"And the men of the city did as Jezabel had said on to them and as it was written in the letters she had sent on to them." "They carried Nabat forth out of the city and stoned him with stones and he died." "Arise, take possesion of Nabat's vineyard that he refused to give to thee for money." "For Nabat is not alive  but dead." "Our reading today was the story of Jezabel, whose name has come to stand for the weakedness of women." "For painted Jezabel, of two King's chapter Nine." "A woman who was shallow and profane." "It was she who persuaded her husband Aab to kill Nabat and for this she was punished." "Was she the girl who found the body?" "And of Jezabel also spoke the Lord, saying:" ""The dogs shall eat Jezabel by the wall of Jezrael."" "She had sold herself to work Evil at the sight of the Lord and the punishment was Death." "This is the God of the Old Testament." "Wrawful... unforgiving." "We may find this extreme, with our understanding of Christianity." "But, for the Jezabels of this world, death is the price that must be paid." "The body of Alice Corrigan was discovered at the site known as Blackridge woods, precisely at 10:15, by miss Jane Martindale, who was in site on holiday and made note of the time." "It was her opinion, that the woman had been dead only a short while, a view shared by the police surgeon who examined the body where it had been found, at 11:30." "We have several witnesses who attested that the dead woman's fiancé," "Mr. Edward Deverill, was on the train that was coming from London and this didn't arrive until 10:20." "This inquest therefore returns a verdict of murder by person or persons unknown." "You look very smart, Mr. Poirot." "You think so, Miss Lemon?" "It is true." "But, for the grand dinner of Capitain Hastings, it is necessary to make the impression, n'est-ce pas?" "I don't know the Argentine or the cuisine." "Miss Lemon, are you sure you won't be able to join us?" "I'm way back with my filing, Mr. Poirot." "I'm sure you'll have a good time without me." "Something wrong, Mr. Poirot?" "Yes." "What do you think, Miss Lemon?" "This jacket seem to have shrunk a little, non?" " Here and here." " I don't think so." "Maybe you put on a little weight." "Non, non, Miss Lemon." "That is not possible." "Remind me, if you please, to speak to my cleaners tomorrow." " You've called for the taxi?" " It's outside." "So, to..." "El Ranchero." "It was very kind of you to invite me, Cap." "Hastings." "On the contrary, Chief-Inspector, it's very good of you to come." "This is all a new adventure for me and to be honest, I need all the wish-ons I can get." "You have invested a great deal of your capital in this restaurant, Hastings?" "A fair amount, yes." "Which is why it means a lot to me that you're here in the opening night, Poirot." "A big celebrity never hurts." "But I believe that I'm not the only celebrated person here tonight, Hastings." "Indeed, no." "You see that girl there?" " That's Arlena Stuart." " The actress?" "Stunning, isn't she?" "It's the kind of glamour that this place needs." " And the man that is with her?" " It's Kenneth Marshall, the husband." " Do you mind if I interrupt?" " Nathan, darling!" "You promised me a dance, right?" "You don't mind, do you?" " Well, as a matter of fact..." " Don't be such a stick-in-the-mud." "Nathan is about to go back to América." "I won't be able to see him for months." " Well, if you insist, darling..." " Order me some champagne." " Arlena, we need to talk." " What about?" "I want the money." "She is, indeed, most beautiful, Hastings." "But for a woman to treat her husband in such a way and in public..." "If looks could kill..." "Your brain never stops working, does it, Poirot?" " Well... bon appétit." " Merci." "Mais c'est délicieux!" "My felicitations, Hastings." "This is the most excelent soup." " Do you know the argentinian wine?" " No, no, I can't say I do, Cap." "Hastings." "I didn't know it either." "It's an acquired taste." "But actually I think it is rather good, don't you?" " It is a little warm, n'est-ce pas?" " I'm all right." " Have another glass of wine." " Merci." " Chief-Inspector?" " Thank you." "I must tell you, Chief-Inspector, about the case which is most interesting." "Are you alright, Poirot?" "Yes, I..." "No, I feel..." " Poirot!" " Call an ambulance!" "Captain Hastings, Chief-Inspector!" "Is he alright?" "Yes, he's fine, he's resting now." " Is it serious?" " Put it this way, Miss Lemon, it's not gonna be very easy breaking it to Poirot." " Have you spoken to the doctor?" " Yes, he has just left." "So what did he say?" "I demand, at once, a second opinion!" "I think we should wait, Poirot." "The doctor has done some tests, but it'll be a week before he's certain." "But I am certain, Hastings." "Hercule Poirot... he is not obese." "Medically obese, Mr. Poirot, it's not quite the same." "It may have led to a problem with your heart, which what caused the you know..." "Well, we should be grateful it's nothing more serious." "You can come home tomorrow." "But it's going to mean plenty of rest, light exercise and a straight diet." ""Poop, you'll soon be back on your feet."" "From everyone of the Forensic Department." "Scotland Yard." "And here's one from the Belgium Embassador." "It seems that the whole of London knows what has occurred, Hastings." " Oh, not more mail, Miss Lemon!" " This is from the doctor." "I telephoned him this morning and he sent it round." "The Sandy Cove Hotel, just up the south coast." "For the last couple of years, it has been run as a health resort." "It's highly recomended." "A strict regim of diet and exercise." "Sunshine and the sea..." "Non, Miss Lemon, This is not for Poirot." "Your doctor disagrees, Mr. Poirot." "And so do I." "We might have lost you the other night and..." "Well, it isn't even better thinking about it." "Doctor's orders." "I've booked you a room for too weeks." "Oh, don't worry, Poirot, I'm sure you'll enjoy it." "I'm sure you will too, Capitão Hastings, you're going as well." "What?" "You didn't expect Mr. Poirot to go on his own!" "Let's see..." "It's two pounds and nine pence." "Hastings, the hotel it is on an island." "Don't worry, Poirot, you won't have to go on a boat." "There's that..." "to carry over the course." "All aboard, please." "We'll leave in a minute." " Hello." " Hello." "You're on board for the island of the lost souls?" "Patrick, I don't think it's gonna be as bad as it sounds." "I'm Patrick Redfern." "My wife, Christine." "Madame." "Hercule Poirot." " My associate, Captain Hastings." " How do you do ?" "Hercule Poirot?" "The famous detective?" " Oui." " Well, that will certainly live things up." "Here we go." "You're not here on business, Mr. Poirot?" "Non, I come on recomendation from my doctor." "We all need a rest, from time to time." "Nothing like a bit of sun and sea air." "I must be careful of the sun." "I burn up in a minute." "I say, Poirot." "There's Arlena Stuart!" "Remember... from El Ranchero?" "Hastings, that was an evening I was trying to forget." " Patrick?" "How could you...?" " What?" "That woman, Arlena Stuart!" "She's staying here, isn't she?" " I had no idea." " Don't lie to me!" "It was your idea to come here, I wondered why, and now I now." " Listen, Christine..." " You knew she was going to be here!" " No!" " You know, sometimes I don't understand you." " Darling..." " Sometimes, you can be so hurtful." " Christine!" " Patrick, darling!" " Was that Christine I just saw?" " Yes, she just went in to get out of the sun." "It's so wonderful to see you." "What a wonderful surprise." "It's wonderful to see you too." "Mr. Poirot." "This is an old friend of mine, well, more of a new friend, Arlena Stuart." " Madame." " We met at a coktail party." "And it was love at first sight." "How long are you staying?" " A week." " Thank goodness." "Those place is nice enough, but it's a rather stuffy crowd." "Arlena!" "You're