jesus christ on the cross

jesus christ on the cross
klimt painting the kiss
leonardo da vinci self portrait
Madonna Litta
Go on."
"He used some such phrase as – ‘Talked as though he believed someone had poisoned me.’"
There was a pause.
"Had you - any suspicion of that kind?"
Quimper did not answer at once. He got up and walked up and down. Finally, he wheeled round on Craddock.
"What the devil do you expect me to say? Do you think a doctor can go about flinging accusations of poisoning here and there without any real evidence?"
"I'd just like to know, off the record, if - that idea – did enter your head?"
Dr. Quimper said evasively:
"Old Crackenthorpe leads a fairly frugal life. When the family comes down, Emma steps up the food. Result - a nasty attack of gastro-enteritis. The symptoms were consistent with that diagnosis."
Craddock persisted.

girl with a pearl earring vermeer

girl with a pearl earring vermeer
Gustav Klimt Kiss painting
Head of Christ
Hylas and the Nymphs
Dr. Quimper looked interested.
"I understand that not long ago – at Christmas-time, I think it was - Mr. Crackenthorpe had rather a bad turn of illness."
He saw a change at once in the doctor's face. It hardened.
"Yes."
"I gather a gastric disturbance of some kind?"
"Yes."
"This is difficult…. Mr. Crackenthorpe was boasting of his health, saying he intended to outlive most of his family. He referred to you - you'll excuse me, Doctor…"
"Oh, don't mind me. I'm not sensitive as to what my patients say about me!"
"He spoke of you as an old fuss-pot." Quimper smiled. "He said you had asked him all sorts of questions, not only as to what he had eaten, but as to who prepared it and served it."
The doctor was not smiling now. His face was hard again.

Evening Mood painting

Evening Mood painting
female nude reclining
flaming june painting
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
Oh, that? Anything in it? I didn't exactly advise her to come. She wanted to. She was worried. All the dear little brothers were trying to hold her back, of course."
"Why should they?"
The doctor shrugged his shoulders.
"Afraid the lady might be proved genuine, I suppose."
"Do you think the letter was genuine?"
"No idea. Never actually saw it. I should say it was someone who knew the facts, just trying to make a touch. Hoping to work on Emma's feelings. They were dead wrong, there. Emma's no fool. She wouldn't take an unknown sister-in-law to her bosom without asking a few practical questions first."
He added with some curiosity:
"By why ask my view? I've got nothing to do with it?"
"I really came to ask you something quite different - but I don't quite know how to put it."

Claude Monet Boulevard des Capucines

Boulevard des Capucines
Claude Monet Boulevard des Capucines
Charity painting
Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee
Dance Me to the End of Love
Craddock had to wait a few minutes whilst Quimper finished his evening surgery, and then the doctor came to him. He looked tired and depressed.
He offered Craddock a drink and when the latter accepted he mixed one for himself as well.
"Poor devils," he said as he sank down in a worn easy-chair. "So scared and so stupid - no sense. Had a painful case this evening. Woman sho ought to have come to me a year ago. If she'd come then, she might have been operated on successfully. Now it's too late. Makes me mad. The truth is people are an extraordinary mixture of heroism and cowardice. She's suffering agony, and borne it without a word, just because she was too scared to come and find out that what she feared might be true. At the other end of the scale are the people who come and waste my time because they've got a dangerous swelling causing them agony on their little finger which they think may be cancer and which turns out to be a common or garden chilblain! Well, don't remind me. I've blown off steam now. What did you want to see me about?"
"First, I've got you

A Greek Beauty

A Greek Beauty

A Lily Pond
Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
American Day Dream
Biblis painting
But if so –” said Lucy, and stopped.
"Yes, Miss Eyelesbarrow –"
"I know, dear," said Miss Marple. "The wrong murder, that's what you mean."
"Yes. Martine's death wouldn't do Harold - or any of the others - any good. Not until –"
"Not until Luther Crackenthorpe died. Exactly. That occurred to me. And Mr. Crackenthorpe, senior, I gather from his doctor, is a much better life than any outsider would imagine."
"He'll last for years," said Lucy. Then she frowned.
"Yes?" Craddock spoke encouragingly.
"He was rather ill at Christmas-time," said Lucy. "He said the doctor made a lot of fuss about it – ‘Anyone would have thought I'd been poisoned by the fuss he made.' That's what he said."
She looked inquiringly at Craddock.
"Yes," said Craddock. "That's really what I want to ask Dr. Quimper about."
"Well, I must go," said Lucy. "Heavens, it's late."

Abstract Painting

Abstract Painting
"You make 'em just as good," said Quimper loyally.
"Will you come and see father?"
She rose and the doctor followed her. Miss Marple watched them leave the room.
Miss Crackenthorpe is a very devoted daughter, I see, she said.
"Can't imagine how she sticks the old man, myself," said the outspoken Cedric.
"She has a very comfortable home here, and father is very much attached to her," said Harold quickly.
"Em's all right," said Cedric. "Born to be an old maid."
There was a faint twinkle in Miss Marple's eye as she said:
"Oh, do you think so?"
Abstract Painting
Harold said quickly:
"My brother didn't use the term old maid in any derogatory sense, Miss Marple."
"Oh, I wasn't offended," said Miss Marple. "I just wondered if he was right. I shouldn't say myself that Miss Crackenthorpe would be an old maid. She's the type, I think, that's quite likely to marry late in life – and make a success of it."
"Not very likely living here," said Cedric. "Never sees anybody she could marry."
Miss Marple's twinkle became more pronounced than ever.
"There are always clergymen – and doctors."
Abstract Painting

Rembrandt Painting

Rembrandt Painting
"Psychology's all right if it's left to the psychologists. Trouble is, everyone is an amateur psychologist nowadays. My patients tell me exactly what complexes and neuroses they're suffering from, without giving me a chance to tell them. Thanks, Emma. I will have another cup. No time for lunch today."
"A doctor's life, I always think, is so noble and self-sacrificing," said Miss Marple.
Rembrandt Painting
You can't know many doctors," said Dr. Quimper. "Leeches they used to be called, and leeches they often are! At any rate, we do get paid nowadays, the State sees to that. No sending in of bills that you know won't ever be met. Trouble is that all one's patients are determined to get everything they can ‘out of the Government,' and as a result, if little Jenny coughs twice in the night, or little Tommy eats a couple of green apples, out the poor doctor has to come in the middle of the night. Oh, well! Glorious cake, Emma. What a cook you are!"
"Not mine. Miss Eyelesbarrow’s."
Rembrandt Painting

