Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie
(1890 - 1976)
Agatha Christie is the world's best-known detective story writer.
Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another
billion in over 45 foreign languages. She is outsold only by the Bible and
Shakespeare. Agatha Christie was born in 1890 in Torquay in England. Her father
was called Frederick Miller so she was born as Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller. She
was educated at home and studied singing and piano in Paris. In 1914 she married
an aviator in the Royal Flying Corps, Colonel Archibald Christie. During World War
I she was working as a nurse in a hospital in Torquay and learned a lot about
chemicals and poisons. That experience proved useful to her later on.
Her first book was published in 1920, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. There,
readers met Hercules Poirot, the eccentric Belgian detective with the funny-looking
moustache. But Agatha's books first attracted attention in 1926 when she published
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
Agatha Christie wrote nearly seventy novels in her career and more than a
hundred short stories. Her most famous characters are Hercules Poirot and Miss
Marple, and the latter one was her personal favourite. She also wrote a few books
about Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, and in some books there was no particular
main character, e.g. in Ten Little Niggers. Agatha Christie also wrote six romantic
novels under the name Mary Westmacott. Agatha's plays have also made her famous
and her best known play, The Mousetrap, is most likely the best known mystery play
in the world.
In 1971, she achieved her country's highest honour when she was made a
Dame Commander, Order of the British Empire.
She is best known for her detective stories, largely centred around two
detectives; the elderly Miss Marples and the pompous Poirot. Apart from her plots,
today it is the period detail of her books that fascinates: the English village, the spa
hotel, the country house and the cruise-ship. She chronicles a vanished pre- WW2
upper middle class Britain which enhances the staginess of her characters and plots.
Agatha Christie was sure to be the world’s best selling crime writer.
Moreover, she was an immensely prolific writer. 79 shot stories, 4 non-fiction ones
and 19 plays were written by that strange woman. They were translated into 136
languages. Over 3 billion books by Agatha Christie were sold worldwide. She is
popular for ingenuity of plots, which are classical murder mysteries: marooned
places and a well-mannered murderer. Her way to present the stories was quite
definite from that of her colleagues. At first her stories appealed to the readers’
detective inside, so you can’t find much blood and violence in her stories.
Agatha Christie created two major characters for her stories. Hercule Poirot,
a Belgian, used to work in the Police, but by the time of the action he was already
retired. He can be described as a funny little man taken by many readers as a comic.
He had luxurious moustaches and he was really proud of them.
Miss Marple was absolutely opposite to Poirot. She wasn’t a professional and
had never been one. She was just an old spinster, very modest but perceptive and not
a flamboyant personality, who acted as a detective just by virtue of taking thought.
Agatha Christie’s favourite way of murdering was by poisoning. She
accurately described the process because she had learned a lot about poisons and
other chemicals during World War II, while working in a hospital.
The reader has to solve the mystery and decide who the murderer is hand-inhand with the author. Most of the crimes were committed in some closed
surroundings with a limited number of people to suspect. Finally the identity of the
murderer is revealed and a hooked reader starts looking for another book by Agatha
Christie.
Agatha Christie lived between 1890 and 1976. She started writing stories at a
very early age, at first to entertain herself. However, she managed to become famous.
Not many people know that she used to write under a pen-name of Mary
Westmacott. Later, already being a world-known writer, she tried to avoid publicity
and stayed out of public eye.
1 Answer the questions.
1 What was Agatha Christie?
a) the best-known mystery writer
b) the best-known detective story writer
c) the best-known poet
2 Where was Agatha Christie born?
a) in London
b) in Birmingham
c) in Torquay
3 What was her first husband?
a) a driver
b) an aviator
c) an aviator in the Royal Flying Corps
4 What was her second husband name?
a) Frederick Miller
b) Archibald Christie
c) Christie Mallowan
5 When was her first book published?
a) in 1920
b) in 1921
c) in 1922
6 Who was her first personage?
a) Miss Marple
b) Hercule Poirot
c) Sherlock Holmes
7 What position did she take in the Detection Club?
a) the president
b) the manager
c) director
8 What can’t the reader find in her stories?
a) love and friendship
b) love and violence
c) cruelty
9 How can Hercule Poirot be described?
a) as a funny little man
b) as a funny fat man
c) as a funny stout man
10 What was Agatha Christie’s favourite way of murdering?
a) poisoining
b) hanging
c) cutting
d) robbing
2 Find in the text the English equivalents.
продаваться лучше чем что-либо;
быть урожденным,
носить фамилию;
доказать полезность;
привлечь внимание;
быть известным своей изобретательностью;
способ представления;
яркая личность;
псевдоним.
3. Choose the right word, using the text.
1. Agatha Christie is the world's ________ detective story writer.
1. popular
2. famous
3. best-known
2. Agatha Christie was born in 1890 in Torquay in _____________.
1. Ireland
2. Great Britain
3. England
3. Agatha Christie created ____ major characters for her stories.
1. five
2. one
3. two
4. Agatha Christie’s _________ were translated into 136 languages.
1. stories
2. romantic novels
3. books
5. ________ 3 billion books by Agatha Christie were sold worldwide.
1. Nearly
2. More than
3. Over
4. Write down all possible questions to the underlined sentences.
5. Make up 5 sentences in English using the active vocabulary.
6. Answer the following questions. When speaking use the conversational
formulas, given in the Appendix 1.
1. Do you like Agatha Christie’s stories?
2. Do you like her style of writing?
3. Do you like her best personage, Hercule Poirot?
4. What detective stories have you read before? Compare them with Agatha
Christie’s stories.
7 Read the following proverbs, sayings and their Russian equivalents. Say
what proverb fits to author’s style of writing.
1 Kind hearts are more than coronets (Хорошее дело два века живет)
2 God helps those who help themselves (Всяк своему счастью кузнец)
3 Actions speak louder than words (Действия важнее речей)
4 Necessity is the mother of invention (В трудную минуту появляются и
способности, и умение)
FOREWORD
The flat of Hercule Poirot was furnished in a modern style. Its arm-chairs were
square and gleamed with chromium.
On one of these chairs sat Hercule Poirot, neatly – in the middle of the chair.
Opposite him, in another chair, sat Dr Burton. Dr Burton was asking a question.
"Tell me," he said. "Why Hercule?"
"You mean, my Christian name? You mean to say that in physical appearance
I do not resemble a Hercules1? "
Dr Burton glanced at Hercule Poirot at his small neat figure in striped trousers,
a black jacket and a bow tie.
"Frankly, Poirot," said Dr Burton, "you don't! I think," he added, "that you've
never had much time to study the Classics?"
"That is so."
"Pity. Pity. You've missed a lot. If I could I’d make everyone study the Classics.
Where else can we find such richness of the spirit?"
"Alas mon ami,2 it’s too late for me now. I’m thinking of retiring."
"You won’t. "
"But I assure you …"
"You won’t be able to do it. You are too interested in your work. "
"No – indeed – I make all the arrangements. A few more cases – specially
selected ones – not, you understand, everything that presents itself – just problems
that have a personal appeal."3
Dr Burton grinned.
"It always will be like this. Just a case or two, just one case more – and so on.
Your Labours aren't the Labours of Hercules.4 Yours are labours of love. You'll see
that I'm right. I bet that in twelve months' time you'll still be here. The Prima
Donna’s farewell performance is not for you, Poirot."
When Dr Burton left, Hercule Poirot sat down again slowly like a man in a
dream and murmured:
"The Labours of Hercules… But yes, that’s an idea…" What had Dr. Burton
said as he left: " Yours are not the Labours of Hercules…" Ah, but there he was
wrong. There should be, once again, the Labours of Hercules – a modern Hercules.
In the period before his final retirement he would accept twelve cases, no more, no
less. And those twelve cases should be selected with special reference5 to the twelve
labours of ancient Hercules. Yes, that would not only be amusing, it would be
artistic, it would be unique.
He would not be in a hurry. He would wait for the case that should be the first
of his self-imposed Labours.
LABOUR I
THE NEMEAN LION6
I
"Anything of interest this morning, Miss Lemon?" he asked as he entered the
room the following morning.
He trusted Miss Lemon. She was a woman without imagination, but she had
an instinct. She was a born secretary.
"Nothing much, M. Poirot7. There is just one letter that I thought might
interest you. It's from a man who wants you to investigate the disappearance of his
wife's Pekinese dog."
Poirot was shocked. A Pekinese dog! And after the great idea he had last night.
Reluctantly he picked up the letter from the pile on his desk.
Yes, it was exactly as Miss Lemon had said. The Yes, it was exactly as Miss
Lemon had said. The subject—the kidnapping of a Pekinese dog. One of those pets
of rich women.
Nothing unusual about this. But yes, yes, in one small detail Miss Lemon was
right. In one small detail there was something unusual.
"Ring up this Sir Joseph Hoggin," he ordered, "and make an appointment for
me to see him at his office as he suggests."
As usual, Miss Lemon had been right.
***
"I'm a rich man, M. Poirot," said Sir Joseph Hoggin.
Hercule Poirot's eyes rested critically on the fat body, the small pig eyes, the
bulbous nose and the close-lipped mouth8. The whole general effect reminded him
of someone or something—but he could not reflect exactly who or what it was... A
long time ago... in Belgium... something, surely, to do with soap9 ...
Sir Joseph was continuing.
"Yes, I'm a rich man, M. Poirot, but that does not mean that I'm in the habit of
throwing my money about. What I want I pay for, but I pay the market price. No
more."
Hercule Poirot said: "You realize that my fees are high?"
"Yes, yes. But this is a very small matter. I made inquiries and I was told that
you were the best man at this sort of thing. That's why I decided to apply to you. I
want you to get to the bottom of this business and I won't grudge the expense” 10.
"You were fortunate”, said Hercule Poirot. "Your case, Sir Joseph, is the first
of the twelve cases I have decided to accept before retiring. A self-imposed 'Labours
of Hercules', if I may so describe it. I was attracted to your case," he sighed, "by its
striking unimportance."
"Importance?" said Sir Joseph.
" Unimportance was what I said. I have been called in for various causes —
to investigate murders, unexplained deaths, robberies, thefts of jewellery. This is the
first time that I have been asked to turn my talents to the kidnapping of a Pekinese
dog."
"You surprise me! I was sure you'd, had no end of women applying to you
about their pet dogs."
"Yes, certainly. But it is the first time that I am applied to by the husband.
Now, please, tell me the facts. The dog disappeared, when?"
"Exactly a week ago. But it has been returned."
"Returned? Then, permit me to ask, why have you sent for me?"
Sir Joseph's face got red.
"Because I'm sure that I was cheated. Now, Mr. Poirot, I'm going to tell you
the whole thing. The dog was stolen a week ago — in Kensington Gardens11 where
he was out with my wife's companion. The next day my wife got a demand for two
hundred pounds."
Poirot murmured:
"You did not approve of paying such a sum, naturally?"
"Of course, I didn't. And I wouldn't have paid it. But Milly (my wife) didn't
say anything to me. Just sent off the money — to the address given,"
"And the dog was returned?"
"Yes. That evening the bell rang and there was the little devil1 sitting on the
doorstep. And not a soul to be seen."
"I see. Continue."
"Then, of course, Milly confessed what she'd done and I got angry at first.
But I calmed down after a while — after all,12 the thing was done and you can't
expect a woman to behave with any sense. I should have forgotten the whole thing
if I hadn't met old Samuelson at the Club."
"Yes?"
"Damn it all!13 Exactly the same thing had happened to him. Three hundred
pounds they'd taken from his wife. Well, that was too much. I decided the thing had
got to be stopped. I sent for you."
"But why, Sir Joseph, haven't you sent for the police?"
"My wife wouldn't hear of the idea. She'd got into her head that something
would happen to her precious Shan Tung if I went to them. She doesn't like the idea
of your being called in, either. But I stood firm on it." Hercule Poirot said:
"I must interview your wife."
Sir Joseph nodded and rose to his feet.
"I'll take you along in the car immediately."
II
In a large, hot, richly-furnished drawing-room two women were sitting. As
Sir Joseph and Hercule Poirot entered, a small Pekinese dog rushed forward, barking
furiously. "Shan — Shan, come here to mother. Pick him up, Miss Carnaby."
The second woman hurried forward and Hercule Poirot murmured:
"A veritable lion, indeed."
Lady Hoggin was a stout woman with dyed henna red hair.
Poirot said:
"Now tell me, Lady Hoggin, the full circumstances of this abominable crime."
Lady Hoggin flushed.
"I'm very glad to hear you say that, Mr. Poirot. For, it was a crime. Pekinese
are terribly sensitive— just as sensitive as children. Poor Shan Tung might have died
of fright if of nothing else”.14
"Please tell me the facts."
"Well, it was like this. Shan Tung was out for his walk in the Park with Miss
Carnaby—"
"Oh dear me, 15 yes, it was all my fault," cried the companion. "How could I
have been so careless — "
Poirot looked at her.
"What happened?"
"Well, it was the most extraordinary thing. We were walking along a path —
Shan Tung was on the lead, of course, and l was just about to go home 16 when my
attention was caught by a baby in a pram — such a lovely baby it was — lovely rosy
cheeks and such curls. 1 couldn't help speaking17 to the nurse and asking how old
it was — and I'm sure I was only speaking to her for about a minute or two, and then
suddenly I looked down and Shan Tung wasn't there any more. The lead had been
cut through—"
"And what happened next?"
"Well, of course, I looked everywhere. And called! And I asked the Park
attendant if he'd seen a man carrying a Pekinese dog but he hadn't noticed anything
of the kind — and I went on searching, but at last, of course, I had to come home—
"
"And then you received a letter?"
Lady Hoggin continued the story.
"By the first post the following morning. It said that if I wanted to see Shan
Tung alive I was to send 200 pounds in one pound notes to Captain Curtis, 38
Bloomsbury Road Square. It said that if I sent the money at once, Shan Tung would
be returned the same evening alive and well, but that if—if afterwards I went to the
police, it would be Shan Tung who would suffer for it—"
Miss Carnaby murmured tearfully:
"Oh dear, I'm so afraid that even now — of course, M. Poirot isn't exactly the
police—"
Lady Hoggin said anxiously:
"So you see, Mr. Poirot, you will have to be very careful."
"But I am not of the police, Lady Hoggin. You can be sure that Shan Tung
will be perfectly safe. That I will guarantee”.
Both ladies seemed relieved by the magic word. Poirot went on.
"You have here the letter?"
Lady Hoggin shook her head.
"No, I was instructed to enclose it with the money."
"H'm, that is a pity."
Miss Carnaby said brightly:
"But I have the dog lead still. Shall I get it?"
She left the room. Hercule Poirot profited by her absence to ask a few
questions.
"Amy Carnaby? Oh! She's quite all right. A good soul, though foolish, of
course. I'm quite sure she had nothing to do with it.18"
"She has been with you long?"
"Nearly a year. I had excellent references with her. She was with old Lady
Hartingfield until she died. After that she looked after, an invalid sister for a while.
She is really an excellent creature — but a complete fool, as I said."
III
It was the habit of Hercule Poirot to leave nothing untested.
Though it seemed unlikely that Miss Carnaby was anything but the foolish
woman that she appeared to be, Poirot nevertheless decided to interview the niece
of the late Lady Hartingfield.
"Amy Carnaby?" said she. "Of course, I remember her. She was a good soul,
devoted to dogs and excellent at reading aloud. I gave her a reference about a year
ago to some woman—"
Poirot explained that Miss Camabv was still in her post. There had been, he
said, a little trouble over a lost dog.
"Amy Carnaby loves dogs. My aunt had a Pekinese. She left it to Miss
Carnaby when she died and Miss Carnaby was devoted to it. Oh, yes, she's a good
soul. Not, of course, very intellectual"
Hercule Poirot agreed that Miss Carnaby could not, perhaps, be described as
intellectual.
His next visit was to 38 Bloomsbury Road Square. Numbers 38, 39 and 40
were united together as the Balaclava Private Hotel. Poirot walked up the steps and
pushed open the door marked "Office".
The manageress was full of politeness.
"So glad to see you, Sir. Do you want rooms?"
"Not precisely, I was wondering if a friend of mine had been staying here
lately. A Captain Curtis."
"Curtis," exclaimed Mrs. Harte. "Captain Curtis? Where have I heard that
name?"
"You have not, then, had a Captain Curtis staying here?"
"Well, not lately, certainly. And yet, you know, the name is familiar to me.''
Hercule Poirot nodded thoughtfully. He said:
"It is like this, you see. I wrote a letter to my friend here."
Mrs. Harte's face cleared.
"That explains it. I must have noticed the name on an envelope. Let me see
now."
She looked up at the letter rack.
Hercule Poirot said:
"It is not there now."
"It must have been returned to the post office, I suppose. I'm so sorry. Nothing
important, I hope?"
"No, no, it was of no importance."
:
As he walked, towards the door, Mrs. Harte followed him.
"The price," said she, “is very moderate”. Coffee after dinner is included. I
would like you to see one or two of our bed-sitting rooms”.
With difficulty Hercule Poirot escaped.
IV
Mrs. Samuelson was taller than Lady Hoggin and her hair was dyed with
peroxide. Her Pekinese was called Nanki Poo. Miss Keble, Mrs. Samuelson's
companion, too, had been blamed for Nanki Poo's disappearance.
"But really, Mr. Poirot, it was the most amazing thing. It all happened in a
second. In Kensington Gardens it was. A nurse there asked me the time—"
Poirot interrupted her.
"A nurse? A hospital nurse?"
"No, no —a children's nurse. Such a pretty baby it was. Such lovely rosy
cheeks..."
Mrs. Samuelson said acidly:
"And while Miss Keble was bending over a pram this villain cut Nanki Poo's
lead and made off with him."
Miss Keble murmured tearfully:
"It all, happened in a second. I looked round and the darling boy was gone —
there was just the dangling lead in my hand."
The story followed the course exactly — the letter— the threats of violence to
Nanki Poo... Only two things were different — the sum of money demanded — 300
pounds — and the address to which it was to be sent: this time it was to Commander
Blackleigh, Harrington Hotel, 76 Clonmel Gardens, Kensington.
Mrs. Samuelson went on:
"When Nanki Poo was safely back again I went to the place myself, Mr.
Poirot. After all, three hundred pounds is three hundred pounds."
"Certainly it is."
"No such person as Commanded Blackleigh has ever stayed there."
Poirot smiled.
"And of course, my- husband was extremely annoyed about the whole thing.
I have never seen him so angry. Men," said Mrs. Samuelson, turning her beautiful
diamond bracelet, "think of nothing but money."
V
Hercule Poirot, sitting in front of his electric radiator, was giving instructions
to his assistant.
"You understand, George?"
"Perfectly, sir”.
"More probably a flat or maisonette. And it will definitely be near Kensington
Gardens." "I understand perfectly, sir."
A curious little case. There is evidence here of a very definite talent for
organisation. And there is, of course, the surprising invisibility of the
star
performer— the Nemean Lion himself, if I may so call him. Yes, an interesting little
case. I wish I left more attracted to my client - but he has an unfortunate resemblance
to
a soap manufacturer who poisoned his wife in order to marry a blond
secretary. One of my early cases."
George shook his head. He said gravely.
"These blondes, sir, they are responsible for a lot of troubles”.
*******
It was three days later when the invaluable George said, "This is the address,
sir."
Twenty minutes later Hercule Poirot was climbing the stairs of No. 10
Rosholm Mansions. He paused to regain his breath on the top landing and from
behind the door of No. 10 a new sound broke the silence – the sharp bark of a dog.
Hercule Poirot nodded his head with a smile. He pressed the bell of No. 10.
The barking became louder – footsteps came to the door, it was opened…
Miss Amy Carnaby stepped back, her hand went to her breast.
"You permit that I enter?" said Hercule Poirot, and entered without waiting
for her reply.
There was a sitting-room door open on the right and he walked in. Behind him
Miss Carnaby followed as though in a dream. As Poirot came in, a Pekinese dog
jumped off the sofa and sniffed him, his intelligent eyes fixed on the man's face.
"Aha," said Poirot. "The chief actor! I salute you, my little friend."
Miss Carnaby murmured faintly:
"So you know?"
Hercule Poirot nodded.
"Yes, I know." He looked at an elderly woman lying on a sofa. "Your sister, I
think?"
Miss Carnaby said mechanically: "Yes, Emily, this — this is Mr. Poirot”.
Emily gave a gasp. She said: “Oh!"
Amy Carnaby said in a low voice:
"Do you really know everything?"
Poirot nodded.
"I think so. You organised this business—with your dog to help vou. You took
your employer's dog for his usual walk, brought him here and went to the Park with
yours. Everybody saw you with a Pekinese as usual. Then, while you were talking,
you cut the lead and your Pekinese, trained by you, slipped off at once and ran back
home. A few moments later you gave the alarm that the dog had been stolen.
There was a pause. Then Miss Carnaby said with a certain pathetic dignity.
"Yes. It is all quite true. I — I have nothing to say."
"You have nothing to say — in your own defence?"
Red spots appeared suddenly on Amy Carnaby's white cheeks. She said:
"I think that you are a kind man, Mr. Poirot, and that possibly you might
understand. You see, I've been so terribly afraid."
"Afraid?"
“Yes? It’s difficult for a gentleman to understand, I think. But you see, I’m
not a clever woman at all, and I’ve no training and I’m getting older – and I’m so
terrified for the future. I've known so many people like I am — nobody wants you
and you live in one room and you can't have a fire and not very much to eat, and at
last you can't even pay the rent of your room... There are Institutions, of course, but
it is not easy to get into them, unless you have influential friends, and I haven't.
There are many others situated like me — poor companions — untrained useless
women with nothing to look forward to but a deadly fear...” 19
Her voice shook. She said:
"And so — some of us — got together and — and I thought of this. It was
really having Augustus that put it into my mind. You see, to most people, one
Pekinese is very much like another, (Just as we think the Chinese are.) Really, of
course, it’s ridiculous. No one who knew could mistake Augustus for Nanki Poo or
Shan Tung or any of the other Pekes. He's far more intelligent, but as I say, to most
people a Peke is just a Peke. Augustus put it into my head —that, combined with the
fact that so many rich women have Pekinese dogs”.
Poirot said with a faint smile:
"How many operations have you carried out successfully?"
Miss Carnaby said simply:
"Shan Tung was the sixteenth."
Poirot raised his eyebrows.
“I congratulate you. Your organization must have been indeed excellent. As
a criminal, Mademoiselle, you are quite in the first rank."
Amy Carnaby cried out:
"A criminal! Oh, dear, I suppose I am. But — but I never felt like that. I felt
that to take a little money away from these people who really wouldn't miss it and
hadn't been too scrupulous in acquiring it—well, really, it hardly seemed wrong
at all."
Poirot murmured: "A modern Robin Hood!"
"Tell me, Miss Carnaby, did you ever have to carry out the threat you used in
your letters?"
Miss Carnaby looked at him in horror.
"Of course, I would never have dreamed of doing such a thing! That was
just—just an artistic touch."20
"Very artistic. It worked".
"Well, of course, I knew it would. I know how I should have felt about
Augustus, and of course I had to make sure these women never told their husbands
until after wards. The plan worked beautifully every time. In nine cases out of ten
the companion was given the letter with the money to post. Once or twice the woman
posted it herself. Then, of course, the companion had to go to the hotel and take the
letter out of the rack. But that was quite easy too."
"And the nurse? Why was there always a nurse?"
"Well you see, M. Poirot, old maids are known to be foolishly sentimental
about babies. So it seemed quite natural that they should be absorbed over a baby
and not notice anything."
