"The MYSTERY OF the SPANISH CHEST" "You're not serious..." "You can't be." "It was a joke, that's all." "I was joking!" "We are English, for God sake!" "My God!" "Ready?" "I didn't know you are so keen in opera, Poirot." "Generally, Mon ami, I am not, but the "Rigoletto"..." "The father who is jealous." "His daughter, she is dishonored." "So he plans the murder parfait (perfect)." "But he has failed to understand the psychology and the result is catastrophic!" "That is what interests me." "Well it does have couple of good tunes I suppose" "Monsieur Poirot!" "Monsieur Poirot, ooh I hope you will forgive me for intruding like this , but  when I saw you, I couldn't believe it." " It is Lady Chatterton, it is not?" " You remember me!" "But of course you would, I was there when you solved the Chalfont diamonds case ." "I was one of the suspects." "It was so thrilling!" "And I have to say, Monsieur Poirot, you were magnificent." "Yes." "I never forgot seeing you there That's what make me wonder...." "There's something troubling you, Lady Chatterton?" "Yes there is. not me you understand, My friend, Mrs. Clayton." "I am sure she's in danger, Monsieur Poirot." " Is that Mr. Clayton, with her?" " Oh!" "No, no, it just a friend." "That's Major Rich." "Could you call on me tomorrow?" "I'm sure you're a busy man, but..." "Lady Chatterton, I will call on you at 11 o'clock in the morning" "Thank you, Monsieur Poirot." "Marguerite Clayton is one of my dearest friends." "As you saw, she's a very beautiful woman very pretty." "Notoriously so." "It is said than ten years ago, two of her admirers set a duel over her." " In England?" " Yes!" "Nobody understood why she chose Edward Clayton." "Shee could have married anybody." "He has a violent temper, Mr. Poirot." "Marguerite lives in constant fear of him." "Recently his behaviour has become very strange." "So quiet, so detached." "As if he's planning something." "Monsieur Poirot," "I think that Edward Clayton is planning to murder his wife." "Yes sir." " Good morning." "I wonder if you can help me?" "there's something I'm looking for, but I do not know how to describe it..." "The type of knife." "Edward?" " You're early." " Yes." "I won't be able to come to Major Rich this evening, Marguerite." "Why can't you come tonight?" "I have to go to Edinburgh." "There's been some complication with the Gordon case." " Can't your clerk sort it out?" " No, it needs my personal attention." "But I am sure you'll enjoy yourselves without me." " Would you prefer that I didn't go?" " No, I prefer it if you went." "I don't see why you shouldn't fit in by yourself." "Have you told Major Rich?" "No, I'll look in this afternoon." "I am in the Club until four." "But I can call him on my way to the station." " Well, if that's what you want, Edward." " Yes, that's what I want." "Have a lovely time." "Well it's not my bussiness what you do." "You told her you're going to Scotland?" "I just don't know if I can go through with this, Curtiss." " You want to know, don't you?" " Do I?" "These last six months you look as if you're wasting away." "I know." "I keep stepping back and said this is madness." "Well?" "I will do it." "I'll do it." "They are four and 9 , Thank you." " Good afternoon, Burgoyne." " Good afternoon, sir." "Is Major Rich here?" "I'm sorry sir, but Major lRich is been out since early this morning." " Did he say what time he's be back?" " No, sir. i don't think he'll be longer." "Well righto i'll wait." "If he doesn't come back in a few minutes i'll leave a note for him." " Certainly sir ." "May i fetch you a pen?" " No, it's all right, I have one thank you." "You can just get on with your duty, Burgoyne." "I leave him a note in the sitting room." "Very good, sir." "I'd like a word with you, Major Rich." "Mrs. Clayton  is a very old dear friend of mine, Major." "It's been a lot of talk about you and her ." "Too much talk, Rich." "Now look, Curtiss... i don't know what any of this has to dowith you." "as much for as little i chose Mr. Clayton finds your attention to her offensive, Sir." "Now just you listen to me..." "No no no, your attentions