The Singing Butler

The Singing Butler
The stream of reminiscence was interrupted by the entry of Bryan and the boys rather wet and dirty as a result of an enthusiastic search for clues. Tea was brought in and with it came Dr. Quimper who raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked round after acknowledging his introduction to the old lady.
"Hope your father's not under the weather, Emma?"
"Oh, no - that is, he was just a little tired this afternoon –"
The Singing Butler
Avoiding visitors, I expected," said Miss Marple with a roguish smile. "How well I remember my own dear father. ‘Got a lot of old pussies coming?' he would say to my mother. ‘Send my tea into the study.' Very naughty about it, he was."
"Please don't think –” began Emma, but Cedric cut in.
"It's always tea in the study when his dear sons come down. Psychologically to be expected, eh, Doctor?"
Dr. Quimper, who was devouring sandwiches and coffeecake with the frank appreciation of a man who has usually too little time to spend on his meals, said:
The Singing Butler

Jack Vettriano Painting

Jack Vettriano Painting
"Two of my brothers live in London."
"That is very nice for you."
"But my brother Cedric is a painter and lives in Iviza, one of the Balearic Islands."
"Painters are so fond of islands, are they not?" said Miss Marple. "Chopin – that was Majorca, was it not? But he was a musician. It is Gauguin I am thinking of. A sad life - misspent, one feels. I myself never really care for paintings of native women - and although I know he is very much admired - I have never cared for that lurid mustard colour. One really feels quite bilious looking at his pictures."
She eyed Cedric with a slightly disapproving air.
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Tell us about Lucy as a child, Miss Marple," said Cedric.
She smiled up at him delightedly.
"Lucy was always so clever," she said. "Yes, you were, dear – now don't interrupt. Quite remarkable at arithmetic. Why, I remember when the butcher overcharged me for topside of beef…"
Miss Marple launched full steam ahead into reminiscences of Lucy's childhood and from there to experiences of her own in village life.
Jack Vettriano Painting

Mary Cassatt painting

Mary Cassatt painting
They looked at each other with worried faces.
"And here's this pestilential old woman coming to tea. Just when we want to think.
We'll talk things over this evening," said Alfred. "In the meantime, we'll pump the old aunt about Lucy."
So Miss Marple had duly been fetched by Lucy and installed by the fire and she was now smiling up at Alfred as he handed her sandwiches with the approval she always showed towards a good-looking man.
Mary Cassatt painting
Thank you so much…. May I ask…? Oh, egg and sardine, yes, that will be very nice. I'm afraid I'm always rather greedy over my tea. As one gets on, you know… And, of course, at night only a very light meal…. I have to be careful. She turned to her hostess once more. What a beautiful house you have. And so many beautiful things in it. Those bronzes, now, they remind me of some my father bought – at the Paris Exhibition. Really, your grandfather did? In the classical style, aren't they? Very handsome. How delightful for you having your brothers with you? So often families are scattered – India, though I suppose that is all done with now – and Africa - the west coast, such a bad climate."
Mary Cassatt painting

Edward Hopper Painting

Edward Hopper Painting
Oh, no, Harold. Don't exaggerate."
"Harold's quite right," said Alfred. "Whatever possessed you, I don't know. I've a feeling I'm being followed everywhere I go by plain-clothed men."
"I told her not to do it," said Cedric. "Then Quimper backed her up."
"It's no business of his," said Harold angrily. "Let him stich to pills and powders and National Health."
"Oh, do stop quarrelling," said Emma wearily. "I'm really glad this old Miss Whatshername is coming to tea. It will do us all good to have a stranger here and be prevented from going over and over the same things again and again. I must go and tidy myself up a little."
Edward Hopper Painting
She left the room.
"This Lucy Eyelesbarrow," said Harold, and stopped. "As Cedric says, it is odd that she should nose about in the barn and go opening up a sarcophagus – really a Herculean task. Perhaps we ought to take steps. Her attitude, I thought, was rather antagonistic at lunch –"
"Leave her to me," said Alfred. "I'll soon find out if she's up to anything."
"I mean, why open up that sarcophagus?"
"Perhaps, she isn't really Lucy Eyelesbarrow at all," suggested Cedric.
"But what would be the point –?" Harold looked thoroughly upset. "Oh, damn
Edward Hopper Painting

Van Gogh Sunflower

Van Gogh Sunflower
Put her off," said Harold brusquely. "We've still got a lot to talk about. We don't want strangers here."
"Let her have tea in the kitchen or somewhere with the girl," said Alfred.
"Oh, no, I couldn't do that," said Emma firmly. "That would be very rude."
"Oh, let her come," said Cedric. "We can draw her out a little about the wonderful Lucy. I should like to know more about that girl, I must say. I'm not sure that I trust her. Too smart by half."
Van Gogh Sunflower
She's very well connected and quite genuine," said Harold. "I've made it my business to find out. One wanted to be sure. Poking about and finding the body the way she did."
"If we only knew who this damned woman was," said Alfred.
Harold added angrily:
"I must say, Emma, that I think you were out of your senses, going and suggesting to the police that the dead woman might be Edmund's French girl friend. It will make them convinced that she came here, and that probably one or other of us killed her."
Van Gogh Sunflower

Van Gogh Painting

Van Gogh Painting
"Well, he wouldn't have got it by strangling his late brother's widow," said Mr. Wimborne. "And nobody's murdered Luther Crackenthorpe which is the only murder that would do the family any good. So, really, Inspector, I don't quite see where your ideas are leading you?"
The worst of it was, Inspector Craddock thought, that he wasn't very sure himself.
Van Gogh Painting
"It's so very kind of you to have asked me to take tea with you," said Miss Marple to Emma Crackenthorpe.
Miss Marple was looking particularly woolly and fluffy - a picture of a sweet old lady. She beamed as she looked round her - at Harold Crackenthorpe in his well-cut dark suit, at Alfred handing her sandwiches with a charming smile, at Cedric standing by the mantelpiece in a ragged tweed jacket scowling at the rest of his family.
"We are very pleased that you could come," said Emma politely.
There was no hint of scene which had taken place after lunch that day when Emma had exclaimed: "Dear me, I quite forgot. I told Miss Eyelesbarrow that she could bring her old aunt to tea today."
Van Gogh Painting

Henri Matisse Painting

Henri Matisse Painting
Mr. Wimborne gave him a shrewd glance.
"It is a totally inadequate motive for murder, if that is what you mean."
"But I suppose they're both pretty hard up," Craddock murmured.
He sustained Mr. Wimborne's sharp glance with perfect impassively.
"Oh! So the police have been making inquiries? Yes, Alfred is almost incessantly in low water. Occasionally he is very flush of money for a short time - but it soon goes. Harold, as you seem to have discovered, is at present somewhat precariously situated."
Henri Matisse Painting
In spite of his appearance of financial prosperity?"
"Fa?ade. All fa?ade! Half these city concerns don't even know if they're solvent or not. Balance sheets can be made to look all right to the inexpert eye. But when the assets that are listed aren't really assets - when those assets are trembling on the brink of a crash - where are you?"
"Where, presumably, Harold Crackenthorpe is, in bad need of money."
Henri Matisse Painting