Hercule Poirot signed. He said:
"Your psychology is excellent, your organization is just first class, and you
are also a very fine actress."
Miss Carnaby said with a faint smile:
"And yet I have been found out, M. Poirot."
"Only by me. That was inevitable! When I had interviewed Mrs. Samuelson I
realized that the kidnapping of Shan Tung was one of a series. I had already learned
that you had once been left a Pekinese dog and had an invalid sister. I had only to
ask my invaluable servant to look for a small flat within a certain radius occupied
by an invalid lady who had a Pekinese dog and a sister who visited her once a week."
Amy Carnaby drew herself up. She said:
"You have been very kind. Tell me, M. Poirot, what will they do to me? I shall
be sent to prison, I suppose. And it will be so hard for poor Emily."
Hercule Poirot said:
"I think I can help you. But you must promise that there will be no more
disappearing dogs."
"Yes! Oh yes!"
"And the money you extracted from Lady Hoggin must be returned."
Amy Carnaby crossed the room, opened the drawer of a bureau and returned
with a packet of notes which she handed to Poirot. Poirot took the notes and counted
them. He got up.
"I think it is possible, Miss Carnaby, that I may be able to persuade Sir Joseph
not to prosecute."
"Oh, M. Poirot!"
Amy Carnaby clasped her hands. Emily gave a cry of joy. Augustus barked
and wagged his tail.
"As for you, mon ami," said Poirot, addressing Augustus, "there is one thing
that I wish you would give me. It is your mantle of invisibility that I need. In all
these cases nobody for a moment suspected that there was a second dog involved.
Augustus possessed the lion’s skin of invisibility”.
“Of course, M. Poirot, according to the legend, Pekinese were lions once. And
they still have the hearts of lions!”
VI
Sir Joseph received Hercule Poirot in his study.
"Well, Mr. Poirot? What about my money?"
Hercule Poirot rose, crossed to the writing-table, wrote out a cheque for two
hundred pounds and handed it to the other man.
Sir Joseph said:
"Well, damn it! Who the devil is this fellow?"
Poirot shook his head.
"If you accept the money, there must be no questions asked."
Sir Joseph put the cheque into his pocket.
"That's a pity. But the money's the thing. And what do I owe you, Mr. Poirot?"
"My fees will not be high. This was, as I said, a very unimportant matter." He
paused and added, "Nowadays nearly all my cases are murder cases..."
Sir Joseph started slightly.
"Must be interesting," he said.
"Sometimes. Curiously enough, you recall to me one of my former clients in
Belgium, many years ago — he was very like you in appearance. He was a wealthy
soap manufacturer. He poisoned his wife in order to be free to marry his secretary...
Yes — the resemblance is very remarkable..."
A faint sound came from Sir Joseph's lips — they had gone a strange blue
colour. His eyes stared at Poirot. Then, with a shaking hand, he drew out the cheque
and tore it into pieces.
"That's finished — see? Consider it as your fee."
"Oh, but, Sir Joseph, my fee would not have been as large as that."
"That's all right. You keep it."
"I shall send it to a charity organisation."
"Send it wherever you like."
Poirot leaned forward. He said:
"I think, Sir Joseph, that in your position you should be extremely careful."
Sir Joseph said, his voice almost inaudible:
"You needn't worry. I shall be careful all right."
Hercule Poirot left the house. As he went down the steps he said to himself:
"So—I was right."
***
Lady Hoggin said to her husband:
"Funny, this tonic tastes quite different. It hasn't got that bitter taste any more.
I wonder why?" Sir Joseph growled:
"Chemists. Careless fellows. Make drugs differently different times."
Lady Hoggin said doubtfully:
"I suppose that must be it." "
"Of course it is. What else could it be?"
"Has the man found out anything about Shan Tung?"
"Yes. He got me my money back."
"Who was it?"
"He didn't say. Very smart fellow, Hercule Poirot. But you needn't worry."
"He's a funny little man, isn't he?" Sir Joseph gave a slight shiver as though
he felt the invisible presence of Hercule Poirot behind him. He had an idea that he
would always feel it there.
He said: "He's a damned clever little devil!" And he thought to himself:
"Greta can go hang!21 I'm not going to risk my neck for any damned platinum
blonde!"
1
Hercules – Геракл (у римлян – Геркулес), герой древнегреческих мифов
Alas mon ami – Увы, мой друг (фр.). Эркюль Пуаро - бельгиец и поэтому
часто пересыпает свою речь французскими словами и выражениями
2
3
that have a personal appeal – которые мне лично интересны
the Labours of Hercules – подвиги Геракла. По преданию, боги предсказали
Гераклу, что он получит бессмертие, если совершит 12 подвигов.
4
5
with special reference – по аналогии с
6 “
THE NEMEAN LION” – «Немейкий Лев». По преданию, царь Эврисфей
поручил Гераклу убить немейкого льва, опустошавшего все окрестности.
Этот лев обладал даром оставаться невидимым.
7
M. Poirot – месье Пуаро
8
the close-lipped mouth – поджатые губы
9
surely, to do with soap – несомненно, связанное с мылом
10
to grudge the expense – скупиться на расходы
11
Kensington Gardens – Кенсингтон-Гарденз (большой парк в Лондоне)
12
after all – в конце концов
13
Damn it all! – Черт возьми ! (воскл.)
14
might have died of fright if of nothing else” – мог умереть от одного страха
15
Oh dear me – О, боже мой! (воскл.)
16
l was just about to go home – я как раз собиралась идти домой
17
1 couldn't help speaking - я не могла не заговорить
18
she had nothing to do with it – она не имела к этому делу никакого
отношения
19
with nothing to look forward to but a deadly fear – у которых ничего нет
впереди, кроме смертельного страха
20
That was just—just an artistic touch. – зд. Это был просто художественный
вымысел.
21
Greta can go hang! – Грета может идти ко всем чертям!
I. Pre-reading task.
1. Have you read Labours of ancient hero Hercules before?
2. Do you know anything about Belgian detective Hercule Poirot?
II. Pronounce these words. When in doubt consult your dictionary:
reluctantly, abominable, guarantee, precisely, moderate, villain, maisonette,
influential, scrupulous, bureau, inaudible, growl
1. Find in the text the English for:
отвратительное преступление
сказать с озарением
воспользоваться чьим-либо отсутствием
не иметь никакого отношения к…
быть очень вежливым
убежать с чем-либо
художественный вымысел
быть виновным в чем-либо
быть крайне раздраженным о …
быть ответственным за…
кивать головой улыбаясь
говорить трогательно
убеждать не преследовать в судебном порядке
вскрикнуть от радости
выписать чек
рисковать головой
доводить до конца
онеметь от изумления
идти ко всем чертям
2. Answer the following questions.
1. What happened to the little Pekinese dog of Lady Hoggin? 2. Speak about
Hercule Poirot and ancient hero Hercules. 3. What case did Hercule Poirot
remember when he saw Sir Joseph Hoggin first? 4. How did Hercule Poirot call
that case? 5. Where was the dog stolen? 6. How did Sir Joseph Hoggin call his
wife’s dog? 7. What was the dog’s name? 8. Who caught Miss Carnaby’s
attention? Describe the situation. 9. How and when did Lady Hoggin receive a
letter? 10. What was Lady Hoggin instructed about? 11. How long did Lady
Hoggin know her companion? What can you tell about her biography? 12. What
did Amy Carnaby say in her defence? 13. How many operations did Miss Amy
Carnaby carry out successfully?
3. Give a description of the heroines:
a) What was Miss Lemon? Characterize Miss Lemon.
b) Describe Lady Hoggin’s appearance.
4. Fill in the gaps with the words from the story.
1. There is just … … that I thought might interest you.
2. You realize that my … are high.
3. She was a good …, devoted to dogs.
4. My aunt had a … .
5. “…this … cut Nanki Poo’s lead …”
6. Twenty minutes later Hercule Poirot was climbing the stairs of … … …
Mansions.
7. Amy Carnaby crossed the room, opened … of a bureau … .
8. … barked and wagged his tail.
9. Sir Joseph gave a … … as thought he felt the invisible presence of Hercule
Poirot.
10. Then, with a … … , he drew out the cheque and tore it into pieces.
5. Some of the following statements are not true. Find and correct them. Prove
your answers from the text. (F\T)
1. Miss Lemon was a woman with imagination, but she hadn’t an instinct.
2. In no small detail there was something unusual.
3. “I am not a rich man, M. Poirot”, said Sir Joseph Hoggin.
4. The whole general effect reminded him of someone or something surely to do
with hard.
5. M. Poirot said to Sir Joseph Hoggin that wasn’t the first time that he had been
asked to turn his talents to the kidnapping of a Pekinese dog.
6. Sir Joseph Hoggin said: “The dog was stolen two weeks ago in Kensington
Garden where he was out with my wife’s companion”.
7. He added also that the next day he got a demand for three hundred pounds.
8. Miss Amy Carnaby murmured that Shan Tung was a veritable lion.
9. It wasn’t a habit of Hercule Poirot to leave nothing untested.
10. Mrs. Samuelson was shorter than Lady Hoggin and her hair was died with
peroxide.
11. Hercule Poirot said that blondes were responsible for a lot of troubles.
12. Miss Carnaby said that she was not a clever woman at all.
13. Miss Carnaby said that Augustus possessed the dog’s skin of invisibility.
14. Miss Carnaby said that according to the legend, lions had been dogs once and
they still had the hearts of dogs.
15. Sir Joseph said that he was going to risk his neck for any platinum blonde.
6. Retell the text from the part of: a) Miss Amy Carnaby; b) Miss Lemon.When speaking use
the conversational formulas, given in the Appendix 1.
7. Curiosity quiz for eagers:
Questions:
Down:
1. What kind of «Lions» is Shan Tung?
2. What is the big park in London?
3. What was the name of doctor in the foreword?
4. What is the surname of Hercule?
Across:
5. What is the origin of Hercule Poirot’s name?
6. Who was a secretary of Mr. Poirot ?
7. What is the name of dog, that was in Amy Carnaby’s flat?
8. What kind of breed is the dog?
9. What is the name of the second stolen dog?
10. What was the name of Mr. Poirot’s assistant?
11. With whom was Shan Tung going in the Park?
12. Where does the action develop?
13. Who writes this book?
14. How many labours of Hercules were there?
5
1
2
6
8
3
7
9
10
4
11
12
13
14
8. Match the following proverbs, sayings with their Russian equivalents. Say
what proverb illustrates the story best of all. Make a story to illustrate one of
them.
1. Forbidden fruit is sweet
2. As the baker – so the buns, as the father – so the sons
3. There are more ways than one to kill a cat
4. Many a true word is spoken in jest
a) Когда скоком, а когда и боком
b) В шутку сказано, да всерьез задумано
c) Запретный плод сладок
d) Яблоко от яблони не далеко падает
9. Riddle.
1. Guess what phrase is written here. Who said it?
2. Guess what phrase is written below?
10. Write a composition “My favourite writer” (200 words). Use the active
vocabulary.
LABOUR 4
THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR22
I
The accomplishment of the fourth Labour of Hercules has brought Hercule
Poirot to Switzerland. He decided to take advantage of it and visit some places
which were unknown to him. He had spent some days at Chamonix, then went on
to Aldermatt and finally went on to Rochers Neiges, a little mountain village, ten
thousand feet above sea level.
He was, mounting to it in a funicular, when the conductor approached him
and demanded his ticket. After he had inspected it, he returned it with a bow and at
the same time Poirot felt a small sheet of paper pressed into his hand with the
ticket.
"That's for you,” whispered the conductor.
Poirot smoothed out the paper. It was a hurriedly scribbled note written in
pencil.
"Impossible," it ran," to mistake these moustaches. I salulte you my dear
colleague. If you are willing, you can be of great assistance to me. You have, of
course, read of the affair of Salley? The killer — Marrascaud — is believed to be
meeting there with some members of his gang at Rochers Neiges. So keep your
eyes open, my friend. Get in touch with Inspector Drouet who is on the spot. It is
important that Marrascaud should be taken — he is a wild boar — one of the most
dangerous killers alive to-day. Good hunting! Your old friend Lementeuil."
Thoughtfully Hercule Poirot caressed his moustaches. Yes, indeed,
impossible to mistake the moustaches of Hercule Poirot. But what was all this? He
had read in the papers the details of the affair of Salley — the cold-blooded murder
of a well-known Parisian bookmaker. The identity of the murderer was known.
Marrascaud was a member of a well-known gang. He had been suspected of many
killings, but he had got away, out of France, it was thought, and the police in every
country in Europe were looking for him.
So Marrascaud was said to have a rendezvous at Rochers Neiges... It seemed
a fantastic place to choose as the place for rendezvous of a gang of criminals.
Some reason unknown was bringlng Marrascaud to this meeting-place for above
civilization.
Hercule Poirot sighed. To hunt a ruthless killer was not his idea of a pleasant
holiday.
A wild boar — that was the term Lementeuil had used. It was certainly an odd
coincidence. He murmured to himself: "The fourth Labour of Hercules. The
Erymanthian Boar?"
He carefully examined the passengers of the funicular. On the seat opposite
him was an American tourist. The style of his clothes, his manners, even the guide
book in his hand — all gave away in him a small town American seeing Europe for
the first time. On the other side of the funicular a tall man with greyish hair and a
big nose was reading a German book. He had the strong mobile fingers of a
musician or a surgeon. Farther away were three men playing cards. There was
nothing unusual about them. The only thing that was unusual was the place where
they were. One might have seen them23 in a train or on a sea liner. But in an
almost empty funicular — no!
There was one other passenger there — a woman. She was tall and dark. She
looked at no one, staring out at the valley bellow.
II
The manager of the hotel was a big handsome man. He was all politeness, but it
seemed to Poirot that this man, for all his easy manner, was not at ease24. He was
worried about something. Afterwards, as Poirot was sitting in the chez-longue, the
manager came to him and started talking in a confidential manner.
Monsieur must not judge the hotel too hardly. It was out of the season. No one
came here till the end of July. That lady, Monsieur had noticed her, perhaps? She
came at this time every year. This was Madame Grandier. Her husband had been
killed climbing three years ago. It was very sad. They had been very devoted.
The elderly gentleman was a famous doctor, Dr. Karl Lutz, from Vienna. He was a
nerve specialist — psycho-analyst— that kind of stuff. He had come here, so he
said, for peace and rest.
"It is peaceful, yes," agreed Hercule Poirot. "And these Messieurs there?" he asked,
indicating the three horse-like men at a table. "Do they also seek peace, do you
think?"
The manager shrugged his shoulders. Again there appeared in his eyes that worried
look.
"Ah, the tourists, they always wish a new experience... The attitude — that alone is
a new sensation." That night, when he went to bed, Poirot read through
Lementeuil's letter carefully before putting it in his wallet. As he got into bed he
said to himself: "It is curious — I wonder if..."25
***
Gustave, the waiter, brought Hercule Poirot his breakfast in his room. Then he
went to the door, but instead of leaving the room, he took one quick look around,
then shut the door again and returned to the bedside. He said:
"Monsieur Hercule Poirot? I am Drouet, Inspector of Police."
"Ah," said Poirot, "I had already suspected something like this."
Drouet lowered his voice.
"M. Poirot, a very bad thing has occurred. There has been an accident to the
funicular!"
"An accident? What kind of an accident?"
"Nobody knows the cause. It happened at night. Now it will take many days to
repair it and in the meantime we are cut off up here. So early in the season, when
the snow is still heavy, it is impossible to communicate with the valley below."
Hercule Poirot sat up in bed. He said softly:
"That is very interesting."
The Inspector nodded.
"Yes," he said. "It shows that our information was correct. Marrascaud has a
rendezvous here, and he has arranged that this rendezvous shall not be interrupted."
Poirot said slowly:
"But if he has a rendezvous here, on this mass of snow, high above the world, that
means that Marrascaud himself is here already, since communications are now
cut."
Drouet said quietly: "I know."
Both men were silent for a minute or two. Then Poirot asked:
"Dr. Lutz? Can he be Marrascaud?"
Drouet shook his head.
"I do not think so. He is a real Dr. Lutz—I have seen his pictures in the papers — a
distinguished and well- known man."
Poirot murmured:
"If Marrascaud is an expert in disguise, he can play the part successfully. What
about the American, Schwartz?"
"I was going to ask you that. At first glance he seems to be the normal travelling
American. It is perhaps strange that he should come here — but Americans when
travelling are quite unpredictable. What do you think yourself?"
Hercule Poirot thought a little. He said:
"On the surface, at least, he appears to be a harmless man. He may be a bore, but it
seems difficult to regard him as a danger." He went on: "But there are three more
visitors here."
The Inspector nodded:
"Yes, and they are the type we are looking for. I'm sure, M. Poirot, that those three
men are at any rate members of Marrascaud's gang, and one of them may be
Marrascaud himself."
Hercule Poirot thought it over.
"Yes, one of the three might be Marrascaud, but if so, the question comes instantly,
why? Why should Marrascaud and two members of his gang travel together and
ascend into a rat-trap on the mountains? A meeting surely could be arranged in
safer and less fantastic surroundings — in a cafe, in a railway station, in a crowded
cinema, in a public park — somewhere but not here far above the world in a
wilderness of snow."
Something of this he tried to tell Inspector Drouet and the latter agreed readily
enough. He said, his face worried:
"In that case, we have to examine a second supposition. These three men are
members of Marrascaud's gang and they have come here to meet Marrascaud. Who
then is Marrascaud?"
Poirot asked: "What about the staff of the hotel?"
Drouet shrugged his shoulders.
"There is no staff to speak of. There is an old woman who cooks, there is her old
husband Jacques, and there is the waiter whose place I have taken. That is all."
Poirot said:
"The manager, he knows of course who you are?"
"Naturally. I needed his co-operation."
"Have you noticed," said Hercule Poirot, "that he looks worried? It may be that it is
simply the anxiety of being involved in police proceedings. But it may be more
than that."
"You think that he may know something?"
"It occurred to me,26 that is all. But it would be better, I think, not to let him know
of our suspicions. Keep your eye on him,27 that is all."
Drouet nodded. He turned to Poirot.
"You've no suggestions, M. Poirot? What can be the reason for a rendezvous in
this place? In fact, the reason for a rendezvous at all?"
"Money," said Poirot. "This poor fellow Salley was robbed, then as well as
murdered. He had a very large sum of money which has disappeared."
"And the rendezvous is for the purpose of sharing this money, you think?"
"It is the most obvious idea."
III
The day passed without incident. Hercule Poirot went outside and wandered
aimlessly round to the kitchen. He tried to speak to the old man but he was silent
and suspicious. His wife, the cook, was more communicative. The conversation
came round to the subject of the hotel staff.
Poirot asked:
"There was already a waiter here before Gustave came, wasn't there?"
"Yes, indeed, a poor kind of a waiter. No skill, no experience. No class at all. He
was here a few days only before Gustave replaced him. Naturally he was
dismissed. We were not surprised. This is a hotel of good class. Clients must have
proper service here."
Poirot nodded. He asked:
"Where did he go?"
"That Robert, you mean?" She shrugged her shoulders. "I think back to the cafe he
came from."
"Did anyone see him go?"
She stared at him.
"Ah! do you think that one goes to see off an animal like that? One has one's own
affairs to do."
"Certainly," said Hercule Poirot.
He walked slowly away. There was a figure ahead of him — the tall graceful
figure of Madame Grandier. Poirot caught her up. He said:
"This accident to the funicular, it is distressing. I hope, Madame, that it has not
inconvenienced you?"
She said: "It is a matter of indifference to me."
She didn't look at Poirot. She turned aside and went into the hotel by a small side
door.
IV
Hercule Poirot went to bed early. He was awakened some time after midnight.
Someone was fumbling with the lock of the door. He sat up, putting on the light.
At the same moment the door swung open. Three men stood there, the three cardplaying men. They were, Poirot thought, a bit drunk. He saw the gleam of a razor
blade.
The big thickest man came forward.
"You, damn pig of a detective. Bah!"28 The three of them advanced on the
defenceless man in the bed.
"We shall do a good job on him, boys. He won't be the first one to-night."
They came on, steadily, purposefully — the razor blades flashed...
And then a voice said: "Hands up!"
They turned round. Schwartz, dressed in striped pyjamas stood in the doorway. In
his hand he held an automatic gun.
"Hands up, boys. I'm pretty good at shooting."29
Three pairs of hands were raised rapidly.
Schwartz said:
"Now, march! There's a big cupboard just along the corridor. No window in it. Just
the thing!"30
He made them march into it and turned the key on them. He turned to Poirot, his
voice breaking with emotion.
"Did you ever see such an ugly bunch of criminals, M. Poirot? Do you know, there
were people who laughed at me because I said I was going to take a gun abroad
with me. 'Where do you think you're going?' they asked. “Into the jungle?” Well,
sir, I'd say the laugh is with me."31
Poirot said:
"My dear Mr. Schwartz, you appeared just in time. It might have been a drama! I
am very much in your debt."
“That's nothing. What shall we do now? We ought to turn these boys over to the
police but we can't do that. Maybe we'd better consult the manager."
Poirot said:
"Ah, the manager. I think first we will consult the waiter — Gustave — alias32
Inspector Drouet."
Schwartz stared at him.
"So that's why they did it!"
"That is why who did what?"
"This bunch of criminals got to you second on the list. They had already cut up
Gustave."
"What?"
"Come with me. The doctor is busy on him now."
Drouet's room was a small one on the top floor. Dr. Lutz was busy bandaging the
injured man's face. He turned his head as they entered.
Schwartz asked: "Is he in danger?"
"He will not die if that is what you mean. But he must not speak — there must be
no excitement. I have dressed the wounds — there will be no risk of sepsis."
The three men left the room together. Schwartz said to Poirot:
"Did you say Gustave was a police officer?"
Hercule Poirot nodded.
"But what was he doing at Rochers Neiges?"
In a few words Poirot explained the situation.
Dr. Lutz said:
"Marrascaud? I read about the case in the paper. I should like to meet that man.
There is some deep abnormality there! I should like to know the particulars of his
childhood."
"For myself," said Hercule Poirot, "I should like to know exactly where he is at
this moment."
Schwartz said:
"Isn't he one of the three we locked in the cupboard?"
"It is possible — yes, but I am not sure... I have an idea—..."
He broke off staring down at the carpet.
Hercule Poirot said:
"Footsteps—footsteps, I think, in blood and they lead from the unused wing of the
hotel. Come—we must be quick!"
They followed him along a dim, dusty corridor. They turned the corner of it, still
following the marks on the carpet until the tracks led them to a half-open doorway.
Poirot pushed the door open and entered.
He uttered a sharp, horrified exclamation. The room was a bedroom. In the middle
of the floor lay the body of a man. There were a dozen wounds on his arms and
chest and his head and face had been crushed.
Schwartz said faintly:
"Who is this man? Does anyone know?"
"I suppose," said Poirot, "that he was known here as Robert, a rather unskillful
waiter."
Lutz had gone nearer, bending over the body. He pointed with a finger.
There was a paper piqued to the dead man's breast. He read:
"Marrascaud will kill no more — nor will he rob his friends!"
Schwartz cried out:
"Marrascaud? So this is Marrascaud! But what brought him up here? And why do
you say his name is Robert?"
Poirot said:
"He was here masquerading as a waiter — and of course, he was a very bad waiter.
