Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen The Mouse Comes In

In a person's life, there are not many people who have really stepped on the line of life and death.When I finished speaking to the man on the easternmost side of the cellar, I was sure it was my last speech in that house, and I tried to restrain myself not to be afraid of the darkness, not afraid of the torrent below, and not afraid of becoming a drowned ghost . To my surprise, a burst of low laughter came to my ears.I open my eyes.The two men holding my arms obeyed the signal of the man sitting on the bench and led me back to my seat opposite the man. "You are very brave, Captain Hastings," said he. "We in the East admire the brave. I am not surprised that you did it. In doing so, we must try the drama we have arranged. Act Two. You've faced your own death—would you like to try another's?"

"What do you mean?" I asked hoarsely, trembling in my heart. "Of course you haven't forgotten the lady in our power - the rose in the garden." I looked at him in painful silence. "I think, Captain Hastings, you will write this letter. You see, I have a telegram draft here. It is up to you whether you write it or not, but it depends on your wife's life." Cold sweat broke out on my forehead.The man who had troubled me went on, smiling kindly, and saying calmly: "Here, Captain, here's the pen. All you have to do is write. Otherwise—"

"Otherwise?" I repeated. "Otherwise, the lady you loved would die--slowly tortured to death. My master amused himself at his leisure by inventing novel and ingenious methods of torture--" "God!" I yelled, "you demons! No--you wouldn't--" "Shall I describe to you some of his inventions?" He didn't take my protests seriously at all.His speech went on smoothly—calmly and composed—until I put my hands over my ears and screamed in terror, before he stopped. "I know. I've said enough. Let's write." "What if I did write a letter?"

"Your wife will be free. I'll send the telegram right away." "How do I know you will keep your word?" "I can swear to my ancestors. And, you can think for yourself—why should I hurt her? Detaining her has achieved our purpose." "And—what about Poirot?" "We will place him in a secure holding facility until we complete our program. Then, we will release him." "May you swear again to your ancestors?" "I've sworn once. That's enough." My heart sank.I betrayed my friend - why?I hesitated for a moment—then another possibility loomed before me like a nightmare, Cinderella—in the hands of these Chinese devils, she would be slowly tortured to death—

I sighed softly and picked up my pen.Perhaps the careful choice of words in the letter could hint to Poirot not to fall into this trap.This is the only hope. However, this hope was also dashed.The Chinese voice rang out again in a reserved and polite manner. "Let me dictate." He stopped, referred to the information around him, and dictated:—— Dear Poirot, I think I have a clue number four.This afternoon a Chinese made up a message and tricked me into coming here.Fortunately, I saw through his tricks in time and escaped from him.Then, as luck would have it, I followed him on the sly by myself—a good idea, I thought.I'm short of a very clever boy to send you a message, and you'll give him two and a half shillings, won't you?please.This is the reward I promised him in advance, if he delivered it safely.I'm staring at this house, afraid to leave.I'll wait for you until six o'clock, and if you don't come by then, I'll break into the house myself.This is a great time, don't miss it.Of course, there's a chance the boy won't be able to find you.However, if he finds you, follow him right away.Remember to cover your beard so people in the room don't recognize you.

Your friend hastings grass Every time I write a word, my heart sinks even more.The whole plot was impeccably designed, and I learned that they already knew every detail of our daily lives.Even if I write a letter myself, I will conceive and write sentences in this way.I know that the Chinese who came to visit that afternoon and tried hard to lure me away, it was also a deliberate arrangement for me to leave four books as a signal.I had seen through it a long time ago that it was a trap, and Poirot would have known it too.They manage their time well.After receiving the note, Poirot happened to have time to come with this innocent-looking boy, which I knew he would do, and I thought his decision to break into the den of thieves alone would have made him come even more hastily.He has always had little faith in my abilities.He will feel that I am in danger of being alone, and therefore he will come more quickly to direct everything.

However, there is nothing I can do.I wrote the letter as I was told.The man took the letter, glanced at it, nodded approvingly, and handed it over to a silent attendant, who disappeared behind a door covered in silk satin on the wall. The man looked at me with a smile on his face, drafting a draft telegram.Then, hand it over to me. On it is: "Quick Release White Bird." I breathed a sigh of relief. "Will you send it out immediately?" I urged him. He smiled and shook his head. "I sent this telegram while M. Hercule Poirot was in my possession. Not before that."

"But you promised to—" "If this plan fails, the white bird may still have a use—use her to persuade you to try another method." I turned pale with anger. "My God! If you—" He waved his lanky yellow hands. "I tell you, I don't think I will fail. When M. Poirot is in our hands, I will certainly keep my word." "What if you lie to me?" "I have sworn oaths to my venerable ancestors. You need not worry. Rest here. My servant will take care of you in my absence." He left me alone in this strange, luxurious cellar.Two Chinese attendants appeared.One of them brought me food and drink, but I put them aside.I'm tired - from the bottom of my heart -

Then, the tall, thin, stately figure of the master in a silk robe suddenly reappeared.He directs the action.At his orders I was hurriedly wheeled through cellars and tunnels to the house from which I had come.They took me to the first floor.Although the windows are fitted with wooden window coverings, people can still see the street through the gaps.I saw an old man in blue clothes walking slowly across the street, and saw him make a signal to the window, and I knew that he was also their accomplice. "Very well," said my Chinese friend, "Hercule Poirot has been entrapped. Here he comes—alone, save for the boy who led the way. Now, Captain Hastings, you are left alone." The role is on. He won't come into the house unless you show up. When he comes across, you must go out onto the steps and beckon him in."

