Chapter 36 【24】

Pennington was stunned.He could hardly believe his ears. What?Gentlemen, he said, this is a serious matter, very serious indeed. It should be especially serious for you, Mr. Pennington. I?Pennington gaped and raised his eyebrows, but, my good sir, I was sitting here writing a letter when the gun was fired! Perhaps you have witnesses to testify for you? Pennington shook his head. Phew, no I don't think so.But obviously I couldn't run up to the upper deck and kill the poor woman and why should I kill her?Run back here again without being noticed at all?There are always many people on the deck at this time!

How do you explain a pistol being given to someone else to use? Well, I'm afraid at this point, I'm responsible.I remember one night not long after I got on the ship, everyone was talking about guns in the hall. I once mentioned that when I travel, I always like to carry a pistol by my side. Who were there? Well, I can't remember.I think most of them were there, a large crowd anyway.He shook his head slowly. Ah, he said, I am indeed responsible. He went on: first Linna, then her maid, and now Mrs Utterborne.There seems to be no reason at all! There are reasons.Reis said. Have a reason?

Yes, Mrs. Utterborne was telling us just now that she saw someone walk into Louise.Bulger's room.Before she could say the man's name, she was shot dead. Pennington mopped his forehead with a silk handkerchief. It was terrible!he murmured. Poirot said: Mr. Pennington, I wish to examine with you some points in the case.Can you come to my room in half an hour? I am glad to. However, Pennington's tone was not happy, and his expression was also extremely unhappy.Lace exchanged glances with Poirot, then hurried away. Sly old guy.Reis said, but he was scared, huh? Poirot nodded: Yes, he is very unhappy, our Mr. Pennington.

When they were back on the deck promenade, Mrs. Elleton came out of her room, and, seeing Poirot, waved eagerly to him. Ma'am, what's the matter? that poor child!Tell me, Monsieur Poirot, where is there a double cabin where I can keep her company?Her present condition does not lend itself to going back to the room she shares with her mother, and mine is so cramped. Ma'am, this can be arranged.It's so kind of you. It's just what I do.Besides, I love that girl very much.I have always liked her. She is in a bad mood? It's bad.She seemed to be completely focused on that weird woman.It's really pitiful.Tim told me her mother drank, is that true?

Poirot nodded. Well, poor woman, I don't think people should judge her for that; but the girl must have had a hard time. yes ma'am.She is proud and noble. Yes, I also like noble.It's out of fashion now.That girl has a very proud, indifferent, and stubborn personality, but I guess she is really a child with blood in her heart. Ma'am, I see that I have placed her in a very suitable guardian. That's right, you don't have to worry about it.I will take care of her.Her situation quite commanded my sympathy. Mrs. Elleton returned to the room.Poirot retreats to the scene of the tragedy.

Cornia was still standing on the deck, her eyes wide open.She said: "I don't understand, Mr. Poirot, how could the shooter have escaped without a trace under the eyes of everyone?" Yes, how did you do it?Jaclyn agreed. Ah, said Poirot, it's not like invisibility as you think.Miss, there are three ways for the murderer to get away. Jaclyn was a little confused.She said: Three methods? He may run to the right or to the left.What else is there?Cornea said suspiciously. Jaclyn frowned, too, and soon relaxed again. She said: Of course.On a flat surface, he can only move in two directions, but he can run vertically!That is to say, he cannot go up, but he can run down.

Poirot smiled and said: You have a brain, miss. Cornea said: I know I'm stupid, but I still can't figure it out. Jaclyn said: Mr. Poirot means that the murderer can jump over the rail and jump to the lower deck. Ouch!Cornia exclaimed, but I never thought about it.Still, he must have been quick.I think he did it, didn't he? He does it easily.There's always a moment of shock after these kinds of events, Tim said.When people hear gunshots, they will always be numb for a moment before they can take action. Is that from your experience, Mr. Elleton? good.I just stood there for a few seconds before running across the deck.

Les walked out of Dr. Bessler's room and said in an official tone: Please get out of the way, we're taking the body away. Everyone obediently moved away.Cornia said quietly to Poirot: I will never forget this journey.The three dead were like a nightmare. Ferguson happened to overhear her.He disagreed and said: That's because you were born in a highly civilized country.You should look at death like an Oriental.It was just an accident and nothing to worry about. That's the best, said Cornia, they are poor uneducated people. No, being uneducated is a good thing.Education weakens the white race.You see Americans like to drink and indulge.The mention of civilization only makes me sick.