So bad that no one was surprised when he was dismissed. And Marrascaud
continued to live in this unused wing with no one but the manager knowing about
it. Marrascaud must have offered him a big bribe to allow him to remain hidden in
the unused part of the hotel."
Dr. Lutz said:
"And why was he killed? And who killed him?"
Schwartz said:
"That's easy. He was to share out the money with his gang. He didn't. He came
here, to this out of the way place,33 because he thought it was the last place in the
world they would think of. He was wrong. Somehow or other they found out where
he was and followed him."
He touched the dead body with the tip of his shoe.
"And they settled his account—like this."
V
It was three days later that a little party of men appeared in front of the hotel.
It was Hercule Poirot who opened the front door to them.
"Welcome, mon ami."
Monsieur Lementeuil, Commissaire of Police, seized Poirot by both hands.
"Ah, my friend, with what emotion I greet you! This is a great day. There is no
doubt, you think? It is really Marrascaud?"
"It is Marrascaud all right. Come with me."
They came to the door of Drouet's room. Poirot flung it open. He announced:
"Here is your wild boar, gentlemen. Take him alive and see to it that he doesn't
cheat the guillotine."
The man in the bed, his face still bandaged, started up. But the police officers had
him by the arms before he could move.
Schwartz cried bewildered:
"But that's Gustave, the waiter — that's Inspector Drouet."
"It is Gustave —yes, but it is not Drouet. Drouet was the first waiter, the waiter
Robert who was imprisoned in the unused part of the hotel and whom Marrascaud
killed the same night as the attack was made on me."
VI
Over breakfast, Poirot explained to the bewildered American.
"You understand, there are certain things one knows — knows quite certainly in
the course of one's profession. One knows, for instance, the difference between a
detective and a murderer! Gustave was no waiter—that I suspected at once but he
was not a policeman either. He could pass as a detective to an outsider — but not
to a man who was a policeman himself.
"And so, at once, I became suspicious. And I was right. Late that evening the man
came into my room, looked through my things and found the letter in my wallet —
where I had left it for him to find! The next morning Gustave comes into my room
with my coffee. He greets me by name and acts the part of detective Drouet. But he
is afraid — terribly afraid —because the police have got on his track. He is caught
up here like a rat in a trap."
Schwartz said:
"The foolish thing was to come here! Why did he?"
Poirot said gravely :
"It is not so foolish as you think. He needed a retired place away from the world,
where he could meet a certain person, and where a certain thing could take place."
"What person?"
"Dr. Lutz."
"Dr. Lutz? Is he a criminal too?"
"Dr. Lutz is really Dr. Lutz —but he is not a nerve specialist—not a psychoanalyst. He is a surgeon, mon ami, a surgeon who specializes in facial surgery. He
was offered a huge fee to meet a man here and change that man's appearance by
means of his surgical skill. That is why he came to meet Marrascaud here."
"But matters go wrong Marrascaud is betrayed. He learns it and begins to act at
once. The police officer who is pretending to be a waiter is kidnapped and
Marrascaud takes his place. The three men — his bodyguard — wreck the
funicular. The following evening Drouet is killed and a paper is pinned on the dead
body. They hope that by the time that communications are established with the
world Drouet's body will have been buried as that of Marrascaud. Dr. Lutz
performs his operation without delay. But one man must be silenced — Hercule
Poirot. So the gang are sent to attack me. Thanks to you, my friend —"
Hercule Poirot bowed to Schwartz who said:
"So you knew that it wasn't Marrascaud?"
"Certainly."
"Why didn't you say so?"
Hercule Poirot's face was suddenly stern.
"Because I wanted to be quite sure of handing the real Marrascaud over to the
police."
He murmured under his breath:
"To capture alive the wild boar of Erymanthea..."
22 «The Erymanthian Boar» - «Эриманфский кабан». По преданию, Геракл
должен был уничтожить эриманфского кабана, убивавшего людей и
опустошавшего окрестности. Долго преследовал грозного кабана Геракл и,
наконец, загнал его в глубокий снег на вершине горы Эриманф. Кабан увяз в
снегу, а Геракл, бросившись на него, связал его и отнес живым в Микены.
23 one might have seen them – их (скорее) можно было бы увидеть
24 this man, for all his easy manner, was not at ease – этому человеку, при всей
его непринужденной манере поведения, было не по себе
25 I wonder if... - интересно
26 it occurred to me — мне пришло в голову
27 keep your eye on him — следите за ним
28 "You, damn pig of a detective. Bah!" - Чертов сыщик. Ба! (выраж.
пренебрежения)
29 I'm pretty good at shooting." – Я отлично стреляю.
30 Just the thing! – Как раз то, что надо!
31 the laugh is with me – смеется тот, кто смеется последним
32 alias – иначе называемый
33 out of the way place – «медвежий угол»
I. Pre-reading task.
1. What do you know about the Erymanthian Boar?
2. What do you think this story is about?
II. Pronounce these words. When in doubt consult your dictionary:
funicular, caresse, identity, rendervous, guide, confidential, unpredictable,
masquerading, bewildered, wallet, capture, bribe.
III. Practice your pronunciation. When in doubt consult your dictionary:
funicular, caresse, identify, rendervous, guide, confidential, unpredictable,
masquerading, bewildered, wallet, capture, bride.
1. Answer the following questions:
1. Where did Hercule Poirot go to accomplish his fourth Labour? 2. Who wrote a
hurriedly scribbled note to Hercule Poirot? 3.Whom did Hercule Poirot see in the
funicular? 4. Who were the visitors of the hotel in the period out of the season? 5.
What did the waiter Gustave say to Hercule Poirot? 6. Why did Marrascaud come to
this out of the way place in the mountains? 7. What was the version of inspector
Drouet? 8. Who was a waiter in a hotel before Gustave replaced him? 9. Who tried
to kill Hercule Poirot and who helped him? 10. What did the bunch of criminals do
before visiting Hercule Poirot? 11. Where did Hercule Poirot and Schwartz go after
visiting Inspector Drouet? 12. What was written in the paper pinned to the dead
man’s breast? 13. What was Mr. Poirot’s version of crime? 14. Who was the real
Marrascaud?
2. Find in the text the English for:
воспользоваться преимуществом
посмотреть билет
разгладить бумагу
помощь кому-либо
связаться с кем-либо
дикий кабан
странное совпадение
быть не в своей тарелке
пожать плечами
сыграть успешно роль
(исследовать) проверить предположение
выглядеть встревоженным
впутаться в полицейское разбирательство
прийти кому-либо в голову
следить за кем-либо
хорошо смеется тот, кто смеется последним
вовремя; в назначенное время
свести счеты
«медвежий угол»
3. See the differences between:
Time something that is measured in minutes, hours, years, etc. using clocks, On
time arriving or happening at the concret time or the time that was arranged, Time
passes = goes by, Time shown on a clock [singular] a particular point in time
shown on a clock in hours and minutes, Tell the time to be able to know what time
it’s by looking at a clock, To look at the time used when it’s later than you thought
it was (spoken), Local time the time in one particular part of the world, or the time
used in one particular area, Every\each time an occasion when something happens
or someone does something, At any one time at any particular time, when
something happens, It’s time to do something [singular] the time when you should
do something, when something should happen, or when something is expected to
happen, In time 1) early or soon enough to do something; 2) after a certain period
of time, especially after a gradual process of change and development, In good time
\ in plenty of time early, so that you do not have to rush or you have enough time
to get ready
Translate into Russian:
1. What time is it? 2. A machine that can travel through time. 3. Time goes by
(passes) so quickly these days. 4. He’s ten years old and he still can’t tell the time.
5. Oh, look at the time – we’d better get moving. 6. We will be arriving in New
York at 3 am local time. 7. It was the only time I ever saw she lose her temper. 8.
Every time I meet her I always forget her name. 9. There are always at least two
nurses on duty at any one time. 10. Come on kids, it’s time to go home. 11. These
buses are never on time. 12. Our train arrived on time. 13. Brian usually gets home
in time to bath the children. 14. Let me know in good time if you need any help.
15. Don’t worry – I’m sure things will get better in time.
4. Make up sentences using the active vocabulary (the expressions of time).
5. Some of the following statements are not true. Find and correct them. Prove
your answers from the text.
1 The accomplishment of the third Labour of Hercules has brought Hercule Poirot
to Switzerland. 2. There was only one woman in a funicular. 3. Gustave worked
after Robert. 4. The three men card playing men wanted to kill Hercule Poirot with
a knife. 5. The bunch of criminals got to Hercule Poirot second on the list. 6. Mr.
Schwarts made three men march into a garage. 7. Dr. Lutz was a nerve specialist.
8. the fourth Labour of Hercules was the Erymanthian Tiger. 9. Mr. Poirot
discovered this crime. 10. The real Marrascaud was handing to the police.
6. Give a brief summing-up of the story using the active vocabulary. When
speaking use the conversational formulas, given in the Appendix 1
7. Fill in the rhyming word.
Hercule met Marrascaud’s band
In the mountains in …
(Switzerland )
Marrascaud had serious
Problems with law,
Lementeuil named him
A real wild …
( boar)
Mr. Poirot wasn’t gay
As he went to Switzerland
For …
(holiday )
The killer foresaw the events,
In particular,
He organized the breakdown
Of …
( funicular)
The lady who came
To the hotel every year
Was named
Madam …
( Grandier)
Marrascaud’s gang
Had taken money
From a poor fellow.
His name was …
(Salley )
One thing was known to Inspector:
Marrascaud was a good actor,
He was clever, even wise,
He was an expert in …
( disguise)
It turned out Poirot had guards:
His life was saved by Mister …
(Schwartz )
Poirot learnt that Gustave was cut up,
The detective decided not to stop.
He understood the case rather well
That’s why he got on the bloodied …
(trail )
Lementeuil didn’t utter a sound
While Poirot was saying that
Gustave was … (Marrascaud ),
Drouet was … (Robert ),
A surgeon was … (Lutz ).
Poirot was right, tragedy – in the past.
What place did Marrascaud choose
For the urgent rendezvous?
(Rochers Neiges)
Was Doctor Karl a nerve specialist
Or a famous vocalist?
(surgeon )
Did the hotel staff
Contain the waiter Gustave?
(no, the waiter was Marrascaud )
At night Hercule heard a boom:
Somebody wanted to enter his room.
The detective was really shocked.
Who was fumbling with the lock?
(Marrascaud’s gang )
The “Wild Boar” was captured
And taken alive –
The Hercules’ labour
Received a new life!
8. Riddle. Guess what proverb is written here.
9. Write a composition “My favourite detective” (200 words). Use the active
vocabulary.
LABOUR VI
THE STYMPHALEAN BIRDS34
I
Harold Waring noticed them first walking up the path from the lake. He was
sitting outside the hotel on the terrace. The day was fine, the lake was blue, and the
sun was shining. Harold was smoking a pipe and feeling that the world was a pretty
good place.
His political career was shaping well. He was young, rather good-looking, and
quite free from romantic ties.
He had decided to take a holiday in Czechoslovakia so as to have a real rest
from everyone and everything. The hotel at Lake Stempka, though small was
comfortable and not overcrowded. The few people there were mostly foreigners. The
only other English people were an elderly woman, Mrs. Rice and her married
daughter, Mrs. Clayton. Harold liked them both. Elsie Clayton was pretty in a rather
old-fashioned style, and was gentle and very shy. Mrs. Rice was what is called a
woman of character. She was tall, with a deep voice and a masterful manner, 35 but
she had a sense of humour and was good company.
The other people in the hotel had not aroused Harold's interest. He had hardly
noticed any one else — until this afternoon.
They came up the path from the lake very slowly, and when Harold saw them
he shivered a little. Surely there was something odd about these two women. They
had long curved noses, like birds, and their faces were quite immobile. Over their
shoulders they wore loose cloaks that flapped in the wind like the wings of two big
birds.
Harold thought to himself:
"They are like birds... birds of ill omen."36
The women came straight up on the terrace and passed close by him. They
were not young — perhaps near fifty, and the resemblance between them was so
strong that they were obviously sisters. As they passed Harold the eyes of both of
them rested on him for a minute. It was a curious, appraising glance —almost
inhuman.
Harold's impression of evil grew stronger. He noticed the hand of one of the
two sisters, a long claw-like hand... Although the sun had come out, he shivered
again. He thought:
“Horrible creatures. Like birds of prey…”
He was distracted from these thoughts by the appearance of Mrs. Rice. He
jumped up and drew forward a chair. He asked:
"Did you see those two women who just went into the hotel?"
"With cloaks on? Yes, I passed them."
"It may be my fancy, but I distinctly felt there was something evil about
them."
"How curious. These are Polish ladies — of very good family. I must look at
them more closely and see if I agree with you..."
She looked at her watch.
"Tea-time. Can you ring the bell, Mr. Waring?"
"Certainly, Mrs. Rice."
He did so and then as he returned to his seat he asked:
"Where is your daughter this afternoon?"
"Elsie? We went for a walk together. She had a letter from her husband. She
won't come down to tea."
"Her husband?" Harold was surprised, "I thought she was a widow."
Mrs. Rice shot him a sharp glance.37 She said dryly:
"Oh no, Elsie isn't a widow. Unfortunately."
"You don't like her husband?"
"Alcohol is responsible for a lot of unhappiness, Mr. Waring."
"Does he drink?"
"Yes. And he's insanely jealous and has an extraordinarily violent temper."
She sighed. "It is a difficult world, Mr. Waring. I'm devoted to Elsie, she's my only
child — and to see her unhappy isn't an easy thing for me."
Harold felt a wave of indignation and pity sweep over him. Elsie Clayton
could not be more than twenty-five. He recalled her friendly blue eyes, her soft
gentle smile. He realized suddenly that his interest in her was a little more than
friendship.
And she was tied to a brute..
II
Harold Waring, like many other Englishmen, was a bad linguist. Up to now,
this had not worried him. In most hotels on the Continent, he had always found
everyone spoke English, so why worry?
But in this out-of-the-way place where the native language was a form of
Slovak and even servants spoke only German it was difficult for Harold to
understand them. So he was grateful to Mrs. Rice and Elsie when they acted as
interpreters for him.
The morning was fine and after writing some letters, Harold looked at his
watch and saw there was still time for an hour's stroll
before lunch. He went down towards the lake and then turned into the
pinewoods. He had walked there for perhaps five minutes
when he heard an unmistakable sound. Somewhere not far away some woman
was sobbing. Harold went in the direction of the
sound. The woman was Elsie Clayton and she was sitting on a fallen tree with
her face buried in her hands and her shoulders
quivering with the violence of her grief.
Harold hesitated a minute, then he came up to her. He said gently:
"Mrs. Clayton — Elsie?"
She started and looked up at him. He sat down beside her. He said with real
sympathy:
"Is there anything I can do?"
She shook her head.
"No — no — you're very kind. But there's nothing that anyone can do for
me..."
"Is it because of your husband?"
She nodded and said in a trembling voice:
"I didn't want Mother to worry. She's upset when she sees me unhappy."
Harold said: "I'm terribly sorry."
She threw him a grateful glance. Then she said hurriedly:
"He terrifies me — absolutely terrifies —when he gets in one of his rages.
You see, part of the trouble is that he's insanely jealous. If - if I just speak to another
man he makes the most frightful scenes."
Harold's indignation rose. He had heard many women complaining of the
jealousy of a husband, and secretly justified the husband. But Elsie Clayton was not
one of these women.
Elsie glanced up at the sky:
"The sun's gone," she said. "It's quite cold. We'd better get back to the hotel."
They got up and turned in the direction of the hotel. They had walked for
perhaps a minute when they saw a figure going in the same direction. They
recognized her by the flapping cloak she wore. It was one of the horrible ladies.
Harold felt suddenly hot. He wondered if the woman had seen him sitting by
Elsie on the tree trunk. If so, she probably thought... Harold felt a little uneasy.
III
That evening Harold went to his room a little after ten. He had written three
letters and was just starting on the fourth when the door was suddenly flung open
and Elsie Clayton rushed into the room. She looked frightened to death.
She gasped out: "It's my husband! He arrived unexpectedly. I — I think he'll
kill me. He's mad —quite mad. I came to you. Don't — don't let him find me."
She took a step or two forward, swaying so much that she almost fell. Harold
put out an arm to support her.
As he did so, the door was flung open and a man stood in the doorway. He
was of medium height with thick eyebrows and dark hair. In his hand he carried a
heavy spanner. His voice was high and shook with rage.
"So that Polish woman was right: You are flirting with this fellow!"
Elsie cried: "No, no, Phillip. It's not true. You're wrong!"
"Wrong, am I? When I find you here in this room. You, devil, I'll kill you for
this."
He seized her arm. Elsie, terrified, rushed out of the room. Phillip Clayton
dashed after her, and Harold, with not a moment's hesitation, followed him.
Elsie had run back into her own bedroom at the end of the corridor. She
wanted to lock the door but Phillip Clayton pushed it open. He disappeared into the
room and Harold heard Elsie's frightened cry. In another minute Harold burst in after
them.
Elsie was standing against the curtains of the window. As Harold entered
Phillip Clayton rushed at her with the spanner in his hand. She gave a terrified cry,
then snatching up a heavy presse-papiers from the desk beside her, she threw it at
him.
Clayton fell down like a log. Elsie screamed. Harold stopped half-dead in the
doorway. The girl fell on her knees beside her husband. He lay quite still where he
had fallen.
There was the sound of steps behind the door. Elsie jumped up and ran to
Harold.
"Please — please —"Her voice was low and breathless. "Go back to your
room. They'll come — they'll find you here."
Harold nodded. He took in the situation like lightning.
If he were found in Elsie's room it could only cause embarrassment and
misunderstanding. Both for her sake and his own there must be no scandal.
As noiselessly as possible he returned to his room. Just as he reached it, he
heard the sound of an opening door.
He sat in his room for nearly half an hour, waiting. There was a light knock at
his door. Harold jumped up to open it.
It was not Elsie who came in but her mother. She looked suddenly years older.
She was deadly pale.
Harold said quickly:
"You look ill, Mrs. Rice. Can I get you something?"
She shook her head.
"No. I'm all right, really. It's only the shock. Mr. Waring, a terrible thing has
happened."
Harold asked: "Is Clayton seriously injured?"
She caught her breath.
"Worse than that. He's dead..."
IV
For a moment or two Harold was unable to speak. At last he repeated slowly:
"Dead?"
Mrs. Rice nodded.
"The corner of that marble presse-papiers hit him right on the temple. He is
certainly dead. I have seen death often enough to know”.
"It was an accident. I can confirm Elsie's story."
Mrs. Rice said bitterly:
"Yes, and she can confirm yours. That—that is just it!"
Harold's brain, naturally a keen one, saw her point.1
He and Elsie had spent a good deal of their time together. Then there was the
fact that they had been seen together in the pinewoods by one of the Polish women
under rather compromising circumstances. She may have said something to Clayton,
that had aroused his jealousy. And now — his death. When Clayton had died, he,
Harold, had been in Elsie Clayton's room.
A cold fear gripped him. He did not imagine that either he or Elsie was in
danger of being condemned to death for a murder they had not committed. But this
case would be reported in all the papers. "An English man and woman accused of
murder—jealous husband — rising politician." Yes, it would mean the end of his
political career. It would never survive a scandal like that.
He said on an impulse:
"What can we do? My God, what can we do?"
Mrs. Rice shook her head despairingly. She said hoarsely:
"Elsie —my little girl. I'll do anything..." And she added: "You too, your
career—everything. I wonder now if something could be done —"
"Yes?" Harold looked at her eagerly.
Mrs. Rice said abruptly:
"How much money have you got?"
"Not much with me. But I could wire for money, of course."
Mrs. Rice said grimly:
"We may need a good deal. But I think it's worth trying."
Harold felt a faint hope. He said:
"What is your idea?"
Mrs. Rice said decisively:
"We haven't a chance of concealing the death ourselves, but I do think there's
just a chance of hushing it up officially."
"You really think so?"
"Yes, it's my opinion, that in these little Balkan countries you can bribe anyone
and everyone — and the police are probably more corrupt than anyone else."
Harold said slowly:
"I believe you're right."
Mrs. Rice went on:
"I believe, Harold, it will be possible to hush the whole thing up —and get
Phillip's death certified as due to natural causes! It's just a question of bribing high
enough — and finding the right man —probably the Chief of Police! After all, we
can try."
V
On the following morning various police officials arrived and were shown up
to Mrs. Rice's bedroom. Harold had wired for money but he had taken no part in the
police proceedings — indeed he was unable to do so since none of these policemen
spoke English.
At 12 o'clock Mrs. Rice came to his room. She said simply:
"It's worked!"
Harold said dryly: "How much?"
"The tariffs rather high."
She read out a list of figures.
"The Chief of Police, the Commissaire, the Agent, the Doctor, the Hotel
Manager, the Night Porter."
Mrs. Rice explained:
"The official story will be that Phillip had a heart attack. It is wonderful what
the police can do when they try!"
"Well”, said Harold. "Thank God our police aren't like that."
And in a British and superior mood41 he went down to lunch.
⋆⋆⋆
After lunch Harold usually joined Mrs. Rice and her daughter for coffee. This
was the first time he had seen Elsie since the night before. She was very pale but
tried to behave as usual.
They commented on a new guest who had just arrived, trying to guess his
nationality. Harold thought a moustache like that must be French, Elsie said German,
and Mrs. Rice thought he might be Spanish.
From the far end of the terrace the two bird-like women rose. With little bows
they sat down by Mrs. Rice. One of them began to speak. The other one kept her
eyes on Elsie and Harold. There was a little smile on her lips. It was not, Harold
thought, a nice smile.
He looked over at Mrs. Rice. She was listening to the Polish woman and
though he couldn't understand a word, the expression on Mrs. Rice's face was clear
enough. All the old fear and despair came back.
At last the two women rose, and with little bows went into the hotel. Harold
asked hoarsely:
"What is it?"
Mrs. Rice answered him in the quiet hopeless tone of despair:
"Those women are going to blackmail us. They heard everything last night.
And it makes the whole thing a thousand times worse..."
VI
Harold Waring was walking despairingly by the lake. He came at last to the
spot where he had first noticed the two grim women who held his and Elsie's life in
their evil hands. He said aloud:
"Curse them!42 Damn this pair of devilish blood-sucking harpies."43
A slight cough made him turn round. He saw the moustached stranger who
had just come out from the shade of the trees.
Harold murmured unhappily:
"Er — oh — good afternoon."
In perfect English the other replied:
"But for you, I fear, it is not a good afternoon?"
"Well, er—I —"
The little man said:
"You are, I think, in trouble, Monsieur? Can I be of any assistance to you?"
"Oh, no, thanks."
The other said gently:
"I am Hercule Poirot. Shall we walk a little way into the wood and you shall
tell me your story? As I say, I think I can help you."
To this day Harold is not quite certain what made him suddenly give the whole
story to a man he had only spoken to a few minutes before. Anyway, it happened.
He told Hercule Poirot the whole story.
The latter listened in silence. When Harold came to a stop the other said
dreamily:
"The Stymphalean Birds, with iron beaks, who feed on human flesh and who
live by the Stymphalean Lake..."
"I beg your pardon," said Harold staring.
Perhaps, he thought, this curious-looking little man is mad.
Hercule Poirot smiled:
"I reflect, that is all. I have my own way of looking at things, you understand.
Now as to this business of yours. It is a serious business, blackmail. These harpies
will force you to pay — and pay again. And if you refuse, what happens?"
Harold said bitterly:
"The whole thing will come out. My career will be ruined, and a poor girl
who's never done anyone any harm will be put through hell, and God knows what
the end of it will be!"
