Chapter 4 Chapter Four

That night, with everything in the world suddenly becoming unreal, I went downstairs to have dinner. As he was changing his clothes, the question, thinking that it might all be Poirot's fantasies, crossed his mind once or twice.After all, he was of a considerable age and had suffered a serious loss of health.He is still confident and smart, but is that really the case?He has sacrificed his life, solved many cases, and made a lot of contributions.As a result, even if a murder that will not happen out of nowhere is made into a bold assumption that it might happen, there is no need to make such a fuss.It may have been a health deprivation of freedom of movement, but it did not necessarily make him restless.What is even more conceivable than this is that he can come up with a new way to arrest the murderer himself.Desire - it's a nervous breakdown with good reason!He selected a few cases that had been published in newspapers, and actually created cases that would not happen at will... He created fantasy characters hiding behind the cases, and portrayed a crazy mass murderer.Maybe, Mrs. Yesherington really killed her husband, and the farmer really shot and killed his wife!The young lady may have overdosed her aunt on morphine, the lady who threatened to kill her husband may have actually acted and killed her husband, and the eccentric spinster may have committed murder, as she confessed. crime.All in all, this series of murders is exactly as it appears on the surface!

The only counter-evidence to this view (a rather common-sense one) is my inescapable dependence on Poirot's insight. Everything is ready for the murder plan... Poirot said so.In other words, this Stiles House is about to become the stage of a murder case again. Perhaps time will tell whether his idea is correct.However, in case it is correct, we have the obligation to take necessary measures in advance to prevent it from happening. Also, unlike me, Poirot already knew the origin of the murderer. The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get!Why not just let me know.Hateful Poirot!You ask for my assistance and don't tell me your secrets!

why?Yes, Poirot had his reasons--reasons that were simply miscalculated!I'm tired of hearing the boring, jokes he makes with my "talking face"!The ability to keep secrets, I will never lose to anyone!My nature is straightforward, and anyone can read the secrets hidden in my heart from my face. Poirot had long ago asserted this insulting belief.But sometimes it is said that it is the result of a noble and honest character that hates cheating more than anything, so as to soften the blow for me! Indeed, if this time it was nothing more than Poirot's hypothesis, it would easily explain his silence.

Before I could come to a conclusion, the gong sounded. Abandoning my preconceived notions, I kept a close watch with my eyes wide open, speculated on Poirot's idea of ​​X, and went downstairs to the dining room. Let us just insist that what Poirot said was true.So, at this moment there is a character who has killed five people, is at ease under this roof, and now he is perfectly prepared to repeat the old trick, almost invulnerable. Before going to the dining room, I met Miss Currow and Major Arradon through introductions in the living room.Miss Ke Lu is about thirty-three or four years old, with a slender figure and quite a good looks.As for Major Arradon, he was distasteful at first sight.His face was tanned, his shoulders were broad, and he was a handsome man in his early forties.Watch him go on and on.But there are almost double meanings in the words. It seems that he may be living a dissolute life with a loose belly, or he may be a guy who eats all day long, gambles and drinks, and is fascinated by sex.

From what I could gather, Colonel Laittrell had little affection for Arraton, and Pod Carrington was distant.But he was popular with the ladies.Mrs. Laittrell chattered with him in a dance of hands and feet, while Arradon, not concealing his indifference, complimented her impatiently.Even Judith seemed to express how happy she was with him, talking more than usual, which made me anxious.It is a mystery that I have not been able to solve for many years that this kind of low-level man can please and win the favor of the highest-level woman.It was obvious at a glance that he was a good-for-nothing prodigal--I say that, and nine out of ten men would agree with me.However, out of ten women, there must be nine, no!I'm afraid that ten of them will be fascinated by him.

Everyone sit down.When the white sticky soup-like liquid was lined up in front of everyone, I lingered on the dining table while trying to sum up various possibilities. If Poirot's words are correct, and if his mind is still so clear and undeteriorated, then, among these people, a certain person is a dangerous murderer--even, this person may also be a mentally disturbed person! Although Poirot didn't tell me, I can speculate that the character X must be a man. Then, which man is the hard-to-guess man?Definitely not Colonel Laittrell.This point is not difficult to judge based on his indecision and weakness that can often be seen.Will it be Norton with binoculars?Norton is outwardly a lovable, sterile, passive man.Needless to say, among the murderers, many were prudent and unnoticed-that is why he asserted himself by the means of killing.Because he often harbors grudges for being ignored!Perhaps Norton could be a murderer of this type.However, he is a bird lover.I have always believed that anyone who loves nature can prove to be a healthy person in mind and body.

So what about Pod Carrington?This world-renowned outstanding sportsman is also an administrator, a figure loved and respected by everyone.Not a problem.Dr. Franklin was also exempted from this doubt.For I knew that Judith respected him and thought highly of him. Next came Major Arradon.I chew slowly and assess calmly.The so-called crazy guy may be referring to this kind of man!This kind of man might cheat his grandmother for money.However, she whitewashed her appearance with an extremely shallow charm.At the moment he was gleefully playing up his story of failure—playing himself as a buffoon, brazenly making jokes that earned everyone a laugh.

