The Mysterious Affair at Styles/Chapter 4
If you do so unreservedly, I have great hopes of averting the catastrophe. Then permit that I ask you a few questions. This affair of Yardly Chase, is it, as you say, all fixed up between you and Mr Rolf? No, there's nothing settled. I've made rather an ass of myself in many ways, Monsieur Poirot - and I'm head over ears in debt - but I want to pull up. I'm fond of the kids, and I want to straighten things up, and be able to live on at the old place. Gregory Rolf is offering me big money - enough to set me on my feet again. I don't want to do it - I hate the thought of all that crowd play-acting round the Chase - but I may have to, unless -" He broke off.
Poirot eyed him keenly, "You have, then, an other string to your bow? Permit that I make a guess? It is to sell the Star of the East? It's been in the family for some generations, but it's not entailed. Still, it's not the easiest thing in the world to find a purchaser. Hoffberg, the Hatton Garden man, is on the look-out for a likely customer, but he'll have to find one soon, or it's a washout. You know what women are. She's all for this film stunt. He remained a moment or so in thought, then rose briskly to his feet.
Say no word to anyone - to anyone, mind - but expect us there this evening. It was half-past five when we arrived at Yardly Chase, and followed the dignified butler to the old paneled hall with its fire of blazing logs. A pretty picture met our eyes: Lady Yardly and her two children, the mother's proud dark head bent down over the two fair ones. Lord Yardly stood near, smiling down on them.
Lady Yardly looked up with a start, her husband came forward uncertainly, his eyes seeking instruction from Poirot. The little man was equal to the occasion. It is that I investigate still this affair of Miss Marvell's. She comes to you on Friday, does she not? I make a little tour first to make sure that all is secure. Also I wanted to ask of Lady Yardly if she recollected at all the postmarks on the letters she received?
It is stupid of me. But, you see, I never dreamt of taking them seriously. We have left our bags at the inn. No, no - no trouble, I assure you. In a short time they were all romping together, and had dragged me into the game. Lady Yardly smoothed her ruffled hair. A dressing-gong sounded, and we rose to go up to our rooms.
At that moment the butler entered with a telegram on a salver which he handed to Lord Yardly. The latter tore it open with a brief word of apology. As he read it he stiffened visibly. With an ejaculation, he handed it to his wife. Then he glanced at my friend. I feel you ought to know about this. He thinks he's found a customer for the diamond - an American, sailing for the States tomorrow. They're sending down a chap tonight to vet the stone. By Jove, though, if this goes through -" Words failed him. Lady Yardly had turned away. She still held the telegram in her hand. She shrugged her shoulders.
I suppose I had better display 'the goods. George has always promised to have the stones reset for me, but it's never been done. Half an hour later, we three were assembled in the great drawing-room awaiting the lady. It was already a few minutes past the dinner hour. Suddenly there was a low rustle, and Lady Yardly appeared framed in the doorway, a radiant figure in a long white shimmering dress. Round the column of her neck was a rivulet of fire. She stood there with one hand just touching the necklace. Her ill-humor seemed to have vanished.
As she stretched out her hand to them, the incredible thing happened. Suddenly without any warning, every light was extinguished, the door banged, and from the other side of it came a long-drawn piercing woman's scream. It was some minutes before we could find it. What a sight met our eyes! Lady Yardly lay senseless on the marble floor, a crimson mark on her white throat where the necklace had been wrenched from her neck. As we bent over her, uncertain for the moment whether she were dead or alive, her eyelids opened.
I accompanied him, my heart beating wildly. The side door in question was a small one in the angle of the wall, not more than a dozen yards from the scene of the tragedy.
Poirot Investigates Summary
As we reached it, I gave a cry. There, just short of the threshold, lay the glittering necklace, evidently dropped by the thief in the panic of his flight. I swooped joyously down on it. Then I uttered another cry which Lord Yardly echoed. For in the middle of the necklace was a great gap.
The Star of the East was missing! This one stone was all they wanted. As I did so something fluttered to the ground. I picked it up. It was a piece of silk, and the embroidery was unmistakable. It had been tom from a Chinaman's robe. He cannot have gone far as yet. In the pitch darkness of the night, the thief had found it easy to make his getaway. We returned reluctantly, and Lord Yardly sent off one of the footmen posthaste to fetch the police. Lady Yardly, aptly ministered to by Poirot, who is as good as a woman in these matters, was sufficiently recovered to be able to tell her story.
He tore my necklace from my neck with such force that I fell headlong to the floor. As I fell I saw him disappearing through the side door. Then I realized by the pig-tail and the embroidered robe that he was a Chinaman. He spoke in a low voice to Lord Yardly. He says you expect him. No, not here, Mullings, in the library.
