25-03-03 Sixteen I Hercule Poirot sat in a square chair in front of the square fireplace in the square room of his London flat. In front of him were various objects that were not square: that were instead violently and almost impossibly curved. Each of them,...

25-03-03 Fifteen It was a fortnight later that Inspector Bland had a long and unsatisfying interview with the Chief Constable of the County. Major Merrall had irritable tufted eyebrows and looked rather like an angry terrier. But his men all liked him and re...

25-03-03 Fourteen I Inspector Bland sat in Helmmouth Police Station. Superintendent Baldwin, a large comfortable- looking man, sat on the other side of the table. Between the two men, on the table, was a black sodden mass. Inspector Bland poked at it with a...

25-03-03 Thirteen After Mrs. Masterton had left, Poirot went out and strolled through the woods. His nerves were not quite what they should be. He felt an irresistible desire to look behind every bush and to consider every thicket of rhododendron as a possib...

25-03-03 Twelve Hercule Poirot came down to the breakfast table on the following morning to a depleted table. Mrs. Oliver, still suffering from the shock of yesterdays occurrence, was having her breakfast in bed. Michael Weyman had had a cup of coffee and go...

25-03-03 Eleven I Mrs. Folliat was at that moment being talked to by Hercule Poirot in the big drawing room. He had found her there leaning back in a chair in a corner of the room. She had started nervously when he came in. Then sinking back, she had murmure...

25-03-03 Ten I He kills people, Inspector Bland repeated. I dont think you ought to take it too seriously, said Sir George. She kept repeating it and saying, He kills people, but she couldnt tell me who he killed or when or why. I thought myself it was just...

25-03-03 Nine I Although he had none of Constable Hoskins ingrained prejudice against foreigners, Inspector Bland took an instant dislike to Etienne de Sousa. The polished elegance of the young man, his sartorial perfection, the rich flowery smell of his bri...

25-03-03 Eight Got a sharp tongue, she has, Hoskins said when he returned. Nags her husband and bullies her old father. I daresay shes spoke sharp to the girl once or twice and now shes feeling bad about it. Not that girls mind what their mothers say to them...

25-03-03 Seven Detective-Inspector Bland sat behind a table in the study. Sir George had met him on arrival, had taken him down to the boathouse and had now returned with him to the house. Down at the boathouse a photographic unit was now busy and the finger...