late for tennis." "Actually, Kenneth, I'm not playing." "Look who just turned up." " Redfern." " How are you, Marshall?" "You did say you'd play we got Rosamund waiting." "Tell her I've got an headache." "Come on, I'm gonna show you around." " But I haven't even checked in." " You can do that later." "This way." " Why do you let her treat that way?" " Lionel..." "I hate her!" "I wish you'd never married her!" "Yes?" "Hercule Poirot." "And Captain Hastings." "Oh, yes, Mr. Poirot." "Welcome to the Sandy Cove Hotel." "I hope you have a very happy and very healthy stay." " Merci, madame." " I got a letter from your doctor and you'll be pleased to know I worked out a complete complete program for your stay here." "We'll be combining the natural goodness of the sea and the sunshine with the indoor swimming pool, gimnasium, heated oil therapy and steam room, brisk daily exercise and of course a strict diet." "William, show Mr. Poirot and Cap." "Hastings to their rooms." "Yes, Mrs. Castle." "Lunch will be served at 13:00." "You have a sea view, sir." "Most of the rooms have a sea view." "It comes from being on an island." "It is evident, yes." "If you need anything, there is shops on the mainland." "A library, post office and a decent restaurant." "And you get package, or anything, you can always ask me to run over." " Right, sir?" " Thank you." "Hastings?" " Right." " Thank you, sir." "You're next door." "Right." " We can swim there, see?" " Yes there's a lovely spot..." "I say, what a splendid view!" "Yes, indeed, Hastings, it is of a great interest." "How are you feeling, Poirot?" "Not too tired after the journey?" "Hastings, I am recovered." "I am not an invalid." " There's no need to act like mother-chicken." " Hen." " Thank you, Hastings." "Ça va?" " Absolutely." "Lunch!" "Thank you." "It is for the best, you know." "Peut-être, mon ami." " Your health." " Here's to yours." "Waiter!" "If you please tell me what is in my glass?" "Natural water." "Mrs. Castle swears by it." "Mr. Poirot!" "Mademoiselle  Darnley, is it not?" " How nice that you remember me." " We met in Egypt." " Egypt..." "I was on holiday, you, solving a murder." "Comme toujours, mademoiselle." "Pardon." " You have not met my associate, Cap." "Hastings." " How do you do?" "This is Mlle. Darnley, a dressmaker of the most reknown." " Would you please do join us?" " I'd be delighted." "Thank you." "I see they've got you on punishment regimen.." " You're here also for the health, Mlle.?" " Partly." "Also, I decided to catch up with an old friend, Kenneth Marshall,have you met him?" " We've seen him." " He and I were what you might call" ""childhood sweethearts"." "A long, long time ago." "Now we're just good friends." " He suggested that I'd come down." " Do you know his wife?" "The first one, Linda." "A sweet girl." "She died a few years ago, typhoid." "Very sad." "I'm affraid I am not so close to Arlena." "Thank you." " The second Mme. Marshall." " I'm sorry?" "Pardon, you were speaking of Mme. Arlena Marshall." "Yes, well... what can I say?" "She treats him dreadfully." "And she's up to her eyes in scandal." "I mean, that business with Erskine for a start..." " But this is a name I do not know." " Sir Roger Erskine." "Elderly, unattached and very, very rich." "He's following her around like a puppy and, suddenly, dropped dead, left her his entire fortune." "So, Mme. Marshall is a woman of wealth in her own right?" "Maybe that's why Kenneth's married her." "But I tell you this, Sr. Poirot." "That woman is trouble." "You wait and see." " Marvellous view, don't you think?" " Yes, indeed." " Miss Brewster." "Emily Brewster." " Mademoiselle." " And I know who you are.You're Hercule Poirot." " Oui." " And you must be Cap." "Hastings." " That's right." "Word's got around that you were here." "Don't tell me." "There's been a gruesome murder somewhere and you think there's a homicidal maniac lurking among the guests of the hotel." "Non, non, mademoiselle." "I am here for my health." "How disappointing." "Of course, if you did want to commit a murder, this would be the perfect place." " You believe so, mademoiselle?" " People away from home." "Everyone's got a reason to be here." "But if you'd secretly want to be close to someone because you wanted to finish them off, this is where you'd come." "So tell me, mademoiselle, who would be the target of such an attack, here at the hotel?" "Well, I don't know." "Arlena Stuart, perhaps." "I'd happily stick stick a hat pin on her, or something like that." "But to come upon her sunbathing on the beach, is the best chance I'll ever get." "But surely nobody thinks of murder in such a beautiful place." "Non, non, Hastings." "It is romantic, yes." "It is peaceful." "The sun shines, the sea is blue..." "But you forget, mon ami, there is evil everywhere under the sun." " What?" "Even here?" " Specially here." "It's interesting what you're saying, Mr. Poirot." "It's almost a quotation from Ecclesiastius:" ""Yay, also the heart of the son of man is full of Evil" ""and madness is at their hearts while they liveth."" "You are of the church, monsieur...?" "Lane." "Stephen Lane." "I was." "But then I was ill." "My wife..." "You see..., well, it's a long story." "But that's why I'm here, it's for my health." "Anyway, you don't have to be of the church to recognise Evil, Mr. Poirot." "I see it there." "I recognise it." "It's real." "Ah, this must be that ladder down to Pixy Cove." " Comment?" " Pixy Cove, it's what they call this beach." "For me, Hastings, I call it too steep and too dangerous." "Hastings, you see that boat with the red sail?" "Yes, I noticed it this morning." " It is a color most strange, n'est-ce pas..." " I hadn't really thought about it." "Supose the sails ought to be white." "And for me also, it is a place most strange to have moored ." "Mr. Poirot?" " Monsieur?" " My name's Barry." "Major Barry." "Major." "I was outside just now and I couldn't help noticing you." "I wondered what you might be doing here, at the Sandy Cove Hotel." "I'm here like all the rest." "For my health." "Really?" "Well, if you'll take a tip from an old soldier," "I wouldn't have said this island was the healthiest place to be, at the moment." "Just a thought." "How very odd!" " I have a great fear, Hastings." " What do you mean?" "Well, the Major who gives the warning." "The viccar who speaks of Evil." "The husband who watches as his wife deceives him." "The solving of the murder is of, too often, the work of Poirot." "This time, the murder, it is something which I must try to prevent." "This steam cabinet has wide use in Americas, Mr. Poirot." "It purifies the skin and is also recommended as an aid to the respiration and the circulation of the blood." "Well, to me it's a new experience, madame." "I'm sure you'll enjoy it." "Come, come, come, there's nothing to to be affraid of." "What do you say, Mr. Blatt?" "Come along, now." "Horace Blatt." "Forgive me if I don't shake hands" "Hercule Poirot." "The famous sleuth..." "You down here on a job?" " No." " It doesn't look like it." "Nice place, hey?" "Not quite Deauville, or Nice, of course, but it does." "You are on holiday?" "I spent quite a bit of time here." "Sailing." "The best fun in the world, if you ask me." "You probaly seen me, bobbing around." "Oh, yes." " You have the boat with the red sail?" " That's me." "I use the hotel as a base." "It's convenient for my business." "And what business is that, M. Blatt?" "Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that." "So, you're Hercule Poirot, hey?" "The strange is, I thought you were dead." " Why don't you divorce her?" " You don't understand." "You don't love her." "It's got nothing to do with this." "I married her." " Your own happiness' got nothing to do it?" " It's not a question of my happiness." "So, you're too proud, is that what it is?" " What about Lionel?" " What about him?" "Don't you see how unhappy he