If Arradon is X, his purpose of murder must be some kind of profit. However, Poirot does not explicitly point out that X is male.There is also the possibility of Miss Ke Lu.I think so.Obviously, she is a nervous beauty with unsteady mind and flustered behavior. She has the kind of humor that catches wind and fears snakes when she sees ropes.However, no matter from which angle, it looks normal.The only women at dinner were she, Mrs. Laittrell, and Judith.Mrs. Franklin was having dinner in her room on the second floor, and the nurse next to her would not come down to eat until we had finished eating.

After dinner, I stood by the living room window, looking out at the yard, thinking back to the time when a young, brown-haired Cincia Mattek came running across the lawn, wearing a crisp white uniform. , how charming it is... "What's up?" Judith asked me suddenly. I was rather taken aback. "What's the matter? What do you mean?" "Daddy's been weird all over tonight. What's he doing at supper? Always staring at everybody." I froze.Because it didn't occur to me that I was so absorbed in thinking about something that I even showed it in my attitude.

"Really? I'm thinking about ancient times, maybe I'm looking at ghosts." "By the way, I heard that Papa lived in this house when he was young, didn't he? An elderly woman was murdered here, right?" "Those who are poisoned, the poison is strychnine." "What kind of person is he? A good person? Or a nasty person?" I thought for a while about what she asked. "A genial man," I continued, after a moment's hesitation, "a generous and benevolent man. He has given a great deal of money to charity." "Oh—so it's generosity and kindness in that sense."

Judith's voice was slightly contemptuous.Then immediately asked a strange question. "Is everyone who lives here happy?" No, not happy, at least I know it.I said slowly: "Unhappy." "why?" "Because everyone feels like a prisoner. It is Mrs. Inglethorpe who controls the total property—she gives the property to everyone bit by bit, but prevents the children in name from enjoying their own lives." I knew Judith gasped suddenly, and the hand on my arm was heavy. "Too much. That is an abuse of power! No, it cannot be tolerated. An old man or a sick man should not have the power to interfere with the life of a healthy man! Chain them, make them anxious, waste what could be put to good use." Power and ability—there is such a need in the world. It's called tyranny!" "This...isn't..." I said indifferently: "This is not limited to the elderly." "I know what you mean, Dad. You think young people are bossy. Maybe you're right, but our bossyness is clean. At least we just do what we want to do, and we don't I hope that others will do as I wish, and it never occurred to me to treat others as slaves." "No, when you young people see an intruder, you will calmly settle him down." Judith grabbed my hand hard. "Please don't be so cruel! I'm not so good at smoothing people out! Besides, my father didn't even give me instructions on how to live. The children think it's a blessing." "However, as far as I am concerned," I said frankly, "although I didn't guide you, I was criticized by my mother, saying that failure is a lesson." Judith twisted my arm quickly again.She said: "I know, but Dad, are you going to yell about our affairs like an old hen? I hate yelling! I can't bear it. However, a life with an uncertain future has to be for the useless The kind of boring life sacrificed, Dad, you can understand, right?" "Sometimes it does. But there's no need to resort to extreme measures. . . just stay out of the way." "Yeah, but is it really all right?" Judith spoke so excitedly that I startled secretly and turned my head to look at her face.It was getting dark, so I couldn't see her expression clearly.She continued, but her voice was low and disorganized. "There's a lot of really hard things to understand—money, duty, not wanting to hurt a good person—plenty of them. And there's a madman among them—he knows how to play with that mood method. That kind of person—that kind of person is like a blood-sucking leech!" "Judith!" I was amazed by the anger she expressed in her words. He might have found it too exciting to talk, so he smiled quickly and let go of my arm. "Did I say that too much? I can't help but get angry when I'm confronted with this kind of problem. I know there are such cases, there is an old man without blood and tears, and there is no coincidence, and there is also a very brave woman-she got rid of it. Restraining and freeing those she loves, but the society treats her as a lunatic. Crazy? I say that there is no such normal behavior, and even, no such bold behavior!" Terrible uneasiness flitted through his mind.Recently, I seem to have heard similar words somewhere. "Judith! Which case are you talking about?" "No, it's someone Pa doesn't know, an acquaintance of Dr. Franklin. It's an old man named Lizzie Fett. Although he is a rich man, he makes his daughters starve to death--don't let them see any People, and they are not allowed to step out of the house. It can be said that it is a mental disorder, but it is said that it cannot be said in medicine." "Then, the eldest daughter killed the old man?" "Did Dad read the news in the newspaper? The society might say it was murder, but she didn't seek personal gain. Because Margaret Lizfett turned herself in to the police after the murder Well. I think she's brave. I'll never be so brave." "Do you mean the bravery to surrender? Or the bravery to kill?" "Both." "I was relieved to hear you say that." I continued with a stern face, "But what you said is sometimes allowed to kill people doesn't sound right." I paused, and then To add: "What is Dr. Franklin's opinion?" "He said it was a natural retribution, Dad, and there are people who should be killed." "You can't, Judith, you can't say that. Where did you get that idea?" "Learned from everyone." "Tell you, that's a fallacy that's harmful but not beneficial." "I know, let's talk about something else." Judith hesitated for a moment. "To be honest, I brought you a message from Mrs. Franklin. She said she wanted to see Dad. If it's okay, can I go to her bedroom?" "Yes, I'm glad to visit her. It must be very uncomfortable to see her unable to come downstairs for dinner? Poor thing." "It's no big deal." Judith said indifferently, "It's just that I like to make a fuss." How ruthless young people are.