Chapter 5 Chapter Five: The Disappearance of a Scientist

Although the jury has decided not to indict Robert Grant, aka Biggs, for the murder of Jonathan Walley; I don't think Inspector Meade is entirely convinced of his innocence, however.He gathered a lot of information against Grant - his criminal record, the jade he stole and the boots that matched the footprints exactly, made his practical brain a headache.Poirot made many arguments against the evidence he had gathered, and finally convinced the jury.Two witnesses testified that the butcher's cart was seen driving up to the villa on Monday mornings, and the local butcher testified that his cart only came there on Wednesdays and Fridays.

They did find a woman who had seen the butcher leave the villa, but, when questioned, she could not give him a more definite shape.Her only impression was that he was beardless, of medium build, and looked exactly like a butcher.Hearing this description, Polo shrugged philosophically. "As I told you, Hastings," he said to me after the trial, "he's an artist, the man. He doesn't disguise himself with fake beards and black eyes. He changes features, Yes, that's the smallest part of the human body. In the future, he will still be. He played it very well." Really, I couldn't help but admit that he was right, that the man who visited us from Hanway looked like a sanatorium caretaker in my mind.At the time, it never occurred to me that he was a fake.

These things are a little depressing, and the trip to Dartwood doesn't seem to help us much.I told Poiro the truth.However, he does not admit that we got nothing. "We're making progress," he said. "We're making progress. Every time we talk to this guy, we learn something about the way he thinks and how he works. He doesn't know anything about us or our methods." "Well, Poirot," I protested, "it seems that his fate is the same as mine. I don't think you have any plans. You just sit there and wait for him to do something." Poirot smiled.

"My friend, you haven't changed a bit. Always the same Hastings who yelled everything out at the top of his throat, or," added a knock on the door, "here's your chance ; try perhaps to be our friend." When Inspector Japp entered with another man, he laughed at my disappointment. "Good night, sir," said the Inspector. "Let me introduce you. This is Captain Kent of the American Intelligence Service." Captain Kent was a tall, thin American with a face that looked as though it had been carved out of wood. "Long ago, gentlemen." He whispered as he shook our hands.

Poirot threw a log into the fireplace and brought some comfortable chairs.I'll get glasses, whiskey and soda.The captain took a swig of his wine with satisfaction. "The laws of your country are still in force," he stated his opinion. "Now, let's get down to business," Japp said. "This Mr. Poirot once asked me to. He is very interested in the affairs of the Four Devils. He wants me to do this whenever I come across this I didn't pay much attention to the matter, but I remembered his request, so when the gentleman told a curious story, I said at once: 'Let's stop by M. Poirot's.' '"

Poirot glanced at Captain Kent, and the American began to tell the story. "Monsieur Poirot, you have probably seen reports of torpedo boats and destroyers sinking on rocks off the coast of the United States. This happened just after the great earthquake in Japan, so the explanations mentioned are the cause of the disaster. And a tsunami. However, not long ago, a group of villains and gangsters with guns were rounded up, and some documents were found from them, which changed the whole situation. These documents mentioned a group called "Four Devils" The organization has not fully described a powerful wireless communication device - the energy source of this wireless communication is far beyond any device at present, and it can make strong radio waves focus on certain specific targets. It is simply a request to strengthen this research It is extremely absurd, but I still report this information to the headquarters for their decision. We have a professor with an eye above the top who is working on the research. Now, one of your British scientists has read a paper on this subject in the British Society, and the content is quite Far-fetched, bordering on fantasy, not very good in any way, his colleagues were not shocked by it, yet the scientist stuck to his guns, declaring that his experiment was on the verge of success."

"Well, what happened?" asked Poirot with great interest. "They advised me to come here and meet this gentleman. His name is Halliday, and he is a very young fellow. He is an authority on the subject, and I want to ask him whether these theories he proposes are really possible." "Is it possible?" I asked eagerly. "I don't know that either. I haven't seen Mr. Halliday—I don't think I'll see him." "The fact is," continued Japp at once, "that Halliday is missing." "when?" "Two months ago."

"Did the police look for it?" "Yes. His wife came to us nervously. We did what we could, but I knew from the start that it was useless." "why?" "Can't be useful--when a person is missing like that." Japp blinked. "What does it look like?" "Paris." "Halliday disappeared in Paris?" "That's right. Going there for research—he said so. Of course he had to say something grand. But you can tell what that means when a man goes missing there. Not by the mob—that's It's over - it's voluntary disappearance, and I tell you the two reasons are pretty common. You know, Paris with all its lights and that sort of thing. Tired of family life. Halliday had a fight with his wife before he left , all of which make the case clearer."