is?" " I can look after Lionel." " I'm sure you do." "But don't you ever think that for both's sake, you better get rid of Arlena?" " You mean... divorce her?" " Of course." "Arlena is my wife and that's all there is to it." " "Until death us do part."" " Exactly." "I see." "Ah, there you are, Poirot!" "What can I get you?" "Thank you, Hastings, that is most kind of you." " A little crême de cassis." " Crême de cassis." "I'm very sorry, sir, not for you." " Comment?" " No alcohol." " Mrs. Castle's orders." " Bad luck, Mr. Poirot." "There'll be dinner in a minute." "Not that will be an interesting part." " Do come sit over here, Mr. Poirot." " Merci, Mlle. Brewster." "Merci." "I was just talking about my tripp around the island." "I came down to Pixy Cove." " Did you find the cave?" " Damn!" "That was silly of me." "What cave?" "I've heard it say there's a cave at Pixy Cove." "It's quite hard to find." "There's just a crack in the rock, but inside it widens out." "And there's where you'll find a buried treasure." "There's no such thing as buried treasure." " That's what you get in children's books." " Now, now, Lionel." "Whatever you say, Lionel, dear." "So, who's for tennis, tomorrow morning?" "What about you, Mr. Poirot?" "Non, non, it is most kind of you, mademoiselle." "But I think tennis it is not for me." "I'll play." "I mean, if there's not too much sun." " What about you Cap." "Hastings?" " Oh, yes." "I brought down my racket." "I'll make up a four, if it's not too early." "I've got some typing to do, in the morning." "How about 12 o'clock - mid-day?" "Fine." " That's dinner!" " I'm starving." " It will better not to be cabbage soup." " Mrs. Marshall, you have a telephone call." "What?" "At tis time?" "Who could that be?" "Roger, Charlie, or Dominic, or Michael." "Could be anyone." "You can begin without me." "I need to powder my nose." " After you, Miss Brewster." " Thank you." "I'm so hungry..." "it must be the sea air." "Hello?" "Oh, hello..." "Yes." "Well, it's a little bit difficult, now." "Yes, of course." " Hello, Mr. Poirot." " M. Redfern." " How was dinner?" " It was..." "How shall I say?" " Not substantial." " Well, that's true." "Merci." "M. Redfern, may I ask you what do you do for your work?" " I'm a journalist." " What, for the newspapers?" "Yes, for the city pages." "I'm a freelancer." "Anything that pays." " You're not here for the health." " No, I'm here to enjoy myself." " Christine's the one who's to look after herself." " Yes." "Mme. Redfern." "You have a wife most charming, monsieur." " And who, I think, of you also is most fond." " I love her." "I'm glad to hear it." "Sr. Poirot, are you trying to tell me something?" "Only this, Mr. Redfern." "I wonder why, if it is necessary for you to conduct an affair, here, in this island, with Arlena Stuart, you choose to do it before the very eyes of your own wife?" " What?" "Who've you been talking to, Mr Poirot?" " Well I..." "With Miss Darnley?" "Or that bobbing basher viccar?" "Just because a woman is good looking, everybody's got to come down on her." "I am only trying to prevent things of which I have great fear." "Maybe you should just mind your own damn business." "Lionel!" "Where've you been?" "I went to the mainland." "To the Library." "So I see." "I was thinking of going over to Gull Cove to do some sketches, before tennis." "Why don't you come with me?" "You can have a swim." "Come on, you don't want to be skulking and reading all day." "All right." "I'll meet you here in an hour from now." "At 10:30." "Thank you." "Ah!" "Good morning." " Did you have a good ride?" " Fine, thank you." "I'm just off myself." "I have friends on the mainland." "Enjoy your day." " When do you leave again?" " In a few minutes, sir." "Good." " Alright, Poirot?" " Thank you, Hastings." " Is that not the boat of M. Blatt?" " I think so." "It is strange, n'est ce-pas?" "Today he has the boat with a white sail." "Yes..." " So, how you feeling, Poirot?" " You refer to my health, Hastings?" "Or to my feelings concearning the events on this island to which I'm confined?" "Well, both, really." "I'm going to phone Miss Lemon, today." " She wanted a daily report." " You may tell to her that I am not sure." "Mme. Stuart." "Do you depart for a trip on the sea?" "Mr. Poirot!" "Captain Hastings!" "Hello!" "Yes, I thought I'd take a cruise down to Pixy Cove." " But, please, don't tell anyone that." " Madame?" "Well, everyone here just has to follow me around ." "And, for once, I want to be alone." "Ça... jamais!" " That, I do not believe." " You think she's going to meet someone?" "It is possible, yes." "Oh, excuse me, sir." "Do you mind coming back later?" "I've got some important work to do." "Leave the door open." "It's a bit stuffy in here." " Are you ready?" " Yes." "Let's go then." " Mr. Poirot!" " Mlle. Brewster." " Something very stange just happened." " What is that, mademoiselle?" "Well, I just got back from my bike ride, quick 5 miles up round the coast, and... would you believe it?" "Someone tried to hit me with a bottle!" " A bottle?" " I believe it was a bottle." "It was thrown out one of the windows." " Where did this take place, mademoiselle?" " On the steps at the side of the hotel." " 11:15." "Well, I better get changed." " Comment?" "I'm playing tennis at 12:00." "I'll better go and get ready." " Do you need anything, Poirot?" " Non, merci." "Merci, mon ami." " Morning." "You haven't seen, uh...?" " Morning." " Sorry?" " It doesn't matter." "I thought I'd go for a row round the island." "Would you care to come, Mr. Poirot?" "Non, non, merci." "Absolument, non." "Poirot and the sea, they are not compatible." "I'll come with you." "Mrs. Castle says that rowing is very good to building body tone." "You can have the oars, then." " How is it?" " It's warm." " You should come in." " I'm not really a big swimmer." " Do you have the time?" " Hold on." "It's a quarter to 12PM." "Didn't you say you had tennis at 12.00?" "I'm gonna have to run and get changed." "Will you be alright on your own?" "I'll be fine, Mrs. Redfern." "Look, there's someone on Pixy Cove." "Looks like Mrs. Marshall." "So it does." "We're not going to land here, are we?" "We've got plenty of time." "Just go and say hello." "Arlena!" " She's asleep." " I dunno." "Arlena!" "Arlena!" "You alright?" "My God!" "She's dead!" "She's been strangled!" "She's dead!" "Are you sure?" "There's no pulse." "She's not breathing." " We gotta get the police." " You mustn't touch anything." "I know, but one of us has got to stay here with the... body." "Who would do this?" "!" "I don't want to stay." "You wait here." "I'll go." " Right." " There's a constable at Leathercombe Bay." "No!" "Poirot!" "Fetch Mr. Poirot." "He'll know what to do." "I can't manage that ladder." "I'll go by boat, The current's with me." "I'll be back as soon as I can." "But just go!" "Mr. Marshall?" "Kenneth..." " I'm the first to arrive." " After me, yes." " Did you get it done?" " What?" " Your typing." " Oh, yes." "Hastings!" " Hastings, what time is it?" " It's just going up to 12.00." "Why?" " Not late, am I?" " No, you're punctual." "Mr. Poirot!" "Mr. Poirot!" "Hastings!" "It is exactly as I feared." " What?" " Thank goodness!" "It is Arlena Stuart." "She's dead." " Where's the body?" " It's over there, sir." "Right." "Where's the boat?" "Strangled, that's for sure." "And a pretty powerful pair of hands." "Must've been a man." "I am also of that opinion, Chief-Inspector." "Well, we're lucky, in some ways." "This is a small island." "We know exactly when the body was found and the time of death could only have been 10 or 20 minutes before." "It must be easy enough to pinpoint where everyone was." "Where were you?" "All right." "So, what kind of woman was she, this Arlena Stuart, then?" "A very flirtatious one." "She was carrying on outrageously to Patrick Redfern." " He was the chap who found her." " Yes." "You said