Marc Chagall Painting

Marc Chagall Painting
"Cedric Crackenthorpe, I have been given to understand, is not interested in money?"
Mr. Wimborne gave Craddock a cold stare.
"Indeed? I am inclined, myself, to take statements of such a nature with what I might term a grain of salt. There are doubtless certain unworldly people who are indifferent to money. I myself have never met one."
Mr. Wimborne obviously derived a certain satisfaction from this remark.
Inspector Craddock hastened to take advantage of this ray of sunshine.
Marc Chagall Painting
Harold and Alfred Crackenthorpe, he ventured, seem to have been a good deal upset by the arrival of this letter?"
"Well they might be," said Mr. Wimborne. "Well they might be."
"It would reduce their eventual inheritance?"
"Certainly. Edmund Crackenthorpe's son - always presuming there is a son – would be entitled to a fifth share of the trust money."
"That doesn't really seem a very serious loss?"
Marc Chagall Painting

The Birth of Venus

The Birth of Venus
The idea was, I suppose, that she would get the Crackenthorpes to provide for her and for the boy."
"Yes, but I meant, what would she and the son be entitled to, legally speaking - if she could prove her claim?"
"Oh, I see." Mr. Wimborne picked up his spectacles which he had laid aside in his irritation, and put them on, staring through them at Inspector Craddock with shrewd attention. "Well, at the moment, nothing. But if she could prove that the boy was the son of Edmund Crackenthorpe, born in lawful wedlock, then the boy would be entitled to his share of Josiah Crackenthorpe's trust on the death of Luther Crackenthorpe. More than that, he'd inherit Rutherford Hall, since he's the son of the eldest son."
The Birth of Venus
"Would anyone want to inherit the house?"
"To live in? I should say, certainly not. But that estate, my dear Inspector, is worth a considerable amount of money. Very considerable. Land for industrial and building purposes. Land which is now in the heart of Brackhampton. Oh, yes, a very considerable inheritance."
"If Luther Crackenthorpe dies, I believe you told me that Cedric gets it?"
"He inherits the real estate – yes, as the eldest surviving son."
The Birth of Venus

Bouguereau William

Bouguereau William
Inspector Craddock repeated soothingly such platitudes as seemed best calculated to reduce Mr. Wimborne to an amenable from of find.
"I'd no idea that there was ever any question of Edmund's having married," said Mr. Wimborne in an injured voice.
Inspector Craddock said that he supposed – in war time - and left it to trail away vaguely.
Bouguereau William
War time!" snapped Mr. Wimborne with waspish acerbity. "Yes, indeed, we were in Lincoln's Inn Fields at the outbreak of war and there was a direct hit on the house next door, and a great number of our records were destroyed. Not the really important documents, of course; they had been removed to the country of safety. But it caused a great deal of confusion. Of course, the Crackenthorpe business was in my father's hands at that time. He died six years ago. I dare say he may have been told about this so-called marriage of Edmund's - but on the face of it, it looks as though that marriage, even if contemplated, never took place, and so, no doubt, my father did not consider the story of nay importance. I must say, all this sounds very fishy to me. This coming forward, after all these years, and claiming a marriage and a legitimate son. Very fishy indeed. What proofs had she got, I'd like to know?"
"Just so," said Craddock. "What would her position, or her son's position be?"
Bouguereau William

Gustav Klimt Painting

Gustav Klimt Painting
In due course, he was ushered into a particularly airless room where Mr. Wimborne was sitting behind a large old-fashioned desk covered with bundles of dusty-looking papers. Various deed boxes labelled Sir John ffouldes, dec., Lady Derrin, George Rowbotham, Esq., ornamented the walls; whether as relics of a bygone era or as part of present-day legal affairs, the inspector did not know.
Mr. Wimborne eyed his visitor with the polite wariness characteristic of a family lawyer towards the police.
"What can I do for you, Inspector?"
Gustav Klimt Painting
"This letter…” Craddock pushed Martine's letter across the table. Mr. Wimborne touched it with a distasteful finger but did not pick it up. His colour rose very slightly and his lips tightened.
"Quite so," he said; “quite so! I received a letter from Miss Emma Crackenthorpe yesterday morning, informing me of her visit to Scotland Yard and of - ah – all the circumstances. I may say that I am at a loss to understand – quite at a loss - why I was not consulted about this letter at the time of its arrival! Most extraordinary! I should have been informed immediately…."
Gustav Klimt Painting

Gustav Klimt The Kiss

Gustav Klimt The Kiss
On Craddock's return Sergeant Wetherall was waiting to report with gloomy relish:
"Accommodation address, sir – that's what 126 Elvers Crescent is. Quite respectable and all that."
"Any identifications?"
"No, nobody could recognise the photograph as that of a woman who had called for letters, but I don't think they would anyway - it's a month ago, very near, and a good many people use the place. It's actually a boarding-house for students."
"She might have stayed there under another name."
"If so, they didn't recognise her as the original of the photograph."
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
He added:
"We circularised the hotels – nobody registering as Martine Crackenthorpe anywhere. On receipt of your call from Paris, we checked up on Anna Stravinska. She was registered with other members of the company in a cheap hotel off Brook Green. Mostly theatricals there. She cleared out on the night of Thursday 19th after the show. No further record."
Craddock nodded. He suggested a line of further inquiries - though he had little hope of success from them.
After some thought, he rang up Wimborne, Henderson and Carstairs and asked for an appointment with Mr. Wimborne.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss

Modern Art Painting

Modern Art Painting
Before leaving Paris, Craddock discussed with Dessin the question of the woman named Martine. Dessin was inclined to agree with his English colleague that the matter had probably no connection with the woman found in the sarcophagus. All the same, he agreed, the matter ought to be investigated.
He assured Craddock that the Surete would do their best to discover if there actually was any record of a marriage between Lieutenant Edmund Crackenthorpe of the 4th Southshire Regiment and a French girl whose Christian name was Martine. Time - just prior to the fall of Dunkirk.
Modern Art Painting
He warned Craddock, however, that a definite answer was doubtful. The area in question had not only been occupied by the Germans at almost exactly that time, but subsequently that part of France had suffered severe war damage at the time of the invasion. Many building and records had been destroyed.
"But rest assured, my dear colleague, we shall do our best."
With this, he and Craddock took leave of each other.
Modern Art Painting

Art Painting

Art Painting
The only fact that was established was that on the 19th of December Anna Stravinska had decided not to return to France, and that on the 20th December a woman resembling her in appearance had travelled to Brackhampton by the 4.33 train and had been strangled.
If the woman in the sarcophagus was not Anna Stravinska, where was Anna now?
To that, Madame Joliet's answer was simple and inevitable.
"With a man!"
And it was probably the correct answer, Craddock reflected ruefully.
One other possibility had to be considered – raised by the casual remark that Anna had once referred to having an English husband.
Art Painting
Had that husband been Edmund Crackenthorpe?
It seemed unlikely, considering the word picture of Anna that had been given him by those who knew her. What was much more probable was that Anna had at one time known the girl Martine sufficiently intimately to be acquainted with the necessary details. It might have been Anna who wrote that letter to Emma Crackenthorpe and, if so, Anna would have been quite likely to have taken fright at any question of an investigation. Perhaps she had even thought it prudent to sever her connection with the Ballet Maritski. Again, where was she now?
And again, inevitably, Madame Joliet's answer seemed the most likely.
Art Painting

