Chapter 12 Chapter 12: The Baited Trap

It was mid-January—a typical British climate in London, wet and stormy.Poirot and I were sitting in two chairs by the fire.I noticed that my friend was looking at me with a weird smile that I didn't know what he meant. "You're in a daze!" I said lightly. "I'm thinking, my friend. When you first came here last summer, you told me you were going to be here for a few months." "Did I say that?" I asked a little embarrassed, "I don't remember." Poirot's smile deepened. "You did, my friend. Then you changed your plans, didn't you?"

"Er—yes, I changed my plans." "why?" "Fight to the end. Poirot, don't you think I'll abandon you when you're dealing with the four big monsters?" Poirot nodded mildly. "As I expected. You are a faithful friend, Hastings. You want to stay and help me. But what will your wife—that woman you call Little Cinderella say?" "Of course, I haven't told her the details, but she will understand. She will never ask me to desert my friend." "Yes, yes, she is a faithful friend too. But it may take a long time." I nodded a little dejectedly.

"It's been six months," I sighed. "What progress have we made? You know, Poirot, I often cannot help thinking that we should—well, do something." "How come you've been so energetic, Hastings! What on earth do you want me to do?" It's kind of like tai chi for him to say that, but I'm not giving up my position anymore. "We have to go on the offensive," I urged him. "What have we been doing all this time?" "More than you think, my friend. We've established the identities of Number Two and Number Three, and we've learned a little about Number Four's style and thinking."

I'm in a brighter mood.As Poirot said, things were not as bad as I imagined. "Oh! yes, Hastings, we've done quite a bit. It's true that I haven't made public the crimes of Ryland or Madame Olivier--but who would believe me if I said so?" And me? Do you remember the time when I thought I'd got Ryland in trouble, and what happened? But even so, I've made my suspicions known to certain people--high ranks--Sir Eddington, He once asked me to participate in the plan to steal the submarine. He already knew all the news I knew about the Four Great Devils—maybe others would doubt the reliability of the news, but he himself believed it. Ryland, Ollie Mrs. Wei Ye and Li Changyan may continue to do evil, but the searchlights are already on all their actions."

"Then, what about number four?" "As I said--I'm beginning to understand his style. Maybe you'll be little, Hastings--but, to know a man's personality perfectly, and to know exactly what he's going to do in a particular situation-- — the beginnings of success. I'm fighting hard, he keeps leaking his state of mind, I'm trying to keep him from knowing all about us. He's in the light, I'm in the shadows. I tell you, Hastings , They are more and more afraid that I will stand still." "They don't care what we do, anyway." I stated my opinion, "There is no more trying, no more preparing in your life."

"No," said Poirot thoughtfully. "On the whole, I am a little surprised. There are one or two obvious things in particular, which I should have expected them to do. Perhaps you understand me?" "Some kind of secret device bomb?" I guessed. Poirot gave an impatient click. "No! Use your imagination, won't you? You can't think of anything more ingenious than dynamite in the furnace. I will tell you, I need some comparable companions. Now, I'm going for a walk no matter the weather, sorry my friend, are you watching 'Argentina's Future', 'Mirror of Society', 'Cattle Farming', 'Crimson Clue' and 'Rocky' at the same time The movement of the mountains'?"

I laughed and admitted that I'm currently only watching "Crimson Clues".Poirot shook his head sighingly. "Then, if you don't read it, put it back on the shelf! You are such an unorganized person! What is the shelf for?" I apologized in a low voice, and Poirot, having put the other books back in their place, went out.No one interfered with me anymore, and I read the book I wanted to read with relish alone. I must admit, however, that Mrs. Pearson's doorbell woke me up, when I was almost asleep. "A telegram from you, Captain." I tore open the orange-red envelope with desperation.