she was married, Poirot." "Did her husband know what was going on?" "Yes, Chief-Inspector." "It was most certain that Mr. Kenneth Marshall was aware of the behaviour of his wife." "Well, there's a good motive for you, if ever there was one." " Chief-Inspector, voilà." " Spectacles." "A man's." "Or perhaps of a boy." "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do." "The hotel was closed, the whole island is closed." " You'll have to leave." " But we've only just arrived." "What's going on here, Sargeant?" "These two men came over in that "tractor"." "They say they're bird watchers." "We're regular visitors, You have no right to stop us." "We've every right." "I'm pursuing a murder investigation and nobody enters or leaves this island until I say so." " Get them to mainland." " Yes, sir." "Come on." "What are you looking for, Poirot?" "Chief-Inspector, the two arrivals that we just saw." " The two bird watchers." " Did you notice in them anything strange?" " No." " I did." "They had no binoculars." "Très bien, Hastings." "You begin, at last, to learn." "Voilà." "You see?" "Yes, a piece of broken glass." "Someone threw a bottle at Emily Brewster, this morning." "From what would you say has this come?" "A medicine bottle?" "And it contained some liquid that was brown." "But it has no odour." "I'm so shocked." "I'm..." "I don't know what to say." "Arlena..." "It's unbelievable." "Who would want to kill her?" "How long had you been married, Mr. Marshall?" "Four years." " Happily?" " Yes." "If you please, Mr. Marshall, what is your opinion of Mr. Redfern?" "I have no opinion of him." "And yet, there is his relationship with your wife..." "There was no relationship." "That's all just hotel gossip." "Nothing more!" "When was the last time that you saw Mrs. Marshall?" "After breakfeast." " I looked into her room." " You had separate rooms?" "Yes." "It was about 10 o'clock." "She said she was going down to the beach." "That's right." "We met her just after 10:00." "And what of your movements, Mr. Marshall?" "I had some letters to write." "I stayed up here typing till midday." "Then I went down to play tennis." "That was when I heard the news." "One final question, if you please, Mr. Marshall." "Do you recognise these?" "Yes, they're Lionel's." " Where did you get them?" " It is of no matter." "Could you please show us to the room of your wife?" "Well, there's not much here." "I don't think you'll find anything in any of those bottles, Poirot." "But a bottle was propelled from this hotel, Chief-Inspector." "And it could have come from this room." "What makes you so sure it was throwned?" "Maybe it just dropped." "I say!" "A telegram to Arlena." "From Nova Iorque." " Dated três days ago." " Go on." ""Send the money now, or you'll loose a great deal." "Nathan."" " That's it." " Nathan, that rings some sort of bell." "It was the name of the young man, with whom she danced in your restaurante, Hastings." " El Ranchero." " Oui." "It sounds a bit threatening." "I wouldn't mind talking to him." " But if he's in America." " Well, for me, I prefer talking to Lionel Marshall." "You can't want to ask me any questions." "I mean, I didn't have anything to to with it." " I don't know anything." " Can you tell us your movements, this morning?" "Yes." "I had breakfast." "I went to the library." " On the mainland?" " Yes." "I am revising for my exams." "Chemistry." "When I came back, I bumped into Mrs. Redfern." " She saw the book, she can vouch for me." " Go on." "She invited me to go swim with her, at Gull Cove." "I swam until exactly 11:45." "How can you be so sure of the time?" "She asked me and I looked at my watch." "I had another swim and then I went back to the hotel." "There was a program in the wireless and I thought I was going to miss it, but actually, it was only 12:10 when I arrived." "Mr. Lionel, this is not easy for you, I know, but, if you please, could you describe your feelings for your stepmother?" "She was alright." "You can't think of no one who could wish to kill her?" " Any help you can give us, Lionel." " Well... only Mrs. Redfern." "I mean, boy!" "Look at the way her husband was all over Arlena." "I bet she would have wanted to kill her." "Not that she had it in her." " You mean she isn't violent?" " Yes." "Is that all?" " Can I go, now?" " Oh, non, non, one last question." "If you please, I believe that these are yours." " Yes, they're my old spectacles." " But... your old spectacles?" "Yes, I had to have a new prescription, but I keep those for emergences." " Where did you find them?" " Non, non... it is of no matter." "Thank you very much." "You may go now." "That's not a job I particularly enjoy, interviewing a seventeen-year-old boy." "Yes." "But a boy with the hands the size of a man." " Excusez-moi, mademoiselle." " Yes, sir?" "You are aware that we are investigating the murder this morning of Arlena Stuart?" "Yes, sir." "It's a terrible business." "I still can't believe it." "And you are responsible for the cleaning of the rooms, this morning?" " Between 10 and 12 o'clock?" " Yes, sir." "Mlle.,could you tell to us whether you seen or heard anything out of the usual?" "Not really, sir." "There was no one around, apart from Mr. Marshall, he was in his room." " Did you see him?" " I did see him, about 10:15." "That's when I went in, to make the beds." "I didn't see him again after that." " So, he could have left the room." " No, sir, I heard him." "He was typing." "Mademoiselle, have you observed, in any of the rooms, a bottle that is now missing, which contains, perhaps, something strange?" "Well, Mrs. Marshall has perfume bottles." "And Mr. Lane." "The viccar!" "His bathroom's full of bottles." "Could you show to us his bathroom?" "Where is Lane?" "Apparently, he's friends on the mainland." "Chief-Inspector, what is that liquid that is brown?" "Morphine." " Is there anything else, sir?" " Non, merci, mademoiselle." "Unless..." "Mademoiselle!" "Unless there was something that you observed that was unexplained, or curious." "Something that was different from the other days." "Not that I can think of." "Actually, there was one thing." " But it can't be important, though." " No, go on." "Well, just before 12, I thought I heard someone running a bath." "And it did strike me as odd, someone having a bath at that time." "Whose bath was it?" "I couldn't tell you, sir." "Somewhere on this floor." "But it could have been anywhere." "If the bath was running just before 12:00, that's 20 minutes after the body was discovered." "Exactement, Hastings." "It is strange, n'est ce pas?" "Broken bottles, running baths..." "The trouble with you Poirot, it is you always have to make everything so complicated." " Mme. Redfern." " Mr. Poirot, I was waiting for you." "I suppose you want to know my movements this morning." "S'il vous plaît, madame." "If you would commence from the moment you woke up..." "Well, I had breakfast." "I met Lionel." "Lionel Marshall." "He had just come back from the library." "That's right." "I suggested that he'd come with me, while I was sketching." "We stayed together in Gull Cove until exactly 11:45." "He had a watch and he told me the time." "I then went back to the hotel, got changed and arrived at the tennis court at 12 o'clock on the dot." "That was when we heard..." "And had you, at any time, seen Arlena Stuart this morning?" "No, I hadn't." "I did't want to." " Were you surprised at her death?" " Surprised?" "No." "I was shocked, but not exactly surprised." "A woman of that sort mixed up in everyhing that's sordid." " Blackmail, jealousy, violence..." " What do you mean, blackmail?" " Well, it was something I overheard." " What?" "Last night, Mrs. Stuart received a telephone call." "That's right, it was just before dinner." "Well, I happened to be passing and I overheard what she was saying." "I suppose it was wrong of me to eavesdrop..." "Non, non... please." "Someone