are unwelcome Major," "Just get that into your head , will you?" "If they continued, I should be obliged to put it into myself" "You understand?" " Good afternoon, Sir." " Well Hello, Burgoyne." "I believe Mr.Clayton has waiting for you in the sitting room, sir." " Clayton?" " Yes." "There's no one here." "He said he would wait for a few minutes and leave a note," "And I didn't hear he go, sir." "How much long Miss Lemon is on holiday?" "I can't make head or tail of her filing system." "She's in Frinton for one more week, mon ami." "What is it that you are looking for?" "I thought that we had something on this Edward Clayton." " You're looking very smart." " Thank you, mon ami." "I'm going to a party with Lady Chatterton," "And go to meet the sinister Edward Clayton." "I suppose you think he'll take one look at you, and change his mind about murdering his wife." "All things are possible." "Come Poirot admit it!" "You're only going so you can be fuss over by the Lady Chatterton ." "You took this case on simply , because the way she battered you up." "You think it is wrong, Hastings?" "To like to enjoy the compliment or " the battering ", as you said?" "No but ah, you have to show it quite so much?" "no Englishl." "Perhaps it is Belgian." "Hastings, may should i be the hypocrite" "To blush when I am praised and, to say like you : " it is nothing "." "I have the order, the method and the psychology." "There, I admit it!" "I am the best." "I am Hercule Poirot." "And now, i think it is time for me to go." "A perfect gentleman must not keep waiting a lady." "Ah there is madam , Lady Clayton." "Yes." "But I can't see her husband in here..." "Is she speaking with her friend, Major Rich?" " Caroline." "So glad you come." " John..." "This is Hercule Poirot, a friend of mine." "Major Rich." "Hercule Poirot ..." "I know that name." " You're the writer?" " No." " Where is Edward?" " He couldn't make it , i'm afraid." " It is here on holidays, Mr. Poirot?" " No, I live here." "Well have a drink." "It is all very informal." "Lady Chatterton?" "Merci." "I'm so sorry , Monsieur Poirot." "Edward Clayton is not here." " Eh bien, I can relax and enjoy myself." " Indeed." "There's nothing to see you here, Colonel Curtiss." " So you wish to draw me on the competition?" " No." "Mary is used to love dancing." " John lost his wife few months ago." " My condolences, Major Rich." "Edward hates this modern music." "Just as well he's not here." "Is his husband is unwelll, Madame?" "No, he has bussines in Scotland." "And does he abandon you very often your husband?" "I can assure you that normally." "Mr. Clayton keep a firm gripp on Mrs. Clayton." "A strangle , that what you mean?" "It makes something more mixed up." " " These Foolish Things "?" " No!" " " Nobodys Sweetheart "?" " Yes, that will be." "Music for second rate people, provided by inferior races once." "That is not very pleasant things to say, Monsieur." " You're not dancing, Mr. Poirot." " Oh no no , Lady Chatterton." "This music is for the young people, with a limb thatus suffer." " I am sure you are wonderful dancer." " No no no no , trully." "But , tell me madam, who is that unpleasant man over there with walking stick?" "Unpleasant?" "Colonel Curtiss?" "He is a friendly old man of Marguerite." "Why do you say unpleasant?" "Now come along, Monsieur Poirot." "I insist." "The "Charleston"!" "This i can not drink." "There must be no more than three spoons of sugar on my tisane." "that is the way Miss Lemon prepares it." " I put three spoons." " Then Miss Lemon must uses the spoon of this smaller!" "I'll get it." " Chief Inspector." " Hastings." "Morning, Poirot." "Ah Chief Inspector Japp." "Bonjour," "You're in a matter of important, yes?" "so you are up with the bird." " Cup of tea, Chief Inspector?" " No, thank you." "Please be sitting, Inspector." " You are come for my help i think?" "." " Oh yes, you could say that." " thing is to say , I came to interview you." " interview?" " As a witness." " Witness to what?" "You were at the Belgravia home of major John Rich last night?" "Yes." "This morning I arrested Major