Famous painting

Famous painting
"I think that really she had had a very tame bourgeois existence. She liked to in ballet because she thought it was romantic, but she was not a good dancer. You understand that if she were to say, ‘My father was a draper in Amiens.' that would not be romantic! So instead she made up things."
"Even in London," said the first girl, "she threw out hints about a very rich man who was going to take her on a cruise round the world, because she reminded him of his dead daughter who had died in a car accident. Quelle blague!"
"She told me she was going to stay with a rich lord in Scotland," said the second girl. "She said she would shoot the deer there."
Famous painting
None of this was helpful. All that seemed to emerge from it was that Anna Stravinska was a proficient liar. She was certainly not shooting deer with a peer in Scotland, and it seemed equally unlikely that she was on the sun deck of a liner cruising round the world. But neither was there any real reason to believe that her body had been found in a sarcophagus at Rutherford Hall. The identification by the girls and Madame Joliet was very uncertain and hesitating. It looked something like Anna, they all agreed. But really! All swollen up - it might be anybody!
Famous painting

Famous artist painting

Famous artist painting
I can give you two or three names – but she was not very intimate with anyone."
They could get nothing else useful from Madame Joliet.
Shown the compact, she said Anna had one of that kind, but so had most of the other girls. Anna had perhaps bought a fur coat in London – she did not know. "Me, I occupy myself with the rehearsals, with the stage lighting, with all the difficulties of my business. I have not time to notice what my artists wear."
Famous artist painting
After Madame Joliet, they interviewed the girls whose names she had given them. One or two of them had known Anna fairly well, but they all said that she had not been one to talk much about herself, and that when she did, it was, so one girl said, mostly lies.
"She likes to pretend things – stories about having been the mistress of a Grand Duke – or of a great English financier - or how she worked for the Resistance in the war. Even a story about being a film star in Hollywood."
Another girl said:
Famous artist painting

Decorative painting

Decorative painting
"Ah! Me - I do not care. No doubt she passes the Christmas holiday with some man she has picked up. It is not my affair. I can find other girls - girls who will leap at the chance of dancing in the Ballet Maritski and who can dance as well – or better than Anna."
Madame Joliet paused and then asked with a sudden gleam of interest:
"Why do you want to find her? Has she come into money?"
"On the contrary," said Inspector Craddock politely. "We think she may have been murdered."
Madame Joliet relapsed into indifference.
Decorative painting
Ca se peut! It happens. Ah, well! She was a good Catholic. She went to Mass on Sundays, and no doubt to confession."
"Did she ever speak to you, Madame, of a son?"
"A son? Do you mean she had a child? That, now, I should consider most unlikely. These girls, all - all of them know a useful address to which to go. M. Dessin knows that as well as I do."
"She may have had a child before she adopted a stage life," said Craddock. "During the war, for instance."
"Ah! Dans la guerre. That is always possible. But if so, I know nothing about it."
"Who amongst the other girls were her closest friends?"
Decorative painting

Abstract Painting

Abstract Painting
"Two days before the murder，sir." "What did it say?" "She said the old devil had been round and that she'd sent him off witha flea in the ear-excuse the expression，sir-said she expected me over onthe Wednesday-that's my day out，sir-and she said we'd go to the pictures.Itwas going to be my birthday，sir." Something-the thought of the little festivity perhaps-suddenly broughtthe tears to Mary's eyes.She gulped down a sob. Then apologized for it. "You must forgive me，sir.I don't want to be silly.Crying's no good.Itwas just the thought of her-and me-looking forward to our treat.It upset mesomehow，sir."
Abstract Painting
I know just what you feel like，"said Franklin Clarke."It's always thelittle things that get one-and especially anything like a treat or apresent-something jolly and natural.I remember seeing a woman run overonce.She'd just bought some new shoes.I saw her lying there-and the burstparcel with the ridiculous little high-heeled slippers peeping out-it gaveme a turn-they looked so pathetic." Megan said with a sudden eager warmth: "That's true-that's awfully true.The same thing happened afterBetty-died.Mum had bought some stockings for her as a present-bought themthe very day it happened.Poor mum，she was all broken up.I found her cryingover them.She kept saying:"I bought them for Betty-I bought them forBetty-and she never enven saw them.""Her own voice quivered a little.Sheleaned forward，looking straight at Franklin Clarke.There was between them asudden sympathy-a fraternity in trouble.
Abstract Painting

Rembrandt Painting

Rembrandt Painting
"And what else?She conversed of what?" The girl frowned in an effort of memory. "She talked about being hard up-of a hat and a couple of summer frocksshe'd just bought.And a little of Don......She also said she disliked MillyHigley-that's the girl at the cafe-and we laughed about the Merrion womanwho keeps the cafe......I don't remember anything else......" "She didn't mention any man-forgive me，Mr Fraser-she might be meeting?" "She wouldn't to me，"said Megan dryly. Poirot turned to the red-haired young man with the square jaw. "Mr Fraser-I want you to cast your mind back. You went，you said，to the cafe on the fatal evening.Your firstintention was to wait there and watch for Betty Barnard to come out.
Rembrandt Painting
Can youremember anyone at all whom you noticed whilst you were waiting there?" "There were a large number of people walking along the front.I can'tremember any of them." "Excuse me，but are you trying?However preoccupied the mind may be，theeye notices mechanically-unintelligently but accurately......" The young man repeated doggedly: "I don't remember anybody." Poirot sighed and turned to Mary Drower. "I suppose you got letters from your aunt?" "Oh，yes，sir." "When was the last?" Mary thought a minute. "Two days before the murder，sir."
Rembrandt Painting

The Singing Butler

The Singing Butler
"Not a damned thing now." "Sure?" "Well-let's see-I remember a remarkably fat woman-she wore a stripedsilk dress and I wondered why-had a couple of kids with her-two young menwith a fox terrier on the beach throwing stones for it-Oh，yes，a girl withyellow hair squeaking as she bathed-funny how things come back-like aphotograph developing." "You are a good subject.Now later in the day-the garden-going to thepost-""The gardener watering......Going to the post? Nearly ran down a bicyclist-silly woman wobbling and shouting to afriend.That's all，I'm afraid." Poirot turned to Thora Grey.
The Singing Butler
"Miss Grey?" Thora Grey replied in her clear，positive voice: "I did correspondence with Sir Carmichael in the morning-saw thehousekeeper.I wrote letters and did needlework in the afternoon，I fancy. It is difficult to remember.It was quite an ordinary day.I went to bedearly." Rather to my surprise，Poirot asked no further.He said: "Miss Barnard-can you bring back your remembrances of the last time yousaw your sister?" "It would be about a fortnight before her death.I was down for Satrudayand Sunday.It was fine weather.We went to Hastings to the swimming pool." "What did you talk about most of the time?" "I gave her a piece of my mind，"said Megan.
The Singing Butler