was asking her for money." "She said she couldn't get anymore." "She said she was going to tell her husband everything." "Those were her very words." "But you didn't get any name?" "I mean, was it a man or a woman?" "I have no idea." "I didn't want to be seen, specially by her, so I hurried on into dinner." "But it was blackmail, I'm sure of it." "Blackmail!" "That was tied with the telegram you found." " Nathan, the man in New York." " So it might seem." "But it doesn't make sense." "Arlena didn't have any money, did she?" "Au contraire, Chief-Inspector." "She was a woman of wealth of her own right." "The Erskine scandal." "Sir Roger Erskine." "Apparently he left her a fortune." " It'd be interesting to know how much of it's left." " It would indeed, Chief-Inspector." "She must have a lawyer, or a bank manager." " I suppose we can ask her husband." " Non, non, non, Chief-Inspector." "I think it better that we do not inform Mr. Marshall of this." "Miss Lemon, she will make the inquiries for me." "I must telephone to her at once." "Yes, Mr. Poirot, I'm still here." "How are you?" "Oh, Mr. Poirot, it wasn't meant to be a working holiday." "Very well." "Right." "I'll get onto it first thing tomorror." "In normal circumstances, the information you requested would be considered confidencial." " I quite understand, Mr. Applegood." " However," "I must say the bank was already gravely concearned about Mrs. Marshall and, given the circumstances of her death, and the fact that Mr. Poirot was involved..." "Six weeks ago, Mrs. Marshall came to my office and instructed me to withdraw a very large sum of money from her account." "The money was to be paid in bearer bonds." " Did she say what the money was for?" " I'm affraid not." "I did try to illicit from her what her intentions were, but she said it was her own private business and I felt unable to press her further." "How did she seem, Mr. Applegood?" "Was she nervous, or affraid?" "Neither." "She was determined." "That would be the best word to describe her." "I don't suppose you can tell me how much of her money was involved." "I don't see why it'd make any difference now." "We're talking all of it." "Just about her entire fortune." "Mr. Redfern?" "I had wondered when you'd be coming talk to me." "You're the Police?" "Chief-Inspector Japp." "Scotland Yard." "To be honest, sir, I find it a little strange all this, you carrying on as if nothing had ever happened." "What else am I meant to do?" "All this is so bloody horrible!" "You're forgetting that I was the one who found her." "I am just trying to put it out of my mind." "Mr. Redfern, did you anticipate to find Mme. Marshall yesterday at the beach?" "No, as a matter of fact, I was looking for her, when I met you on the terrace." " But I didn't know where had she gone." " Why were you looking for her, sir?" "Well, it's not easy to explain." "Au contraire, Mr. Redfern." "To explain it, I think it's most simple." " You were in love with Mme. Marshall." " Not in love." "Infatuated." "I hope you realize that this "infatuation" of yours could very well be the reason for Mrs. Marshall's death." " What do you mean?" " Well, if her husband were coherent of it..." "What?" "He'd have strangled her." "Kenneth is not this sort." " What about your wife?" " Christine had nothing to do with it." "If she was gonna kill anyone, she probably woul have killed me." " And anyway, it's impossible." " What makes you so sure of it, monsieur?" "Because I saw the body, that's why." "And it had to be a man." "I saw what had be done to her neck." "And it was man's hands." "You know it and so do I." "But I only wanna go to the mainland for a couple of hours." "Just to clear my head." "I'm sorry, Ma'am." "I'll take that for now." "What?" "Mr. Poirot!" "Is it really true that no one can leave the island?" "I'm affraid I'm keeping everyone here, until I've completed my investigations." "Mlle. Brewster, there is something that I do wish to ask you." "Oh, yes...?" "We spoke together of Arlena Stuart the day before they discovered the body." "Yes, I was wondering when you'd ask me about that ." "And you said..." "That I'd be happy to stick a hat pin in her." "I wasn't being serious." "A year ago, I invested money in a play she was starring." "But, after the first performance, she just walked out." " So you lost your investment." " All of it." "Of course I was annoyed, but it was a stupid thing to say." "I really didn't mean it." "An unfortunate cohincindence." "But I was nowhere near the beach when it happened." "And Mr. Redfern was with me when we found her." "It must have been a great shock to you to discover the body." "It was horrible." "At first, she didn't look dead." "It looked as if she was sunbathing." " But then you moved more close." " And I saw at once." "There was something unnatural in the way she was lying." "Her arms..." "And underneath her tan..." "She had a lovely tan, before even she arrived here, but there was a sort of paleness..." " The paleness of death." " Yes." "I'll never forget it." " Mr. Blatt." " Is the tractor leaving?" " Because if it is I'm going home now." " I'm sorry, sir, no one's to leave the island." " What?" " They've just told me the same." "You can't stop me." "I'll take my own boat, if I have to." " I wouldn't try, If I was you." " Mr. Blatt," "I would be interested to know why your boat was anchored close to the beach at Pixy Cove the day befiore Arlena Stuart died." " It wasn't." " We both saw it." "Well..., maybe I went for a swim." "I don't remember where I was, really." "I stopped and went for a swim." "How long do you purpose to keep us here?" "As long as it takes." "I can't believe it!" "Second time!" "Why is it that when you're around, people seem to drop like flies?" "I met Mlle. Darnley when I was in Egypt." "Mlle., may I introduce you to Chief-Inspector Japp, from Scotland Yard." " How do you do?" " Let's get straight down to "brass tacks" (essential)." " Please sit down." " Merci, mademoiselle." "I expect you wanna know my movements, at the time of the crime." "If you don't mind, miss Darnley." "I've written everything down." "I thought it would save time." "Thank you." "Breakfast at nine." "Left the hotel at 9:30." "Walked over to Sunny Ledge, arriving about 9:45." "Sunny Ledge?" "It's on top of the cliffs." "You get a good view from Pixy Cove." "You can see the whole beach, the cave, everything." "And, before you ask me, yes, I did see Arlena arriving in that boat of hers." "But that's all I saw." "You returned to the hotel at 11:50 and arrived at the tennis court 10 minutes later." " That's it?" " I'm affraid so." "Mlle. Darnley, a moment ago, you mentioned the beach at Pixy Cove." "You remarked that you could see the cave." "Yes, it's quite hard to make out the entrance from there." "It's concealed." "But you can see it, yes." "So this cave, it does, indeed, exhist." "Miss Brewster mentioned it the other evening." "Of course it exhists." " It's over here." " Merci." "Hastings, this killer could not suffer as I do, le mal de mer." " Sorry?" " The sickness." " It need to be pretty fit, too." " That's true." "Down the ladder, cross the beach and back up again in a hurry." "It kind of narrows it down." "Mademoiselle?" "That's the entrance there." "Wait here, miss Darnley." " It's a cave. all right." " Good Lord!" "Well, there's nothing here." "Not to see, there's nothing, Chief-Inspector." "But to smell..." " Seaweed?" " Perfume." "Hastings, you recall that in the bedroom of Arlena Stuart there was a bottle of perfume that I smelled?" " You mean it is the same?" "There's some footprints." "Flat, no heel." "Canvas... beach shoes, or something." "And where do these prints lead, Chief-Inspector?" "Ah, it's a dead end." "Wait a minute!" "Sandwíches?" "I do not think so." "This is heroín." "That changes everything, Poirot." "Drugs, that's what's at the bottom of this." " Perhaps, Chief-Inspector." " No