Chapter 8 million dollar securities theft

"Recently, there has been an astonishingly large theft of securities!" I said one morning while reading the papers. "Poirot, let us give up detective reasoning and turn to crime and money grabbing!" "Are you -- how can you say that? -- trying to get rich overnight, my friend?" "Yes, look at the latest issue of the newspaper. Liberty securities worth millions of dollars were transported by a United Bank of Scotland in London to New York, USA. They all disappeared strangely on the luxury cruise ship 'Olympia'." "If it wasn't for seasickness, if it didn't take only a few hours instead of so long like crossing the English Channel, I would be very happy to take such a luxurious cruise ship and go sailing myself." Poirot looked forward to whispered.

"Indeed." I, too, seemed enthusiastic. "Some cruise ships must be as rich and luxurious as palaces; complete with swimming pools, living rooms, luxurious dining rooms, courtyards lined with palm trees—indeed, one can hardly believe that one It's sailing at sea." "As for me, I always know I am at sea when I am in a boat," said Poirot sadly. "All those pretty things you have enumerated mean nothing to me; but, my friend, a little Think of the villains who travel incognito! As soon as you step into these beautiful luxury palaces, as you just said, one always meets the elite of the criminal world!"

I laughed out loud. "That's what interests you! Maybe you'll fight the man who stole the Liberty Bonds?" The landlord was too big to interrupt us. "There is a young lady who would like to see you, M. Poirot, and here is her card." The name printed on the card read "Miss Esme Farquhar".Poirot hurriedly ducked under the table, found there a crumb of bread that had fallen on the floor, picked it up carefully, and put it in the wastebasket.Then he nodded to the landlady to let her in. After a while a young lady was ushered into the room, and she was the most charming girl I ever saw.She was probably about twenty-five, with big brown eyes and a very fine figure.She was well dressed and well behaved.

"Please sit down, miss. This is my friend Captain Hastings. He is helping me with some small problems." "I'm afraid I have a very serious problem for you today, Monsieur Poirot." The girl nodded to me with a smile as she sat down, "I dare say that in today's paper you read about news; I mean the million-dollar Liberty Securities theft aboard the cruise ship 'Olympia'." Poirot must have looked very surprised, for she went on to say: "There is no doubt that you must would wonder: what am I to do with such a large institution as the London-Scotland Bank. In one sense I have nothing to do with them; in another sense I have everything to do with them. You know, Poirot Sir, I am engaged to Mr Philip Ridgway."

"Ah, Philip Ridgway is—" "He was involved when the securities were stolen. Of course he shouldn't be blamed in fact, because it wasn't his fault in any way. But he was distracted by it, and I know his uncle must have been careless." There has been mention of the securities being transferred to his name as his property. This incident, therefore, is a terrible blow to his career." "Who is his uncle?" "His uncle is Mr. Vavasu, general manager of a Bank of Scotland in London." "Miss Farquhar, can you give me the whole story of what happened?"

"Of course. You know, the banks wanted to expand their operations in the United States, and it was for this purpose that they decided to ship the past million dollars in Liberty Securities, and Mr. Vavasu chose his nephew to take care of it .His nephew has worked in a securities department of the bank for many years, and has settled all the details of the bank's transactions there in New York. The cruise ship 'Olympia' sailed from Liverpool on the 23rd and was dispatched by a Bank of Scotland in London that morning. The two executive general managers, Mr. Vavasu and Mr. Xiao, handed over the securities to Philip. In front of him, the securities were counted one by one, sealed in a small suitcase and stamped with a seal. Then, he Locked the small suitcase, and immediately packed it in his suitcase."

"Does his suitcase have an ordinary lock?" "No, Mr. Shaw insisted on a special lock for the case. As I said, Philip put the little suitcase in the bottom of his suitcase. A few hours before arriving in New York, It was stolen. A thorough search was made up and down the ship, but to no avail, and the securities have disappeared without a trace." Poirot made a face. "They definitely didn't disappear without a trace, because I heard that half an hour later, right on the deck of the Olympia, there was a sale of securities in packets! Well, no doubt about it. I want Next thing to do, see Mr Ridgway."