"Therefore," said Hercule Poirot, "something must be done!"
"What?"
The other shook his head. He said:
"Have a few hours'’ patience, my friend. By to-morrow I may be able to free
you from your Stymphalean Birds."
VII
When Harold came down the following morning he found Hercule Poirot
sitting alone on the terrace. In spite of himself Harold had been impressed by Hercule
Poirot's promises. He came up to him and asked anxiously: "Well?"
Poirot smiled to him.
"It is well."
"What do you mean?"
"Your Stymphalean Birds, Monsieur, have been removed to a place where
they will be unable to exercise their ingenuity for some time."
"They have been arrested?"
"Precisely."
Harold drew a deep breath.
"How marvellous! I must find Mrs. Rice and Elsie and tell them."
"They know."
"Oh good. Tell me just what—"
He broke off. Coming up the path from the lake were two figures with flapping
cloaks and profiles like birds.
He exclaimed:
"I thought you said they had been taken away!"
Hercule Poirot followed his glance.
"Oh, those ladies? They are quite harmless. Polish ladies of good family. Their
appearance is, perhaps, not very pleasant but that is all."
"But I don't understand!"
"No, you do not understand! It is the other ladies who were wanted by the
police — the adventurous Mrs. Rice and the gentle Mrs. Clayton. It is they who are
well known birds of prey. Those two, they make their living by blackmail, mon
cher."
Harold had a sensation of the world spinning round him. He said faintly:
"But the man — the man who was killed?"
"No one was killed. There was no man!"
"But I saw him!"
"Oh no. The tall deep-voiced Mrs. Rice is a very successful male
impersonator.44 It was she who played the part of the husband — without her grey
wig and suitably made up for the part."
He put his hand on Harold's shoulder.
"You must not go through life being too credulous, my friend. These women
traded on your ignorance of foreign languages. The police arrive and go to her room,
yes! But what actually happens? You do not know. Perhaps she says she has lost a
brooch — something of that kind. Any excuse to arrange for the police to come so
that you shall see them. Then you wire for money, a lot of money, and you hand it
over to Mrs. Rice who is in charge of all the negotiations. But they are greedy, these
birds of prey. They have seen that you have taken an unreasonable aversion to these
two Polish ladies. The ladies come and have a perfectly innocent conversation with
Mrs. Rice, but she knows you cannot understand what is being said and you have to
send for more money."
Harold drew a deep breath. He said:
"And Elsie —Elsie?"
"She played her part very well. She always does. A skillful little actress."
Harold Waring said sternly:
"I'm going to learn every European language. Nobody's going to make a fool
of me a second time."
34
THE STYMPHALEAN BIRDS – «Стимфалийские птицы». По
преданию, царь Эврисфей поручил Гераклу перебить стимфалийских птиц.
Они нападали на животных и на людей и разрывали их своими медными
когтями и клювами.
35
a master manner – уверенная в себе
36
ill omen – дурное предзнаменование
37
shot him a sharp glance - бросила на него проницательный взгляд
38
He took in the situation like lightning. – Он оценил ситуацию с
быстротой молнии.
39
that is just it! – в этом все и дело
40
saw her point - поняла, что она имела ввиду
41
in a British and superior mood – с чувством превосходства за свою
принадлежность к британской нации
42
43
Curse them! – Будь они прокляты!
blood-sucking harpies – кровососущие гарпии (в древнегреч.
мифологии гарпия – крылатая женщина-чудовище)
44
a male impersonator – исполнительница мужских ролей
I. Pre-reading task.
1. The Stymphalean Birds killed people and animals. What do you think the story
with such a title can deal with? Write 3-5 sentences.
2. Imagine that you are a detective. How will you call your 6th Labour?
II. Pronounce these words. When in doubt consult your dictionary: career,
Czechoslovakia, shiver, dryly, interpreter, gasp, snatch, presse-papier,
circumstance, decisively, corrupt, bribing, ingenuity.
1. Find in the text the English for:
остановить взгляд на ком-либо
проницательный взгляд
единственный ребенок
быть благодарным
быть переводчиком для кого-либо
выводить из себя (причинять неудобство, вытянуть руку)
оценить ситуацию с быстротой молнии
понять точку зрения кого-либо
стоит сделать что-либо
просит прощения
исполнительница мужских ролей
2. Guess who it is.
1. He was smoking a pipe and feeling that the world was a pretty good place. 2. She
was pretty in a rather old-fashioned style, and was gentle and very shy. 3. She was
tall with a deep voice and a masterful manner, but she had a sense of humour and
was good company.4. They were not young – perhaps near fifty, and the resemblance
between them was so strong that they were obviously sisters. 5. This curious looking
little man was mad. 6. He was of medium height with thick eye-brows and dark hair.
3. Fill in the gaps.
1 The only other English people were an elderly woman, … and her …, Mrs.
Clayton. 2. She was tall, with a deep voice and … …, but she had a sense of
humour and was good company. 3. These are … … of very good family. 4. They
got up and turned in the direction of …. 5. Harold …. … to support her. 6. “Is
Clayton seriously …?” 7. On the following morning various police officials arrived
and were shown up to … … …. 8. … … Harold usually joined Mrs. Rice and
daughter for coffee. 9. The latter listened in … . 10. They have seen that you have
taken an unreasonable … to these two Polish ladies.
4. Try to find out more descriptions for Hercule Poirot, Polish Ladies, Harold
Waring, E.Clayton and her mother.
5. Complete the sentences with the suitable words from the story.
1. Harold was smoking a pipe … .2. The only other English people were … . 3. The
women came straight up on the terrase and … . 4. I’m devoted to Elsie, she’s my
only child …. 5. … when they acted as interpreters for him. 6. He had heard many
women complaining of the jealousy of a husband, … . 7. He disappeared into the
room and …. 8. She may have said something to Clayton, …. 9. Harold had wired
for money but he had taken no part in the police proceedings ….. 10. Harold thought
a moustache like that …. 11. … just come out from the shade of the trees. 12. These
harpies will force you to pay …. 13. It is they who are well known ….14. They have
seen that you have taken …. 15. ….of me a second time.
6. Give the first and the final version of the story. Who was the “Birds”?
7. Curiosity quiz for eagers.
Wordsquare.
The words in the wordsquare are written down, across, diagonally, upwards,
backwards, find them out.
P
O
L
I
S
H
C
O
E
B
I
R
D
B
I
D
L
O
R
A
H
R
H
Y
S
T
X
R
O
H
W
R
I
C
E
T
I
Z
A
C
E
Q
8. Read the following proverbs, sayings and find their Russian equivalents.
Say what proverb illustrates the story best of all. Make up sentences using
these proverbs.
1. First think and then say.
2. Dog eat dog.
3. Nature will have its course.
4. Every man to his trade.
9. Write a composition “My Favourite Detective Story Personage” (200
words). Use the active vocabulary.
LABOUR VII
THE CRETAN BULL 45
I
Hercule Poirot looked thoughtfully at his visitor.
He saw a pale face, big grey eyes and the blue-black locks of ancient Greece.
Diana Maberly said, and her voice shook a little: "I’ve come to you because
the man I’ve been engaged to for over a year has broken off our engagement. You
must think that I'm completely foolish."
Slowly, Hercule Poirot shook his head.
"'On the contrary, Mademoiselle, I'm sure that you are extremely intelligent.
If you came to me there must be something unusual about the breaking of this
engagement. That is so, is it not?"
The girl nodded.
"Hugh broke off our engagement because he thinks he is going mad. He thinks
people who are mad should not marry."
"And you do not agree?"
"I can't see that there's anything wrong with Hugh at all. He's the sanest person
I know."
"Then why does he think he is going mad?"
"I don't know — but there's something wrong." Diana spoke rapidly. "His
name is Hugh Chandler. He's twenty- four. His father is Admiral Chandler. Hugh's
the only son. He went into the Navy — his father wouldn't have heard of anything
else.46 And yet—and yet, it was his father who made him leave the Navy."
"What reason did Admiral Chandler give?"
Diana said slowly:
"He never really gave a reason. Oh! he said it was necessary that Hugh should
learn to manage the estate— but that was only a pretext. Even George Frobisher
realized that."
"Who is George Frobisher?"
"Colonel Frobisher. He's Admiral Chandler's oldest friend and Hugh's
godfather."
"And what did Colonel Frobisher think of Admiral Chandler's determination
that his son should leave the Navy?"
"He couldn't understand it at all. Nobody could."
"Not even Hugh Chandler himself?"
Diana did not answer at once.
"He said—about a week ago — that his father was right — that it was the only
thing to be done."
"Did you ask him why?"
"Of course. But he wouldn't tell me."
Hercule Poirot reflected for a minute or two. Then he said: "Have there been
any unusual occurrences lately in your neighbourhood? Something that has given
rise to a lot of local talk and rumours?"
Diana said reluctantly:
"There was a fuss about some sheep. Their throats were cut. Oh! it was
horrible. But if you think..."
Poirot held up his hand. He said:
"You do not know what I think. Tell me this, has your fiancé consulted a
doctor?"
"No, he hasn't. He hates doctors."
"And his father?"
"I don't think the Admiral believes much in doctors either."
Poirot nodded thoughtfully. Then he said:
"Did he approve of his son's engagement?"
"Oh yes. He was very pleased when Hugh and I fixed it up."
"And now? What does he say to your engagement being broken off ?"
The girl's voice shook a little. She said:
"I met him yesterday morning. He was looking terrible. He said: it’s hard on
you, my girl. But the boy's doing the right thing—the only thing he can do."'
"And so," said Hercule Poirot, "you came to me."
She nodded. She asked: "Can you do anything?"
Poirot replied:
"I do not know. But I can at least come and see for myself."
II
It was Hugh Chandler's magnificent physique that impressed Hercule Poirot
more than anything else. Tall, well - proportioned with broad chest and shoulders
and a mass of hair on a big head. Poirot murmured: "He is magnificent—
magnificent. He is like a young Bull. A perfect specimen of healthy manhood."
On their arrival at Diana's house they found tea waiting on the long terrace.
And with the tea, three men. There was Admiral Chandler and his friend Colonel
Frobisher. The third man was Hugh.
"Fine specimen, eh?" said Colonel Frobisher. He spoke in a low voice, having
noted Poirot's interest in the young man. Hercule Poirot nodded his head. He and
Frobisher were sitting close together on the far side of the tea-table.
Frobisher asked: "Did the girl involve you in this business? I mean I can't see
quite what she expected you could do."
"Miss Maberly," said Poirot, "is a fighter."
"Yes, she's certainly a fighter. She won't give in. All the same, you know,
there are some things that you can't fight..."
His face looked suddenly old and tired. Poirot dropped his voice still lower.
"There is insanity, I understand, in the family?"
Frobisher nodded.
"It was in a generation or two. Hugh's grandfather was the last. The old boy
became pretty violent in the end. Had to be taken to an asylum. That is what Hugh
is afraid of. That's why he doesn't want to see a doctor. He's afraid of being shut up
and living shut up for years."
"And Admiral Chandler, how does he feel? Is he very fond of his son?"
"Worships him. You see, his wife was drowned in a boating accident when
the boy was only ten years old. Since then he's lived for nothing but the child."
"Was he very devoted to his wife?"
"Adored her. Everybody adored her. She was one of the loveliest women I've
ever known." He was silent for a moment. Then he said, "Do you want to see her
portrait?"
"I should like to see it very much."
Colonel Frobisher led Hercule Poirot to the Picture Gallery. On the panelled
walls hung portraits of dead and gone Chandlers.
Finally Frobisher stopped under a portrait at the end of the gallery. They stood
looking up at a tall woman, her hand on a greyhound's collar. A woman with golden
hair and an expression of radiant vitality.47
They were silent. Poirot turned his head to look at his companion. George
Frobisher was still gazing up at the beautiful woman on the wall above him. And
Poirot said softly:
"You knew her well..."
"We were brought up together. I went off to India when she was sixteen. When
I got back — she was married to Charles Chandler."
"Did you see much of them after the marriage?"
"Used to spend most of my holidays here. Charles and Caroline always kept
my room here — ready and waiting... That's why I'm here now—to help in case I'm
wanted."
"You are aware that Diana Maberly's engagement to Hugh Chandler has been
broken off?"
"Yes, I know that."
"And you know the reason for it?"
Frobisher frowned. "Have we got to talk about the damned thing? What do
you think you can do? Hugh's done the right thing, poor boy. It's not his fault, it's
heredity... But when he found out, what else could he do but break the engagement?
It's one of those things that just has to be done."
"Why did Admiral Chandler force his son to leave the Navy?"
Frobisher was silent.
Poirot murmured softly:
"Was it to do with some sheep being killed?" 48
The other man said angrily:
"So you've heard about that? Oh well, if you want to know it... Chandler heard
a noise that night. Went out to investigate.49 Light in the boy's room. Chandler went
in. Hugh asleep on bed—in his clothes. Blood on the clothes. Basin in the room full
of blood. Next morning heard about sheep being found with their throats cut.
Questioned Hugh. Boy didn't know anything about it. Didn't remember going out—
but his shoes found by the bed were muddy. Couldn't explain the blood in the basin.
Couldn't explain anything. Then it happened again —three nights later. After that—
well, you can see for yourself. The boy had to leave the service. Charles didn't want
to have a scandal in the Navy. Yes, it was the only thing to be done."
Hercule Poirot didn't answer. He slowly went back to the house.
III
As they came into the hall, they met Admiral Chandler coming in. He said in
a low hoarse voice:
"M. Poirot, I would like to talk to you. Come into my study."
The Admiral showed Poirot to one of the big arm-chairs and himself sat down
in the other.
With a deep sigh Chandler said: "I can't help being sorry Diana has brought
you into this... Poor child, I know how hard it is for her. But—well — it is our own
private tragedy. And I think you will understand, M. Poirot, that we don't want
outsiders."
"I can understand your feelings, certainly."
"Diana, poor child, can't believe it... I couldn't believe it either at first. From
Hugh's childhood there's never been a trace 'of abnormality about him until now."
Poirot said softly: "You have not consulted a doctor?"
Chandler roared: "No, and I’m not going to. They shan't shut him up between
four walls like a wild beast..."
Poirot looked steadily into Admiral Chandler's sad dark eyes.
He said: "Colonel Frobisher is a very old friend of yours, is he not?"
"My best friend," the Admiral said firmly.
"And he was a friend of — your wife's, too?"
Chandler smiled.
"Yes. George was in love with Caroline, I believe. When she was very young.
He's never married. I believe that's the reason. Ah well, I was the lucky one—or so
I thought. I married her—only to lose her..."
He sighed. Poirot said:
"Colonel Frobisher was with you when your wife was — drowned ?"
Chandler nodded. "Yes, he was with us in Cornwall when it happened. She and I
were out in the boat together— he stayed at home that day. I've never understood
how that boat overturned. I held her up as long as I could..." His voice broke. "Thank
the Lord50 we hadn't taken little Hugh out with us! At least, that's what I thought at
that time. Now—well — better for Hugh, perhaps, if he had been with us. That's all
I can say!"
IV
Hercule Poirot and Hugh Chandler sat on a bench in the rose garden. The
young man turned a handsome tortured face towards his companion.
He said: "You see, Diana's a fighter. She won't give in. She — she will go on
believing that I'm sane."
"While you yourself are quite certain that you are — pardon me — insane?"
"I'm not actually mad yet—but I'm getting worse. Diana doesn't know. She
has only seen me when I am all right."
"And when you are — all wrong, what happens?"
Hugh took a long breath. Then he said:
"For one thing — I dream. And when I dream I am mad. Last night, for
instance, I wasn't a man any longer. I was a bull — a mad bull — racing about in
sunlight—tasting dust and blood in my mouth—dust and blood... I had hydrophobia
— men tried to shoot me — someone put a bowl of water for me and I couldn't drink.
I couldn't drink..."
He paused. "I woke up. And I knew it was true. My mouth was quite dry. I
was thirsty. But I couldn't drink, M. Poirot... I couldn't swallow. Oh, my God, I
wasn't able to drink..."
Hercule Poirot was silent. Hugh turned to him.
"Oh there isn't any doubt. It's in my blood. It's the heredity. I can't escape.
Thank God I found it out before I'd married Diana. Suppose we had a child and
handed on this frightful thing to him!"
He laid a hand on Poirot's arm.
"I don't mind so much — seeing dreams.51 It's the blood Fm frightened of.
We had a parrot. One morning it was there in my room with its throat cut—and I
was lying on the bed with the razor in my hand red with its blood."
He leaned closer to Poirot.
"Even just lately animals have been killed," he whispered. "Sheep, cats, a
collie dog. Father locks me in at night, but sometimes — sometimes — the door’s
open in the morning. I must have a key hidden somewhere but I don't know where.
It's not I who do these things — it's someone else who comes into me — who turns
me from a man into a dangerous monster who wants blood and who can't drink
water."
Suddenly he buried his face in his hands.
After a moment or two Poirot asked:
"Colonel Frobisher, I suppose, has spent much of his life in India?"
"Yes, he was in the Indian Army. He's very keen on India—talks about it a
lot—native traditions and all that."
"Ah!" Poirot reflected on his words a moment or two. Then he remarked: "I
see that you have cut your chin."
Hugh put his hand up.
"Yes, quite a deep cut. Father startled me one day when I was shaving. I'm a
bit nervous these days, you know. And I've had a bit of a rash over my chin and
neck. Makes shaving difficult."
He laughed suddenly.
"We're talking like in a woman's beauty parlour. Why do you ask all this, M.
Poirot?"
Poirot said quietly: "I'm trying to do my best for Diana Maberly."
Hugh's face got serious. He laid a hand on Poirot's arm.
"Yes, do what you can for her. Tell her she's got to forget me. Tell her —oh!
tell her for God's sake to keep away from me! Keep away and try to forget!"
v
"Have you courage, Mademoiselle? Great courage? You will need it."
Diana cried sharply:
"What's in your mind? What are you thinking about? You just stand there —
behind that great moustache of yours —and you don't tell me anything. You're
making me afraid —horribly afraid. Why are you making me afraid?"
"Perhaps," said Poirot, "because I am afraid myself."
The deep grey eyes opened wide, stared up at him. She said in a whisper:
"What are you afraid of?"
Hercule Poirot sighed. He said:
"It is much easier to catch a murderer than it is to prevent a murder."
She cried out: "Murder? Don't use that word."
"Nevertheless," said Hercule Poirot, "I do use it. Mademoiselle, it is necessary
that both you and I should pass the night at Hugh's house. You can do that?"
"I — yes — I suppose so. But why?"
"Because there is no time to lose. Shall we say that it is an experiment? Do
what I ask you and make no questions about it."
She nodded without a word and turned away.
Poirot followed her into the house after a moment or two. He heard her voice
in the library and the voices of the three men. He passed up the broad staircase. There
was no one on the upper floor. He found Hugh Chandler's room easily enough. In
the corner of the room was a washbasin with hot and cold water. Over it, on a glass
shelf, were various tubes and pots and bottles. Hercule Poirot went quickly to work...
What he had to do did not take him long. He was downstairs again in the hall when
Diana came out of the library.
She called out: "We'll get what we want for the night and be back in time for
dinner."
As they were driving back Poirot asked her if she would mind stopping at the
chemist's in the village. He had, he said, to buy a toothbrush.
The chemist's shop was in the middle of the peaceful village street. Diana
waited outside in the car. It struck her that Hercule Poirot was away a long time
choosing a toothbrush...
***
In the big bedroom with the heavy oak furniture Hercule Poirot sat and waited.
There was nothing to do but wait. All his arrangements were made.
It was towards early morning that he heard the sound of footsteps outside.
Poirot drew back the bolt and opened the door. There were two men outside — the
Admiral, stern-faced and grim, and Colonel Frobisher, pale and trembling.
Chandler said simply: "Will you come with us, M. Poirot?"
There was a huddled figure lying outside Diana Maberly's bedroom door.
Hugh Chandler lay there breathing heavily. He was in his dressing-gown and
slippers. In his right hand was a sharp shining knife. Here and there on it were bright
red spots of blood.
Hercule Poirot exclaimed softly: "Mon Dieu!" 52
There was a sound of bolts being drawn. The door opened and Diana stood
there. Her face was dead white.
She cried out:
"What's happened? There was someone — trying to get in — I heard them —
scratching on the panels. Oh! it was awful..."
Frobisher said sharply:
"Thank God your door was locked!"
"M. Poirot told me to lock it."
Poirot said: "Lift him up and bring him inside."
The two men raised the unconscious man. Diana caught her breath as they
passed her.
"Hugh? Is it Hugh? What's that—on his hands? Is that blood?"
The Admiral nodded. He said:
"Not human, thank God. A cat! I found it downstairs in the hall. Throat cut.
Afterwards he must have come up here — "
"Here?" Diana's voice was low with horror. "To me?"
At that moment Hugh Chandler regained consciousness. He sat up and saw
the knife which he still held in his hand.
He said in a slow hoarse voice:
"What have I done?"
His father shook his head. Hugh said:
"Tell me what has happened. I must know."
They told him — told him unwillingly — haltingly. Hugh's face was calm, his
voice was steady.
He said: "I see."
Then he got up. His voice was quite natural as he said:
"Beautiful morning, isn't it? I think I'll go out in the woods and try to get a
hare."
He went out of the room and left them staring after him.
VII
In the drawing-room Hugh Chandler had taken his gun off the wall and was
going to load it when Hercule Poirot's hand fell on his shoulder. He said: "No!"
Hugh stared at him. He said in an angry voice: "Take your hands off me! Don't
interfere. There's going to be an accident, I tell you. It's the only way out." Again
Hercule Poirot repeated that one word: "No." "Don't you realize that if the door
hadn't been locked I would have cut Diana's throat—Diana's!—with that knife?"
"I realize nothing of the kind. You would not have killed Miss Maberly."
"I killed the cat, didn't I?"
"No, you did not kill the cat. You did not kill the parrot. You did not kill the
sheep."
Hugh stared at him. He demanded:
"Are you mad, or am I?"
Hercule Poirot replied:
"Neither of us is mad."
It was at that moment that Admiral Chandler and Colonel Frobisher came in.
Behind them came Diana.
Hugh said in a weak voice:
"This chap says I'm not mad..."
Hercule Poirot said:
"I am happy to tell you that you are entirely and completely sane."
Hugh laughed.
"That's damned funny! It's sane, is it, to cut the throats of sheep and other
animals? I was sane, was I, when I killed that parrot? And the cat to-night?"
"I tell you you didn't kill the sheep — or the parrot—or the cat."
"Then who did?"
"Someone who wanted to prove that you were insane. On each occasion you
were given a strong sleeping-pill and a blood-stained knife was put into your hand.
It was someone else whose bloody hands were washed in your basin."
"But why?"
"In order that you should do what you were just about to do when I stopped
you."
Hugh stared. Poirot turned to Colonel Frobisher.
"Colonel Frobisher, you lived for many years in India. Did you never come
across cases where persons were deliberately driven mad by the administration of
drugs?”
"I've heard of such cases often enough. Datura poisoning.53 It ends by driving
a person insane."
"Exactly. Well, the active principle of the datura is very close to the alkaloid
atropine. Atropine is prescribed freely for eye treatment and could be obtained
without arousing suspicion. The alkaloid could be extracted from it and then
introduced into, say —a shaving cream. Applied externally it causes a rash, this
would soon lead to cuts in shaving and thus the drug would be continually entering
the system. It would produce certain symptoms — dryness of the mouth and throat,
difficulty in swallowing, hallucinations — all the symptoms, in fact, which Mr.
