday. I am sure you allwish to co-operate in bringing the perpetrator of that foul102 crime to justice.' He paused and clearedhis throat. 'We have on board with us M. Hercule Poirot who is probably known to you all as aman who has had wide experience in - er - such matters. I hope you will listen carefully to what hehas to say.'
It was at this minute that Colonel Clapperton, who had not been at dinner, came in and sat downnext to General Forbes. He looked like a man bewildered by sorrow - not at all like a manconscious of great relief. Either he was a very good actor or else he had been genuinely fond of hisdisagreeable wife.
'M. Hercule Poirot,' said the Captain and stepped down. Poirot took his place. He looked comicallyserf-important as he beamed on his audience.
'Messieurs, mesdames,' he began. 'It is most kind of you to be so indulgent as to listen to me. M. leCataine has told you that I have had a certain experience in these matters. I have, it is true, a littieidea of my own about how to get to the bottom of this particular case.' He made a sign and asteward pushed forward and passed on to him a bulky, shapeless object wrapped in a sheet.
'What I am about to do may surprise you a little,' Poirot warned them. 'It may occur to you that Iam eccentric, perhaps mad.
Nevertheless I assure you that behind my madness there is - as you English say - a method.'
His eyes met those of Miss Henderson for just a minute. He began unwrapping the bulky object.
'I have here, mesdeurs and mesdames, an important witness to the truth of who killed MrsClapperton.' With a deft103 hand he whisked away the last enveloping104 cloth, and the object itconcealed was revealed - an almost life-sized wooden doll, dressed in a velvet105 suit and lace collar.
'Now, Arthur,' said Poirot and his voice changed subtly - it was no longer foreign - it had instead aconfident English, a slightly Cockney inflection. 'Can you tell me - I repeat - can you tell me -anything at all about the death of Mrs Clapperton?'
The doll's neck oscillated a little, its wooden lower jaw106 dropped and wavered and a shrill high-pitched woman's voice spoke107:
'What is it, John? The door's locked. I don't want to be disturbed by the stewards...' There was acry - an overturned chair - a man stood swaying, his hand to his throat - trying to speak - trying...
Then suddenly, his figure seemed to crumple108 up. He pitched headlong.
It was Colonel Clapperton.
Poirot and the ship's doctor rose from their knees by the prostrate109 figure.
'All over, I'm afraid. Heart,' said the doctor briefly110.
Poirot nodded. 'The shock of having his trick seen through,' he said.
He turned to General Forbes. 'It was you, General, who gave me a valuable hint with your mentionof the music hall stage. I puzzle - I think - and then it comes to me. Supposing that before the warClapperton was a ventriloquist. In that case, it would be perfectly possible for three people to hearMrs Clapperton speak from inside her cabin when she was already dead...' Ellie Henderson wasbeside him. Her eyes were dark and full of pain. 'Did you know his heart was weak?' she asked.
'I guessed it... Mrs Clapperton talked of her own heart being affected111, but she struck me as the typeof woman who likes to be thought ill. Then I picked up a torn prescription with a very strong doseof digitalin in it. Digitalin is a heart medicine but it couldn't be Mrs Clapperton's because digitalindilates the pupils of the eyes. I had never noticed such a phenomenon with her but when I lookedat his eyes I saw the signs at once.' Ellie murmured: 'So you thought - it might end - this way?'
'The best way, don't you think, mademoiselle?' he said gently.
He saw the tears rise in her eys. She said: 'You've known. You've known all along... That I cared...
But he didn't do it for me... It was those girls - youth - it made him feel his slavery. He wanted tobe free before it was too late... Yes, I'm sure that's how it was ·.. When did you guess - that it washe?' 'His self- control was too perfect,' said Poirot simply. 'No matter how galling112 his wife'sconduct, it never seemed to touch him.
That meant either that he was so used to it that it no longer stung him, or else - eh b/eh - I decidedon the latter alternative... And I was right...
'And then there was his insistence113 on his conjuring114 ability - the evening before the crime hepretended to give himself away. But a man like Clapperton doesn't give himself away. There mustbe a reason. So long as people thought he had been a conjuror they weren't likely to think of hishaving been a ventriloquist.'
'And the voice we heard - Mrs Clapperton's voice?'
'One of the stewardesses115 had a voice not unlike hers. I induced her to hide behind the stage andtaught her the words to say.' 'It was a trick - a cruel trick,' cried out Ellie.
'I do not approve of murder,' said-Hercule Poirot.
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sniff
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strand
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malicious
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tugged
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munitions
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mused
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con
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| n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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9
comedian
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| n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员 | |
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10
badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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12
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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13
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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14
nuance
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| n.(意义、意见、颜色)细微差别 | |
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15
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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16
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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17
detest
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| vt.痛恨，憎恶 | |
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18
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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19
grudgingly
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20
adept
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| adj.老练的，精通的 | |
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21
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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22
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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23
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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24
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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25
creasing
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的现在分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 挑檐 | |
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26
conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
platinum
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| n.白金 | |
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28
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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29
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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30
seasickness
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| n.晕船 | |
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31
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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32
vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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33
mendacious
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| adj.不真的，撒谎的 | |
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34
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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35
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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36
gall
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| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
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37
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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38
lipsticks
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| n.口红，唇膏( lipstick的名词复数 ) | |
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39
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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40
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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41
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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42
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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43
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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44
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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45
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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46
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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47
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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48
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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49
prescription
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| n.处方，开药；指示，规定 | |
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50
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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51
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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52
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
freckles
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| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
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54
fusion
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| n.溶化；熔解；熔化状态，熔和；熔接 | |
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55
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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56
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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57
giggles
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| n.咯咯的笑( giggle的名词复数 )；傻笑；玩笑；the giggles 止不住的格格笑v.咯咯地笑( giggle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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58
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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59
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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60
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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61
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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62
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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63
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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64
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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65
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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66
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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67
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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68
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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69
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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70
enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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71
stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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72
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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73
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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74
adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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75
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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76
conjuror
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| n.魔术师，变戏法者 | |
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77
irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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78
truant
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| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
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79
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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80
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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81
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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82
stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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83
intake
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| n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口 | |
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84
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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85
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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86
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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87
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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88
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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89
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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90
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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91
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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92
waylaying
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的现在分词 ) | |
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93
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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94
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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95
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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96
pilfering
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| v.偷窃（小东西），小偷( pilfer的现在分词 )；偷窃（一般指小偷小摸） | |
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97
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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98
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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99
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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100
alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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101
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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102
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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103
deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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104
enveloping
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
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105
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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106
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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107
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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108
crumple
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| v.把...弄皱，满是皱痕，压碎，崩溃 | |
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109
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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110
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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111
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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112
galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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113
insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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114
conjuring
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| n.魔术 | |
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115
stewardesses
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| （飞机上的）女服务员，空中小姐( stewardess的名词复数 ) | |
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