Jack Vettriano Painting

Jack Vettriano Painting
"Words，mademoiselle，are only the outer clothing of ideas." "Well，I think it's sense，"said Mary Drower."I do really，miss.It'soften when you're talking over things that you seem to see your way clear. Your mind gets made up for you sometimes without your knowing how it'shappened.Talking leads to a lot of things one way and another." "If "least said is soonest mended"，it's the converse we want here，"said Franklin Clarke. "What do you say，Mr Fraser?" "I rather doubt the practical applicability of what you say，M.Poirot." "What do you think，Thora?"asked Clarke. "I think the principle of talking things over is always sound."
Jack Vettriano Painting
"Suppose，"suggested Poirot，"that you all go over your own remembrancesof the time preceding the murder.Perhaps you'll start，Mr Clarke." "Let me see，on the morning of the day Car was killed I went off sailing. Caught eight mackerel.Lovely out there on the bay. Lunch at home.Irish stew，I remember.Slept in the hammock.Tea.Wrote someletters，missed the post，and drove into Paignton to post them.Then dinnerand -I'm not ashamed to say it-reread a book of E.Nesbit's that I used tolove as a kid. Then the telephone rang-""No further.Now reflect，Mr Clarke，did youmeet anyone on your way down to the sea in the morning?" "Lots of people." "Can you remember anything about them?"
Jack Vettriano Painting

Mary Cassatt painting

Mary Cassatt painting
"It is necessary to go into everything，monsieur，"said Poirot，turningto him."You are here，not to save your feelings by refusing to think ofdetails，but if necessary to harrow them by going into the matter au fond. As I say，it was not chance that provided A B C with a victim in BettyBarnard.There must have been deliberate selection on his part-and thereforepremeditation.That is to say，he must have reconnoitred the groundbeforehand.There were facts of which he had informed himself-the best hourfor the committing of the crime at Andocer-the mise en scene at Bexhill-thehabits of Sir Carmichael Clarke at Churston.Me，for one，I refuse to believethat there is no indication-no slightest hint-that might help to establishhis identity.
Mary Cassatt painting
"I make the assumption that one-or possibly all of you-knows somethingthat they do not know they know. "Sooner or later，by reason of your association with one another，something will come to light，will take on a significance as yet underamedof.It is like the jig-saw puzzle-each of you may have a piece apparentlywithout meaning，but which when reunited may show a definite portion of thepicture as a whole." "Words!"said Megan Barnard. "Eh?"Poirot looked at her inquiringly. "What you've been saying.It's just words.It doesn't mean anything." She spoke with that kind of desperate intensity that I had come toassociate with her personality.
Mary Cassatt painting

Edward Hopper Painting

Edward Hopper Painting
Poirot，unable，of course，to resist the occasion，made a little speech. "Mesdames and Messieurs，you know what we are here for.The police aredoing their utmost to track down the criminal.I，too，in my different way. But it seems to me a reunion of those who have a personal interest inthe matter-and also，I may say，a personal knowledge of the victims-mighthave results that an outside investigation cannot pretend to attain. "Here we have three murders-an old woman，a young girl，an elderly man. Only one thing links these three people together-the fact that the sameperson killed them.That means that the same person was present in threedifferent localities and was seen necessarily by a large number of people.
Edward Hopper Painting
That he is a madman in an advanced stage of mania goes withoutsaying.That his appearance and behaviour give no suggestion of such a factis equally certain.This person-and though I say he，remember it may be a manor a woman-has all the devilish cunning of insanity.He has succeeded so farin covering his traces completely.The police have certain vague indicationsbut nothing upon which they can act. "Nevertheless，there must exist indications which are not vague butcertain.To take one particular point-this assassin，he did not arrive atBexhill at midnight and find conveniently on the beach a young lady whosename began with B-""Must we go into that?" It was Donald Fraser who spoke-the words wrung from him，it seemed，bysome inner anguish.
Edward Hopper Painting

Van Gogh Sunflower

Van Gogh Sunflower
"Yes.You see，Miss Grey was with my brother for over two years.She knowsthe countryside and the people round，and everything.I've been away for ayear and a half." Poirot took pity on him and turned the conversation. "You have been in the East?In China?" "Yes.I had a kind of roving commission to purchase things for mybrother." "Very interesting it must have been.Eh bien，Mr Clarke，I approve veryhighly of your idea.I was saying to Hastings only yesterday that arapprochement of the people concerned was needed.It is necessary to poolreminiscences，to compare notes-enfin to talk the thing over-to talk-totalk-and again to talk.Out of some innocent phrase may come enlightenment."
Van Gogh Sunflower
A few days later the "Special Legion"met at Poirot's rooms. As they sat round looking obediently towards Poirot，who had his place，like the chairman at a board meeting，at the head of the table，I myselfpassed them，as it were，in review，confirming or revising my firstimpression of them. The three girls were all of them striking-looking-the extraordinary fairbeauty of Thora Grey，the dark intensity of Megan Barnard，with her strangeRed Indian immobility of face-Mary Drower，neatly dressed in a black coatand skirt，with her pretty，intelligent face.Of the two men，Franklin Clarke，big，bronzed and talkative，Donald Fraser，self-contained and quiet，made aninteresting contrast to each other.
Van Gogh Sunflower

Van Gogh Painting

Van Gogh Painting
"I see your idea，and I approve，but you must remember，Mr Clarke，therelations and friends of the other victims are hardly in your sphere oflife.They are employed persons and thought they might be given a shortvacation-"Franklin Clarke interrupted. "That's just it.I'm the only person in a position to foot the bill.Notthat I'm particularly well off myself，but my brother died a rich man and itwill eventually come to me.I propose，as I say，to enroll a special legion，the members to be paid for their services at the same rate as they gethabitually，with，of course，the additional expenses." "Who do you propose should form this legion?" "I've been into that.As a matter of fact，I wrote to Miss MeganBarnard-indeed，this is partly her idea.I suggest myself，Miss Barnard，MrDonald Fraser，who was engaged to the dead girl.
Van Gogh Painting
Then there is a niece of the Andover woman-Miss Barnard knows heraddress.I don't think the husband would be of any use to us-I hear he'susually drunk. I also think the Barnards-the father and mother-are a bit old for activecampaigning." "Nobody else?" "Well-er-Miss Grey." He flushed slightly as he spoke the name. "Oh!Miss Grey?" Nobody in the world could put a gentle nuance of irony into a couple ofwords better than Poirot.About thirty-five years fell away from FranklinClarke.He looked suddenly like a shy schoolboy.
Van Gogh Painting