"I doubt it," said Poirot thoughtfully. The American looked at him curiously. "Hey, sir," he said slowly, "what the hell are the Big Four?" "The Four Devils," said Poirot, "are an international organization headed by a Chinese. This Chinese is called number one. The second best is an American. The third best is a French woman. The fourth The good slayer is an Englishman." "A French woman, eh?" the American whistled. "Halliday disappeared in France. Maybe there's some connection. What's her name?" "I don't know. I don't know anything about her."

"It's a strong organization, though, huh?" suggested another. Poirot nodded, and he arranged the glasses neatly on the plate.He still loves order as always. "Then, what is the purpose of sinking those warships? Are the Four Devils working for the Germans?" "The Big Four do things for themselves—and only for themselves, Mr. Captain, and their goal is world domination." The American laughed suddenly, but the laughter stopped abruptly when he saw Poirot's serious face. "You're laughing, sir," said Poirot, wagging a finger at him. "It reflects that you don't—you don't use the little gray cells in your brain. Who would destroy a part of your naval power just to To test their own power? That's why, sir, to test this new magnetic power they possess."

"Go on, sir," Japp said lightly. "I've heard about a lot of supercriminals, but I've never touched them. Now, you've heard Captain Kent's story. Any more? What can I do for you?" "Yes, my dear friend. You can give me Mrs. Halliday's address—it would be better if you could introduce her in a few words." The next day we set out for Chitwell Village, a small village near Copperham in County Thurry. We were received at once by Mrs. Halliday, a tall, pretty woman with a slightly anxious and tense manner.Her youngest daughter, five, was with her. Poirot explained the purpose of our visit. "Ah! M. Poirot, I am very glad and grateful for your help. Of course I have heard of your name. You will not be like those of Scotland Yard who do not listen to me or try to Know the whole thing. The French police are as bad as they are—worse I think. They all believe the husband ran away with some other woman. But he's not that kind of guy! All he thinks about in his life is work , and that's where most of our quarrels started. He loves his job more than me." "The English, they are all like that," said Poirot reassuringly, "whether they are absorbed in their work, or in games, in sports. They take it very seriously. Now, Madame, let me tell you the truth about your husband's disappearance." Tell me the situation in chronological order and in detail.” "My husband arrived in Paris on Thursday, July 20. He planned to visit a number of people connected with his work, including Madame Olivier." Poirot nodded when she mentioned the famous French scientist.The achievement of this female scientist is even higher than that of Madame Curie.The French government once awarded her a medal!She is a very special character right now. "When he got there in the evening, he went to the Castiglion Hotel in the Rue Castiglion. The next morning he went to an appointment with Professor Buguenot, and he behaved normally and pleasantly. The two men The talk was very pleasant, and it was arranged that he would go to the professor's laboratory to see some experiments the next day. After the talk, he went to the Roja restaurant alone for lunch. After the meal, he went for a walk in Boue Park, and then went to Bas Oli Visited Mrs. Veiler's house. His attitude was normal when he went there. He left around six o'clock. I don't know where he had dinner. Maybe he ate alone in the restaurant. He returned to the hotel around eleven o'clock and asked the counter After checking whether there was any letter from him, he went straight back to his room. When he left the hotel the next morning, no one saw him again." "What time did he leave the hotel? Is it about the time when he should have left the hotel to go to Professor Bugnol's laboratory?" "We don't know. No one noticed him leaving. However, there is no record of breakfast being delivered to his room, so he presumably went out early." "Actually, it's also possible that he went out after returning to the hotel the night before?" "I don't think so. Someone had slept in his bed, and, at that late hour, the night porter would have noticed if anyone had gone out." "You've judged fairly, ma'am. We accept that he was out early the next morning - which is also reassuring from another point of view. He couldn't have been attacked and killed by bums at night." Yes. Has all his luggage been left?" Mrs. Halliday seemed reluctant to answer the question, but, after much deliberation, she finally said: "No—he must have taken a small suitcase with him." "Well," said Poirot thoughtfully, "I suspect where he was that night. If we knew a little more, we could learn more. Who did he meet?—that's a suspense. Madame, I don't necessarily know." Accepting the police's view, their answer is always 'find a woman'. However, one thing is indisputable. Something must have happened that night that changed your husband's plans. You said that he had checked the mail after returning to the hotel. As a result, do you have a letter?" "Only one, probably from my letter to him on the day he left England." Poirot was still lost in thought. After a while, he stood up vigorously. "Well, Madame, the solution to this problem lies in Paris, and I myself will go to Paris at once in order to unravel the mystery." "But it's been a while, sir." "Yes, you are right. Still, we must seek answers there." He turned to leave the room, but stopped abruptly when his hand touched the door. "Tell me, ma'am, have you ever heard your husband mention a term - 'Four Devils'?" "'Four Devils'?" She said thoughtfully, "No, I haven't heard of it."