日期：2025-07-01 Twenty-five Four people sat in Poirots room. Poirot in his square chair was drinking aglass of sirop de cassis. Norma and Mrs. Oliver sat on the sofa. Mrs. Oliverwas looking particularly festive in unbecoming apple green brocade, sur-mounted by one... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 II Poirot had abandoned his trophy, the wig. He had gone to Norma, andtaken her hand gently in his. Your ordeal is over, my child. The victim will not be sacrificed. You areneither mad, nor have you killed anyone. There are two cruel and heart-less... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Twenty-four IThey stared at him. Didnt expect that, did you? Restarick said angrily: Youre wrong. That girl doesnt even know whatshes done. Shes innocent completely innocent. She cant be held re-sponsible for what she doesnt know shes done. You let... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Twenty-three Chief Inspector Neele drew a sheet of paper towards him, jotted one ortwo notes on it; and looked round at the other five people in the room. Hisvoice was crisp and formal. Miss Jacobs? he said. He looked towards the policeman who stood... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 II There were six people now in the room with the Harlequin on the wall. A long time had passed. The police had come and gone. Andrew Restarick sat like a man stunned. Once or twice he said thesame words. I cant believe it Telephoned for, he had com... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Twenty-two IFrances Cary, carrying her overnight bag, walked down Mandeville Road,chattering with the friend she had just met on the corner, towards thebulk of Borodene Mansions. Really, Frances, its like living in a prison block, that building. Wor... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Twenty-one Poirot sat in his big square armchair. His hands rested on the arms, hiseyes looked at the chimneypiece in front of him without seeing it. By hiselbow was a small table and on it, neatly clipped together, were variousdocuments. Reports fr... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Twenty Hercule Poirot looked up at the fa?ade of the dignified Georgian house inwhat had been until recently a quiet street in an old-fashioned markettown. Progress was rapidly overtaking it, but the new supermarket, theGifte Shoppe, Margerys Boutiq... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Twelve Lets buy a peacock, said Mrs. Oliver suddenly and unexpectedly. Shedid not open her eyes as she made this remark, and her voice was weakthough full of indignation. Three people brought startled eyes to bear upon her. She made a furtherstateme... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 II When Poirot arrived home, George was awaiting him: A woman named Edith rang up, sir Edith? Poirot frowned. She is, I gather, in the service of Mrs. Oliver. She asked me to informyou that Mrs. Oliver is in St. Giless Hospital. What has happened to... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Eleven IAndrew Restarick was writing a chequehe made a slight grimace as hedid so. His office was large and handsomely furnished in typical conventionaltycoon fashionthe furnishing and fittings had been Simon Restaricksand Andrew Restarick had accep... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Nineteen Claudia Reece-Holland was not in the office today. Instead, a middle-agedwoman received Poirot. She said that Mr. Restarick was waiting for himand ushered him into Restaricks room. Well? Restarick hardly waited until he had come through the... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Eighteen Poirot paused at the doorway of the Wedderburn Gallery to inspect a pic-ture which depicted three aggressive-looking cows with vastly elongatedbodies overshadowed by a colossal and complicated design of windmills. The two seemed to have not... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Seventeen Chief Inspector Neele was sitting behind his desk looking very official andformal. He greeted Poirot politely and motioned him to a chair. As soon asthe young man who had introduced Poirot to the presence had left, ChiefInspector Neeles ma... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Fourteen Chre Madame, Poirot bowed and presented Mrs. Oliver with a bouquet,very stylised, a posy in the Victorian manner. M. Poirot! Well, really, that is very nice of you, and its very like yousomehow. All my flowers are always so untidy. She look... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Fifteen At Hercule Poirots elbow was a tisane prepared for him by George. Hesipped at it and thought. He thought in a certain way peculiar to himself. It was the technique of a man who selected thoughts as one might selectpieces of a jigsaw puzzle.... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Sixteen Today I have much to do, Hercule Poirot announced as he rose from thebreakfast table next morning and joined Miss Lemon. Inquiries to make. You have made the necessary researches for me, the appointments, the ne-cessary contacts? Certainly,... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Thirteen Poirot seldom used the key to his flat. Instead, in an old-fashioned man-ner, he pressed the bell and waited for that admirable factotum, George, toopen the door. On this occasion, however, after his visit to the hospital, thedoor was opene... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 Ten IA voice said: Drink this. Norma was shivering. Her eyes had a dazed look. She shrank back alittle in the chair. The command was repeated. Drink this. This time shedrank obediently, then choked a little. Itsits very strong, she gasped. Itll put... 阅读全文>>

日期：2025-07-01 II Later that evening Dr. Stillingfleet made a telephone call. Quite a good operation kidnap, he said. Shes down at Kenway Court. Came like a lamb. Cant tell you much yet. The girls full of drugs. Id sayshed been taking purple hearts, and dream bomb... 阅读全文>>