I think you're talking nonsense, said Cornia, blushing, every winter I take courses on Greek Art, Renaissance Era, and Famous Women in History. Mr. Ferguson exclaimed: Greek art!Renaissance era!Famous women in history!Hearing you say that makes me want to throw up.Women, what should be grasped is the future, not the past.Three women died on this boat.Well, what's the deal?Their life is not as good as a worm.Lin Na, she is only rich!That French maid is a housekeeping parasite!Mrs. Utterborne is a useless stupid woman.Do you think people really care if they live or die?I just don't care.I thought it would be best for them to die!

Then you are wrong!Cornia is really angry this time, and it really tires me to hear you talk and talk all day, as if no one is important but you.I don't like Mrs. Utterborne very much either, but her daughter always took care of her wholeheartedly, and her daughter's heart was broken when she died.I don't know that French maid very well, but I hope someone will like something about her; as for Linna.Doyle Well, aside from other things, it is enough that she is cute and charming.She is gorgeous, and she will make people speechless when she enters any occasion.The mediocrity of my own face makes me appreciate beauty all the more.Her true beauty and thorough feminine beauty are not inferior to the beauties of Greek art.It is a loss to the world that anything beautiful ceases to exist.That's all I have to say!

Mr. Ferguson stepped back, pulling at his hair. I surrendered, he said, you are incredible.There is not a trace of a woman's natural malevolence in you. He turned to Poirot and said: Sir, do you know that Cornea's father was once killed by Linna.Did Li Jiwei's father hurt him?But this girl, did she grit her teeth when she saw the heiress sailing the seas in beaded chains and the latest fashions in Paris?No, she just shouted heartily, isn't she beautiful?Like a blessed little sheep.I don't think it ever occurred to her to hate her. Cornea blushed: I hated it just for a while.You know, Dad died of discouragement because he didn't do well. I hated it for a while!please. Cornea looked at him shyly: Well, didn't you just say that what should be grasped is the future, not the past?Aren't these all past events?It's in the past. Come closer, said Ferguson, Cornia.Robertson, you are the best girl I have ever met.Will you marry me? Less ridiculous. This is a sincere marriage proposal although it is made under the witness of the old detective.In any case, M. Poirot, you are a witness.It would be against my principles to propose to this woman with the utmost sincerity, for I have no faith in the legal restraints of the sexes; but I do not think she would approve of anything else than marriage.Come on, Cornea, promise me. I think you are just joking.Cornea blushed again. Why don't you want to marry me? You are not serious.Cornia said. Do you mean that my way of proposing is not serious, or my personality is not serious? Both, but I'm referring primarily to personality.You laugh at everything that should matter.Education and culture and death.You can't be trusted. She stopped talking, blushed again, and hurried back to the room. Ferguson watched her back: What a woman!I'm sure she really minds.She wants a man she can trust.Trust God!He stopped, and then asked curiously, Mr. Poirot, what's the matter with you?You seem to be lost in meditation. Poirot woke up with a start: I'm just thinking back, thinking back. Meditate on death.Cycle of death, Hercule.One of Poirot's famous essays. Mr. Ferguson, said Poirot, you are a very reckless young man. You must forgive me.I like to attack established stereotypes. Am I an established stereotype? Previously.what do you think of that girl You mean Miss Roberson? Yes. I think she has a great personality. you are right.She has a temper.She looks soft, but she is not.She has guts.She is oh fuck, I want this girl.It might not be such a bad idea to talk to the old lady about it.If I could turn her against me altogether, maybe something would work out with Cornia. He galloped into the lookout hall.Miss Vanschuller sat in her usual corner.She seemed more arrogant than ever.She is doing needlework.Ferguson walked up to her.Hercule.Poirot walked in quietly, picked a seat not too far away and sat down, pretending to be absorbed in reading a magazine. Good afternoon, Miss Vatican. Miss Fanshule looked up for a moment, then lowered her head immediately, and replied indifferently: "Well, good afternoon." Look here, Miss Vatican, I want to talk to you about something very important.very simple.I want to marry your cousin. Miss Van