Then, I sat dumbfounded. It was from Bronson, the manager of my South American farm, and the content is as follows—— Mrs. Hastings disappeared yesterday, probably kidnapped by an organization claiming to be the Big Four.Quick call indication.The police have been notified, however, there are no leads. Bronson I waved Mrs. Pearson out and sat dumbfounded, reading the words over and over again.Cinderella - Kidnapped!She fell into the hands of the notorious Four Great Devils!sky.what should I do? Poirot!I need Poirot.He'll tell me what to do, and he'll do whatever it takes to break them.He'll be back in a few minutes.I have to wait patiently.However, Cinderella - in the hands of the Four Great Devils!

There was another knock on the door, and Mrs. Pearson entered again. "A note for you, Captain—from a savage Chinese. He's waiting downstairs." I snatched the note from her.The content is simple and to the point. "If you want to see your wife again, go with the person who delivered the note immediately. Don't leave any messages for your friends, otherwise, she will suffer." Signed in big Arabic characters 4 below. What should I do?What would you do if this happened to you readers? I don't have time to think about it, I only know one thing - Cinderella is in the power of those demons, I must obey - I dare not take this risk.I have to go with this Chinese, follow him.It was a trap, yes, it represented a certain degree of unfreedom and possible death, but the bait was the person I loved most in the world, and I dare not hesitate.

What troubled me most was not being able to leave a message for Poirot.Just let him know my whereabouts, maybe everything will be fine?Dare I take the risk?Obviously no one was watching me, but even so I hesitated.The Chinese could have easily come upstairs and figured out if I obeyed the second part of the order, why didn't he come up?In doing so, he was even more suspicious.I've known the omnipotence of the Big Four, and I believe they have almost superhuman strength.As far as I know, even a dirty little maid may be their pawn! No, I dare not take the risk.However, there is one thing I can do to keep the telegram.He will know the news of Cinderella's disappearance and what organization her disappearance is related to.