I mean, you tell Lord Yardly to place himself in your hands and all will be well - and then the diamond vanishes from under your very nose! Poirot held up his hands in horror. It is that in this country you treat the affairs gastronomic with a criminal indifference. What had happened to his usually keen wits? Figure to yourself that for the moment I had not thought of that! But there is plenty of time.
The full of the moon, it is not until Friday. The full of the moon theory left me entirely cold. I had my way with Poirot, however, and we departed immediately, leaving behind us a note of explanation and apology for Lord Yardly. My idea was to go at once to the Magnificent, and relate to Miss Marvell what had occurred, but Poirot vetoed the plan, and insisted that the morning would be time enough. I gave in rather grudgingly. In the morning Poirot seemed strangely disinclined to stir out.
I began to suspect that, having made a mistake to start with, he was singularly loath to proceed with the case. In answer to my persuasions, he pointed out, with admirable common sense, that as the details of the affair at Yardly Chase were already in the morning papers the Rolfs would know quite as much as we could tell them.
I gave way unwillingly. Events proved my forebodings to be justified. About two o'clock, the telephone rang. He listened for some moments, then with a brief "Bien, j'y serai" he rang off, and turned to me. You see I was right. The whole point of it was to get us to concentrate on the Friday, and so be off our guard beforehand. It is a pity you did not realize that.
He did so hate failure of any kind.
- LIFE AND COUNTING: WHATS NEXT?;
- Hercule Poirot;
- The Mysterious Affair at Styles/Chapter 4 - Wikisource, the free online library.
- Poirot Investigates Character Descriptions for Teachers;
Gregory Rolf was there with two men from Scotland Yard. A pale-faced clerk sat opposite them. Rolf nodded as we entered. How the guy had the nerve I can't think. Mr Rolf had gone out of the hotel at He duly signed the receipt, remarking carelessly as he did so: Rolf laughed and said: I've been getting threatening letters from a Chinaman, and the worst of it is I look rather like a Chink myself - it's something about the eyes. The eyes slanted up at the corners like an Oriental's. I'd never noticed it before.
The Scotland Yard man grunted. Thought the eyes might be noticed, and took the bull by the horns to disarm suspicion. He must have watched you out of the hotel, sir, and nipped in as soon as you were well away. Only one thing had been taken - 'the Western Star. Poirot hopped briskly to his feet. I have to send a telegram. I know all that you feel about this miserable business.
I have not distinguished myself! You, in my place, might have distinguished yourself! Let us forget it and have lunch. A figure rose from a chair by the window. It was Lord Yardly. He looked haggard and distraught. Look here, I've been around to Hoffberg, and they know nothing about that man of theirs last night, or the wire either.
Do you think that -" Poirot held up his hand. I sent that wire, and hired the gentleman in question. It was a great diamond. Believe me, it was necessary for the diamond to be stolen. I promised you that it should be preserved to you, and I have kept my word. You must permit me to keep my little secret.
Convey, I beg of you, the assurances of my deepest respect to Lady Yardly, and tell her how pleased I am to be able to restore her jewel to her. What beau temps, is it not? He returned gently rubbing his hands. The warning letters, the Chinaman, the article in Society Gossip, all sprang from the ingenious brain of Mr Rolf! The two diamonds, supposed to be so miraculously alike - bah!
There was only one diamond, my friend! Originally in the Yardly collection, for three years it has been in the possession of Mr Rolf. He stole it this morning with the assistance of a touch of grease paint at the corner of each eye! To begin with, Lady Yardly was getting restive. Her husband was amusing himself elsewhere. Mr Rolf was handsome, he had an air about him of romance. But au fond, he is very business-like, ce monsieur! He made love to Lady Yardly, and then he blackmailed her. I taxed the lady with the truth the other night. She swore that she had only been indiscreet, and I believe her.
But, undoubtedly, Rolf had letters of hers that could be twisted to bear a different interpretation. Terrified by the threat of a divorce, and the prospect of being separated from her children, she agreed to all he wished. She had no money of her own, and she was forced to permit him to substitute a paste replica for the real stone.
The coincidence of the date of the appearance of 'the Western Star' struck me at once.
Lord Yardly prepares to range himself - to settle down. And then comes the menace of the possible sale of the diamond. The substitution will be discovered. Without doubt she writes off frantically to Gregory Rolf who has just arrived in England. He soothes her by promising to arrange all - and prepares for a double robbery. At this point I put my finger in the pie. The arrival of a diamond expert is announced. Lady Yardly, as I felt sure she would, immediately arranges a robbery - and does it very well too! But Hercule Poirot, he sees nothing but facts. What happens in actuality? The lady switches off the light, bangs the door, throws the necklace down the passage, and screams.