Schuyler's ball of thread fell on the floor and rolled across the hall. She said in a vicious tone: Young man, you must be out of your mind. I am not sleeply.I decided to marry her.I asked her if she would marry me! Miss Van Schuyler studied him calmly and with the interest of studying some strange beetle. real?I guess she must have sent you away. She refused. Nature. Nothing so natural.I'm going to keep pursuing her until she says yes. I can assure you, sir, that I will take steps to let you know that my young cousin has no place for this type of harassment.Fan Shule gritted his teeth and said. What do you object to me? Miss Vatican just raised her eyebrows and pulled the yarn vigorously, trying to pull it back, but she didn't speak. Come on, Mr. Ferguson, what do you object to me? I think it's pretty obvious sir, oh, I don't know your name. Ferguson. Mr Ferguson.When Miss Van Schuyler called out his name, her tone was contemptuous, and any similar idea was impossible to realize. You mean, says Ferguson, I'm not good enough for her? I think you understand by yourself. Where am I not good enough? Miss Vatican made no reply. I have two legs, two hands and a healthy, sane mind.What's wrong? Mr. Ferguson, for example, social status is a problem. Social status is empty! The door was pushed open, and Cornea walked in.She froze with horror at the sight of the vicious Cousin Mary talking to Ferguson, who pretended to be courting her. Mr. Ferguson, who was about to fight to the end, turned his head, grinned at her, and said loudly: Come on, Cornia.I am asking you to conclude a golden jade alliance in the most polite way. Cornia, said Miss Vaschuller, in a formidable tone, did you encourage the young man? i didn't of course not at least not really i mean What do you mean? She did not encourage me, Mr. Ferguson helped her out, and I proposed to her myself.She didn't embarrass me to my face because she was so kind.Cornia, your cousin said, I'm not good enough for you.Of course it was true, but not in the way she was referring to.Of course my nature is not good enough for you, but in her mind she thinks my social status is lower than yours. I think Cornia meant the same thing.said Miss Vatican. Is that so?Mr. Ferguson examines her. Is that why you don't want to marry me? No, no, Cornia blushed, if I like you, I don't care who you are. And you don't like me? ! I think you're just finding fault.The way you talk about things The way you talk about things I've never met anyone like you.I Tears were about to burst from her eyes.She hurried out of the lookout hall. On the whole, Mr. Ferguson said, it wasn't a bad start.He leaned back in his chair, stared at the ceiling, whistled, raised his legs and said, I will call your cousin sooner or later. Miss Van Schule trembled with anger: Sir, please leave this hall immediately, or I will ring the bell to call the waiter. I've paid for the ticket, said Mr. Ferguson, and there's no way they'd send me out of the common room.However, I will accommodate you.He sang softly, Yo ho ho, a bottle of wine.Then he stood up, walked casually to the door, and walked out. Miss Vatican was too angry to speak, but stamped her feet desperately.Poirot quietly emerged from behind the magazine, and with a leap he retrieved the ball of thread. Thank you, M. Poirot.Please call Miss Bowles I've pissed off the impertinent young man. Quite eccentric, Poirot said, and I am afraid that most people from such families are like this.Of course spoiled.Always likes to attack imaginary enemies.Then he casually added, you know him, I guess? know him? He calls himself Ferguson without a title because he thinks forward. his title?asked Miss Vatican sharply. Yes, he was young Sir Dorich.Rich, of course, but he became a Communist when he was a student at Oxford. With a look of joy and anger on her face, Miss Van Schuyler said, "Mr. Poirot, how long have you known about this?" Poirot shrugged. There was a picture in the paper and I noticed that the face of the young man was very similar to that of the young man.Then I discovered that the ring he was wearing with his initials had a kind of badge of honor on it.Oh, you can't go wrong with that, I promise you. He read with great pleasure that another expression had triumphed over the other on Miss Vanschuller's face, and at last, tilting her head slightly, she said: "Thank you very much, M. Poirot. When she walked out of the observation hall, he looked at her back and smiled.Then he sat down, his expression serious again.Thoughts raced through his head like a train, and he nodded every now and then. Well yes, he said at last, it all makes sense.