doubt about it, if you ask me." "Why are we going to the mainland, Poirot?" "What's so important to the case?" "It is not important, Hastings." "It is vital." " Here you are, sir." " Voilà, Hastings." "The little grey cells, they are like the army of Napoléon." "You mean they march on your stomach?" " For you, sir." " Thank you." " You had any thoughts then, Poirot?" " Oui." "It is true, Chief-Inspector, the discovery of a large quantity of heroin close to the place where Arlena Stuart was murdered would indicate that this was the motive for the crime." "You said you smelled to her perfume in the cave." "Oui" "There you are, then." "She went into the cave, discovered the heroin, sorted out there was some drugs ring operating on the island someone strangled her to silence her." "Non." "One question, Chief-Inspector." "The cave, it is dark and unpleasant, non?" "Why would she enter?" "Was she indeed being blackmailed?" "And also what was in the bottle that was thrown at Mlle. Brewster?" "And how did the spectacles of Lionel Marshall end up at the bottom of the ladder?" "And... yes, also I wonder what was in the book that he was reading." "It's good to see you back on form, Poirot." "One helping of spotted dick and you'll probably solve it." "Lionel Marshall..." "a young man staying on the island." "Let me look." "He borrowed a book yesterday morning." "Oh yes, of course I remember now." "I thought it was a rather strange choice, but he said it was for a homework project." "And the name of the book, if you please, madame?" ""Dangerous Chemicals and Poisons"." "Excuse me." "Those two!" "What are they still doing here?" "Well, maybe they wanna a book on bird watch." " It all begins to make sense." " You mean Lionel Marshall?" "Well, there was obviously was no love lost between him and her stepmother." "You mean he was thinking about poisoning her?" " And in the end he used his bare hands." " But he is only 17." "Hastings, is that not Mr. Lane?" "Well, it's been a while since he saw him." "He wasn't in the hotel last night." "That's a chemist shop." "And he had drugs in his room." "Mr. Lane!" " Mr. Poirot!" " You have heard about the events on the island?" "Yes, dreadful." "They were talking about it in the shop." "Perhaps you'll return now to the hotel?" " Yes." " We'll come with you." "I was on the mainland all day." "I wasn't anywhere near her." "I couldn't have had anything to do with it." "Why didn't you return here last night, sir?" "I was having dinner with a friend, the Bishop of Exmouth." "It was late, so he suggested I stayed the night." "And for what purpose have you come here to this island, Mr. Lane?" "I've told you." "I've been ill." "I needed a rest for my nerves." "And you're a viccar?" "I was." "The church of S. Mathews, at Blackridge, in Kent." " I had to leave." " Why was that?" "There was a scandal." "My wife  you see, she left me." "She ran away with a member of my congregation." "She was a wicked woman." "She should've have been punished." "I've got a question for you, if you don't mind, Mr. Lane." "Are you, by any chance, taking some sort of drugs?" "I have an opiate prescribed by my doctor." "It's for my nerves." "But it's perfectly legal, Chief-Inspector." "I've done nothing wrong." "An opiate..." "I wonder." "Did you not remark, Chief-Inspector?" "The village of which he spoke..." " Blackridge." " Blackridge?" "Hey, wait a minute!" "Alice Corrigan." "It was a murder unsolved, n'est ce-pas?" "About two years ago." "She was strangled too." " You think there's a link?" " Well, it's a bit of a cohincidence, the Reverend comes from a place with an unsolved murder, and now the same thing happens here." "Well, perhaps someone should ask a few more questions." "Yet another task for the inimitable Miss Lemon." "Thank you." "Miss Lemon?" " Chief-Inspector..." " Weston." "Charles Weston." "Do come this way." " So, how is Mr. Poirot?" " He was meant to be having a rest." "I'd very much like to meet him." "Of course I've heard a lot about him." "There's the church of St. Mathews." " This is were the body was found." " Strangled." "Yes." "She was found by a gymn's mister, Jane Martindale, she was cycling in the area." "Must have rather spoiled her holiday." "She reported it to us." " What can you tell me about the dead girl?" " Alice Corrigan." "She was 27." "Engaged to be married." "She was a wealthy woman of own right." "We think that might have been the motive." " You thought she'd been killed by her fiancé." " Edward Deverill." "Yes." "He inherited everything." "But the body was discovered at 10:15, in the middle of the morning church service, and he was on the London train at the time." "Non-stop to Blackridge." "And a dozen witnesses saw him get on and get off the train." "It couldn't have been him." " So it was never solved." " And never will be." "Unless Mr. Poirot has some new light to shed on the matter." "I think you can expect plenty of new light, now Mr. Poirot is involved." " Chief-Inspector?" " Yes, sir?" "I'm Major Barry and I was wondering if I might have a word with you." "About the murder?" "I was wondering how long you expect this investigation of yours to continue." " Well, it's hard to say, sir." " I see." "Because I..." "Never mind." " What was that?" " I have no idea." " Are you ready, Captain Hastings?" " Yes." "Do you think this plan of Poirot's gonna work?" "I hope so." "He's there telling them now." "So, when are you going let us go off the island and go home, Mr. Poirot?" "I have already asked Chief-Inspector Japp to open up this island once again." " Really?" " Oh yes, Mr. Blatt." " The new guests staying are now permitted to arrive." " Good." "I'm going, if you don't mind." "I've had enough of hanging around." "Have you worked it out yet?" "This is a case most complicate, Mlle. Brewster." "But you must have some idea." "Et bien, mademoiselle, I am a man most simple," "I always believe that the person most obvious is always the one who commits the crime." "And in this case, there is indicated very clearly  one person." "Who?" "But there is what you might call a snag." "Because it seems impossible for this person to have committed this crime." " So, Poirot was right." " As usual." "Come bird watching, have we?" "You won't find many birds nesting in there, will you?" "What do you want?" "We haven't done anything wrong, you know!" "No?" "That depends of what's inside of that box." "And I think we all know what that is, don't we?" "Very well..." "Get back!" "Don't be daft!" "You aren't gonna use that." "I've got men all over this island." " You're lying!" " Shoot them both and let's get out of here!" "I'm a Chief-Inspector of Scotland Yard!" "Put that down!" "Shoot them!" "Wait..." "Are you all right?" " Damn you!" " Don't let him go away!" "Come on you, on your feet!" "I'm with the Home Office." "Narcotics, Scotland Yard, for Drug  Crimes." "You mean, you're one of us?" "Why didn't someone tell me?" "Sorry about that, but I had to keep it on the rubs." "I am sorry I had to warn you off, the way I did, Mr. Poirot." "I've been watching this place for months and I thought you were gonna blow the whole operation." " It is of no matter, Major Barry." " Anyway, I've got them, that's what matters." "Your two "bird watchers"." "They had a good thing going for them down here." " The stuff coming in from the continent." " But how did it get here?" "That, Hastings, is most simple." "What's going on here?" "You can't do this!" " This is an outrage!" " The game it is over, Mr. Blatt." "And there, Hastings, is the answer to your question." "Mr. Blatt who speaks of Deauville and Nice, but chooses to sail here." "And of course he uses sailing shoes, made of canvas." " The footprints in the cave!" " Oui, c'est ça." "The heroin it is carried from France with the red sail which signals to the mainland when it arrives." " And the white sail is the "all clear"." " Oui." "You've