Henri Matisse Painting

Henri Matisse Painting
Franklin Clarke arrived at three o'clock on the following afternoon andcame straight to the point without beating about the bush. "M.Poirot，"he said，"I'm not satisfied." "No，Mr Clarke?" "I've no doubt that Crome is a very efficient officer，but，frankly，heputs my back up.That air of his of knowing best!I hinted something of what Ihad in mind to your friend here when he was down at Churston，but I've hadall my brother's affairs to settle up and I haven't been free until now.Myidea is，M/Poirot，that we oughtn't to let the grass grow under ourfeet-""Just what Hastings is always saying!" "-but go right ahead.We've got to get ready for the next crime."
Henri Matisse Painting
"So you think there will be a next crime?" "Don't you?" "Certainly." "Very well，then.I want to get organized." "Tell me your idea exactly?" "I propose，M/Poirot，a kind of special legion-to work under yourorders-composed of the friends and relatives of the murdered people." "Une bonne idee." "I'm glad you approve.By putting our heads together I feel we might getat something.Also，when the next warning comes，by being on the spot，one ofus might-I don't say it's probable-but we might recognize some person ashaving been near the scene of a previous crime."
Henri Matisse Painting

Marc Chagall Painting

Marc Chagall Painting
"Dear Sir，-I hope you will forgive the liberty I take in writing to you. I have been thinking a lot since these awful two murders like poorauntie's.It seems as though we're all in the same boat，as it were.I saw theyoung lady's picture in the paper，the young lady，I mean，that is thesister of the young lady that was killed at Bexhill. I made so bold as to write to her and tell her I was coming to London toget a place and asked if I could come to her or her mother as I said twoheads might be better than one and I would not want much wages，but only tofind out who this awful fiend is and perhaps we might get at it better if wecould say what we knew something might come of it.
Marc Chagall Painting
"The young lady wrote very nicely and said as how she worked in anoffice and lived in a hostel，but she suggested I might write to you and shesaid she'd been thinking something of the same kind as I had.And she said wewere in the same trouble and we ought to stand together.So I am writing，sir，to say I am coming to London and this is my address. "Hoping I am not troubling you，Yours respectfully，Mary Drower "MaryDrower，"said Poirot."is a very intelligent girl." He picked up another letter. "Read this." It was a line from Franklin Clarke，saying that he was coming to Londonand would call upon Poirot the following day if not inconvenient. "Do not despair，mon ami，"said Poirot. "Action is about to begin."
Marc Chagall Painting

The Birth of Venus

The Birth of Venus
I had eggs andbacon and coffee，I went to mu club，etc."You would not include:"I tore mynail and had to cut it.I rang for shaving water.I spilt a little coffee onthe tablecloth.I brushed my hat and put it on." One cannot tell everything.Therefore one selects. At the time of a murder people select what they think is important.Butquite frequently they think wrong!" "And how is one to get at the right things?" "Simply，as I said just now，by conversation. By talking!By discussing a certain happening，or a certain person，or acertain day，over and over again，extra details are bound to arise." "What kind of details?"
The Birth of Venus
"Naturally that I do not know or I should not want to find out.Butenough time has passed now for ordinary things to reassume their value.It isagainst all mathematical laws that in three cases of murder there is nosingle fact nor sentence with a bearing on the case. Some travial happening，some trivial remark there must be which would bea pointer!It is looking for the needle in the haystack，I grant-but in thehaystack there is a needle-of that I am convinced!" It seemed to me extremely vague and hazy. "You do not see it?Your wits are not so sharp as those of a mere servantgirl." He tossed me over a letter.It was neatly written in a slopingboard-school hand.
The Birth of Venus

Bouguereau William

Bouguereau William
"No，no，a thousand times no!There is nothing so terrible as to live inan atmosphere of suspicion-to see eyes watching you and the love in themchanging to fear-nothing so terrible as to suspect those near and dear toyou-It is poisonous-a miasma.No，the poisoning of life for the innocent，that，at least，we cannot lay at A B C's door." "You'll soon be making excuses for the man!"I said bitterly. "Why not?He may believe himself fully justified.We may，perhaps，end byhaving sympathy with his point of view." "Really，Poirot!" "Alas!I have shocked you.First my inertia-and then my views." I shook my head without replying.
Bouguereau William
"All the same，"said Poirot after a minute or two."I have one projectthat will please you-since it is active and not passive.Also，it will entaila lot of conversation and practically no thought." I did not quite like his tone. "What is it?"I asked cautiously. "The extraction from the friends，relations and servants of the victimsof all they know." "Do you suspect them of keeping things back，then?" "Not intentionally.But telling everything you know always impliesselection.If I were to say to you，recount me your day yesterday，you wouldperhaps reply:"I rose at nine，I breakfasted at half-past
Bouguereau William

Gustav Klimt Painting

Gustav Klimt Painting
"Who it is?" "No，Hastings，I shall not know his name and address!I shall know whatkind of a man he is......" "And then?......" "Et alors，je vais a la peche." As I looked rather bewildered，he went on: "You comprehend，Hastings，an expert fisherman knows exactly what fliesto offer to what fish.I shall offer the right kind of fly." "And then?" "And then?And then?You are as bad as the superior Crome with his eternal"Oh，yes?"Eh bien，and then he will take the bait and the hook and we willreel in the line......" "In the meantime people are dying right and left."
Gustav Klimt Painting
"Three people.And there are，what is it-about 120-road deaths everyweek?" "That is entirely different." "It is probably exactly the same to those who die.For the others，therelations，the friends-yes，there is a difference，but one thing at leastrejoices me in this case." "By all means let us hear anything in the nature of rejoicing." "Inutile to be so sarcastic.It rejoices me that there is here no shadowof guilt to distress the innocent." "Isn't this worse?"
Gustav Klimt Painting

Gustav Klimt The Kiss

Gustav Klimt The Kiss
"Instead of which you sit at home like-like-""A sensible man!My force，Hastings，is in my brain，not in my feet!All the time，whilst I seem to youidle，I am reflecting." "Reflecting?"I cried."Is this a time for reflection?" "Yes，a thousand times yes." "But what can you possibly gain by reflection? You know the facts of the three cases by heart." "It is not the facts I reflect upon-but the mind of the murderer." "The mind of a madman!" "Precisely.And therefore not to be arrived at in a minute.When I knowwhat the murderer is like，I shall be able to find out who he is.And all thetime I learn more.After the Andover crime，what did we know about themurderer?Next to nothing at all.After the Bexhill crime?A little more.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
After the Churston murder?More still.I begin to see-not what you wouldlike to see-the outlines of a face and form but the outlines of a mind.Amind that moves and works in certain definite directions.After the nextcrime-""Poirot!" My friend looked at me dispassionately. "But，yes，Hastings，I think it is almost certain there will be another. A lot depends on la chance.So far our inconnu has been lucky.This timethe luck may turn against him.But in any case，after another crime，we shallknow infinitely more.Crime is terribly revealing.Try and vary your methodsas you will，your tastes，your habits，your attitude of mind，and your soulis revealed by your actions.There are confusing indications-sometimes it isas though there were two intelligences at work-but soon the outline willclear itself，I shall know."
Gustav Klimt The Kiss