Chandler has experienced."
He turned to the young man.
"Your shaving cream was mixed with a big dosage of atropine. I took some
shaving cream from the tube and had it tested at a chemist's."
White, shaking, Hugh asked:
"Who did it? Why?"
Hercule Poirot said:
"That is what I have been studying ever since I arrived here. I have been
looking for a motive for murder. I thought of a possible motive, the eternal triangle:
two men and a woman. Colonel Frobisher had been in love with your mother,
Admiral Chandler married her."
Admiral Chandler cried out:
"George? George! I won't believe it!"
Hugh said in an incredulous voice:
"Do you mean that hatred could go on — to a son?"
Hercule Poirot said: "Under certain circumstances, yes."
Frobisher cried out: "It's a damned lie! Don't believe him, Charles!"
"Mon Dieu, you must have known, you must have suspected that Hugh was
your son? Why did you never tell him so?"
Frobisher stammered, trembling with excitement.
"I didn't know. I couldn't be sure... Caroline never said anything that led me
to think Hugh was my son. And then when this — this madness appeared, it settled
things definitely, I thought."
Poirot said:
"Yes, it settled things! You did not see the way the boy has of thrusting out
his face and lifting his eyebrows — a trick he inherited from you. But Charles
Chandler saw it. Saw it years ago — and learnt the truth from his wife. I think she
was afraid of him—he had begun to show her the mad jealousy — that was what
drove her into your arms — you whom she had always loved. Charles Chandler
planned his revenge. His wife died in a boating accident. He and she were out in the
boat alone and he knows how that accident happened. Then he decided to turn his
hatred against the boy who bore his name but who was not his son. Your Indian
stories put the idea of datura poisoning into his head. Hugh should be slowly driven
mad. The blood lust was Admiral Chandler's, not Hugh's. But it was Hugh who was
to pay the penalty!
"Do you know when I suspected? When Admiral Chandler objected to his son
seeing a doctor. It was strange. There could be treatment which would save his son
— but no, a doctor must not be allowed to see Hugh Chandler—in case a doctor
should discover that Hugh was sane!"
Hugh said in a low voice:
"Sane... I am sane?" He took a step towards Diana. Frobisher said in a hoarse
voice:
"You're sane enough. There's no madness in our family."
Admiral Chandler picked up Hugh's gun. He said:
"All a lot of nonsense! I'll go and see if I can get a hare — "
Hugh and Diana had gone from the room.
The two men, the Englishman and the Belgian, watched the last of the
Chandlers cross the park and go up into the woods.
Presently, they heard a shot...
“The Cretan Bull” – «Критский бык». Миф об укрощении Гераклом
прекрасного быка, на которого Посейдон наслал бешенство.
45
his father wouldn't have heard of anything else – его отец и слыщать не хотел
ни о чем другом
46
47
an expression of radiant vitality – выражение искрящегося жизнелюбия
48
"Was it to do with some sheep being killed?" – Было ли это связано с убийством
нескольких овец?
Went out to investigate. – Пошел посмотреть, в чем дело. (Здесь и далее
употребляются сокращенные предложения для придания повествованию
большей динамичности.)
49
50
Thank the Lord! – Слава богу! (воскл.)
51
I don't mind so much — seeing dreams – сны – еще не самое страшное
52
"Mon Dieu!" – Боже мой! (фр.)
53
Datura poisoning – отравление дурманом (лебедой)
I. Pre-reading task.
1. What do you think what “The Cretan Bull” means? Make up two possible story
lines (5-6 sentences).
2. Comment on: “ It’s astonishing in this world. How things don’t turn out at all
the way out expect them to.” (Agatha Christie) Find a newspaper article with a true
story to illustrate the statement. Retell it to the group.
II. Pronounce these words. When in doubt consult your dictionary:
thoughtfully, lock, ancient, sanest, estate, determination, occurrence,
neighbourhood, fuss, fiancé, physique, proportioned, specimen, insanity, asylum,
frown, heredity, hoarse, hydrophobia, monster, moustache, mademoiselle, chemist,
alkaloid, atropine, hallucinations.
1. Find in the text the English for:
наоборот
быть только предлогом
шум из-за пустяка
быть тяжелым обстоятельством для кого-либо
жить только ради ребенка
выражение искрящегося жизнелюбия
признак ненормальности
быть влюбленным в кого-либо
быть в здравом уме
не задавать никаких вопросов о чем-либо
прийти в сознание
2. Match the descriptions on the left with the names on the right according to
the story.
blue-black locks
broad chest and
3. Fill in the gaps:
shoulders
1. … said, and her voice
golden hair
shook a little. 2. It was Hugh
well-proportioned
Chandler’s
magnificent
big grey eyes
physique that impressed
Diana Maberly
a pale face
Hercule Poirot more than …
an expression of radiant Hugh Chandler
… . 3. “She was one of the …
Admiral’s wife
vitality
… I have ever known.” 4.
Hercule Poirot
a young Bull
“George was … with
magnificent physique
Caroline, I believe.” 5. “I
great moustache
don’t mind so much - … …
.” 6. She cried out: “… ? Don’t use that word.” 7. there was nothing to do but … . 8.
Diana’s voice was low with … . 9. “Caroline never said anything that led me to think
Hugh was … … . 10. … … picked up Hugh’s gun.
4. Answer the following questions:
1. Who visited Hercule Poirot? 2. What was the aim of her visit? What did she tell
about Hugh Chandler? 4. What was Hugh Chandlerlike when Hercule Poirot saw
him? Why did Admiral Chandler force his son to leave the Navy? 6. How did the
Admiral’s wife die?
5. Read the story again (pages 37-39). Act a dialogue between detective Hercule
Poirot and his visitor Diana Maberly. Explain why she came.
6. Retell the story from the part of Hercule Poirot. When speaking use the
conversational formulas, given in the Appendix 1.
7. Read the following proverbs, sayings and their Russian equivalents. Say what
proverb illustrates the story best of all. Tell a true story from your own
experience that illustrates one of these proverbs (80-100 words).
1 There is a black sheep in every flock (Семья не без урода)
2 Love conquers all (Для любви нет преград)
3 It’s never too late (Лучше поздно, чем никогда)
4 Beauty is only skin deep (Лицом хорош, да душою не пригож)
Labour IX
THE GIRDLE OF HYPPOLITA54
I
One thing leads to another, as Hercule Poirot likes to say without much
originality.
He adds that this was never more clearly evidenced than in the case of the
stolen Rubens.
He was never much interested in the Rubens. For one thing Rubens is not a
painter he admires, and then the circumstances of the theft were quite ordinary. He
took this case only because of the owner of a picture gallery, his friend Alexander
Simpson. After the theft, Alexander Simpson sent for Poirot and told him the whole
history. The Rubens an unknown masterpiece, had been placed on display at
Simpson's Galleries and it had been stolen in broad daylight.55 It was at the time
when a group of the unemployed had penetrated into Simpson's Galleries with the
slogan "Art is a Luxury. Feed the Hungry." The police had been sent for, everyone
had crowded round in curiosity, and it was not till the demonstrators had been
forcibly removed that it was noticed that the new Rubens had been carefully cut out
of its frame and removed also!
The demonstrators had been paid for their innocent part in the robbery. But
they had known nothing of the reason until afterwards.
Hercule Poirot thought that it was an amusing trick but did not see what he
could do about it.
Alexander Simpson said:
"Listen to me, Poirot. I know who stole the picture and where it is going."
According to the owner of Simpson's Galleries it had been stolen by a gang of
international thieves for a certain millionaire. The Rubens, said Simpson, would be
smuggled over to France where it would pass into the millionaire's possession. The
English and French police were on the alert, but Simpson was sure that they would
fail. "And once it had passed into the millionaire's dirty hands, it was going to be
more difficult to get it back. The situation was very delicate. "You're the only man
who can manage it," said Simpson.
Finally, without enthusiasm, Hercule Poirot agreed to accept the task. He had
to leave for France immediately. He was not very interested in this case, but because
of it, he was introduced to the case of the Missing Schoolgirl which interested him
very much indeed. He first heard of it from Chief Inspector Japp who dropped in to
see him just before his departure.
"Ha," said Japp. "Going to France, aren't you?"
Poirot said: "Mon cher, you are surprisingly well informed at Scotland
Yard."56
Japp laughed. He said:
"We have our spies! Simpson's got you on to this Rubens business.57 Doesn't
trust us, it seems. Well, let him do as he likes, but what I want you to do is quite
different. As you're going to Paris, I thought you might as well kill two birds with
one stone.58 I'd like you to help us in a certain matter."
"What is the matter of which you speak?"
"Child's disappeared. Looks as though she's been kidnapped. King, her name
is, Winnie King."
He told Poirot the whole story.
Winnie had been on her way from England to Paris, to join a high-class school
for English and American girls — Miss Pope's. Winnie had come to London alone
from Cranchester where she lived, by the early train, went across London to Victoria
station,59 where she was met by Miss Burshaw, Miss Pope's assistant. Then, in
company with 18 other girls, she left London by the boat train.60 19 girls had crossed
the channel, had passed through the customs and got into the Paris train. But when,
on the outskirts of Paris, Miss Burshaw had counted heads, it was discovered that
only 18 girls could be found!
"Aha," Poirot nodded. "So she was last seen — when exactly?"
"About ten minutes after the train left Amiens.61 She was last seen — er —
entering the Toilette."
Poirot murmured: "Very natural. There is nothing else?"
"Yes, one thing. Her hat was found by the side of the line — at a spot
approximately fourteen miles from Amiens."
"But no body?"
"Nobody anywhere. So she can't have fallen off the train."
Poirot asked: "Was the train searched?"
"Oh yes, they searched it before it arrived in Paris. The girl wasn't on the train,
that's quite certain. She just disappeared — into the air! It doesn't make sense, M.
Poirot. It's crazy!"
"What kind of a girl was she?"
"Plain-looking kid — but then they are all plain at that age. They grow into
beauties overnight — I don't know how they do it! It's like a miracle."
Poirot smiled. "Women," he said, "are a miraculous sex."
He studied the photo that Japp gave him. It represented a thin child with her
hair in two little plaits and a dental plate on her teeth. She wore spectacles.
Poirot said thoughtfully:
"There is no young man in the case?"
Japp nodded towards the photo.
"Does she look like it?"
"No, she does not. But she may have a romantic heart. Fifteen is not so young."
"Well," said Japp. "If a romantic heart spirited her off that train,62 I'll begin to
read lady novelists."
He looked hopefully at Poirot.
"Nothing strikes you — eh?"
Poirot shook his head slowly. He said:
"They did not, by any chance, find her shoes also by the side of the line?"
"Shoes? No. Why shoes?"
Poirot murmured: "Just an idea..."
II
Hercule Poirot was going down to his taxi when the telephone rang. He picked
up the receiver.
"Yes?"
Japp's voice spoke.
"Glad I've caught you. It's all over, old man. The girl has been found. At the
side of the main road fifteen miles from Amiens. She doesn't remember anything.
Doctor says she's been doped. However, she's all right. Nothing wrong with her."
Poirot said slowly:
"So you have found her. Then, no need of my services?"
"Afraid not! Sorry you have been troubled."
Poirot put back the receiver slowly. His face was worried.
III
Detective Inspector Hearn looked at Poirot curiously.
He said: "I had no idea you'd be interested, sir. I thought you were busy on
your own job."
"My own business can wait. It is this affair here that interests me."
"Well, sir, we've got the child back. And she's not hurt. That's the main thing."
"But it does not solve the problem of how you got her back, does it? What
does she herself say? What did the doctor say?"
"Said she'd been doped. Apparently, she can't remember anything much after
starting off from Cranchester. Doctor thinks she may have had slight concussion.
There's a bruise on the back of her head." Poirot said: "But I would like to know
how she got off that train. I want to know who was responsible — and why?"
"As to why, I should say it was an attempt at kidnapping, sir. They wanted to
hold her to ransom."
“But they didn’t!”
"They lost their nerve with the hue and cry63 – and planted her by the road, sir,
in my opinion”.
Ah, that's your opinion."
Hearn said, his face flushing slightly:
"What's yours, sir?"
"I want to know how she was spirited off that train."
The policeman's face clouded over.
"That's a real mystery, sir. One minute she was there, sitting in the dining-car,
chatting to the other girls. Five minutes later she's vanished — like a conjuring trick."
"Precisely, like a conjuring trick! Who else was there in the train where Miss
Pope's reserved compartments were?"
Hearn pulled out his notebook.
"Miss Jordan and Miss Butters — two middle-aged women going to
Switzerland. Nothing wrong with them. Two French commercial travellers. Both
respectable middle-aged men. A young man, James Elliot, and his wife — flashy
piece of goods she was.64 He's got a bad reputation, suspected by the police of being
mixed up in some questionable affairs— but he has never attempted kidnapping.
Anyway, his compartment was searched and there was nothing in his hand luggage
to show he was mixed up in this. The only other person was an American lady,
travelling to Paris. Nothing known about her. Looks O.K. That's all."
Hercule Poirot said:
"And it is quite definite that the train did not stop after it left Amiens?"
''Absolutely. It slowed down once, but not enough to let any one jump off —
not risking being killed."
Hercule Poirot murmured:
"That is what makes the problem so interesting. The schoolgirl vanishes into
thin air just outside Amiens. She reappears from thin air just outside Amiens. Where
has she been in the meantime?"
Inspector Hearn shook his head.
"It sounds mad, of course. Oh! by the way, they told me you were asking
something about shoes — the girl's shoes. She had her shoes on when she was found,
but there was a pair of shoes on the line, a signalman found them. He took them
home as they seemed in good condition. Thick black walking shoes."
"Ah," said Poirot. "Now everything is clear." He looked pleased.
Inspector Hearn said curiously:
"I don't understand the meaning of the shoes, sir? Do they mean anything?"
"They confirm a theory," said Hercule Poirot. "A theory of how the conjuring
trick was done."
IV
Miss Pope received Poirot with the competence of one who is never wrong in
her judgement.
"M. Hercule Poirot? I know your name, of course. I suppose you have been
involved in this very unfortunate affair of Winnie King. A most distressing incident.
Such a thing has never occurred before."
"And never will again!" her manner seemed to say.
Hercule Poirot said:
"You had an interview with Winnie—and with her parents before she entered
this school?"
"Yes, two years ago. I was staying near Cranchester and made the
acquaintance of Mr. and Mrs. King. I met Winnie then. A very well brought up girl,
with a decided taste for art. I told Mrs. King that I should be happy to receive her
here in a year or two — when her general studies were completed. We specialize
here, M. Poirot, in art and music. The very best masters come here to instruct the
girls in music, singing, and painting. The broader culture, that is our aim."
Miss Pope remembered suddenly that Poirot was not a parent and added
abruptly:
"What can I do for you, M. Poirot?"
"What in your opinion actually happened, Miss Pope?"
"I have not the slightest idea, M. Poirot. The whole thing, as reported to me,
sounds quite incredible. I really cannot see that the member of my staff who was in
charge of the girls was in any way to blame—except that she should, perhaps, have
discovered the girl's absence sooner.''
Poirot said:
"You have received a visit, perhaps, from the police?"
Miss Pope started. She said:
"A Monsieur Lefarge of the Prefecture called to see me, to see if I could throw
any light upon the situation. Naturally, I was unable to do so. He then demanded to
inspect Winnie's trunk which had, of course, arrived here with those of the other
girls. I told him that it had already been taken by another member of the police. Their
departments, I believe, must overlap. He insisted that I passed over all Winnie's
things to him. I was extremely angry with him over that. One must not submit to
being bullied by officialdom." 65
Poirot drew a long breath. He said:
"I presume that Winnie's trunk had been unpacked on arrival?"
Miss Pope looked a little uneasy.
"Routine," she said. "We live strictly by routine. The girls' trunks are
unpacked on arrival and then things put away in the way I expect them to be kept.
Winnie's things were unpacked with those of the other girls. Naturally, they were
afterwards repacked, so that her trunk was handed over to the police exactly as it had
arrived."
Poirot asked: "Exactly?"
He went up to the wall.
"I see here a picture of the famous Cranchester Bridge with Winnie's signature
on it."
"You are quite right, M. Poirot. Winnie had evidently painted that to bring me
as a surprise. It was in her trunk with a wrapper round it and Tor Miss Pope from
Winnie' written on it. Very charming of the child."
"Ah," said Hercule Poirot thoughtfully, "you will permit me, Mademoiselle?"
He unhooked the picture and took it to the window. He examined it, then,
looking up, he said:
"I am going to ask you, Mademoiselle, to give me this picture."
"Well, really, M. Poirot—"
"You cannot pretend that you like it. The painting is very bad."
"Oh, it has no artistic merit, I agree. But it is a pupil's work and — "
"I assure you, Mademoiselle, that it is a most unsuitable picture to have
hanging upon your wall."
"I don't know why you say that, M. Poirot."
"I will prove it to you in a moment."
He took a bottle and some rags from his pocket. He started working. The odour
of turpentine filled the room.
"I am going to tell you a little story, Mademoiselle. It has a resemblance to the
story of the Ugly Duckling66 that turned into a Swan. I'll show you how the conjuring
trick was worked on the train. Winnie, the schoolgirl, with her fair plaits, her
spectacles, her disfiguring dental plate — goes into the Toilette. She emerges a
quarter of an hour later—to use the words of Detective Inspector Hearn — 'a flashy
piece of goods.' Thin silk stockings, high heeled shoes, a mink coat to cover a school
uniform — and a face — oh yes, a face: rouge, powder, lipstick, mascara!" 67
Miss Pope gasped.
"Do you mean that Winnie King disguised herself as — "
"Not Winnie King — no. Winnie was kidnapped on the way across London.
Our quick change artiste took her place. Miss Burshaw had never seen Winnie King
— how could she know that the schoolgirl with the thin plaits and the plate on her
teeth was not Winnie King at all? So far everything was all right but the impostor
could not arrive here, since you were acquainted with the real Winnie. So hey
presto,68 Winnie disappears in the Toilette and goes out as wife to a man called Jim
Elliot whose passport includes a wife! The plaits, the spectacles, the thick stockings,
the dental plate — all that can be put into a small bag. But the thick walking shoes
and the hat — have to be thrown away — they go out of the window. Later, the real
Winnie is brought across the Channel — no one is paying attention to a sick, halfdoped child being brought from England to France — and is quietly deposited from
a car by the side of the main road. If she has been doped all along, she will remember
very little of what has happened."
Miss Pope was staring at Poirot. She asked:
"But why? What is the reason of such a senseless masquerade?"
"Winnie's luggage! These people wanted to smuggle something from England
to France — something that every Customs man was on the alert for — in fact, a
stolen picture. But what place is safer than a schoolgirl's trunk? At the Nord Station
in Paris the trunks of Mesdemoiselles — the little pensionnaires — are passed en
bloc.69 You are well-known, Miss Pope, your school is justly famous. And then, after
the kidnapping, what is more natural than to send and collect the child's luggage—
saying it was from the Prefecture?"
Hercule Poirot smiled.
"But fortunately, there was the school routine of unpacking trunks on arrival
— and you kept a present for you from Winnie — but not the same present that
Winnie packed at Cranchester."
He came towards her.
"You have given this picture to me. Look now. You must admit that it is not
a suitable picture for your school."
He showed her the canvas.
As though by magic Cranchester Bridge had disappeared. Instead was a
classical scene in rich, bright colourings.
Poirot said softly:
"The Girdle of Hyppolita. Hyppolita gives her girdle to Hercules — painted
by Rubens. A great work of art—but not quite suitable for your drawing-room."
Miss Pope blushed slightly.
Hyppolita's hand was on her girdle — she was wearing nothing else...
Hercules had a lion skin thrown lightly over one shoulder. The flesh of Rubens is
rich, voluptuous flesh…
Miss Pope said, looking at the picture.
"A fine work of art... All the same—as you say — after all, one must consider
parents. Some of them are rather narrow-minded… if you know what I mean…”
54 “
The Girdle Of Hyppolita” – «Пояс Ипполиты». Миф о походе Геракла в
страну амазонок за поясом царицы Ипполиты
55
in broad daylight – средь бела дня
Scotland Yard – Скотланд-Ярд – название лондонской криминальной
полиции
56
Simpson's got you on to this Rubens business – Симпсон привлек вас к этому
делу о похищении Рубенса (имеется в виду картина)
57
kill two birds with one stone – убить двух зайцев (дослв. убить двух птиц
одним камнем)
58
59
Victoria station – вокзал Виктории (вокзал в Лондоне)
60
the boat train – поезд, согласованный по расписанию с отплытием парохода
61
Amiens – Амьен (город во Франции недалеко от Парижа)
62
spirited her off that train – заставило ее тайно сбежать с этого поезда
63
lost their nerve with the hue and cry – им надоели ее крики
64
flashy piece of goods she was – расфуфыренная особа
65
One must not submit to being bullied by officialdom. – зд. Нельзя позволять
чинушам запугивать себя.
66
the Ugly Duckling – гадкий утенок
67
rouge, powder, lipstick, mascara – румяна, пудра, губная помада, краска для
бровей и ресниц
68
presto – моментально (ит.)
69
en bloc – все вместе (фр.), т.е. без досмотра
I Pre-reading task.
1 What can the story with this name deal with?
2 What proverb can illustrate this text?
II Pronounce these words when in doubt consult your dictionary:
girdle, evidenced, theft, millionaire, spy, plait, hopefully, ransom, odour,
turpentine, impostor
1 Find out in the text the English for
средь бела дня, в соответствии с кем-либо, перевезти контрабандой коголибо, заглянуть (заскочить, зайти), привлечь кого-либо к делу, убить двух
зайцев, ехать (идти куда-то, по дороге к …), тайно сбежать, случайно, фокус,
кстати, познакомиться с кем-либо, пролить свет на ситуацию.
2 Answer the following questions:
1 Was Hercule Poirot interested in the Rubens? 2 Where had been the Rubens
placed on? 3 What has happened at Simpson’s Gallery? 4 Did Hercule Poirot agree
to accept the task? 5 Who said that the girl had been found? 6 What did Hercule
Poirot want to see from the girl’s luggage? 7 Where has been the girl found? 8
How many passengers were in the train? 9 What picture did Hercule Poirot find at
Miss Pope’s wall? 10 Why did the robbers do that conjuring track?
3. Find in the story and read the version of Hercule Poirot and the Inspector.
4. Some of the following statements are not true. Find and correct them. Prove
your answers from the text.
1 One thing leads to nothing important, as Hercule Poirot likes to say without much
originality.
2 The students had been paid for their innocent part in the robbery.
3 “You’re not the only man who can manage it”, said Simpson.
4 Hercule Poirot wasn’t very interested in this case, but because of it, he was
introduced to the case of a missing school girl, which interested him very much.
5 Winnie had been on her way from Thailand to Paris, to join a high-class school for
English and American boys – Miss Pope’s.
6 He studied the photo that Japp gave him.
7 There were only two passengers in the train.
8 Winnie was kidnapped on the way across Paris.
9 There was a picture of the famous Cranchester Bridge with Winnie’s signature on
the wall of Miss Pope.
10 This story had a resemblance to the tragedy of the Ugly Duckling that turned into
a Swan.
5 Stage a dialogue between M. H. Poirot and Winnie King, when he saw the girl
after the crime. What did she tell him?
6. Make up your own sentences using the Active Vocabulary.
7. Retell the story from the side of H.Poirot. When speaking use the
conversational formulas, given in Appendix I.