These thoughts passed through my mind as fast as lightning, and in a minute or so, I had already gone downstairs with my hat on, and met the guide who was waiting for me. The messenger was a tall, expressionless Chinese man. His clothes were a little worn out, but they were neatly tidied up.He bowed and spoke to me.His English grammar was impeccable, but his accent was flat. "You are Captain Hastings?" "Not bad." I said. "Give me that note, please." I had already guessed that he would ask for this, so I handed him the piece of paper without saying a word, but that was not enough. "You got a telegram today, didn't you? It just arrived, from South America, didn't it?" Once again, I experienced the quickness of their intelligence system—or maybe it was a clever guess.Bronson will definitely telegraph me.They waited until the telegram arrived to get it as close as possible. It is no use denying such an easy-to-see fact. "Yes," I said, "I did get a telegram." "Go get it, get it now." I had no choice but to grit my teeth and ran upstairs again.As I went upstairs, I thought of telling Mrs. Pearson the truth, at least about Cinderella's disappearance.She was halfway up the stairs, but there was a little maid behind her, and I hesitated again if she was a spy—the words on the note were flying before my eyes. "...she will suffer..." Without saying anything, I entered the living room. I picked up the telegram and was about to go out again when I had a sudden inspiration.I could leave marks that my enemies would not see, but Poirot could.I quickly rushed to the table shelf and threw four books randomly on the floor.It was impossible for Poirot to lose sight of them.They would set his eyes on fire—and, blatantly exhorting, he would of course find these four books unusual.Next, I put a shovelful of coals into the fireplace, and intentionally scattered four small piles of coal dust over the fence.I have done my best, and, by Heaven's grace, Poirot saw the signals correctly. I go downstairs quickly.The Chinese took the telegram from me, read it, put it in his pocket, and nodded to me to follow him. He took me a long and tiresome walk.We took a bus once, took a train, and headed east.We passed through some strange areas.I never thought these areas existed.Finally, we got to the pier.I know, I've been taken to the heart of Chinatown. I can't help but tremble.The guides are still advancing step by step, walking around in the streets and alleys.Finally, he stopped in front of a dilapidated house, came heavily, and knocked heavily on the door four times. Another Chinese came to open the door immediately, and he stood aside to let us in.With a bang, the door shut behind me, the death knell of my last hopes. I was handed over to a second Chinese who led me up some wobbly stairs and into a cellar full of goods and casks imbued with a pungent taste like oriental seasoning.I was completely enveloped in the atmosphere of pain, deceit, and murder in the East. The guide suddenly pushed away two wooden barrels, and I saw a tunnel-like opening in the wall.He motioned for me to go ahead.This tunnel is not short, it is very low, I have to bend down to walk.The tunnel widened at last to a walkway, and a few minutes later we were standing in another cellar. The Chinese stepped forward and tapped four times on one of the walls.The entire wall turned away, leaving only a narrow doorway.I walked through it, and was dumbfounded to find that I seemed to be in a palace of the Arabian Nights.A low and long basement hung with oriental silk, brightly lit and fragrant.Five or six strips of silk covered the bench beside the hall, and exquisite Chinese hand-woven carpets were spread on the floor.The innermost part of the room is a hollow with a curtain.There is a voice coming from behind the scenes. "You brought our distinguished guest?" "Let our distinguished guest come in." was his answer. While he was speaking, the curtain was pulled away by an invisible hand, and I was facing a tall, thin oriental man in a stately embroidered robe sitting on a large mat. Judging by the length of his fingernails, He's clearly a big shot. "Sit down, Captain Hastings," he said with a wave of his hand. "I'm glad you complied with my request and came at once." "Who are you?" I asked, "Li Changyan?" "I'm really not him, I'm just the most insignificant of his many servants. I just carry out his orders - just like his servants in other countries, such as in South America." "Where is she? What do you do with him?" "She's in a safe place—a safe place no one can find her. So far, she's been unharmed. You notice the words I use—so far!" A cold current ran down my spine as I faced this evil smiling face. "What do you want?" I called. "Money?" "My dear Captain Hastings, I can assure you that we are not interested in your petty savings. You are not very—forgive me for putting it this way—smart. I think your companions are not. will do." "I think," I said with a heavy heart, "that you were mainly trying to lure me into a trap. Now, you have succeeded. I understand what you are trying to do, and here I am. Do whatever you want with me, let her go. She Knowing nothing, she'll be of no use to you. You're using her to arrest me—you've got me, and that's all." The smiling Oriental caressed his smooth cheeks and squinted at me with his narrow eyes. "You're thinking too well," he murmured cheerfully. "It's not over yet. In fact, what you said about 'arresting you' is not our real purpose. However, we hope that through you To your friend Hercule Poirot." "Your plot will not succeed." I said with a dry laugh. "I suggest you do this." The other person went on, as if he didn't hear me at all. "You write a letter to M. Hercule Poirot, a letter to induce him to come here to meet you." "Don't even think about it." I roared. "The consequences of rejection are not so nice." "Go to your mother's consequences." "To do otherwise could be death." A terrible shudder ran down my spine, but I did my best to look unafraid. "You don't have to blackmail me and intimidate me, save your threatening words to intimidate those Chinese cowards!" "I mean what I say, Captain Hastings. I ask you again, do you want to write this letter?" "I can't write anything, and besides, you don't dare to kill me. The police will come to the door immediately." He clapped his hands quickly.Two Chinese servants suddenly appeared and grabbed my arms.Their Chinese masters babbled a string of Chinese words, and they dragged me to a corner of the hall.One of them bent down, and without any preparation, the floor under my feet suddenly sank.If it hadn't been for another person to hold my hand tightly, I would have fallen into the ditch below.The color of the trench is black, and the sound of rolling water can be heard clearly. "A river," said the interrogator from the bench, "you will have to think about it, Captain Hastings. If you refuse again, you will go straight to eternity without thinking, and sleep under the black river. At last Let me ask you once, do you want to write that letter?" I'm not braver than most people.I must admit that I am terrified of death, terribly afraid.I know, that Chinese demon is not kidding.This is farewell to the beautiful world.I answered him, my voice trembling involuntarily. "Answer for the last time, never! Go to your letter!" After saying this, I closed my eyes subconsciously and prayed in a low voice.