Rich for the murder of Edward Clayton." "Mon Dieu..." "But you're saying that i am witness?" "Did you by any chance remark an elaborate wooden cest in a lindíssima it deals of wood, in the room where you were?" "a " Spanish Chest " i believe it's called" "I don't think..." "The man servant, Burgoyne discovered the body inside this chest, when he was cleaning the room." "Clayton's blood had seep in the carpet." "he'd been stabbed trough the eye, straight into the brain." "you're telling me that the body was there while..." "While the rest of you listen to the music, and drank cocktails and dance, to whatever is you get up to yes." " it's Pretty Macabre, isn't it?" " as revolting." " Chief Inspector, You are convince that the killer is Major Rich?" "Rich was in love with Marguerite Clayton." "That was the motive ." "And he had the opportunity." "Clayton call ran to see him, a few hours before the first guess arrived." "You think that Major Rich he came home, he killed Edward Clayton, put the body inside the chest and he entertain the guests in the same room?" " that's about the size of it ." " No." "No, Chief Inspector." "And again i say:" "No." "It is not possible that Major Rich it killed Edward Clayton." "I swear to heaven , Mr. Poirot i never saw him." "have you idea why would Mr. Clayton wish to see you ?" "None at all ." "According to Marguerite  Mrs. Clayton, he was going on his way to Scotland." "had you ever discuss Madam Clayton with his husband?" "Why should i do that, Mr. Poirot?" "Forgive me, Major Rich, but how long ago is it since your wife died?" "I know what you're insinuating, Mr. Poirot, but there was never anything inproper between us." "Very good sir" "Colonel Curtiss will see you now Sir." "Smithy!" "takes these gentlemen to the gym room." "Yes, Sir ." "This way, gentlemen." " That's the gymnasium throught there?" "." " Are there also a gymnasium room here?" "Oh yes sir, there is white, fencing and parallel bars." "very popular with the members." " Are they intending to become partners?" " So you think you join in then ?" "No." "alright umm ... we go this way." "And err there's no talking." " Excuse me, Coronel your guest ." " Thank you, Smithy." " Colonel Curtiss." " How do you do?" " I'd like to introduce you my associate Captain Hastings." " how do you do?" "." " Please sit down." " Thank you." "well i'm sure you don't need to tell me why you're here , Mr. Poirot" "It is a dreadfull bussines. dreadfull." " Are you have heard?" " Yes." "That old chap in Scotland Yard seems to find it amusing that you were there last night." "And you?" "I think it's a godsend." "i mean, you're detective." "I am "the" detective, Coronel Curtiss." "Then i don't need to tell you that Major Rich in my opinion could never ..." "May i ask you, Colonel Curtiss, how did you come to know Edward Clayton?" "I knew Mrs. Clayton before they're married." " Was Mr. Clayton a friend of yours?" " off course." "He was Marguerite's husband." "I understand that Edward Clayton came to visit you here at the club yersterday?" "that's right." "What past between you?" "Not much , we had a drink together." "he told me he was going to Scotland, but that he'd look at Rich home on his way to the station." "Did he say why?" "No." "apologize for missing the party i imagine" "Had he ever hinted any inpropriety ... between Major Rich and Marguerite Clayton?" "Certainly not!" "My apologies, Colonel Curtiss, I try only to establish the facts." " Well he was much help, was he?" " Did you remark upon his sky, hasting ?" "Yes, he probably need one to be a man here" " Marguerite, you shouldn't come." " I have to see you..." " I do not know what to do, John." " There's nothing you can do." "can't you leave us alone, officer?" " If the police officer question me..." " Margo  I didn't kill him." "There is a private detective too asking questions." " Just tell him the truth." " How can i ?" "!" "I know this seem hard, Margo, but if you just tell the truth..." "I'm sorry i can't stay here." " i'm sorry, John." " Marguerite..." "I shouldn't come here" "I left Mr. Clayton here, outside the sitting