She had already wrenched out the diamond with pliers upstairs -" "But we saw the necklace round her neck! Her hand concealed the part of it where the gap would have shown. To place a piece of silk in the door beforehand is child's play! Of course, as soon as Rolf read of the robbery, he arranged his own little comedy. And very well he played it! Also a few more little lies which occurred to me. He was as wax in my hands!
She has lost her diamond through no fault of her own.
Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot 03 - Poirot Investigates
That is all she cares for, that one! Now the other, she is different. Then she heard that Mary Marvell, whom she knew to be her enemy, had been here, and she changed her mind, jumping at a pretext that you, my friend, offered her. A very few questions sufficed to show me that you told her of the letters, not she you! She jumped at the chance your words offered. She told you that the letters were destroyed?
Oh, la la, never does a woman destroy a letter if she can avoid it! Not even if it would be more prudent to do so! From beginning to end! No, it's all very well to try to explain it away afterwards. There really is a limit! I had not the heart to shatter your illusions. You've gone a bit too far this time. Poirot had made an absolute laughing-stock of me. I decided he needed a sharp lesson. I would let some time elapse before I forgave him. He had encouraged me to make a perfect fool of myself!
I feared you would not have returned in time to accompany me. The Northern Union Insurance Company have asked me to investigate the death of a Mr Maltravers who a few weeks ago insured his life with them for the large sum of fifty thousand pounds. In the event of his committing suicide within a year the premiums would be forfeited. Mr Maltravers was duly examined by the Company's own doctor, and although he was a man slightly past the prime of life was passed as being in quite sound health.
However, on Wednesday last - the day before yesterday - the body of Mr Maltravers was found in the grounds of his house in Essex, Marsdon Manor, and the cause of his death is described as some kind of internal hemorrhage. That in itself would be nothing remarkable, but sinister rumors as to Mr Maltravers' financial position have been in the air of late, and the Northern Union have ascertained beyond any possible doubt that the deceased gentleman stood upon the verge of bankruptcy.
Now that alters matters considerably. Maltravers had a beautiful young wife, and it is suggested that he got together all the ready money he could for the purpose of paying the premiums on a life insurance for his wife's benefit, and then committed suicide. Such a thing is not uncommon.
In any case, my friend Alfred Wright, who is a director of the Northern Union, has asked me to investigate the facts of the case, but, as I told him, I am not very hopeful of success. If the cause of the death had been heart failure, I should have been more sanguine. Heart failure may always be translated as the inability of the local G. Still, we can but make some necessary inquiries. Five minutes to pack your bag, Hastings, and we will take a taxi to Liverpool Street.
Inquiries at the station yielded the information that Marsdon Manor was about a mile distant. Poirot decided to walk, and we betook ourselves along the main street. Ah, here we are at his house. A brass plate on the gate bore the doctor's name. We passed up the path and rang the bell. We proved to be fortunate in our call. It was the doctor's consulting hour, and for the moment there were no patients waiting for him.
Dr Bernard was an elderly man, high-shouldered and stooping, with a pleasant vagueness of manner. Poirot introduced himself and explained the purpose of our visit, adding that Insurance Companies were bound to investigate fully in a case of this kind. He kept two cars, you know, and Marsdon Manor is a pretty big place to keep up, although I believe he bought it very cheap. The latter, however, merely shook his head sadly. It is fortunate for his wife, then, that there is this life insurance. A very beautiful and charming young creature, but terribly unstrung by this sad catastrophe.
A mass of nerves, poor thing. I have tried to spare her all I can, but of course the shock was bound to be considerable. I was fetched by one of the undergardeners. There was blood on the lips, but most of the bleeding must have been internal. He was lying on the edge of a small plantation. He had evidently been out shooting rooks, a small rook rifle lay beside him. The hemorrhage must have occurred quite suddenly.
Gastric ulcer, without a doubt. By the way, you saw no need for an autopsy? Your judgments of character are always profound, my friend. A twinkle, however, came into his eye, and he added slyly: On our arrival at the Manor-house, the door was opened to us by a middle-aged parlormaid. Poirot handed her his card, and a letter from the Insurance Company for Mrs Maltravers.
She showed us into a small morning-room, and retired to tell her mistress. About ten minutes elapsed, and then the door opened, and a slender figure in widow's weeds stood upon the threshold. But what will you? Les affaires - they know no mercy. Her eyes were red with weeping, but the temporary disfigurement could not conceal her extraordinary beauty. She was about twenty-seven or -eight, and very fair, with large blue eyes and a pretty pouting mouth. But must I be bothered now - so soon? You see, your late husband insured his life for rather a large sum, and in such a case the Company always has to satisfy itself as to a few details.