Modern Art Painting

Modern Art Painting
I am，perhaps，giving the impression that nothing practical was beingdone in the way of investigations.On the contrary，Scotland Yard and thelocal police of the various counties were indefatigable in following up thesmallest clues. Hotels，people who kept lodgings，boarding-houses-all those within awide radius of the crimes were questioned minutelly. Hundreds of stories from imaginative people who had "seen a man lookingvery queer and rolling his eyes".or "noticed a man with a sinister faceslinking along"，were sifted to the last detail.No information，even of thevaguest character，was neglected.Trains，buses，trams，railway porters，conductors，bookstalls，stationers-there was an indefatigable round ofquestions and verifications.
Modern Art Painting
At least a score of people were detained and questioned until they couldsatisfy the police as to their movements on the night in question. The net result was not entirely a blank.Certain statements were borne inmind and noted down as of possible value，but without further evidence theyled nowhere. If Crome and his colleagues were indefatigable，Poirot seemed to mestrangely supine.We argued now and again. "But what is it that you would have me do，my friend?The routineinquires，the police make them better than I do. Always-always you want me to run about like the dog."
Modern Art Painting

Art Painting

Art Painting
The Daily Flicker had the grand inspiration of using the caption: HE MAY BE IN YOUR TOWN! Poirot，of course，was in the thick of things.The letters sent to himwere published and facsimiled.He was abused wholesale for not havingprevented the crimes and defended on the ground that he was on the point ofnaming the murderer. Reporters incessantly badgered him for interviews. What M.Poirot Says Today. Which was usually followed by a half-column of imbecilities. M.Poirot Takes Grave View of Situation.
Art Painting
M.Poirot on the Eve of Success. Captain Hastings，the great friend of M.Poirot，told our SpecialRepresentative...... "Poirot，"I would cry."Pray believe me.I never said anything of thekind." My friend would reply kindly: "I know，Hastings-I know.The spoken word and the written-there is anastonishing gulf between them.There is a way of turning sentences thatcompletely reverses the original meaning." "I wouldn't like you to think I'd said-""But do not worry yourself.Allthis is of no importance.These imbecilities，even，may help." "How?" "En bien，"said Poirot grimly."If our madman reads what I am supposed tohave said to the Daily Blague today，he will lose all respect for me as anopponent!"
Art Painting

Famous painting

Famous painting
"-police are sure to get him......" "-say he may be arrested any minute now......" "-quite likely he's in Torquay......that other woman was who murderedthe what do you call'ems......" Mr Cust folded up the paper very neatly and laid it on the seat.Then herose and walked sedately along towards the town. Girls passed him，girls in white and pink and blue，in summery frocksand pyjamas and shorts.They laughed and giggled.Their eyes appraised the menthey passed. Not once did their eyes linger for a second on Mr Cust...... He sat down at a little table and ordered tea and Devonshire cream......
Famous painting
With the murder of Sir Carmichael Clarke the A B C mystery leaped intothe fullest prominence. The newspapers were full of nothing else.All sorts of "clues"werereported to have been discovered.Arrests were announced to be imminent. There were photographs of every person or place remotely connected withthe murder.There were interviews with anyone who would give interviews.Therewere questions asked in Parliament. The Andover murder was now bracketed with the other two. It was the belief of Scotland Yard that the fullest publicity was thebest chance of laying the murderer by the heels.The population of GreatBritain turned itself into an army of amateur sleuths.
Famous painting

Famous artist painting

Famous artist painting
"I don't hold with wars，"said the young man. His companion turned on him. "I don't hold with plague and sleeping sickness and famine andcancer......but they happen all the same!" "War's preventable，"said the young man with assurance. Mr Cust laughed.He laughed for some time. The young man was slightly alarmed. "He's a bit batty himself，"he thought. Aloud he said: "Sorry，sir，I expect you were in the war." "I was，"said Mr Cust."It-it-unsettled me.My head's never been rightsince.It aches，you know.Aches terribly." "Oh!I'm sorry about that，"said the young man awkwardly. "Sometimes I hardly know what I'm doing......"
Famous artist painting
"Sometimes I hardly know what I'm doing......" "Really?Well，I must be getting along，"said the young man and removedhimself hurriedly.He knew what people were once they began to talk abouttheir health. Mr Cust remained with his paper. He read and reread...... People passed to and fro in front of him. Most of them were talking of the murder...... "Awful......do you think it was anything to do with the Chinese?Wasn'tthe waitress in a Chinese cafe......" "Actually on the golf links......" "I heard it was on the beach......" "-but，darling，we took our tea to Elbury only yesterday......"Famous artist painting

Decorative painting

Decorative painting
Mr Cust fumbled in his pocket，found a coin，and bought a paper.He didnot open it at once. Entering the Princess Gardens，he slowly made his way to a shelterfacing Torquay harbour.He sat down and opened the paper. There were big headlines: Sir Carmichael Clarke Murdered. Terrible Tragedy at Churston. Work of a Homicidal Maniac. And below them: Only a month ago England was shocked and startled by the under of ayoung girl，Elizabeth Barnard，at Bexhill.It may be remembered that an A B Crailway guide figured in the case.An A B C was also found by the dead bodyof Sir Carmichael Clarke，and the police incline to the belief that bothcrimes were committed by the same person.Can it be possible that a homicidalmurderer is going the round of our seaside resorts?......
Decorative painting
A young man in flannel trousers and a bright blue Aertex shirt who wassitting beside Mr Cust remarked: "Nasty business-eh?" Mr Cust jumped. "Oh，very-very-"His hands，the young man noticed，were trembling so thathe could hardly hold the paper. "You never know with lunatics，"said the young man chattily."They don'talways look barmy，you know.Often they seem just the same as you orme......" "I suppose they do，"said Mr Cust. "It's a fact.Sometimes it's the war what unhinged them-never been rightsince." "I-I expect you're right."
Decorative painting

Abstract Painting

Abstract Painting
I was not present at the interview that took place between Poirot andthat strange man-Alexander Bonaparte Cust.Owing to his association with thepolice and the peculiar circumstances of the case，Poirot had no difficultyin obtaining a Home Office order-but that order did not extend to me，and inany case it was essential，from Poirot's point of view，that that interviewshould be absolutely private-the two men face to face. He has given me，however，such a detailed account of what passed betweenthem that I set it down with as much confidence on paper as though I hadactually been present.
Abstract Painting
Mr Cust seemed to have shrunk.His stoop was more apparent.His fingersplucked vaguely at his coat. For some time，I gather，Poirot did not speak. He sat and looked at the man opposite him. The atmosphere became restful-soothing-full of infinite leisure...... It must have been a dramatic moment-this meeting of the two adversariesin the long drama.In Poirot's place I should have felt the dramatic thrill. Poirot，however，is nothing if not matter-of-fact.He was absorbed inproducing a certain effect upon the man opposite him. At last he said gently: "Do you know who I am?"
Abstract Painting