got it in one, Mr. Poirot." "Now, we've known about this game for some time, we just couldn't pinpoint the place of entry." "Take him away!" "Wait a minute, Poirot." "Are you seriously suggesting that all this had nothing to do with the death of Arlena Stuart?" "So it would now appear." "But you said she went into the cave." "You smelled her perfume." "So I thought, Chief-Inspector." "But then the question becomes:" "Why did Arlena Stuart enter the cave?" "Perhaps she was hiding from someone." "Hastings, once again, you arrived at an explanation which makes everything clear!" " Not to me." " You mean she was affraid of someone?" "I mean, Hastings, that there is Evil on this island and the murder that took place here was the work of the mind that was brilliant." "But there was one thing that the murdere did not expect." "The mind of Hercule Poirot." "Et bien, now is the time of these two minds to minds to meet and the truth at last must come to light." "I congratulate you, Miss Lemon." "You have achieved a great success." "So you think that the deaths of Arlena Stuart and this Alice Corrigan are definitely linked?" "Of that I am sure, Chief-Inspector." "Both women were young, both strangled, one had a fiancé, the other a husband who could not possibly have committed the crime." "Edward Deverill because he was on a train, and Kenneth Marshall because he was typing letters in his room." "Oui, c'est ça." "Everyone's gathering in the dining room, Poirot." "Bon." "The time 'it' has come." "So, let us go." "Mesdames et messieurs, we have all come here for this hotel for reasons of health, exercise, holiday  and for murder." "I, myself, was here on account of an illness, but it was not my body that it was put to exercise, non, it was the little grey cells." "How was this crime, so seemingly impossible, in fact committed?" "And who among us, was, in fact, responsible for the death of Arlena Stuart?" " Do you know?" " Oui!" "Bien sûr, mademoiselle." "Hercule Poirot, he knows all." "La pauvre Arlena..." "To Mr. Lane, as he watched her swimming on the beach, she was the focus of Evil, hey?" "Of Evil under the sun." "We don't have to be of the Church to recognise Evil, Mr. Poirot." "I see it there." "I recognise it." "It's real." "But, to my mind, the Evil was connected to Arlena Stuart in a different way." "I saw her a first, last, and all of the time, as a victim eternal and predestined." " You mean she was being blackmailed." " Of that I am not so sure, Chief-Inspector." " But I heard her, on the telephone." " Non, non, non, madame." "You heard only only one side of the conversation." "Hastings, do you not recall the telegram that we discovered in the room of Arlena Stuart?" "Yes, it was from someone called Nathan..." "I say, it's a telegram to Arlena." "From New York." " Dated three days ago." " Go on." ""Send the money now or you will loose a great deal." "Nathan."" "To the Chief-Inspector-Chefe Japp, this man seemed to be threatening her." "But to me, it was simply a statement of fact." " What do you mean?" " He was an american, Chief-Inspector, speaking of a great deal, a great business deal." "Now it is my belief that he wanted the money of Arlena Stuart simply to invest." " You mean he wasn't blackmailing her?" " We saw them once, Hastings." "They were together dancing." "Yet you will not dance with a man that threatens to destroy your life." " Nathan Lloyd!" " Mr. Marshall?" "You're right." "He's a New York stock broker, although a no very reputable one." "Oui, c'est ça." "So this was simply a case of man, who was young... how do you say?" "Oportunistic, who took Arlena Stuart exactly for what she was:" "a target, and a very easy one." "All she inherited all that money from Sir Roger Erskine." "And now it's all gone, every penny of it." "That's what the bank manager told me." "Are you saying she sent it all to this chap in New York?" "No, I just said that this was a weakness in her that was fatal." "That she was attracted to men who took of her only the advantage." "We were happy together!" "Mr. Marshall, you are a man most galante, n'est-ce pas?" "But for you, life with her must have been a torture." "Also, I believe, for your son." "I didn't like her, I never made any secret of it." "It was also your spectacles that were discovered beside the ladder, at Pixy Cove." "At the time of her death, you were alone." " I was swimming with Mrs. Redfern!" " At 11:45, yes." "But we have only your word that that was indeed the time." "Mme Redfern could not see the watch." "Suppose it was only 11:30, hmm?" "That would have given you sufficient time, after she had departed for her tenis, to run to the ladder, climb down..." " No!" "Leave him alone, damn you!" "He's only a boy." "And you, Mr. Marshall, you have no alibi for the time your wife was killed?" " I told you, I was typing." " You were heard to type, yes, but you were never seen." "From the very start it was my belief that one person alone must be responsible from this crime." "And each person in this room wished the death of Arlena Stuart." " I didn't!" " Yes, you did." "She was the person who stood between you and Mr. Marshall." "His son, too, who studies poisons, wished to see his father set free." " I never went near her!" "Mlle. Brewster lost a great deal of money because of her." "And you, Mme. Redfern, believed that you were in great danger to loose your husband." "Yes, but I didn't..." "I couldn't!" "I had no reason to kill her." "Mr. Lane..." "To you, she was a woman of Evil, just as your wife." " And you also wished to see her punished..." " No!" "So, who was it then, Poirot?" "It was the person who she went to meet that day on the beach, at Pixy Cove." "I thought I'd take a cruise round to Pixy Cove." " But please, don't tell anyone that." " Madame?" "Well, everyone here just has to follow me around." "And for once, I want to be alone." "Both Hastings and I we saw quite clearly..." " She was on her way to a assignation." " Oui." "And an assignation with you  Mr. Redfern." " No!" " Yes." "I knew you for what you were from the moment I first saw you." "A wastrel, cheating and defrauding women of wealth." "Like Nathan Lloyd and all the other young men who were drawn to her." "She was your prey!" "To hell with you!" "You got it all wrong!" "It can't be Redfern." "He was the one who discovered her." "Seemingly so, yes, Chief-Inspector." "But what if the the body found by Mr. Redfern on the beach, that day, was not Arlena Stuart?" "But it was, Mr. Poirot." "I saw her myself." "Non, Mlle. Brewster, you saw what you were meant to see." "And I will tell to you all how it was a crime of the most ingenious." "At 09.:30, Christine Redfern makes the arrangement to go swimming with Lionel Marshall." " Were have you been?" " I went to the mainland." "She sees the book." "So I see." "She knows of his dislike of his stepmother, and it is not hard to see what is going on, on his mind." "Why don't you come with me?" "You could have a swim." "It was a bonus that was unexpected." "All right." "I'll meet you here in an hour." "At 10:30." "So the plan that was preprepared was set now into motion, and the timing, it must be precise." "First, Mme. Redfern returns to her room e aplies to his skin that is pale some make up which is dark," "she will now appear to have a sun tan." "First, she must dispose of the evidences which will be lost in the undergrowth, outside of the hotel." "But it was a mistake to throw the bottle outside of the window, because there happens to be walking close to the hotel, at that time, Mlle. Brewster who sees the bottle fall." "It was a remnant of this bottle that I found, containing some liquid that was brown." "You see?" "And now, Christine Redfern can keep her appointment with Lionel Marshall." "She leaves the hotel wearing beachclothes that are vey loosefitting and which completely cover the make-up she has put on." " Good morning." "Have