room door that must be just after 6 o'clock." "And I went to press Major Rich evening suit." " But Mr. Clayton didn't leave you say?" " i think i would have heard if he gone." "Bien, .... tell me Mr. Burgoyne when your master return did you atually see him enter the door?" "I heard the door closed, sir." " But you did not see him enter?" " No, sir." "Thank you." "Iif you please, we'll look on the inside." "You think Major rich was waiting for Clayton?" "That is possible, Hastings." "He kills Edward Clayton, He puts the body inside the chest," "He comes out and shut the door to establish that he's just arrived." "Let us look at this spanish chest" "This not the same." " ah the carpet has been taken off, sir." " you see, Hastings?" "This chest is clearly visible from the door, yes?" "But... yes, the screen conceal most of it From the rest of the room." "If you please, Hastings..." "What you make of this, Hastings?" "wood worm?" "Come, Hastings." "There's nothing more for us here" "Well Major Rich certainly had the opportunity to kill Clayton as for motive!" " Go on, mon ami." "Well Mrs. Clayton, does not too good for him does it?" "You think not, Hastings?" "I wonder what the beautiful Madame Clayton has to say about all of this" "Romaine Gardens, if you please." "Oh quick gentlemen please please help me, Something terrible has happened." "She locked herself in there, Sir I can get not answer when I knock." "quick mademoiselle, Telephone the doctor" "I washed out her stomach." "She ought to rest." "We shall take one or two minutes only doctor." "You do understands the urgency of this situation." "Yes." "no more than five minutes Sir." "Oui, dacors." "Merci beaucoup." "It was my fault." "It was all my fault." "Major Rich and i  we're always been friends, but that was all." "Until his wife died." "Oh it was all my fault, Mr. Poirot." "What did you do?" "I prayed for my husband's death." "I wanted Edward to die!" "Major Rich knew my feelings." "We talked about it. but only  he must have misunderstood me." "He must have thought i was asking to kill my husband!" "That's why he did it!" "Oh Good!" "Oh God!" "This is difficult, Hastings." "Very difficult." "The tart s'il vous plâit." "Just cup of coffee for me , please." "Merci." "To commit a crime, yes." "But then to invite 20 people in the same room ...?" "Major Rich has stabbed Edward Clayton." "It has put the body into the Spanish Chest, minutes before the party is to start." "But what about the vallet, Hastings?" "What of him?" "he would sutton to discover the body in the morning." "Major Rich would to know that." "So why did not The Major , dispose the body during the night?" "Hastings, I'm certain to the Scotland Yard and speak with Inspector Japp." " I'll come with you." " No, no." "You will take yourself to the Military Club." "there is i think a gymnasium?" "What the gymnasiuml got to do with this?" "That is percisely what you'll find out for me" "Detecting is not what it was, you know They expect you to be a blooming secretary." " How does this thing go backward?" " How do you mean?" "I want to go back on top over There's someway reverse gear" "Isn't that one is it?" "See who that is." "Bonjour, Sergeant." " Mr. Poirot, Sir." " Ah come in Poirot." "It is okey, Rouse." "So to say, I've been waiting you." "Oh Damn it !" "Blasted" "All this paperworks..." "You had any good with one of these?" "No and my own Miss Lemon is a less..." " She's not ill, is she?" " Worse. she's in Frinton." "Chief Inspector, I need to see the content of the pockets of Edward Clayton, at the time that he was taken from the chest." "It's very popular with the member this gymnasium." " And that's where it happened." "that's what us told" " before my time, know" " But there was a duel" "Yes, at six o'clock in the morning." "I do not know them to myself between whom, therefore do not wonder." " Why did they fight?" " Why do you think, it must be some woman" " Marguerite Clayton." " I don't know who it was. what about my ten bob?" "Are these two men  was one of them having an affair with Marguerite Clayton?" "There's nothing rude about