日期：2024-01-29 Eighteen TEA INTERLUDE Mrs. Lorrimer came out of a certain door in Harley Street. She stood for a minute at the top of the steps, and then she descended them slowly. There was a curious expression on her facea mingling of grim determination and of s... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Seventeen THE EVIDENCE OF RHODA DAWES Rhoda Dawes came out of Debenhams and stood meditatively upon the pavement. Indecisionwas written all over her face. It was an expressive face; each fleeting emotion showed itself in aquickly varying expression.... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Sixteen THE EVIDENCE OF ELSIE BATT Sergeant OConnor was unkindly nicknamed by his colleagues at the Yard: The MaidservantsPrayer. There was no doubt that he was an extremely handsome man. Tall, erect, broad-shouldered, itwas less the regularity of h... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Fifteen MAJOR DESPARD Major Despard came out of the Albany, turned sharply into Regent Street and jumped on a bus. It was the quiet time of daythe top of the bus had very few seats occupied. Despard made hisway forward and sat down on the front seat... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Fourteen THIRD VISITOR Superintendent Battle arrived at Wallingford about six oclock. It was his intention to learn asmuch as he could from innocent local gossip before interviewing Miss Anne Meredith. It was not difficult to glean such information... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Thirteen SECOND VISITOR At the sight of Mrs. Oliver, Major Despard looked slightly taken aback. Under his tan his faceflushed a rich brick red. Embarrassment made him jerky. He made for Anne. I apologize, Miss Meredith, he said. Been ringing your be... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Twelve ANNE MEREDITH Mrs. Oliver extricated herself from the driving seat of her little two-seater with some difficulty. Tobegin with, the makers of modern motorcars assume that only a pair of sylphlike knees will everbe under the steering wheel. It... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Eleven MRS. LORRIMER 111 Cheyne Lane was a small house of very neat and trim appearance standing in a quiet street. The door was painted black and the steps were particularly well whitened, the brass of the knockerand handle gleamed in the afternoon... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Ten DR. ROBERTS (CONTINUED) Superintendent Battle was lunching with M. Hercule Poirot. The former looked downcast, the latter sympathetic. Your morning, then, has not been entirely successful, said Poirot thoughtfully. Battle shook his head. Its goi... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Nine DR. ROBERTS Good morning, Superintendent Battle. Dr. Roberts rose from his chair and offered a large pink hand smelling of a mixture of goodsoap and faint carbolic. How are things going? he went on. Superintendent Battle glanced round the comfo... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Eight WHICH OF THEM? Battle looked from one face to another. Only one person answered his question. Mrs. Oliver, neveraverse to giving her views, rushed into speech. The girl or the doctor, she said. Battle looked questioningly at the other two. But... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Seven FOURTH MURDERER? Despard entered the room with a quick springing stepa step that reminded Poirot of somethingor someone. Im sorry to have kept you waiting all this while, Major Despard, said Battle. But I wanted tolet the ladies get away as so... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Six THIRD MURDERER? Didnt get any extra change out of her, commented Battle. Put me in my place, too. Shes theold-fashioned kind, full of consideration for others, but arrogant as the devil! I cant believe shedid it, but you never know! Shes got ple... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Five SECOND MURDERER? Mrs. Lorrimer came into the dining room like a gentlewoman. She looked a little pale, butcomposed. Im sorry to have to bother you, Superintendent Battle began. You must do your duty, of course, said Mrs. Lorrimer quietly. It is... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Four FIRST MURDERER? Hercule Poirot, Mrs. Oliver, Colonel Race and Superintendent Battle sat round the dining roomtable. It was an hour later. The body had been examined, photographed and removed. A fingerprintexpert had been and gone. Superintenden... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 II Five diamonds. Game and rubber, said Colonel Race. Good for you, partner, he said to Poirot. I didnt think youd do it. Lucky they didnt lead aspade. Wouldnt have made much difference, I expect, said Superintendent Battle, a man of gentlemagnanimi... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Three A GAME OF BRIDGE When the company returned to the drawing room a bridge table had been set out. Coffee washanded round. Who plays bridge? asked Mr. Shaitana. Mrs. Lorrimer, I know. And Dr. Roberts. Do youplay, Miss Meredith? Yes. Im not fright... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Two DINNER AT MR. SHAITANAS The door of Mr. Shaitanas flat opened noiselessly. A grey-haired butler drew it back to let Poirotenter. He closed it equally noiselessly and deftly relieved the guest of his overcoat and hat. He murmured in a low express... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 One MR. SHAITANA My dear M. Poirot! It was a soft purring voicea voice used deliberately as an instrumentnothing impulsive orpremeditated about it. Hercule Poirot swung round. He bowed. He shook hands ceremoniously. There was something in his eye th... 阅读全文>>

日期：2024-01-29 Cards on the Table: A Hercule Poirot Mystery 底牌 Foreword There is an idea prevalent that a detective story is rather like a big racea number of starterslikely horses and jockeys. You pays your money and you takes your choice! The favourite is bycom... 阅读全文>>