you seen...?" " Good morning." " I'm sorry?" " It doesn't matter." "At the same time, M. Patrick Redfern suggests to me that he doesn't know the whereabouts of Arlena Stuart." "Hence at Gull Cove." "While Lionel Marshall swims in the sea," "It is simple to Mme. Redfern to steal his spectacles and to alter the time on his watch." " How is it?" " It's warm." "Do you have the time?" "It's a quarter to." "But is was not 11:45." "It was no more than 11:30." "You told me so, non?" "You thought you would be late for a program you wished to hear on the wireless." "That's right." "But in fact, it was only a little past twelve when I got back." "So now, Mme. Redfern she has much to do and has gainned herself aditional time with which to do it." "First, she returns the watch to the time that is correct." "This is unlikely to be noticed by Lionel Marshall, which is indeed the case." "Then, she runs accross the island to Pixy Cove, which, of course, requires great speed and stamen." "Hastings, do you recall she told us about her former occupation." " She said she was a teacher." " Oui." "But what if she was a teacher of Physical Education?" "Someone for whom such exercise and exertion would be easy?" "She arrives at the ladder above Pixy Cove." "Patrick?" "Are you there?" "And is careful to ensure that Arlena Stuart sees her." "However, Arlena had made a secret rendez-vous with Patrick Redfern and his wife is the last person she wishes to see." "But Arlena Stuart and Patrick Redfern had made a plan." "If Mme. Redfern should happen to appear, she would hide in the cave." "The mouth of this cave it is very narrow, it has no view to the entrance to the cove or that part of the beach where Mme. Redfern is changing, hidden by the rocks." "And so everything is prepared for the next stage of the plan." "The timing, it has to be perfect." "Patrick Redfern had alredy begun his tour of the island with Mlle. Brewster." "Look, there's someone there on Pixy Cove." "Looks like Mrs. Marshall." "And so to the discovery of the body." "With a hair that is false, and a chinese hat and a make-up that is brown, she will rewemble very much with Arlena Stuart." "She's dead!" "She's been strangled!" "She's dead!" "Are you sure?" "She's no pulse." "She's not breathing." " We've got to get the Police." " You mustn't touch anything." "No, I know." "But one of us has to stay here with the body." "He chose you, Mlle. Brewster, to go with him in the boat because he knew that, like the rest of us, you did not wish to climb the ladder." "It was essential that you should return in the boat." "But I could have sworn it was her." "I really thought it was Arlena!" "Yes." "But even so, it was you who told to me later that you detected a certain paleness beneath the tan." " It was because the tan was fake!" " Oui." "And you departed with great haste to find help, leaving, as you thought, Patrick Redfern alone with the body." "She's gone." "As soon as you were out of sight," "Mr. et Mme. Redfern were able to put into action the next part of their plan." "Christine Redfern now returns to the ladder." "She there drops the spectacles she stole from Lionel Marshall." "She knows that he has been contemplating murder, and that he will be implicated." "Et bien, to the rest of the world, Arlena Stuart is already dead, and both Mr. et Mme. Redfern have alibis that will be undisputed." "But, for Arlena Stuart, her death, it is still to come." "Arlena, darling!" "I'm here." "Did she go?" "Christine was here." "I did what you told me and hid in the cave." "Forget Christine." "The beautiful Arlena." "She was an actrice most accomplished, but a woman most susceptible." "Men preyed on her for her money." "Men like the american, Mr. Nathan Lloyd, but it was Mr. Patrick Redfern who tempted her most of all." "Who better to suggest a scheme of investment for her money than a journalist who works on the city pages of a newspaper?" "And so she gives to him all of her money to invest." "But, of course, there was no such scheme, and, from that moment, her fate was sealed." "He takes the money, and then he kills her." "Oui, c'est ça, Chief-Inspector." "And, from now, the rest, it is very simple." "Christine Redfern returns to the hotel." "With great haste, she takes off her outer clothing, and then now, there needs only to remove from her body the make-up that is brown." "So, she needs to take a bath." "And it is this that is heard by the maid while she performs her duties." "It is now 12.:00." "Mid-day." "And every single task has now been accomplished." "And neither Monsieur, nor Madame Redfern could possibly have committed the murder." " Hello." "I'm not late, am I?" " No, exactly on time." "Mr. Poirot!" "Mr. Poirot!" "It is Arlena Stuart." "She's dead." "That's the most devilish thing I've ever heard." "Yes, Chief-Inspector, it was, indeed, unique, uh?" "For the murder, it was committed after the time of her death." "But this was not the first occasion that they had effected such a scheme." " The Alice Corrigan affair." " Yes, Miss Lemon." "Another woman who was young murdered for her money." "But this time, by a fiancé who could have not possibly been there." " And who was it that discovered the body?" " The gym's mistress." "Absolument." "Again, a teacher of Physical Education." "At that time," "Christine Redfern called herself Jane Martindale." "And it was she that, at 10.:15, have found the body that could had not possibly be there." "The true killer, who called himself Edward Deverill, arrives on a London train at only 10.:20 and hurries to a meeting that he has with his fiancée." "Once again, the timing, it is parfait." "For Alice Corrigan was strangled after her body has supposedly been found." "Strangled by you, Mr. Redfern!" "My God!" "Alors, Jane Martindale, Edward Deverill," "Monsieur et Madame Redfern, a couple who preyed on women who are young and wealthy." "Mr. Lane," "I know that have not been well, you have suffered from the nerves most bad, but perhaps, the Evil that you saw that day on the beach it was the same Evil that you glimpsed in the court room, two years before." "This inquest returns, therefore, that it was murder by person or persons unknown." "Yes." "He looks different now." "But it was him." "Très bien, Mr. Poirot." "Monsieur." "You, damned, interfering   lousy little worm!" "Patrick!" "The face of Evil  it remains always the same." "So much for your rest cure, Mr. Poirot." "Yes, perhaps you should take a running, Poirot, or what about tennis." "Obesity's today number one killer, I'm told." "Non, non, non, Hastings." "The diagnosis of the hospital was at fault." "My taylor tells to me that I am a fine figure of a man." "And you truly believe your taylor than a medically qualified doctor?" "Maîs certaînement." "the remedies from my taylor are painful only for my bank account." "But, to celebrate the return to health of Poirot, may I suggest a little meal together most convivial." "Splendid." "We can all go to El Ranchero." " I'm affraid not, Cap." "Hastings." " What?" "I'm sorry, Poirot, I know you didn't mean to tell now to Cap." "Hastings, but..." "Tell me what?" "Well, Poirot's little problem was food poisoning." "I don't understand..." "This was not the first case associated to El Ranchero, Hastings." "It was the 14th." "No!" "The Ministry of Health have closed it down." "What wrath!" "How do you know about this, anyway?" "I've hastely hard to put an armed guard around the kitchen area." " What?" " Just so while they do some more tests." "But I've got a fortune tied up on that place!" "Come, Hastings, what is done, is done." "And what is underdone, is underdone." "Oh!" "No..." "But to help you with your losses," "I will treat us all to my favorite little belgium bistro just around the corner." "And I am pleased to say they have never known to serve I'eau d'ortie." "What?" "L'eau d'ortie, Chief-Inspector." "The water of the nettle."