them." "It was just a joke." "One of the officer said a joke about the lady and other called him out." "It's really was a joke." "That sort of joke, know?" "done yourself slashed out in army!" " Yes we wondered about that..." " But I expected it." "Voilá." "Yes ...?" "This is for you." "Hastings." "Hello?" "Yes, Hastings." "Good. he did not tell you the people involved?" "Excellent, Hastings." "Excellent." "Well?" "Chif inspector Japp, i must ask you to trust me as you never trust in me before." "Here we go!" "As if we never face a crime that is perfect ." "committed with such coldness." "It is remarkable, uniq" "I do not know why i bother this somethimes i may stay out and do my garden." "Who do you want for me to arrest now?" "Does it have new proofs, Inspector-chief?" "Mr. Poirot, how long you've been involved in the case?" " It was in charge you fastened." "Clayton?" " I have nothing to say" "Come on Rich, pack your kit You 're going out" "Hello ...?" "You got it wrong, Mr. Poirot." "I know who killed Edward Clayton." "Meet me at the Military Club. in the gymnasium" " Who is speaking?" " Then i'll show you" "Hallo?" "Colonel Curtiss." "You got it wrong, you bloody little french" "You arrested Marguerite Clayton." "You degraded her. soled her!" "But she had nothing to do with it" "Two things, Colonel Curtiss:" "First, I am not a bloody little french." "I am a bloody little Belgian." "Secondly, know quite well that Marguerite Clayton is innocent." "Go on." "Edward Clayton believed his wife to be unfaithful." "there was talks , but he was not certain." "So he came to you, his friend." "And you suggested a scheme , fantastic." "Will you listen to me." "Will you do as I say?" "I just don't know if i can get through with this, Curtiss." "Monsieur Clayton was obsessed with the possibility that his wife had been unfaithful and so you fueled his jealosy, for your own end." "First you tell him he must play the old old trick of pretending to go away" "A business trip to Scotland will do very nicely." "Then he came to the house of Major Rich, under the pretext of leaving a note." "then following your scheme," "Edward Clayton conceal himself inside the Spanish Chest." "Now he can hear for himself what they say." "Perhaps he would hear Major Rich make love with his wife, but, at least, the torment will be over." "He will know." "But there's one further consideration:" "To breathe inside the box, he need the air" "So with the instrument he has bought, he make a hole through which he can only breath, that most important of alll, so which he can observe." "But the poor deluted Clayton, he did not know that you are so in love with Marguerite and always love her fought in a duell, for her." "Is it ready?" "We are Englishmen, for God Sake!" "Who told you that?" "Your scar." "Your first scheme had been merely to get rid Edward Clayton." "But even with her husband out of the way," "You began to fear that she eventually will turn for the younger man" "Major Rich." "His last flat East would accomplish for both." "With one stroke, Edward Clayton is dead." "And Major Rich it will hanged for the murder" "Nobody knows I am here." "When the police find you tomorrow, they know they're wrong to to release rich" "You still want to fight for Marguerite Clayton After these years ?" "But not with me." " Will you fight for her, Colonel?" " Damn you!" " I am forever in your debt Mr. Poirot." " Eh bien Madam it was nothing" "My husband was not a likeable man but to be murdered in cold blood ...!" "I don't see why you have Mrs. Clayton arested" "Major Rich it was necessary to to smoke out Colonel Curtis you understand" "And to make public spectacle of Madam Clayton  it was the only way." " You were wonderful." "As i say, Madam  it was nothing, i was  lucky. that is all" " We are always grateful for you Mr. poirot." " Always" "Madam" " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Nothing?" "Lucky?" "I am learning, Hastings." "it is more English, yes?" "the humbleness" "I am learning." "I shall be the most humble person in the world." "No one will match Hercule Poirot for his humbelity"