"I would like to suggest that you come to lunch with me in a restaurant, where Philip will be waiting for me, but he does not yet know that I am asking you for help on this matter." We gladly accepted the suggestion and took a taxi to the restaurant. Mr. Philip Ridgway got there before us.He was a little surprised to see his fiancée arrive with two complete strangers.He was a handsome young man, tall and immaculately dressed, although he was not much more than thirty years old, and a strand of gray hair had already appeared at his temples. Miss Farquhar came up to him, and put her hand on his arm.

"You must forgive me for doing this without your prior consent, Philip," she said. "Let me introduce you to M. Hercule Poirot. You must have heard his name often, and his This friend of mine, Captain Hastings." Ridgway looked very surprised. "Of course I've heard of you, Monsieur Poirot," he said, shaking Poirot's hand, "but it never occurred to me that Esme would turn to you for my—our difficulties." "I'm afraid you won't agree with me, Philip," said Miss Esme Farquhar meekly. "So you're on your own, and that's what you're doing," he smiled. "I hope M. Poirot will dispel the fog and unravel this puzzling mystery. For, I confess frankly, due to excessive anxiety and Anxious, I almost had a nervous breakdown."

Indeed, his face is sad and worried, and the anxiety and pressure in his heart are clearly revealed. "Well," said Poirot, "let us begin lunch at once, and at the table we shall brainstorm and consult together to see what we can do. I would also like to hear from Mr Ridgway himself What happened to him." After we had commented on the fine steaks and the fine puddings, Mr. Philip Ridgway began to relate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the securities, what he told us and what Miss Farquhar told us. completely match.When he had finished, Poirot asked a question.