They have empowered me to act for them. You can rest assured that I will do all in my power to render the matter not too unpleasant for you. Will you recount to me briefly the sad events of Wednesday? He had found -" Her voice trailed away. Poirot pressed her hand sympathetically.
You had seen your husband earlier in the afternoon? I had walked down to the village for some stamps, and I believe he was out pottering round the grounds. The parlormaid, summoned, led Poirot upstairs. I remained with the lovely and unfortunate woman. It was hard to know whether to speak or remain silent. I essayed one or two general reflections to which she responded absently, and in a very few minutes Poirot rejoined us. I do not think you need be troubled any further with this matter.
By the way, do you know anything of your husband's financial position? I am very stupid over business things. Then you can give us no clue as to why he suddenly decided to insure his life? He had not done so previously, I understand. But, as to why he insured his life, it was because he had absolutely made up his mind that he would not live long.
He had a strong premonition of his own death. I gather that he had had one hemorrhage already, and that he knew that another one would prove fatal.
Poirot Investigates
I tried to dispel these gloomy fears of his, but without avail. Alas, he was only too right! Poirot made a characteristic gesture as we walked down the drive together. Back to London, my friend, there appears to be no mouse in this mouse hole. And yet -" "Yet what? Still, life us full of discrepancies, and assuredly the man cannot have taken his own life - there is no poison that would fill his mouth with blood. No, no, I must resign myself to the fact that all is clear and above-board - but who is this? He passed us without making any sign, but I noted that he was not ill-looking, with a lean, deeply bronzed face that spoke of life in a tropic clime.
A gardener who was sweeping up leaves had paused for a minute in his task, and Poirot ran quickly up to him. Do you know him? He was staying down here last week for a night. A glimpse of a black-robed figure on the terrace at the side of the house, and our quarry swerved and we after him, so that we were witnesses of the meeting. Mrs Maltravers almost staggered where she stood, and her face blanched noticeably. Under the circumstances I thought it better to cancel my passage.
Then I saw this bad news in the paper and I came down to see if there was anything I could do. You'll want some one to look after things for you a bit perhaps. Poirot stepped forward, and with many apologies explained that he had left his stick in the hall. Rather reluctantly, it seemed to me, Mrs Maltravers made the necessary introduction. The missing stick not having been discovered which was not surprising , Poirot uttered more apologies and we withdrew.
We returned to the village at a great pace, and Poirot made a bee line for the Anchor Inn. Possibly you thought I meant it. But no - you observed Mrs Maltravers' face when she caught sight of this young Black? She was clearly taken aback, and he - eh bien, he was very devoted, did you nor think so? And he was here on Tuesday night - the day before Mr Maltravers died. We must investigate the doings of Captain Black, Hastings. Poirot went out and accosted him and presently brought him up to the room we had engaged.
Now, you were here just before the occurrence, and can give us equally valuable information. You see, although Maltravers was an old friend of my people's, I didn't know him very well myself. I went up to town early Wednesday morning, as my boat sailed from Tilbury about twelve o'clock. But some news I got made me alter my plans, as I dare say you heard me explain to Mrs Maltravers. I've been out there ever since the War - a great country. Now what was the talk about at dinner on Tuesday night? The usual odd topics. Maltravers asked after my people, and then we discussed the question of German reparations, and then Mrs Maltravers asked a lot of questions about East Africa, and I told them one or two yarns, that's about all, I think.
You have told us all that your conscious self knows, I want now to question your subconscious self. Any word, the first one you think of. Then he took from his pocket his big turnipfaced watch and laid it on the table beside him. Perhaps you could spare me a few minutes in about half an hour's time? To begin with, Black answered well within the normal time limit, with no pauses, so we can take it that he himself has no guilty knowledge to conceal.
I began work with 'Bernard' which might have suggested the local doctor had he come across him at all. Evidently he had not. After our recent conversation, he gave 'Dinner' to my 'Tuesday,' but 'Journey' and 'Country' were answered by 'Ship' and 'Uganda,' showing clearly that it was his journey abroad that was important to him and not the one which brought him down here. I proceed to 'Rook Rifle' and he answered with the totally unexpected word 'Farm.
A man he knows committed suicide with a rook rifle on a farm somewhere. Remember, too, that his mind is still on the stories he told at dinner, and I think you will agree that I shall not be far from the truth if I recall Captain Black and ask him to repeat the particular suicide story which he told at the dinner-table on Tuesday evening. Chap shot himself on a farm out there. Did it with a rook rifle through the roof of the mouth, bullet lodged in the brain.