8. Match the following proverbs, saying with their Russian equivalents. Say
which proverb illustrates the story best of all. Make a story to illustrate one of
them.
1. Health is above wealth
a)Из зла добро не родится
2. All is well that ends well
б)Добрый конец - всему делу венец
3. Habit is a second nature
в)Здоровье – лучшее богатство
4. Two blacks do not make a white
г) Привычка – вторая натура
9. Imagine you are a student far away from your native place. Write a letter to
your friend about an incident that has happened in a hostel you live in.
LABOUR X
THE FLOCK OF GERYON70
I
"I really apologize for bothering you, M. Poirot."
Miss Carnaby leaned forward, looking anxiously into Poirot's face. She said
anxiously: "You do remember me, don't you?"
Hercule Poirot smiled. He said:
"I remember you as one of the most successful criminals that I have ever met."
"Oh dear me, M. Poirot, must you really say such things? You were so kind
to me. Emily and I often talk about you, and if we see anything about you in the
paper we cut it out at once. As for Augustus, we have taught him a new trick. We
say, "Die for M. Hercule Poirot," and he goes down and lies like a log — lies
absolutely still without moving until we say the word."
"it's very nice of him," said Poirot. "He is very clever. But what has brought
you here, Miss Carnaby?"
Miss Carnaby's nice round face grew worried and sad. She said:
"Oh M. Poirot, I was going to consult you. I have been anxious lately about a
friend of mine. Of course, you may say it is all an old maid's fancy — just
imagination, and that I see design where there may be only coincidence."
"I do not think you would imagine things, Miss Carnaby. Tell me what worries
you."
"Well, I have a friend, a very dear friend, though I have not seen very much
of her lately. Her name is Emmeline Clegg. She married a man and he died a few
years ago leaving her a big sum of money. She was unhappy and lonely after his
death and I am afraid she is in some ways a rather foolish woman. Religion, M.
Poirot, can be a great help and consolation — but by that I mean orthodox religion
— not these odd sects there are so many around. They have a kind of emotional
appeal but sometimes I have very grave doubts as to whether there are any true
religious feelings behind them at all."
"You think your friend has become a victim of a sect of this kind?"
"I do. Oh! I certainly do. The Flock of the Shepherd,71 they call themselves.
Their headquarters is in Devonshire— a very lovely estate by the sea. The whole
sect centres round the head of the movement, the Great Shepherd, he is called. A Dr.
Andersen. A very handsome man, I believe."
"Which is attractive to the women, yes?"
"I am afraid so," Miss Carnaby sighed.
"Are the members of the sect mostly women?"
"At least three quarters of them, I think. It is upon the women that the success
of the movement depends and—and on the funds they supply."
"Ah," said Poirot. "Now I see. Frankly, you think the whole thing is a ramp?"
"Frankly, M. Poirot, I do. And another thing worries me. I know that my poor
friend is so devoted to this religion that she has recently made a will leaving all her
property to the movement. What really worries me is —"
"Yes — go on — "
"Several very rich women have been among the devotees. In the last year three
of them, no less, have died."
"Leaving all their money to this sect?"
"Yes."
"And their relatives have made no protest?"
"You see, M. Poirot, it is usually lonely women who belong to this sect. People
who have no very near relatives or friends."
Poirot nodded thoughtfully. Miss Carnaby hurried on:
"Of course I've no right to suggest anything at all. From what I have been able
to find out, there was nothing wrong about any of these deaths. One, I believe, was
pneumonia following influenza and another was attributed to gastric ulcer. There
were absolutely no suspicious circumstances and the deaths did not take place in
Devonshire, but at their own homes. I've no doubt it is quite all right, but all the same
— I — well — I shouldn't like anything to happen to Emmie."
Poirot was silent for some minutes. Then he said:
"Will you give me, or will you find out for me, the names and addresses of
these members of the sect who have recently died?"
"Yes indeed, M. Poirot."
Poirot said slowly:
"Mademoiselle, I think you are a woman of great courage and determination.
Will you be able to do a piece of work that may be associated with considerable
danger?"
"I should like nothing better," said the adventurous Miss Carnaby.
Poirot said warningly:
"If there is a risk at all, it will be a great one. You understand — either this is
all a mare's nest72 or it is serious. To find out which it is, it will be necessary for you
yourself to become a member of the Great Flock. You'll pretend to be a rich woman
with no definite aim in life. You'll allow your friend Emmeline to persuade you to
go down to Devonshire. And there you will fall a victim to the magnetic power of
Dr. Andersen. I think I can leave that to you?"
Miss Carnaby smiled modestly. She murmured:
"I think I can manage that all right."
II
"Well, my friend, what have you got for me? Have you learned anything about
this Dr. Andersen?"
Chief Inspector Japp looked thoughtfully at Poirot. He said:
"I've looked up Dr. Andersen'sf past history. He was a promising chemist but
was expelled from some German University. He was always keen on the study of
Oriental Myths and Religions and has written various articles on the subject — some
of the articles sound pretty crazy to me."
"So it is possible that he is a genuine fanatic?"
"It seems quite likely."
"What about those names and addresses I gave you?"
"Nothing suspicious there. Miss Everitte died of ulcerative colitis. Mrs. Lloyd
died of pneumonia. Lady Western died of tuberculosis. Had suffered from it many
years ago. Miss Lee died of typhoid somewhere in the north of England. There is
nothing to connect these deaths with the Great
Flock or with Andersen's place down in Devonshire. Must be no more than
coincidence."
Hercule Poirot sighed. He said:
"And yet, mon cher, I have a feeling that this is the 10th Labour of Hercules,
and that this Dr. Andersen is the Monster Geryon whom it is my mission to destroy,"
III
Hercule Poirot said:
"You must obey my instructions very carefully, Miss Carnaby. You
understand?"
"Oh yes, Mr. Poirot. You may rely on me."
"You have spoken of your intention to benefit the sect?"
"Yes, Mr. Poirot, I spoke to the Master — excuse me, to Dr. Andersen, myself.
I told him very emotionally what a wonderful revelation the whole thing had been
— how I had come to mock and remained to believe. Really it seemed quite natural
to say all these things. Dr. Andersen, you know, has a lot of magnetic charm."
"So I think," said Hercule Poirot dryly.
"His manner was most convincing. One really feels he doesn't care about
money at all. 'Give what you can,' he said smiling. 'It does not matter. You are one
of the Flock just the same.' 'Oh, Dr. Andersen,' I said, 'I am not poor at all.' And then
I explained that I had inherited a considerable amount of money from a distant
relative and that I wanted to leave in my will all I had to the Brotherhood. I explained
that I had no near relatives."
"And he graciously accepted the gift?"
"He was very indifferent about it. Said it would be many long years before I
died, that he could tell I had a long life of joy in front of me. He really speaks most
movingly."
"So it seems."
Poirot's tone was dry. He went on:
"You mentioned your health?"
"Yes, Mr. Poirot, I told him I had lung trouble, though why it is necessary for
me to say that I am ill when my lungs are as sound as a bell73 I really cannot see."
"Be sure it is necessary. You mentioned your friend?"
"Yes. I told him strictly confidentially that dear Emmeline, besides the fortune
she had inherited from her husband, would inherit an even larger sum shortly from
an aunt who was deeply attached to her."
"Good. That must keep Mrs. Clegg safe for some time."
"Oh, Mr. Poirot, do you really think there is anything wrong?"
"That is what I am going to find out. Have you met a Mr. Cole at the
Sanctuary?"
"There was a Mr. Cole there last time I went down to Devonshire. A most
extraordinary man. He wears grass- green shorts and eats nothing but cabbage. He
is a very ardent believer."
"Eh bien74, all progresses well — I make you my compliments on the work
you have done — all is now set for the Autumn Festival."
IV
On the afternoon preceding the Festival Miss Carnaby met Hercule Poirot in
a small restaurant in the sleepy little town of Newton Woodbury. Miss Carnaby was
flushed and even more breathless than usual.
Poirot asked several questions to which she replied only "yes" or "no".
Then he said:
"How many people will there be at the Festival?"
"I think a hundred and twenty. Emmeline will be there, of course, and Mr.
Cole — really he has been very odd lately. He has visions. He described some of
them to me — really most peculiar — I hope, I do hope, he is not insane. Then there
will be quite a lot of new members — nearly twenty."
"Good. You know what you have to do?"
There was a moment's pause before Miss Carnaby said in a rather odd voice:
"I know what you told me, Mr. Poirot."
"Very good."
Then Amy Carnaby said clearly and distinctly:
"But I am not going to do it."
Hercule Poirot stared at her. Miss Carnaby rose to her feet. Her voice was fast
and hysterical.
"You sent me here to spy on Dr. Andersen. You suspected him of all sorts of
things. But he is a wonderful man — a great Teacher. I believe in his heart and soul.
And I am not going to do your spying work any more, M. Poirot. I am one of the
Sheep of the Shepherd. And I'll pay for my tea, please."
With these words Miss Carnaby threw down one shilling and rushed out of
the restaurant.
The waitress had to ask him twice before Poirot realized that she was giving
him the bill. He met the curious stare of an unfriendly looking man at the next table,
flushed, paid the bill and went out.
V
The Sheep were assembled for the traditional Festival.
The Festival took place in the white concrete building called by the Sheep the
Sacred Fold. Here the devotees assembled just before the setting of the sun. They
wore sheep-skin cloaks and had sandals on their feet. Their arms were bare. In the
centre of the Fold on a raised platform stood Dr. Andersen. The big man, goldenhaired and blue-eyed, with his fair beard and handsome profile had never seemed
more magnificent He was dressed in a green robe and carried a shepherd's crook of
gold.
The ritual questions and answers had been chanted.
Then the Great Shepherd said:
"Are you prepared for the Sacrament?"
"We are."
"Shut your eyes and hold out your right arm."
The crowd obediently shut their eyes. Miss Carnaby like the rest held her arm
out in front of her. The Great Shepherd, magnificent in his green robe, moved along
the waiting lines... He stood by Miss Carnaby. His hands touched her arm...
"No, you won’t do it!"
Mr. Cole aided by another devotee grasped the hand of the Great Shepherd
who was struggling to get himself free.
In rapid professional tones, the former Mr. Cole was saying:
"Dr. Anders en, I have here a warrant for your arrest."
There were other figures now at the door of the Sheep Fold — blue uniformed
figures.
Someone cried, "It's the police. They're taking the Master away. They're
taking the Master..."
Everyone was shocked — horrified... To them the Great Shepherd was a
martyr, suffering, as all great teachers suffer, from the ignorance and persecution of
the outside world.
Meanwhile Detective Inspector Cole was carefully packing up the syringe that
had fallen from the Great Shepherd's hand.
VI
"My brave colleague!"
Poirot shook Miss Carnaby warmly by the hand and introduced her to Chief
Inspector Japp.
"First class work, Miss Carnaby," said Chief Inspector Japp. "We couldn't
have done it without you."
"Oh dear!" Miss Carnaby was flattered. "It's so kind of you to say so. And I'm
afraid, that I've really enjoyed it all. The excitement, you know, and playing my part.
I really felt I was one of those foolish women."
"That's where your success lay," said Japp. "You were very genuine.
Otherwise you wouldn't have been hypnotized by that gentleman. He's a pretty smart
scoundrel."
Miss Carnaby turned to Poirot.
"That was a terrible moment in the restaurant. I didn't know what to do. It was
such a shock. Just when we had been talking confidentially I saw in the glass that
Lipscomb, who keeps the Lodge of the Sanctuary75 was sitting at the table behind
me. I don't know now if it was an ac¬cident or if he had actually followed me. I had
to do the best I could in this situation and hope that you would understand."
Poirot smiled.
"I did understand. There was only one person sitting near enough to overhear
anything we said and as soon as I left the restaurant I followed him. He went straight
back to the Sanctuary. So I understood that I could rely on you and that you would
not let me down — but I was afraid because it increased the danger for you."
"Was — was there really danger? What was there in the syringe?"
Japp said: "Will you explain or shall I?"
Poirot said gravely:
"Mademoiselle, this Dr. Andersen devised a scheme of exploitation and
murder — scientific murder. Most of his life has been spent in bacteriological
research. Under a different name he has a chemical laboratory in Sheffield. There he
makes cultures of various bacilli. It was his practice at the Festivals to inject into his
followers a small but sufficient dose of Cannabis Indica76 — which is also known
by the name of Hashish. It gives the sensation of great and pleasurable enjoyment.
It bound his devotees to him. These were the Spiritual Joys that he promised them."
"Most remarkable," said Miss Carnaby. "Really a most remarkable sensation."
Hercule Poirot nodded.
"That was the secret of his popularity—a dominating personality, the power
of creating mass hysteria and the reactions produced by this drug. But he had a
second aim in view.
"Lonely women, in their gratitude and fervour, made wills leaving their
money to the Cult. One by one, these women died. Without being too technical I
will try to explain. It is possible to make intensified cultures of certain bacteria. The
bacillus Coli Communis, for instance, the cause of ulcerative colitis. Typhoid bacilli
can be introduced into the system. So can the Pneumococcus. You realize the
cleverness of the man? These deaths would occur in different parts of the country,
with different doctors attending them and without any risk of arousing suspicion. He
had also, I think, cultivated a substance which had the power of delaying but
intensifying the action of the chosen bacillus."
"He's a devil, if there ever was one," said Chief Inspector Japp.
Poirot went on.
"By my orders, you told him that you suffered from tuberculosis. There was a
tuberculin in the syringe when Cole arrested him. It is harmless to a healthy person
but stimulates any old tubercular lesion into activity. Since you were a healthy
person it would not have harmed you, that is why I asked you to tell him you had
suffered from a tubercular trouble. I was afraid that even now he might choose some
other germ, but I respected your courage and I had to let you take the risk."
"Oh, that's all right," said Miss Carnaby brightly. "I don't mind taking risks.
I'm only frightened of bulls in fields and things like that. But have you enough
evidence to convict this dreadful person?"
Japp grinned.
"Plenty of evidence," he said. "We've got his laboratory and his cultures and
the whole equipment."
Poirot said:
"It is possible, I think, that he has committed a long line of murders."
Miss Carnaby sighed.
"I was thinking," she said, "of a marvellous dream I had. I arranged the whole
world so beautifully! No wars, no poverty, no diseases, no cruelty..."
"It must have been a fine dream," said Japp enviously.
Miss Carnaby jumped up. She said:
"I must get home. Emily has been so anxious. And dear Augustus has been
missing me terribly, I hear."
Hercule Poirot said with a smile:
"He was afraid, perhaps, that like him, you were going to 'die for Hercule
Poirot'!"
70
The Flock of Geryon – «Стадо Гериона». Миф о том, как Геракл победил
великана Гериона и увел его стадо.
71
The Flock of the Shepherd – стадо Пастуха
a mare's nest - «бред сивой кобылы», т.е. чепуха, выдумка (досл. гнездо
кобылы)
72
73
as sound as a bell - в полном порядке
74
Eh bien – отлично (фр.)
75
who keeps the Lodge of the Sanctuary – привратник святилища
76
Cannabis Indica – Hashish – гашиш (наркотик)
1. Pre-reading task.
1. What do you know about the legend “The Flock of Geryon”?
2. What do you thonk this story is about?
2. Practice your pronunciation. When in doubt consult your dictionary.
coincidence, consolation, orthodox, headquarters, estate, ramp, devotee,
pneumonia, influenza, gastric ulcer, mademoiselle, expel, typhoid, hypnotize,
ulcerative colitis, revelation, martyr, syringe, scoundrel, Cannabis Indica
1. Find in the text the English for:
чепуха (ерунда)
магнитические чары
далекий родственник
благодарно принять подарок
в полном порядке
быть глубоко привязанным к кому-либо
быть страстным последователем (верующим)
шпионить за кем-либо
2. Answer the questions:
1. Who visited Mr. H. Poirot? 2. Where had hercule poirot seen Amy Carnaby
before? 3. What story did Amy Carnaby tell Hercule Poirot? 4. What number did
Hercule Poirot give to his Labour? 5. What did they decide to do to help her friend?
6. Who helped Hercule Poirot to investigate this case? 7. Why did Amy Carnaby
refuse to speak to Hercule Poirot in a restaurant? 8. How did women die in the
previous cases? 9. What was the Flock of the Shepherd organized for? 10. What did
the Great Shepherd do for a living?
3. Stage a dialogue between: a) H. Poirot and the Great Shepherd. How they met
each other.
b) H. Poirot and one of the rich women, try to explain why she was in this
organization.
4.
Retell the story from the part of
a) Amy Carnaby;
b) Inspector Cole.
When speaking use the conversational formulas, given in Appendix 1.
5.
Give a description of the main heroes of this story.
6.
Make up a situation using the active vocabulary. (80-100 words)
7. Read the following proverbs, and their Russian equivalents. Say what
proverb illustrates the story best of all. Give the examples from your life
experience.
1. Old friends and old wine are best. (Держись друга старого, а дома
нового)
2. All wasn’t gold that glittered. (Не все то золото, что блестит).
3. Fields have eyes, and words have ears. (Скажешь тайком, а услышишь
явком)
4. Pride goes before a fall. (Дьявол гордился, да с неба свалился)
8 Curiosity quiz for eagers:
Down: 1. Where was the headquarter? 2. The name of the dog of Amy
Carnaby? 5. Doctor’s name.
Across:
1. What kind of organization was it? 4. What did one of the woman die from?
6. Where was the doctor expelled from?
1
2
3
4
5
6
9. Write a composition “My favourite ancient legend”. (200 words)
LABOUR XII
THE CAPTURE OF CERBERUS77
I
Hercule Poirot, swaying to and fro78 in the tube train, thought to himself that
there were too many people in the world. Certainly there were too many people in
the Underground world of London at this particular moment (6.30 p.m.) of the
evening. Heat, noise, crowd, the pressure of hands, arms, bodies, shoulders!
Humanity seen like this en masse79 was not attractive. How seldom could one see a
face sparkling with intelligence, how seldom a woman with elegance! All these
young women who surrounded him—so alike, so devoid of charm, so lacking in
genuine femininity! Ah! to see a femme du monde,80 a woman with grace, a woman
beautifully and extravagantly dressed! Once there had been such women. But now
— now —
The train stopped at a station. Like a great tidal wave the passengers flowed
out on to the platform. Presently Poirot was again on an escalator being carried
upwards towards the surface of the earth.
Suddenly a voice cried his name. Startled, he raised his eyes. On the opposite
escalator, the one descending, his unbelieving eyes saw a vision from the past. A
mysteriously looking woman, her wonderful red hair crowned with a small straw hat
decorated with bright coloured little birds. Exotic furs covered her shoulders.
"It is he!" she screamed. "But it is! Mon cher Hercule Poirot! We must meet
again! I insist!"
But Fate itself is not more inexorable than two escalators moving in opposite
directions. Steadily, Hercule Poirot was borne upwards, and the Countess Vera
Rossakoff was borne downwards.
Leaning over the balustrade, Poirot cried despairingly:
"Chere Madame, where can I find you?"
Her reply came to him faintly from the depths.
"In Hell..."
"In Hell...," repeated Hercule Poirot.
What did the Countess mean? No doubt that travelling in the bowels of the
earth at the rush hour was Hell. If that had been the Countess's meaning, he could
not agree with her more...
Resolutely Poirot crossed over, joined the descending crowd and was borne
into the depths. At the foot of the escalator no sign of the Countess. Poirot visited
each platform in turn, but nowhere did he find that flamboyant Russian figure, the
Countess Vera Rossakoff. He came home in a mood of pleasant excitement. Though
it was about twenty years since he had seen her last the magic fascination of the
Countess still held. The little bourgeois was still thrilled by the aristocrat. The
memory of the adroit way she stole jewellery and the magnificent aplomb with
which she had admitted the fact roused the old admiration. A woman in a thousand
— in a million! And he had met her again — and lost her!
"In Hell," she had said. What an intriguing, what an unpredictable woman! A
lesser woman might have shouted "The Ritz" or "Claridge's".81 But Vera Rossakoff
had cried poignantly and enigmatically: "Hell!"
Poirot sighed. But he was not defeated. He took the simplest and most
straightforward course on the following morning, he asked his secretary, Miss
Lemon.
Miss Lemon was unbelievably ugly and incredibly efficient. She always knew
all the answers.
"Miss Lemon, may I ask you a question?"
"Of course, M. Poirot." Miss Lemon took her fingers off the typewriter keys
and waited attentively.
"If a friend asked you to meet her — or him — in Hell, what would you do?"
Miss Lemon, as usual, did not pause.
"It would be advisable, I think, to ring up for a table," she said.
Hercule Poirot stared at her in amazement.
"You — would — ring — up — for— a table?"
Miss Lemon nodded and drew the telephone towards her.
"14578? Is that Hell? Will you please reserve a table for two? M. Hercule
Poirot. Eleven o'clock."
She replaced the receiver and returned to her typewriter. But Hercule Poirot
required explanations.
"What is it, then, this Hell?" he demanded.
Miss Lemon looked slightly surprised.
"Oh didn't you know, M. Poirot? It's a night club — quite new and very
popular at present — run by some Russian woman, I believe." And she broke into
efficient typing.
II
At eleven that evening Hercule Poirot passed through a doorway over which
a Neon sign showed one letter at a time. A gentleman in red tails took his coat and
by gesture directed him to the stairs leading downwards. On each step a phrase was
written.
"The good intentions that pave the way to Hell," murmured Poirot descending
the stairs. On his left in a kind of marble grotto sat the largest, the ugliest and the
blackest dog Poirot had ever seen. It sat up very straight and immovable. It was, he
thought (and hoped), not real. But at that moment the dog turned its terrible head
and growled. It was a horrifying sound.
And then Poirot noticed a decorative basket with small round dog biscuits.
They were labelled "A sop for Cerberus!"
It was on them that the dog's eyes were fixed. Hercule Poirot picked up a
biscuit and tossed it towards the great hound.
A cavernous red mouth opened, then the powerful jaws
closed again.
Cerberus had accepted his sop! Poirot moved on through an open doorway.
The room was not a big one. There were little tables in the corners and a space
of dancing floor in the middle. It was lighted with small red lamps. There were
frescoes on the wall, and at the far end was a vast grill at which cooked chefs wearing
tails and horns. The jazz band, dressed as devils, played hot music.
At this moment Countess Vera Rossakoff in red evening dress came up to him
with outstretched hands.
"Ah, you have come! My dear—my very dear friend! What a joy to see you
again! After so many years! You have not changed — not in the least."
"Nor you, chere amie,82" Poirot exclaimed, bowing over her hand.
She drew Poirot to a table at which two other people were sitting.
"My friend, my celebrated friend, M. Poirot," she announced. "He who is the
terror of evildoers. I was once afraid of him myself, but now I lead a life of the most
virtuous dullness. Is it not so?"
The tall thin elderly man to whom she spoke said, "Never say dull, Countess."
"The Professor Liskeard," the Countess announced. "He who knows
everything about the past and who gave me the valuable advice for the decorations
here. And this is my little Alice."
Poirot bowed to the second occupant of the table, a severe-looking girl in a
check coat and skirt with large pockets.
"She is very, very clever," said Countess Rossakoff. "She has a degree and
she is a psychologist and she knows all the reasons why lunatics are lunatics."
The girl called Alice smiled. She asked the Professor if he would like to dance.
They got up and danced. They didn't dance well.
The Countess sighed. Following out a thought of her own, she murmured,
"And yet she is not really bad-looking."