"What made you discover that the securities had been stolen, Mr. Ridgway?" He laughed rather painfully. "Things were happening right under my nose, and there was no way I would lose them, M. Poirot. The suitcase in my cabin was pulled out half way from the lower berth, and while they were trying to open the lock, there was a There were cuts and prying marks everywhere." "But I heard it was opened with a key." "Well, they tried to break the lock, but they couldn't. At last, somehow, they must have opened it." "It's very strange," said Poirot, and his eyes began to sparkle in a way I knew so well. "Very strange! They waste so much time picking it open, and then, oops, hell! They suddenly find that they've been holding that key in their hands - because every lock of that kind you use is unique .” "That's why they couldn't have the key, which never left me, day or night." "Are you sure about that?" "I could have sworn to it. Besides, if they had the key to that lock, or a duplicate key, why would they waste their time trying to open a lock that obviously required no effort?" "Ah, this is what we need to ask! I venture to predict that if we can find out the answer to the question, the answer must have something to do with this strange fact. If I ask you again the following A question, please don't mind, can you really guarantee that you will not unlock the box?" Philip Ridgway looked at Poirot in surprise, and Poirot made a gesture of apology. "Oh, but it could happen, I assure you! Very well, then, the papers were stolen out of the box. What would the thief do with the papers? How could he manage to get them ashore? ?” "Ah!" exclaimed Ridgeway. "Exactly. How did he get ashore? Word has been reached to the Customs authorities, and everyone left on board will be searched thoroughly!" "Those securities need to be packed in a big bag, I suppose?" "Of course they need to be packed in a big bag, and on the ship, they can't be hidden—we know they won't be, anyway. Because within half an hour of the 'Olympia' landing they were out of sight." Sold long before I sent the telegram; and one broker swore he bought some before the Olympia docked. But you can't send securities by radio!" "Of course, but did any tugs pass by?" "Only the official ship, and that was after the alarm was sounded, and everyone was on the alert, and I myself kept a close eye on how the ship passed. My God, M. Poirot, this incident has really pissed me off." Crazy, people are starting to say I stole those securities myself." "But you were searched when you went ashore, weren't you?" asked Poirot softly. "yes." The young man looked at him in bewilderment. "I can see that you don't understand me," said Poirot, with a mysterious smile. "Now, I want to make some inquiries about the bank—" Ridgway took out a business card and wrote a few words on it. "Send this business card up, and my uncle will meet you immediately." Poirot thanked him, said good-bye to Miss Farquhar, and together we went to Needlework Street, to the London headquarters of the Bank of Scotland.Handed Ridgway's card, we were ushered through a maze of counters and desks, past tellers and bank clerks hurrying, to a small office on the second floor where two A general manager received us there.They were two serious-looking gentlemen, gray with long service at the bank.Mr. Vavasu had a short white beard, and Mr. Shaw was clean-shaven. "I understand that technically you are private investigators," said Mr. Vavasu. "Yes, yes. We have, of course, referred our case to the Metropolitan Police, with Inspector McNeill in charge." In this case, I believe he is a very able man." "I am convinced of that," said Poirot politely. "Would you allow me to ask you a few questions on behalf of your nephew? Who ordered this lock from Habs?" "I ordered the lock myself," said Mr. Shaw. "I don't trust any clerk in such a matter. As for the key to the lock, Mr. Ridgway has one, and the other two are provided by my colleague and myself." I keep it." "Hasn't any of the clerks had a chance of getting them, Mr. Shaw?" Mr. Xiao turned his inquiring eyes to Mr. Vavasu. "I think I should be correct in saying that the two keys have not been touched since we deposited them somewhere on the 23rd," replied Mr. Vavasu. "My The colleague unfortunately fell ill two weeks ago, on the day Philip left, and he has only fully recovered today." "Severe bronchitis is no joke for people of my age." Mr. Xiao said regretfully, "However, I am worried that Mr. Vavasu will have to bear the burden of fatigue during this period due to my sick leave." Work, especially when something unexpected like this comes up, must have made him extremely anxious." Poirot asked a few more questions, and I concluded that he was trying to ascertain the degree of intimacy between uncle and nephew.Mr. Vavasu, whose nephew is a trusted manager of the bank, was brief and measured in his answers.As far as he knows, there are no personal debts or financial problems with banks.In the past, his nephew had been entrusted with similar missions, and we bowed politely and left. "I'm disappointed," Poirot said to me when we were out in the street. "Would you like to find out more? They're all these dull, insensitive old fellows." "It's not that they're blunt, my dear friend. I don't want to see a bank manager who's a 'quick-headed, sharp-eyed financier' like in those novels you like to read. .No, I'm disappointed with the case - it's too simple!" "Simple?" "Yes, don't you find it almost as easy as child's play?" "Do you know who stole those securities?" "I see." "Then—we—why—" "Don't be confused and stammer, Hastings. We are not going to take any action at present." "But why? What are you waiting for?" "Wait for the Olympia. She's due to return from New York on Thursday." "But why wait when you know who stole the securities? He might run away." "Escape to an island in the Pacific where extradition does not exist? No, my dear friend, he will find life there rather dull. As for why I should wait—well, for Hercule Po To the wit of Loe, the matter is quite clear. But, for the sake of others, for those less intelligent beings whom good God has fashioned—inspector McNeil, for example—it is better to collect Evidence of fact. A man must think for those who are not as clever as he is." "My God, Poirot! I'll bet you a lot of money that you've turned yourself into a complete ass--just once. You're disgustingly vain!" "Don't be offended, Hastings, in fact, I've noticed that