The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories

"The theft of the money also?" "Exactly." There was a pause, then Miss Henderson said slowly: "I thought Mrs. Clapperton a very unpleasant woman and I don't think anyone on board really liked her--but there wasn't anyone who had any reason to kill her." "Except her husband, perhaps," said Poirot. "You don't really think--" She stopped. "It is the opinion of every person on this ship that Colonel Clapperton would have been quite justified in 'taking a hatchet to her.' That was, I think, the expression used." Ellie Henderson looked at him--waiting. "But I am bound to say," went on Poirot, "that I myself have not noted any signs of exasperation on the good Colonel's part. Also, what is more important, he had an alibi. He was with those two girls all day and did not return to the ship till four o'clock. By then, Mrs. Clapperton had been dead many hours." There Was another minute of silence. Ellie Henderson said softly: "But you still think--a passenger on the ship?" Poirot bowed his head.

Ellie Henderson laughed suddenly--a reckless

defiant laugh. "Your theory may be difficult to prove, M. Poirot. There are a good many passengers on this ship." Poirot bowed to her. "I will use a phrase from one of your detective story writers. 'I have my methods, Watson.'" The

following evening, at dinner, every passen-

PROBLEM AT SEA 211

ger found a typewritten slip by his plate requesting him to be in the main lounge at 8:30. When the company were assembled, the Captain stepped onto the raised platform where the orchestra usually played and addressed them.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, you all know of the tragedy which took place yesterday. I am sure you all wish to co-operate in bringing the perpetrator of that foul crime to justice." He paused and

cleared his throat. "We have on board with us M.

Hercule Poirot who is probably known to you all as a man who has had wide experience in--erin such matters. I hope you will listen carefully to what he has to say."

It was at this minute that Colonel Clapperton who had not been at dinner came in and sat down next to General Forbes. He looked like a man bewildered by sorrow--not at all like a man con-scious of great relief. Either he was a very good actor or else he had been genuinely fond of his disagreeable wife.

"M. Hercule Poirot," said the Captain and stepped down. Poirot took his place. He looked comically self-important as he beamed on his au-dience.

"Messieurs, Mesdames," he began. "It is most kind of you to be so indulgent as to listen to me.

M. !e Capitaine has told you that I have had a cer-tain experience in these matters. I have, it is true, a little idea of my own about how to get to the bot-tom of this particular case." He made a sign and a steward pushed forward and passed up to him a bulky, shapeless object wrapped in a sheet.

"What I am about to do may surprise you a

212

Agatha Christie

little," Poirot warned them. "It may occur to you that I am eccentric, perhaps mad. Nevertheless I assure you that behind my madness there is--as you English say--a method."

His eyes met those of Miss Henderson for just a minute. He began unwrapping the bulky object.

"I have here, Messieurs and Mesdames, an im-portant witness to the truth of who killed Mrs. Clapperton." With a deft hand he whisked away the last enveloping cloth, and the object it con-cealed was revealed--an almost life-sized wooden doll, dressed in a velvet suit and lace collar.

"Now, Arthur," said Poirot and his voice changed subtly--it was no longer foreign--it had

instead a confident English, a slightly Cockney in-flection.

"Can you tell me--I repeatmcan you tell me--anything at all about the death of Mrs. Clap-perton?"

The doll's neck oscillated a little, its wooden lower jaw dropped and wavered and a shrill high-pitched woman's voice spoke:

"What is it, John? The door's locked. I don't want to be disturbed by the stewards .... "

There was a cryman overturned chair--a man stood swaying, his hand to his throat--trying to speak--trying . . . Then suddenly, his figure seemed to crumple up. He pitched headlong.

It was Colonel Clapperton.

Poirot and the ship's doctor rose from their knees by the prostrate figure.

"All over, I'm afraid. Heart," said the doctor briefly.

Poirot nodded. "The shock of having his trick

seen through," he said.

PROBLEM AT SEA

213

He turned to General Forbes. "It was you, General, who gave me a valuable hint with your mention of the music hall stage. I puzzle--I think--and then it comes to me. Supposing that before the war Clapperton was a ventriloquist. In that case, it would be perfectly possible for three people to hear Mrs. Clapperton speak from inside her cabin when she was already dead .... "

Ellie Henderson was beside him. Her eyes were dark and full of pain. "Did you know his heart was weak?" she asked.