"She does not make the most of herself,"83 said Poirot critically.
"Frankly," cried the Countess, "I cannot understand the young people of
nowadays. They do not try any more to please. Always, in my youth, I tried — the
colours that suited me, the hair, perhaps, a more interesting shade... And look, I ask
you, how dull these young people have made the world! It is all regulations and
prohibitions! Not so when I was young."
"Speaking of young people, how is your son, Madame?"
The Countess's face lit up with pride.
"The beloved angel! So big now, such shoulders, so handsome! He is in
America. He builds there — bridges, banks, hotels, department stores, railways,
anything the Americans want. And we adore each other! And so for his sake I adore
the little Alice. Yes, they are engaged. They meet on a plane84 or a train, and they
fall in love, all in the middle of talking about the welfare of the workers. And when
she comes to London she comes to see me and I take her to my heart... And what do
you think, cher ami, of all this that I have imagined here?"
"It is very well imagined," said Poirot, looking round him. "It is chic!" 85
"We have all kinds of visitors here," said the Countess. "It should be so, isn't
it? The gates of Hell are open to all?"
"Except, possibly, to the poor?" Poirot suggested.
The Countess laughed. "Are we not told that it is difficult for a rich man to
enter the Kingdom of Heavens?86 Naturally, then, he should have priority in Hell."
The Professor and Alice were returning to the table. The Countess got up.
"I must speak to Aristide."
She exchanged some words with the head waiter, dressed as Mephistopheles,
then went round from table to table, speaking to the guests.
Poirot followed her. Suddenly he saw something that immediately attracted
his attention. At a table on the opposite side of the hall sat a fair-haired young man.
He wore evening dress, his whole behaviour was that of one who lives a life of ease
and pleasure. Any one seeing him might have murmured: "The idle rich!"
Nevertheless Poirot knew very well that the young man was neither rich nor idle.
He was, in fact, Detective Inspector Charles Stevens, and it seemed probable to
Poirot that Detective Inspector Stevens was here on business...
III
On the following morning Poirot paid a visit to Scotland Yard to his old friend
Chief Inspector Japp.
"You want to know all about this place Hell? Well, on the surface it's just
another of these fashionable bars. They must be making a lot of money, though of
course the expenses are pretty high. There's a Russian woman running it, calls herself
the Countess Something or other—"
"I am acquainted with Countess Rossakoff," said Poirot coldly. "We are old
friends."
"But she's just a dummy," Japp went on. "She didn't put up the money. It might
be the head waiter, Aristide Papopolous —he's got an interest in it—but we don't
believe it's really his club either. In fact, we don't know whose club it is."
"And Inspector Stevens goes there to find out?"
"Oh, you saw Stevens, did you? Lucky young boy getting a job like that at the
taxpayers' expense!" 87
"What do you suspect there is to find out?"
"Dope! Drug racket88 on a large scale. And the dope's being paid for not in
money, but in precious stones."
"You think the exchange — jewels for dope — takes place in Hell?"
"Yes. And we want to know who's supplying the dope and where it's coming
from."
"And so far you have no idea?"
"I think it's the Russian woman — but we've no evidence. A few weeks ago
we raided the club, searched everybody. Result—no stones, no dope!"
"A fiasco, in fact?"
Japp sighed. "You're telling me! We could get in a real jam, but luckily while
we searched the place we got Peverel – you know that murderer. One of our
sergeants recognised him from his photos. So all's well that ends well — terrific
advertisement for the club — it's been more packed than ever since!"
Poirot said:
"But it does not advance the dope inquiry. There is, perhaps, a hiding place
somewhere."
"Must be. But we couldn't find it. Searched the place twice. And between you
and me, there's been an unofficial search as well. But it was not a success. Our
"unofficial" man nearly got pm to pieces by that horrible great dog!"
"Aha, Cerberus!"
"Yes. Silly name for a dog, isn't it?"
"Cerberus," murmured Poirot thoughtfully.
"Suppose you try your hand at it, Poirot," suggested Japp. "It is a pretty
interesting problem and worth doing. I hate the drug racket, it destroys people body
and soul. That really is Hell, if you like."
Poirot murmured thoughtfully:
"Do you know what the 12th Labour of Hercules was?"
"No idea."
"The Capture of Cerberus. It is appropriate, is it not?"
IV
"I wish to speak to you with the utmost seriousness," said Poirot.
The hour was early, the Club as yet nearly empty. The Countess and Poirot
sat at a small table near the doorway.
"But I do not feel serious," she protested. "My little Alice, she is always
serious and, entre nous,89 I find it very boring."
"I have for you much affection," continued Poirot steadily. "And I do not want
to see you in what is called the jam."
"But it is absurd what you say there! I am on top of the world!"
"You own this place?"
"Certainly."
"But you have a partner?"
"Oh! Paul Varcsco! What an idea!"
He has a bad — a criminal past. Do you realize that this place is often visited
by criminals?"
The Countess burst out laughing.
"Naturally I realize! Do you not see that this is half the attraction of the place?
Young people get tired of seeing their own kind round them in the West End. They
come here, where they see the criminals, the thief, the blackmailer, perhaps, even,
the murderer—the man who will be in the Sunday papers next week! That is exciting
— they think they are seeing life! So does the business man who all the week sells
the stockings, the corsets. What a change from his respectable life and his
respectable friends! And then, another thrill — there at a table, stroking his
moustache, is the Inspector from Scotland Yard."
"So you knew that?" said Poirot softly.
Her eyes met his and she smiled.
"Mon cher ami, I am not so simple as you seem to suppose."
"Do you also deal in drugs here?"
"Oh, no!" the Countess said sharply. "That would be abominable."
Poirot looked at her for a moment or two, then he sighed.
"I believe you," he said. "But in that case it is all the more necessary that you
tell me who really owns this place."
"Do you know, mon ami, I indeed find you too curious? Is he not too curious,
Dou dou?"
Vera Rossakoff rose, crossed to the marble niche and flung her arms round
the dog's neck.
"It's my little Dou dou. See how gentle he can be," she exclaimed. "For me,
for Alice, for his friends — they can do what they like! But I can just give him the
word and then... I can assure you he would tear a—police inspector, for instance —
into small pieces. Yes, into small pieces!"
She burst out laughing.
"I would have only to say the word —"
Poirot interrupted quickly. He mistrusted the Countess's sense of humour.
Inspector Stevens might be in real danger.
"Thursday night, old man," said Japp. "That's when we'll raid the place. We've
solved the problem, I think. There's another way out of that Club — and we've found
it!"
"Where?"
"Behind the grill. Part of it swings round. We've been examining the house
behind the Club — and that's how we detected the trick."
"And you propose to do — what?"
"Let it go according to plan — the police appear, the lights go out — and some
of us are waiting on the other side of that secret door to see who comes through. This
time we'll get them!"
"You permit," said Poirot, "that I too make one or two little arrangements?"
***
Sitting at his usual table near the entrance on Thursday night Poirot studied
his surroundings. As usual Hell was going with a swing!90
The Countess was even more flamboyantly made up than usual, if that was
possible. She was being very Russian tonight, clapping her hands and screaming
with laughter. Paul Varesco had arrived. He looked vicious and attractive. After a
short talk with a stout, middle-aged woman plastered with diamonds, he leaned over
Alice Cunningham who was sitting at a table busily writing in a little notebook and
asked her to dance.
Professor Liskeard came up and sat down by Poirot.
"Are you interested in criminals, M. Poirot? You should study the criminal
code of Hammurabi, 1800 B.C.91 Most interesting. The man who is caught stealing
during a fire shall be thrown into the fire."
He stared ahead of him towards the electric grill.
"And there are older laws. If a wife hates her husband and says to him 'You
are not my husband,' they shall throw her into the river. Cheaper and easier than
divorce.
But if a husband says that to his wife he only has to pay her a certain measure
of silver. Nobody throws him in the river."
"The same old story," said Alice Cunningham. "One law for the man and one,
for the woman."
Her words were drowned in a sudden chorus. The word Police' was heard —
women rose to their feet, there was a babel of sounds92. The lights went out and so
did the electric grill.
When the lights went on again Hercule Poirot was halfway up the wide steps.
The police officers by the door saluted him, and he passed out into the street and
went to the corner. Just round the corner, pressed against the wall was a small man
with a red nose and a strong odour of wine. He spoke in an anxious, hoarse whisper.
"I'm 'ere, guv'nor, time for me to do my stuff?"93
"Yes. Go on. You're sure you can accomplish what you have to do? The
animal in question is large and fierce."
"'e won't be fierce to me," said the little man confidently. "Not with what I've
got 'ere. Any dog'll follow me to Hell for it!"
"In this case," murmured Hercule Poirot, "he has to follow you out of Hell."
VI
Early in the morning the telephone rang. Poirot picked up the receiver.
Japp's voice said:
"You asked me to ring you."
"Yes, indeed. What's the news?"
"No dope — we got the emeralds.''
"Where?"
"In Professor Liskeard's pocket."
"Professor Liskeard?"
"Surprises you, too? Frankly I don't know what to think! He looked as
astonished as a baby, stared at them, said he hadn't the faintest idea how they got in
his pocket, and I believe he was speaking the truth! Varesco could have put them
into his pocket when the lights went out. I'm beginning to think we're wrong about
the whole thing — there never has been any dope in that Club."
"Oh, yes, there has, my friend, it was there to-night. Tell me, did no one come
out through your secret way?"
"Yes, Prince Henry of Scandenberg — he only arrived in England yesterday.
Vitamian Evans, the Cabinet Minister (devil of a job being a Minister, you have to
be so careful!), Lady Beatrice Viner was the last — she's getting married the day
after to-morrow to the young Duke of Leominster. I don't believe any of them were
mixed up in this."
"You believe rightly. Nevertheless, the dope was in the Club and someone
took it out of the Club."
"Who did?"
"I did, mon ami," said Poirot softly.
He replaced the receiver, cutting off Japp's exclamations, as at this moment a
bell rang. He went and opened the front door. The Countess Rossakoff sailed in.
"You see, I have come as you told me to do in your note. There is, I think, a
policeman behind me, but he can stay in the street. And now, my friend, what is it?"
"Why did you put these emeralds in Professor Liskeard's pocket?" asked
Poirot.
The Countess's eyes opened wide.
"Naturally, it was in your pocket I meant to put the emeralds."
"Oh, in my pocket?"
"Certainly. I cross hurriedly to the table where you usually sit — but the lights
are out and I suppose by mistake I put them in the Professor's pocket."
"And why did you wish to put stolen emeralds in my pocket?"
"But, dear friend, consider! The police arrive, the lights go out and a hand
takes my bag off the table. I snatch it back, but I feel through the velvet something
hard inside. I know by touch it is jewels and I understand at once who has put them
there!"
"Oh, you do?"
"Of course, I do! It is that lizard, that monster, that double-faced pig's son,
Paul Varesco."
"The man who is your partner in Hell?"
"Yes, yes, it is he who owns the place, who puts up the money. Until now I
didn't want to betray him. But now that he tries to embroil me with the police — ah!
now I will spit his name out — yes, spit it out!"
"Calm down," said Poirot, "and come with me into the next room."
He opened the door. It was a small room and seemed for a moment to be
completely filled with Cerberus. There was also the small and odoriferous man. I
"Dou dou!" screamed the Countess. "My angel Dou dou!"
Cerberus beat the floor with his fail — but he did not move.
"Let me introduce you to Mr. William Higgs," said Poirot. "A master in his
profession. During the brouhaha to-night he induced Cerberus to follow him out of
Hell."
"You induced him?" the Countess said incredulously to the small rat-like
figure. "But how? How?"
Mr. Higgs dropped his eyes. "'Ardly like to say before a lady. 94 But there are
things no dog will resist, lady, 'e will follow me anywhere if I want 'im to. Of course,
it won't work the same way with bitches"—no, that's different, that is."
The Countess turned on Poirot.
"But why? Why?"
Poirot said slowly:
"A specially trained dog will carry an article in his mouth until he is
commanded to spit it out. He will carry it if necessary for hours. Will you now tell
your dog to drop what he holds?"
Vera Rossakoff stared, turned and uttered two words.
The great jaws of Cerberus opened. Poirot stepped forward. He picked up a
small package wrapped in pink rubber. He unwrapped it. Inside it was a packet of
white powder.
"What is it?" The Countess demanded sharply.
Poirot said softly:
"Cocaine. Such a small quantity but enough to be worth thousands of pounds
to those who want to pay for it. Enough to bring ruin and misery to several hundred
people..."
She caught her breath. She cried out:
"And you think that I — but it is not so! I swear to you it is not so! In the past
I have amused myself with the jewels. But drugs — no! I had no idea — no faintest
idea that my so charming, so delightful little Hell was being used for that purpose!
Believe me, my friend," implored the Countess.
"But of course I believe you! Have I not taken time and trouble to convict the
real organizer of the dope racket. For I do not like to see my friends framed — yes
framed — for it was you who were intended to take the rap95 if things went wrong.
It was in your handbag the emeralds would have been found and if any one had been
clever enough (like me) to suspect a hiding place in the mouth of the dog—well, he
is your dog, is he not? Even if he obeyed Alice's orders, too. Yes, you may open
your eyes! From the first I did not like that young lady with her scientific jargon and
her coat and skirt with the big pockets. Yes, pockets. Pockets in which she can carry
drugs and take away jewels — a little exchange easily made while she is dancing
with her accomplice. No one suspects the earnest, the scientific psychologist with a
medical degree and spectacles. She thinks she can deceive Hercule Poirot too. Eh
bien, I am ready for her. The lights go off. Quickly I rise from my table and go to
stand by Cerberus. In the darkness I hear her come. She opens his mouth and puts in
the package, and I—carefully, unfelt by her, cut off a little piece from her skirt"
With these words he produced a piece of material.
"You see — the identical checked tweed — and I will give it to Japp to fit it
back where it belongs — and make the arrest — and say how clever once more has
been Scotland Yard."
The Countess Rossakoff stared at him in amazement.
"But my Niki — my Niki. This will be terrible for him — " She paused. "Or
do you think not?"
"There are a lot of other girls in America," said Hercule Poirot.
"Guv'nor," said Mr. Higgs anxiously, "what do you want me to do — what
about this Hell Hound?"
"If I remember rightly," said Hercule Poirot, "Cerberus returned to Hell."
He paused.
"From the Nemean Lion to the Capture of Cerberus," he murmured. "It is
complete."
77
The Capture Of Cerberus – «Похищение Цербера». Миф о том, как Геракл
спустился в подземное царство Аида и привел к царю Эврисфею стража
подземного царства, страшного пса Цербера.
78
to and fro – взад и вперед
79
en masse- в массе (фр.)
80
femme du monde – светская дама (фр.)
81
"The Ritz" or "Claridge's" – «Риц», «Клэридж» - названия ресторанов
82
Nor you, chere amie – Вы тоже, дорогой друг (фр.)
83
She does not make the most of herself – Она не умеет себя подать
They meet on a plane – здесь и далее употребляется настоящее время для
придания большей выразительности повествованию
84
85
chic – шикарно, роскошно (фр.)
86
Kingdom of Heavens – царство небесное
87
at the taxpayers' expense – за счет налогоплательщиков
88
drug racket – спекуляция наркотиками
89
entre nous – между нами (фр.)
90
Hell was going with a swing! – В «Аду» все шло по заведенному порядку!
91
Hammurabi, 1800 B.C. – Хаммурапи, ассирийский царь, 1800 г. до н.э.
92
a babel of sounds – разноголосый шум
93
I'm 'ere, guv'nor, time for me to do my stuff? – Я здесь, начальник, мне пора
делать мое дело? ('ere = here) В речи лондонских кокни “h” перед гласной
опускается.
94
'Ardly like to say before a lady – Неудобно говорить при леди.
it was you who were intended to take the rap - именно на вас собирались
возложить всю вину
95
I Pre-reading task
1.
2.
Did you read the stories about Cerberus before?
What do you think this story is about?
II Pronounce these words when in doubt consult with your dictionary
sway, straw, inexorable, despairingly, flamboyant, adroit, poignantly,
enigmatically, efficient, pave, grotto, covernous, prohibition, erald, snatch,
embroil, odourinferous, brouhaha, cocaine.
1. Find in the text the English for: взад и вперед; не уметь подать себя;
возложить вину; Будь они прокляты!; с чувством превосходства; устать;
встретиться согласно расписанию; неудобно говорить перед кем-либо; шум;
арестовать; вернуть что-либо на его законное место; смотреть с удивлением;
танцевать с кем-то; в этом все и дело.
2. Answer the questions:
1.
Whom did Hercule Poirot see at the station?
a.
his typewriter Miss Lemon
b.
a mysteriously looking woman
c.
a little Alice
2.
Where did the Countess Vera Rossakoff offer to meet with Mr. Poirot?
a.
in "Hell"
b.
in the "Ritz"
c.
in tne "ClaridgeV
3.
What did Poirot noticed in the night club when he came?
a.
a pocket with a cocaine
b.
a secret door
c.
a decorative basket with a small round dog biscuits
4.
Who was a master of the Club?
а.
Countess Rossakoff
b.
Mr. William Higgs
c.
Lady Beatrice Viner
5.
Whom did Poirot want to visit in Scotland Yard?
a.
Professor Liskeard
b.
his old friend -chief Inspector Japp
c.
Prince Henry of Scandenberg
6.
What did he notice in Professor Liskeard's pocket?
a.
a great deal of money
b.
drugs
c.
emeralds
7.
Where did Alice put her packet in?
a. in Cerberus’ mouth
b.
behind the grill
c.
in a little piece of her scirt
8. Why did people come to the club?
a. to have a good rest
b. to get a cocaine
c. to see the criminals, the thief and the murderer
9. What had happened at the end of the story?
a. the Countess Rossakoff was arrested
b. the Cerberus died
c. the Countess Rossakoff run off
10. In what city did the story take place?
a. in London
b. in acient Greece
c. in Switzerland
3.
Some of the following statements are not true. Find and correct them.
Prove your answers from the text. (прикрепить файл)
I .Hercule Poirot met his old enemy the Countess Rossakoff in the undeground of
London. F
2. The Countess Rossakoff insisted on their meeting at "The ritz'. F
3. Miss Lemon knew where a night club "Hell' was situated. T
4. The dog in the night club Cerberus liked apples very much. T
5. The Countess Rossakoff introduced Hercule Poirot with the Professor Liskeard
and her son Nick. F
6. Hercule Poirot saw Inspector Japp in "Hell”. F
7. On Friday night "Hell” was going with a swing. F
8. Alice was a young girl, the scientific chemist with a medical degree and
spectacles. F
9. It was Prince Henry of Scan den berg who was intended to take the rap. F
10. Cocaine was found in dog's mouth. T
4.
Make an inner monologue of Countess Rossakoff when she first met
Hercule Poirot in the undeground.
5.
Retell the story according to the outline:
1.
The beginning of the story when Hercule Poirot was in the underground.
2.
The end in which Hercule Poirot provides the answer to the main question.
When speaking use the conversational formulas, given m Appendix 1.
6.
Read the following proverbs, sayings and find their Russian equivalents.
Say what proverb illustrates the story best of all. Make up sentences using
these proverbs.
1.
Time is money.
2.
Curiosity killed the cat.
3.
All well that ends well.
4.
East or west home is best.
7. Curiosity quiz for eagers:
1. Time is money.
2. Curiosity killed the cat.
3. All well that ends well.
4. East or west home is best.
1. Wordsquare
The words in the wordsquare are written down, across, diagonally,
upwards, backwards, find them.
B
E
A
T
R
I
C
E
S
V
Q
S
H
C
E
W
E
A
N
G
E
L
R
T
T
N
T
B
L
W
B
O
N
S
O
X
L
Y
E
R
U
U
R
I
T
Z
R
I
O
O
J
A
P
P
U
O
C
D
A
R
E
V
S
P
2. Crossword
Questions
Down: 1. The main word.
Across: 1.The name of the night club.
2. The Countess’ name.
3. The name of the place where Nick is.
4. The case or … (synonym).
5. The name of the night club where Hercule Poirot met Inspector Stevens.
6. The name of the head waiter.
7. The Countess’ nationality.
8. How did the head waiter look like?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Control Test
I Multiple choice:
1 Hercule Poirot was:
a) a strong tall man who enjoed detective stories
b) a famous policeman with splendid physique
c) an elderly private detective with remarkable moustaches
d) a shy typist working in the police
2 What was Miss Carnaby:
a) an old maid, a companion of Lady Hoggin
b) a victim of an awful crime
c) a deep psychologist, a first class criminal
d) A & C
3 Marrascaud came to a little mountain village:
a) to hide from his gang and not to share the money with them
b) to meet Dr. Schwartz
c) to discuss the further plans with his gang
d) to change his appearance
4 Who were the real Stymphalean Birds:
a) the two Polish Ladies
b) Mr. Harold Waring and a jealous husband
c) Mrs. Rice and Elsie, perfect linguists
d) the birds, which lived in the orchard near the hotel
5 Why was Hugh Chandler driven mad?
a) he wasn’t a son of the Admiral
b) Admiral didn’t want him to marry Diana
c) Hugh and Diana wanted to kill the Admiral
d) the Admiral didn’t love his only son
6 The criminals used Winnie King’s luggage:
a) to change their appearance with the help of her clothes
b) to carry a picture in it
c) to steal money from it
d) A&B
7 Who was perfectly deceived by the criminals in “Hell”?
a) Alice
b) Countess Rousakoff
c) Hercule Poirot
d) the man who ran this night club
8 What helped to commit crimes in “Hell”?
a) dog’s ears
b) Alice’s spectacles
c) pockets of the skirt
d) furniture in the club
II Translate from Russian into English using the vocabulary notes
1 Ты собираешься работать там переводчиком? – Как сказать. Все решится по
прибытии в Париж. 2 Преступник притворился слепым и, честно говоря
прекрасно играл свою роль. 3 Через несколько дней подозреваемый, мужчина
средних лет, был пойман и сознался в убийстве. 4 Кто управляет этим ночным
клубом? – Некто мистер Гредов, говорят, он раньше продавал недвижимость
в Нью-Йорке. 5 Пуаро ни минуты не сомневался, что Мэри, скромная милая
девушка, совершила это ужасное преступление. 6 Вы так похожи на Мэри.
Она, случайно, не Ваша двоюродная сестра? 7 Я пытаюсь убедить Джейн не
продавать поместье у моря. Мы так привязались к нему. 8 мы с Джейн
привыкли делиться всем. Поэтому она и рассказала мне вчера о том, что какойто человек шантажирует ее. 9 Ради Бога! Не стоит беспокоиться! Со мной все
будет в порядке! 10 не удивительно, что она жалуется на плохое здоровье.
Вместо того, чтобы отдохнуть, она работает день и ночь.
III Make up 5 sentences using the words
1 провозить контрабандой
2 тайно сбежать
3 обмануть
4 убедить кого-то в чем-то
5 сомневаться
IV Make up a story to illustrate one of the proverbs
1 There is a black sheep in every flock
2 The pitcher goes too often to the well
3 Still waters run deep
4 Like father, like son
5 All is well that ends well
6 While there is life, there is hope.
V Translate from English into Russian
1 He was dismissed because he couldn’t come on time to the office. 2 Who plays the
part of Jane in his new play? – I have no idea. 3 He often heard women complaining
of the jealousy of their husbands and secretly blamed for it women themselves. 4 As
Poirot was greatly devoted to his work, he did his best to find the truth. 5 The odour
of forget-me nots filled the room. 6 Children are so keen about the game that forget
everything aroud them. – It depends on the game. 7 Mr. White is jealous of his wife.