you've hated me so many times! Why, I'm suffering the pains of insignificance that a wise man feels!" The little man let out a deep breath from the depths of his chest.The way he exhaled was so hilarious I couldn't help laughing. On Thursday, we sat in a first-class carriage and sped to Liverpool.Poirot obstinately refused to reveal to me his speculation—or the truth of the matter he revealed.He was content to show me the results by surprise, and I gave up asking, hiding my curiosity deep behind a façade of indifference. As soon as we arrived at the pier, we saw that the transatlantic luxury cruise ship was also parked there.Poirot was at once animated and quick.The rest of our work consisted of interviewing four of the ship's attendants in succession, and questioning a friend of Poirot's who had also sailed for New York on the 23rd. "An elderly gentleman, wearing a pair of spectacles, is so weak that he hardly ever leaves his cabin." This description fits well with a Mr. Ventnor, who lived in cabin C24, next door to Philip Ridgway.Although I did not understand how Poirot deduced that there was a man named Ventnor and his physical features, I was still very excited. "Tell me," said I, "is this gentleman one of the first to disembark?" The average waiter under investigation shook his head. "No. In fact, sir, he was one of the last to disembark." I felt very tired and looked downcast.Then I found Poirot grinning at me.He thanked the waiter and we turned to leave. "It's all going well," I argued, "except that this last answer must have damned your brilliant reasoning. Keep grinning if you want to!" "As usual, Hastings, you found nothing. On the contrary, that last answer is what I deduce most wonderfully." I waved my hand in despair. "I won't argue with you." As we sat on the London train, Poirot wrote hurriedly for a few minutes before putting the finished letter in an envelope and sealing it. "It's for that good Inspector McNeill. We're going to drop it off at Scotland Yard as we pass. Then we'll go to the Ritz, and I'll have Esme, Farqua. Your honor, have dinner with us." "What about Ridgway?" "What about Ridgway?" asked Poirot, with a wink. "Why, you sure don't think—you don't—" "You're developing a habit of talking incoherently, Hastings, as a matter of fact I do think so. If Ridgeway had been the burglar--which is quite possible--the case would have been quite attractive; It's a very reasonable logical reasoning." "But to Miss Farquhar, it's not attractive." "Maybe you're right, and that's why we're all waiting for the best. Now, Hastings, let's review the case, and I can see you're dying to know. That's only sealed." The case was stolen from the suitcase and disappeared, as Miss Farquhar said, disappeared without a trace, we want to delete those reasoning without a trace, which in the current stage of scientific development, such Reasoning is becoming impractical, and only those that have the potential to become facts can be considered. Everyone is convinced that it was miraculously smuggled ashore" "Yes, but we think—" "You might think so, Hastings, but I don't. My point is that if it looks incredible, it is. There are two possibilities here: either it's still hidden in the ship — though it was very difficult to do so — or, it was thrown overboard.” "You mean add a cork?" "No corks." My eyes widened. "But if the securities were thrown overboard, they couldn't possibly be dumped in New York." "I admire your logic, Hastings, that because there are securities being sold in New York, and therefore they cannot possibly be thrown overboard, do you understand what that makes us think?" "Our thinking is the same as when we started." "It never occurred to me that if that little suitcase was thrown overboard and the securities later turned up in New York, there's no way that the little suitcase contained the securities. Is there any evidence that the little suitcase contained Those securities? Note that Mr. Ridgway has not opened the trunk since it was delivered to him in London." "Yes, but then—" Poirot waved his hand impatiently. "Permit me to go on. The last time anyone saw securities was in the offices of a Bank of Scotland in London on the morning of the 23rd, and they reappeared half an hour after the arrival of the Olympia in New York. According to: a No one listened to the man's opinion, the fact is that the securities were listed before the cruise ship arrived in New York. Well, please think about it, if these securities were not taken on the 'Olympia' at all Will they be brought to New York by other means? Yes, the cruise ship 'Giant' and the 'Olympia' left Southampton on the same day, and it holds the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing. If ' The Colossus was mailed out, and the securities must have been delivered to New York the day before the arrival of the Olympia. The facts were clear, and the case itself began to explain that the small leather case with the seal was a counterfeit substitute. , and the genuine suitcase containing the securities must be in the bank's office at this moment. Any of the three present could easily have prepared a counterfeit suitcase to replace the genuine one containing the securities. The securities were thus mailed to an accomplice in New York with instructions to sell them as soon as the Olympia arrived at the docks. But someone had to be aboard the Olympia to direct the supposed theft case." "But why?" "Because, if Ridgway had only to open the box and find it was a fake empty box, word would go to London at once. Impossible. The fact is: living in the cabin next door to Ridgway This was done by the man who pretended to pick the lock and leave obvious marks, thus directing attention immediately to the theft of the securities. He opened the trunk with a duplicate key, Then throw the little suitcase overboard and wait until the last one disembarks. Naturally, he wears glasses to cover his eyes, and plays cowardly, because he doesn't want to risk running into Richie. Way. He landed in New York, and returned immediately on the first boat." "Then who—who could he be?" "Exactly the man who ordered the special lock. He was definitely not bedridden at home on leave from bronchitis--yes, it was that dull old fellow Mr. Shaw. Sometimes, in very high positions, There are criminals too, my friend. Ah, we are all here, my dear lady, I have succeeded! Will you allow me?" Poirot beamed, and placed light kisses on both cheeks of the astonished girl.