Doctors were no end puzzled over it - there was nothing to show except a little blood on the lips. But what -" "What has it got to do with Mr Maltravers? You did not know, I see, that he was found with a rook rifle by his side. Well, I must get on the telephone to London. He went off by himself in the afternoon, and it was not till seven o'clock that he announced that he could put it off no longer, but must break the news to the young widow.
My sympathy had already gone out to her unreservedly. To be left penniless, and with the knowledge that her husband had killed himself to assure her future was a hard burden for any woman to bear. I cherished a secret hope, however, that young Black might prove capable of consoling her after her first grief had passed. He evidently admired her enormously. Our interview with the lady was painful. She refused vehemently to believe the facts that Poirot advanced, and when she was at last convinced broke down into bitter weeping.
An examination of the body turned our suspicions into certainty. Poirot was very sorry for the poor lady, but, after all, he was employed by the Insurance Company, and what could he do? As he was preparing to leave he said gently to Mrs Maltravers: You are mediumistic, you know. But you do not believe in Spiritualism, surely? You know that they say in the village that this house is haunted? We had just finished our soup, when there was a scream outside the door, and the sound of breaking crockery.
The parlormaid appeared, her hand to her heart. She thought of it too, I am sure, for a minute later, she caught Poirot's arm with a scream. Those three taps on the window? That's how he always used to tap when he passed round the house. The parlormaid was obviously unstrung, and when the meal was over Mrs Maltravers besought Poirot not to go at once. She was clearly terrified to be left alone. We sat in the little morning-room. The wind was getting up, and moaning round the house in an eerie fashion. Twice the door of the room carne unlatched and the door slowly opened, and each time she clung to me with a terrified gasp.
He got up and shut it once more, then turned the key in the lock. Page count is estimated at words per page. Length will vary depending on format viewed. Once you download the file, it is yours to keep and print for your classroom. View a FREE sample. The Lesson Plan Calendars provide daily suggestions about what to teach. They include detailed descriptions of when to assign reading, homework, in-class work, fun activities, quizzes, tests and more. Use the entire Poirot Investigates calendar, or supplement it with your own curriculum ideas.
Calendars cover one, two, four, and eight week units. Determine how long your Poirot Investigates unit will be, then use one of the calendars provided to plan out your entire lesson. Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter of Poirot Investigates. They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of important characters. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read.
Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an excellent refresher of Poirot Investigates for either a student or teacher. Character and Object Descriptions provide descriptions of the significant characters as well as objects and places in Poirot Investigates.
These can be printed out and used as an individual study guide for students, a "key" for leading a class discussion, a summary review prior to exams, or a refresher for an educator. The character and object descriptions are also used in some of the quizzes and tests in this lesson plan. The longest descriptions run about words. They become shorter as the importance of the character or object declines. This section of the lesson plan contains 30 Daily Lessons. Daily Lessons each have a specific objective and offer at least three often more ways to teach that objective. Lessons include classroom discussions, group and partner activities, in-class handouts, individual writing assignments, at least one homework assignment, class participation exercises and other ways to teach students about Poirot Investigates in a classroom setting.
You can combine daily lessons or use the ideas within them to create your own unique curriculum. They vary greatly from day to day and offer an array of creative ideas that provide many options for an educator. Fun Classroom Activities differ from Daily Lessons because they make "fun" a priority. The 20 enjoyable, interactive classroom activities that are included will help students understand Poirot Investigates in fun and entertaining ways.
Fun Classroom Activities include group projects, games, critical thinking activities, brainstorming sessions, writing poems, drawing or sketching, and countless other creative exercises. Many of the activities encourage students to interact with each other, be creative and think "outside of the box," and ultimately grasp key concepts from the text by "doing" rather than simply studying. Fun activities are a great way to keep students interested and engaged while still providing a deeper understanding of Poirot Investigates and its themes.
Students should have a full understanding of the unit material in order to answer these questions. They often include multiple parts of the work and ask for a thorough analysis of the overall text. He suspects she is on the way to see him. Soon his predictions are confirmed, and the door bell rings. Mary Marvell brings threatening letters she received in relation to the diamond in her possession called the "Western Star. Poirot Investigates Lesson Plans contain pages of teaching material, including: Get Poirot Investigates from Amazon. Download the Study Guide.
Poirot Investigates Summary Captain Hastings, Poirot's friend, notices a woman on the street when looking through the window of Poirot's room. Agatha Christie was the best selling mystery author of all time and the only writer to have created two major detectives, Poirot and Marple. She also wrote the longest-running play in the