Poor thing, she suffers from his bad character very much. 8 How long have you been
engaged to James? – For about a year, - said Mary and her face lit up with happiness.
9 On my way home I dropped in at Mike’s place and chatted to him the whole
evening. 10 The family didn’t approve her engagement to James. More over it was
regarded as a betrayal.
VI Fill in the gaps with the proverbs given before.
1. As baker so the buns, as the father so the sons.
2. There is a black sheep in every flock.
3. Health above a wealth.
4. All was not gold that glittered.
5. Actions speak louder than words.
Three sons
Many years ago a beautiful town stood at the hill. There lived a King. He was
very rich and had three sons. Two of them were very strong and good looking. They
always obeyed the King and had much in common with their father. People who
lived in the town liked to tell about them ……
The youngest brother wasn’t good-looking, wasn’t strong but he had a kind
heart. He didn’t like wars as his brothers, he loved nature and animals. Everybody
thought that he was silly and sentimental. People said about him ……The King was
old and one day he fell ill. He was ready to give all his money to a person who would
be able to help him because ……but nobody could help him. He knew that he would
die. Then he decided to write a will. He called his sons. Two eldest brothers come
and told him how they loved him and how they would be unhappy when he died. He
believed them. But the next day the King heard by chance how his sons decided that
they would do with his wealth when he died. Then the King understood that ……
Nobody could find the youngest son. He disappeared. In a week when the
King was ready to die his youngest son came into his room and gave him medicine
from his disease. He told his father ……… Then the King understood who was the
cleverest son and gave him all his wealth.
VII. Additional Tasks
a) Write a composition “Why I like/dislike Hercule Poirot”.
b) Act one scene from the story. Work in group.
Vocabulary Exercises
The Nemean Lion.
I. Translate from Russian into English (using the active vocabulary):
1. Такое отвратительное преступление мог совершить только очень злой
и несчастный человек. 2. Преступник утверждал, что он не имел
никакого отношения к убийству президента и старался быть очень
вежливым. 3. Официант хотел выписать чек, но клиент убежал,
прихватив с собой тарелку супа. 4. Драматург был крайне
раздраженным в день премьеры его работы. 5. Признав свою вину, он
кивал головой, улыбаясь.
II. Translate from Russian into English:
1. «Ваш случай, сэр Джозеф, первый из двенадцати, который я решил
распутать до отставки», - сказал Пуаро. 2. Лицо сэра Джозефа
покраснело. 3. Она вбила себе в голову, что что-нибудь случится с ее
обожаемой собачкой, если я пойду в полицию. 4. В то время как мисс
Кембл нагнулась над коляской этот негодяй срезал поводок и убежал с
собакой. 5. Он отравил свою жену, для того чтобы жениться на
секретарше.
The Erymanthian Boar.
I. Translate from Russian into English (using the active vocabulary):
1. Он чувствовал себя не в своей тарелке и все время пожимал плечами. 2.
Увидеть дикого кабана или какое-нибудь животное в этом месте,
которое мои друзья прозвали «медвежьим углом», было очень странно.
3. Сыграв успешно роль почтальона, он получил возможность
воспользоваться преимуществом для обнаружения дополнительных
улик. 4. Он выглядел встревоженным, впутавшись в полицейское
разбирательство. 5. Им и в голову не могло прийти, что в назначенное
время он попытается следить за кем-либо из них, для того, чтобы
свести счеты.
II. Translate from Russian into English:
1. Выполнение четвертого дела Геркулеса привело Пуаро в Швейцарию.
2. Он решил воспользоваться преимуществом этого дела и посетить
некоторые незнакомые места. 3. Марраскауд был членом хорошо
известной банды. 4. Менеджер отеля был очень вежливым, но Пуаро
показалось, что, несмотря на это, он чувствовал себя не в своей
тарелке. 5. «Встреча, конечно же, могла быть организована в
безопасном и не очень живописном месте, в кафе, на станции,
переполненном кинотеатре, парке, но не здесь, в заснеженном отеле».
6. Но старик мало говорил и был подозрительным. 7. Пуаро сказал:
«Здесь он притворялся официантом, хотя он плохо выполнял работу».
8. Три дня спустя, в отеле появилась группа мужчин.
The Stymphalean Birds.
I.
Translate from Russian into English (using the active vocabulary):
1. Он останавливал свой проницательный взгляд на ком-либо, пытаясь
понять точку зрения прохожего, и при этом оценивал ситуацию с
быстротой молнии. 2. Стоило этому единственному ребенку сделать чтонибудь, как хозяйка выходила из себя, и его мать бросалась просить
прощения. 3. Исполнение стоило благодарностей. 4. Быть переводчиком
для кого-либо в таких ситуациях не составляло ему большого труда. 5. Он
не хотел понять точку зрения присутствующих, все время навязывал свою.
II.
Translate from Russian into English:
1. Гарольд курил трубку, осознавая, что мир это самое прекрасное место.
2. Его политическая карьера складывалась удачно. 3. Они шли по
тропинке от озера очень медленно, и когда Гарольд увидел их, его
передернуло. 4. Гарольд Уэринг как и многие другие англичане был
плохим лингвистом. 5. Она была очень бледна, но старалась вести себя
как обычно. 6. «Эти женщины собираются шантажировать нас», сказала Миссис Раис. 7. Наконец он подошел к тому месту, где он
впервые встретил этих мрачных женщин, которые довели его и Элен до
такой коварной жизни. 8. «Я собираюсь выучить все европейские
языки. Никто не сможет обмануть меня в следующий раз», - сказал
Гарольд.
The Cretan Bull.
I.
Translate from Russian into English (using the active vocabulary):
1. Он был в здравом уме и не задавал никаких лишних вопросов. 2. Его
лицо наполнило выражение искрящегося жизнелюбия. 3. Это был
только предлог для проникновения в дом. 4. Болезнь друга было
тяжелым обстоятельством для дальнейшего путешествия. 5. Придя в
сознание, он потянулся к окну.
II.
Translate from Russian into English:
1. «Я пришла к вам, потому что человек, с которым я была помолвлена
больше, чем год расторгнул нашу помолвку». 2. Это был Хью Чандлер
великолепного телосложения, которое поразило Эркуля Пуаро больше,
чем что-либо. 3. Вы знаете, что его жена утонула в результате
несчастного случая, когда мальчику было всего лишь десять лет. 4.
Джордж Фробишер все еще пристально смотрел на портрет прекрасной
женщины на стене над ним. 5. Это не его вина, это наследственность. 6.
Они не закроют его в четырех стенах как дикого зверя. 7. Сны еще не
самое страшное. 8. Аптека находилась на центральной улице деревни.
9. «Вам приходилось сталкиваться со случаями, когда человека
умышленно сводили с ума при помощи наркотиков?» 10. «Это
приводит к определенным последствиям – сухость во рту и горле,
трудность при глотании, галлюцинации – все симптомы, которые были
у мистера Чандлера».
Girdle of Hyppolita.
I.
Translate from Russian into English (using the active vocabulary):
1. Было безумием, средь бела дня перевезти контрабандой маленькую
девочку. 2. Кстати, преступник тайно сбежал этой ночью. 3. Это
пролило свет на ситуацию и помогло убить двух зайцев. 4. Заглянув к
другу, я познакомился с инспектором из Скотланд Ярда. 5. Он изменил
показания, не желая привлекать к делу свою жену.
II.
Translate from Russian into English:
1. Пуаро взялся за это дело, только из уважения к хозяину галереи, другу
Александру Симпсону. 2. Эркюль Пуаро решил, что это был просто
трюк, но ничего не мог поделать с этим. 3. Он не был заинтересован в
этом случае, поэтому параллельно решился заняться другим –
исчезновением ученицы, которое показалось ему более интересным. 4.
Затем, в компании 18 девочек она уехала из Лондона на поезде.
The Flock of Geryon.
I.
Translate from Russian into English (using the active vocabulary):
1. Все ранее сказанное было чепухой. 2. Ее магнетические чары заставили
поверить в эту чепуху. 3. Экзотическая трость, присланная далеким
родственником, была благодарно принята в подарок. 4. Все
полицейские были в полном порядке. 5. Они были глубоко привязаны к
своему шефу.
II.
Translate from Russian into English:
1. Эмили и я очень часто говорили о Вас, увидев заметку в газете о Вас,
мы сразу же вырезаем ее. 2. «Вы думаете, ваша подруга стала жертвой
этой секты?» 3. Они называют себя «Стадо Пастуха». 4. Вы будете
притворяться богатой женщиной, не имеющей цели в жизни. 5. Он был
многообещающим химиком, но был исключен из какого-то
университета. 6. Затем я объяснила, что я унаследовала значительную
сумму от далекого родственника. 7. Я верю в его сердце и душу. 8.
Ритуальные вопросы и ответы были распеты. 9. Тем временем детектив
Инспектор Коль осторожно упаковывал шприц, который выпал из рук
Главного Пастуха. 10. Большую часть своей жизни он посвятил
исследованиям бактерий.
The Capture of Cerberus.
I.
Translate from Russian into English (using the active vocabulary):
1. Она преднамеренно заставила преступника сбежать. 2. Агенты
периодически встречались согласно расписанию. 3. Работники музея
смотрели с удивлением, когда картину вернули на законное место. 4.
«Он не хотел танцевать с тобой. В этом все и дело», - успокаивала
девушка подругу.
II.
Translate from Russian into English:
1. Эркюль Пуаро, качаясь взад и вперед, в поезде метро, подумал про
себя, что в мире очень много людей. 2. Как большой прилив волны,
пассажиры ринулись на платформу. 3. В поднимающемся эскалаторе
его глаза как будто заметили видение из прошлого. 4. Он вернулся
домой в хорошем настроении. 5. Мисс Лемон кивнула головой и
подвинула телефон к себе. 6. Мужчина в красном фраке взял его пальто
и показал на лестницу, ведущую вниз. 7. Открылся рот, похожий на
пещеру, и огромная пасть закрылась снова. 8. Вдруг он увидел что-то,
что привлекло его внимание.
Appendix I
Phrases for retelling
On the one (other) hand – с одной (другой) стороны
To begin with – для начала
In the long run, To cut a long story short – короче говоря
To be more precise – если быть более точным
As far as I am able to judge – насколько я могу судить
According to some sources – по данным некоторых источников
Prior to that – прежде всего
Let me say that – позвольте мне сказать
To be in a habit – иметь привычку
The worst thing is … - худшее - …
The author starts by telling the reader that – автор начинает с рассказа о …
To come to the conclusion that – прийти к мнению
Friendly speaking – честно говоря
There is given prominence – на главном месте
There is every likehood that – по всей вероятности
Speaking of … it’s necessary to note that – говоря о … необходимо упомянуть
Mention should be made of the fact… - необходимо упомянуть факт, что …
Going into details – вдаваясь в подробности
Personally, I think – на самом деле, я думаю…
One thing is certain – очевидно то, что
The author points out – автор указывает на
However - однако
Meanwhile – тем временем
The following, the next step… - следующее
I would think, In my opinion – по моему
It goes without saying –само собой разумеется
To be truly, To be honest– честно говоря
I hope that –надеюсь, что
To put it mildly – мягко варажаясь
There is no more to say – больше нечего сказать
It always will be like this – это всегда будет так
Especial reference – по аналогии с
Generally speaking – вообще говоря
Appendix II
75 Facts About the Queen of Crime
1. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Agatha Christie is the best-selling
fiction author of all time with an estimated two billion copies of her books in print.
By comparison, around 270 million copies of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books
have been sold.
2. Agatha is the most-translated fiction author in the world, according to the
UNESCO. Her work has been translated into more than 70 languages. It is often
said that she is outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare.
3. She wrote 80 novels and short story collections and 19 plays. She also wrote two
books of poetry, a children's book, and two autobiographical works.
4. Agatha penned six romance novels under the name of Mary Westmacott. This
pseudonym remained a secret for almost 20 years until her nom de plume was
revealed by the Sunday Times.
5. On average 97 per cent of adults in the UK know of Agatha Christie and one
third have read at least one Christie novel; more than half have seen a Christie
film.
6. Agatha managed to write an average of two novels a year through her working
life.
7. For many years she set and corrected an essay competition for pupils of a local
school.
8. She remains the most borrowed mystery author from Britain's public libraries
and ranks as one of the top10 most borrowed authors, clocking up more than 12
million loans in the past ten years.
9. She is also the nation's favorite spoken book author. In 2002, 117,696 Christie
audiobooks were sold, compared to 97,755 for JK Rowling, 78,770 for Roald Dahl
and 75,841 for JRR Tolkein.
10. In 2000 Agatha Christie was voted Best Writer of the 20th Century and her
Poirot books were named Best Series of the Century at the 31st Boucheron World
Mystery Convention.
11. Her most famous play, The Mousetrap, is the longest continuously running
play of all time, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It opened at
the Ambassadors Theatre in London on November 25, 1952. It moved next door to
the St. Martin's Theatre on March 25, 1974, not missing a single performance. It
continues to this day. It was originally written as a 20-minute radio drama,
commissioned by the BBC to celebrate the 80th birthday of Queen Mary.
12. The author presented the rights to The Mousetrap to her grandson Mathew for
his ninth birthday but a toy train made "much more of an impression" at the time.
13. Lord (Richard) Attenborough was a member of the original Mousetrap cast.
The work has survived for more than 50 years, he believes, "because it is a bloody
good play".
14. Profits from the production go towards the Mousetrap Foundation, which
provides of opportunities for young people from all over the UK to come to the
theatre at reduced prices.
15. Her most popular characters are the portly Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and
the spinster sleuth Jane Marple. Poirot features in 33 novels and 54 short stories.
There are 12 Marple novels and 20 short stories.
16. Rearranging the letters of 'Dame Agatha Christie' gives: 'I am a right death
case'
17. Agatha Christie is one of the best-selling authors in Japan. The Japanese film
director Kon Ichikawa is an impassioned admirer of Christie, whom he thought
should have been awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Ichikawa has often
written screenplays under the pen name "Kuri Shitei" (Christie), borrowed from his
favorite writer.
18. The first animated television series based on Agatha Christie's stories recently
aired in Japan. Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple was broadcast in
primetime on the popular entertainment network, NHK1.
19. A tattered copy of a long-lost Agatha Christie play – never performed at the
time – was found in Canada. Chimneys, written in 1931, received its world
premiere in Calgary in 2003 and will be seen for the first time in Europe at
Pitlochry, Scotland, next year.
20. Fans of Christie include contemporary crime writers such as Ian Rankin, who
said: "The thing about Agatha Christie is she has done it all. She has got books
where everybody did it, nobody did it, the narrator did it, every possible
eventuality. Christie was the beginning and the end of the crime novel."
21. Agatha never went to school. She was educated at home by a succession of
governesses.
22. Her first book was written as a result of a bet. Her sister Madge wagered
Agatha that writing a detective novel would be too difficult a task.
23. The resulting novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was written in 1916 in the
down time while working in a hospital dispensary in Torquay. But it took five
years to find a publisher. The manuscript was sent to several publishers before it
was eventually accepted by the Bodley Head in 1920.
24. In her teens she studied to be a classical musician but had to give it up because
of stage fright.
25. She once had three plays running simultaneously in London's West End – an
unrivalled feat.
26. Agatha was a fast worker, once completing an entire book – Absent in the
Spring by Mary Westmacott – in a single weekend.
27. She described The Mystery of the Blue Train as "easily the worst book I ever
wrote". Of her own work, her favorite play was Witness for the Prosecution, later
turned into a film starring Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich.
28. When the character of Hercule Poirot died in 1975's Curtain, he received a
front-page obituary in the New York Times.
29. Hallowe'en Party is dedicated to comic writer PG Wodehouse, whom Christie
admired.
30. Agatha married Archie Christie, a young pilot who became a war hero, in
1914. Her only daughter, Rosalind, was born five years later. But it was not a
happy marriage, and Archie's infidelity caused Agatha great unhappiness. The
couple divorced in 1928.
31. She remarried in 1930 to archaeologist Max Mallowan. They remained happily
married until Agatha's death in 1976.
32. Between 1930 and 1958 Agatha spent most of her winters in Iraq and Syria,
assisting her husband Max Mallowan on his archaeological digs. Come Tell Me
How You Live is her delightful autobiographical account of this other life she led.
Many of famous adventures, including Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient
Express, were informed by her regular visits to the Middle East.
33. Her love of and support for archaeology was so strong that Agatha's daughter
donated some of the royalties from one of the Poirot novels to the British School of
Archaeology in Iraq.
34. Agatha loved traveling and took her first journey on the Orient Express in
1928. Her travels through France and the Middle East are relived in Andrew
Eames' recent bestseller The 8.55 to Bagdhad.
35. Greenway House, Agatha's home near Torquay, was requisitioned by the US
Navy during WWII. It is now a National Trust property and the glorious woodland
gardens on the banks of the River Dart are open to the public.
36. Lancashire songstress Gracie Fields was the first television Miss Marple,
starring in a 1956 adaptation of A Murder is Announced for NBC's Goodyear TV
Playhouse.
37. Agatha dedicated The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side to Margaret
Rutherford, the first cinema Miss Marple.
38. After seeing Joan Hickson playing the part of a spinster in a stage production
of Appointment With Death, Christie wrote to the actress expressing the hope that
"one day you will play my Miss Marple". Her wish came true, and Joan Hickson
starred as the spinster sleuth in the long-running BBC series (1984-1992).
39. The current Miss Marple series for ITV, starring Geraldine McEwan, has
created a storm of controversy among fans because the character has been given a
back-story. Marple's spinster status, never explained in the books, is now put down
to a doomed affair she conducted with a married man during the First World War.
40. Agatha's favorite color was green.
41. It is often – mistakenly – assumed that Agatha based the character of Marple
upon herself. In her autobiography, however, she explains: "Miss Marple is the sort
of old lady who would have been rather like some of my grandmother's Ealing
cronies – old ladies whom I have met in so many villages where I have gone to
stay as a girl. Miss Marple is not in any way a picture of my grandmother; she is
far more fussy and spinsterish than my grandmother ever is. But one thing she did
have in common with her - though a cheerful person, she always expected the
worst of everyone and everything, and is, with almost frightening accuracy, usually
proved right."
42. However one of her fictional characters does appear to bear a superficial
resemblance to Agatha Christie. Ariadne Oliver, who often assists Poirot, is a
successful crime writer whose main protagonist is a fussy foreign detective.
Remarkably, one of Mrs Oliver's fictional stories, The Body in the Library, later
became the title of one of Agatha's own books.
43. Two Christie characters more commonly associated with Hercule Poirot –
Ariadne Oliver and the secretary Felicity Lemon – first appeared in the company of
another of her creations, the plump, balding former civil servant-cum-detective
Parker Pyne.
44. Agatha said she regretted the inclusion of Poirot in the novel Sad Cypress but
felt compelled to write him into the story because her publishers and the public
expected it.
45. Poirot was dropped from the stage adaptations of The Hollow, Appointment
with Death, Death on the Nile, Five Little Pigs and Cards on the Table. The latter
was not an original Christie play but an adaptation of one of her stories by Leslie
Darbon.
46. For many years Christie was the president of her local amateur dramatics
society in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.
47. Her work on digs cataloguing her husband's significant archaeological finds led
to her becoming an expert photographer.
48. In 1917, aged 24, she qualified as a dispensing chemist thus acquiring a useful
knowledge of poisons.
49. Twice in her life Agatha Christie 'saw' the living embodiment of Poirot; once
lunching in the Savoy and once on a boat in the Canary Islands.
50. In her prime Agatha was rarely out of the bestseller lists. Her British publishers
actively marketed the availability each year of a "Christie for Christmas".
51. On Friday, December 3rd 1926, Agatha Christie vanished from her home in
Berkshire. Her car was later found abandoned in Surrey, with her clothes and
papers inside it but no sign of the famous author. Following sensational media
speculation and national appeals for information, Agatha turned up a couple of
weeks later in a health spa in Harrogate, having apparently suffered a breakdown
as a result of her first husband's infidelity. She never referred to the incident again
and it does not appear in her autobiography.
52. The first stage Poirot was Charles Laughton, the portly actor better known for
playing Captain Bligh in 1935's Mutiny on the Bounty.
53. Agatha was a lifelong teetotaler and non-smoker.
54. Agatha dedicated her novel Dumb Witness to her pet dog Peter, a wire-haired
terrier, of whom she said is "a dog in a thousand." The "dumb" witness in the
novel, of course, is a wire-haired terrier called Bob.
55. Her favorite writers were Graham Greene and Elizabeth Bowen.
56. Lord Louis Mountbatten, below, was an avid fan of Agatha's work, - and it was
he who suggested the plot device for The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
57. Agatha was passionate about music. Her favorite composers were Elgar,
Sibelius and Wagner.
58. Two of her pet hates were marmalade pudding and cockroaches.
59. Her publishers, Collins, tried to make Agatha Christie change the ending to
Ordeal by Innocence as they felt it was too shocking. She kept the original.
60. In 1948, Penguin published ten of her novels simultaneously, each in an edition
of 100,000 copies. That made a total of one million books - the first time this had
ever been done.
61. There were plans to turn the Poirot novel Hickory Dickory Dock into a stage
musical called 'Death Beat'. The driving force behind the project was playwright
and Private Eye contributor John Wells but it failed to find a producer
62. In 1962 Agatha was contracted by an American television company to adapt
Dickens' Bleak House for the screen, but gave up because she considered the book
was too complex to allow condensation without artistic damage.
63. She accepted the presidency of the famous Detection Club in 1958 on the strict
understanding that she would never have to make a speech.
64. A pile of all of the editions of Murder on the Orient Express would stretch to
the moon.
65. She never allowed any representation of Poirot to appear on book jackets.
66. And Then There Were None is soon to be revived for the West End stage in a
lavish new production starring Tara Fitzgerald.
67. The original production marked was the first time Christie adapted one of her
own books for the stage. It was also the first of Christie's works to be adapted for
television. The BBC play went out live on 20 August 1949.
68. The new adaptation at the Gielgud Theatre will also be the first Agatha Christie
production ever to have been staged in London's legendary Shaftesbury Avenue.
69. Her last public appearance in London was in 1974 at a banquet at Claridge's
following the gala premiere of Murder on the Orient Express. In the audience for
the movie was Her Majesty the Queen.
70. At the time, Murder on the Orient Express was the most successful British film
ever made, grossing £20 million. Christie, who generally disliked the film
adaptations of her books, expressed approval for this one.
71. Agatha Christie is the most popular author in France, having sold nearly twice
as many books as the next best selling author Emile Zola. Other French literary
giants outwitted by Christie include de Maupassant and Balzac.
72. Death Comes as the End, set in ancient Egypt, is Agatha's only attempt at
historical fiction. Its genesis came from a suggestion by Egyptologist Stephen RK
Glanville.
73. She continues to be adapted to new mediums. A North American firm has
developed a computer game based on And Then There Were None, which is to be
released in the UK in November. Visit www.agathachristiegame.com.
74. In an interview shortly before her death, Agatha was asked how she wanted to
be remembered. "Well, I would like it to be said that I was a good writer of
detective and thriller stories," was her reply.
75. On the day she died, January 12, 1976, her latest book, Curtain: Poirot's Last
Case, was still heading the bestseller lists in the UK, the United States and Japan.
The two West End theatres in which her plays were running dimmed their outside
lights as a mark of respect.