"What?" I yelled in disgust. "Go yourself. Don't forget the price of failure. If Hercule Poirot suspects that something is wrong and doesn't come in, your wife will be tortured to death in seventy cases! Ah! Here he comes." I looked through the cracks in the shutters, my heart beating fast, and I was terribly bored.I saw a man coming along the other side of the street, and though, with his coat collar turned up and his big yellow scarf covering the lower part of his face, I recognized him at once.The way he walks and the shapely egg-shaped bald head are unmistakable.

Poirot was right, he had come to my aid in all sincerity and without doubt.Running beside him was a typical English kid, with a dirty face and torn clothes. The boy pointed eagerly and spoke to him, while Poirot stopped on the opposite side of the street to look at the house.It's my turn.I go to the porch.A tall, thin Chinese gave the signal, and a servant lifted the latch. "Don't forget the price of failure," my enemy whispered. I went out onto the steps and waved to Poirot.He hurried across the street. "Aha! You're all right, my friend. I was a little worried. You want to go in? Is the house empty, then?" "Yes." I tried to keep my tone as natural as possible, "There must be a secret passage going there. Come in, let's look for it." I cross the threshold.Poirot obediently followed. My brain suddenly moved.I was very aware that I was playing Judas myself. "Stand back, Poirot!" I cried. "Stand back and save your life. This is a trap. Leave me alone and get out of here." Though I said—or rather shouted my warning—hands gripped me like pincers.A Chinese servant jumped over me and caught Poirot. I saw Poirot jump back, his hands held high, and in an instant smoke rose around me, and I choked—couldn’t hold on—I felt myself falling—choking—that was death —— I awoke slowly, painfully, and I froze.The first thing I saw was Poirot's face.He sat across from me, looking at me intently.He was ecstatic when he saw me looking at him. "You are alive—you are well again! My friend—my poor friend!" "Where am I?" I asked painfully. "Where? At your house!" I looked around.Yes, I was indeed in that familiar environment.The four little piles of cinders I had carefully scattered by the grate were still there. Poirot followed my gaze. "Yes, that was your wit-the coal-dust and the books. You know, if someone said to me, 'That friend of yours, that Hastings, isn't very clever, is he?' I'd say: 'You're wrong.' That's the best thing you can come up with." "So, do you understand what they mean?" "Am I stupid? Of course I understand. They not only remind me to pay attention, but also give me time to mature my plan. What methods did the Four Devils use to abduct you, and what is their goal? Of course not because you are eye-catching, obviously Nor is it because they are afraid of you that they want to get rid of you. No, their goal is obvious. You will be used as bait to trap the great Hercule Poirot. I have long expected such things to happen Yes. So I made some preparations. Presently the messenger came—such an innocent little street boy. I pretended to believe everything he said, and hastened to follow him, and, very fortunately, they allowed You go to the steps. I used to be afraid that I would have to deal with them before I could find the place where you were hidden, which means I would have to find you - and maybe not - after the incident." "You mean kill them?" I asked weakly. "Single-handedly." "Oh! That's nothing! Everything is easy if one is prepared--the motto of the Boy Scouts, isn't it? A good motto. Me, I was prepared. Soon The other day, I helped a famous chemist who did a lot of research on poison gas during the war. He made me a little bomb--it's easy to carry--if you drop it, it pops. There was a puff of smoke--then stupor. I whistled, and Japp's clever gang of men who had been stalking the neighborhood before the boy got here rushed out to take over the matter. For a long time they followed me and this boy to Lyme." "But why didn't you pass out?" "It was a stroke of luck. Our friend No. 4 (who must have composed that brilliant letter) played a trick on my beard, which he did to make it easy for me to hide under the yellow scarf. Adjust my gas mask down." "I remember." I yelled anxiously, and with this yell, I remembered all the tremors I had forgotten for a while.Cinderella—— I groaned and fell backwards. I must have passed out again.When I awoke, I found Poirot forcing me to drink brandy. "What is it? My friend! What is it? Tell me." I told him the whole incident, trembling as I spoke.Poirot gave a cry. "My friend! You have suffered! And I know nothing of these things! But don't worry! It will be all right!" "You mean you're going to find her? But she's in South America. When we get there—she'll be dead before that—God knows what a horrible death she'll die." "No, you don't. She's safe and alive, she didn't fall into their hands at all." "But I got a telegram from Bronson?" "No, you're wrong, you didn't get it. You probably got a telegram from South America signed Bronson--that's two completely different things. Tell me if it ever occurred to you that a Minion is scattered all over the world Organizations everywhere might easily use that little girl you love, Cinderella, to eradicate us?" "No, I never thought about it," I replied. "Well, I thought of it. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to trouble you unnecessarily—but I've already taken action myself. The letters from your wife look as if they were written on the farm. , but, in fact, more than three months ago, she had already moved to the safe place I found out." I watched him for a while. "Are you sure?" "Of course! I know. They torture you with lies!" I turned my head to the side.Poirot put his hand on my shoulder.There was something special in his voice that I hadn't heard before. "You don't like me hugging you, or showing affection, I know that. I'm going to be very British. I won't say anything - nothing. That's all I have to say - at our last All the glory in this adventure belongs to you, and I am so happy to have you as a friend!"