Rembrandt Painting

Rembrandt Painting
I don't.I've never been able to afford to hunt.And I don't thinkthere's much hunting in this part of the world." "I meant in England generally.A strange sport.The waiting at the covertside-then they sound the tally-ho，do they not?-and the run begins-acrossthe country-over the hedges and ditches-and the fox he runs-and sometimes hedoubles back-but the dogs-""Hounds!" "-hounds are on his trail，and at last they catch him and hedies-quickly and horribly." "I suppose it does sound cruel，but really-""The fox enjoys it?Do notsay les betises，my friend.Tout de meme-it is better that-the quick，crueldeath-than what those children were singing......
Rembrandt Painting
"To be shut away-in a box-for ever......No，it is not good，that." He shook his head.Then he said，with a change of tone: "Tomorrow，I am to visit the man Cust，"and he added to the chauffeur: "Back to London." "Aren't you going to Eastbourne?"I cried. "What need?I know-quite enough for my purpose."
Rembrandt Painting

The Singing Butler

The Singing Butler
"I don't.I've never been able to afford to hunt.And I don't thinkthere's much hunting in this part of the world." "I meant in England generally.A strange sport.The waiting at the covertside-then they sound the tally-ho，do they not?-and the run begins-acrossthe country-over the hedges and ditches-and the fox he runs-and sometimes hedoubles back-but the dogs-""Hounds!" "-hounds are on his trail，and at last they catch him and hedies-quickly and horribly." "I suppose it does sound cruel，but really-""The fox enjoys it?Do notsay les betises，my friend.Tout de meme-it is better that-the quick，crueldeath-than what those children were singing......
The Singing Butler
"To be shut away-in a box-for ever......No，it is not good，that." He shook his head.Then he said，with a change of tone: "Tomorrow，I am to visit the man Cust，"and he added to the chauffeur: "Back to London." "Aren't you going to Eastbourne?"I cried. "What need?I know-quite enough for my purpose." 出品:阿加莎.克里斯蒂小说专区(http://christie.soim.com)And never let himgo." "And catch a fox and put him in a box and never let him go!"repeatedPoirot. His face had gone suddenly grave and stern. "It is very terrible that，Hastings."He was silent a minute."You huntthe fox here?"
The Singing Butler

Jack Vettriano Painting

Jack Vettriano Painting
He smiled. "Alors c'est bien，mon enfant." He looked round for me. "Come，Hastings，we must start for Eastbourne." The car was waiting and soon we were driving along the coast road thatleads through Pevensey to Eastbourne. "Is it any use asking you anything，Poirot?" "Not at this moment.Draw your own conclusion as to what I am doing." I relapsed into silence. Poirot，who seemed pleased with himself，hummed a little tune.As wepassed through Pevensey he suggested that we stop and have a look over thecastle.
Jack Vettriano Painting
As we were returning towards the car，we paused a moment to watch a ringof children-Brownies，I guessed，by their get-up-who were singing a ditty inshrill，untuneful voices...... "What is it that they say，Hastings?I cannot catch the words." I listened-till I caught one refrain. "-And catch a fox And put him in a box And never let him go." "And catch a fox and put him in a box and never let him go!"repeatedPoirot. His face had gone suddenly grave and stern. "It is very terrible that，Hastings."He was silent a minute."You huntthe fox here?"
Jack Vettriano Painting

Mary Cassatt painting

Mary Cassatt painting
The girl sprang up. "How dare you ask me such a question.It's-it's insulting!" "Perhaps.But you have sworn to speak the truth.Eh bien-Yes or no?" "Sir Carmichael was wonderfully kind to me.He treated me almost like adaughter.And that's how I felt to him-just affectionate and grateful." "Pardon me，but that is not answering Yes or No，mademoiselle." She hesitated. "The answer，of course，is no!" He made no comment. "Thank you，mademoiselle." He turned to Megan Barnard.The girl's face was very pale.She wasbreathing hard as though braced up for an ordeal. Poirot's voice came out like the crack of a whiplash.
Mary Cassatt painting
"Mademoiselle，what do you hope will be the result of my investigations? Do you want me to find out the truth-or not?" Her head went back proudly.I was fairly sure of her answer.Megan，I knew，had a fanatical passion for truth. Her answer came clearly-and it stupefied me. "No!" We all jumped.Poirot leant forward studying her face. "Mademoiselle Megan，"he said，"You may not want the truth but-mafoi-you can speak it!" He turned towards the door，then，recollecting，went to Mary Drower. "Tell me，mon enfant，have you a young man?" Mary，who had been looking apprehensive，looked startled and blushed. "Oh，Mr Poirot.I-I-well，I'm not sure."
Mary Cassatt painting

Edward Hopper Painting

Edward Hopper Painting
He turned to Franklin Clarke. "What，mon cher M.Clarke，did you think of the hats the ladies wore atAscot this year?" Franklin Clarke stared at him. "Is this a joke?" "Certainly not." "Is that seriously your question?" "It is." Clarke began to grin. "Well，M.Poirot，I didn't actually go to Ascot，but from what I couldsee of them driving in cars，women's hats for Ascot were an even bigger jokethan the hats they wear ordinarily."
Edward Hopper Painting
"Fantastic?" "Quite fantastic." Poirot smiled and turned to Donald Fraser. "When did you take your holiday this year，monsieur?" It was Fraser's turn to stare. "My holidays?The first two weeks in August." His face quivered suddenly.I guessed that the question had brought theloss of the girl he loved back to him. Poirot，however，did not seem to pay much attention to the reply.Heturned to Thora Grey and I heard the slight difference in his voice.It hadtightened up.His question came sharp and clear. "Mademoiselle，in the event of Lady Clarke's death，would you havemarried Sir Carmichael if he had asked you?"
Edward Hopper Painting

Van Gogh Sunflower

Van Gogh Sunflower
"No-that is true." "Well，then?" "Patience.Everything arranges itself，given time." "You seem quite pleased with yourself anyway." "Nothing so far has contradicted my little idea-that is why." His face grew serious. "My friend Hastings told me once that he had，as a young man，played agame called The Truth.It was a game where everyone in turn was asked threequestions-two of which must be answered truthfully.The third one could bebarred.The questions，naturally，were of the most indiscreet kind.But tobegin with everyone had to swear that they would indeed speak the truth，andnothing but the truth."
Van Gogh Sunflower
He paused. "Well?"said Megan. "Eh bien-me，I want to play that game.Only it is not necessary to havethree questions.One will be enough.One question to each of you." "Of course，"said Clarke impatiently."We'll answer anything." "Ah，but I want it to be more serious than that.Do you all swear tospeak the truth?" He was so solemn about it that the others，puzzled，became solemnthemselves.They all swore as he demanded. "Bon，"said Poirot briskly."Let us begin-""I'm ready，"said Thora Grey. "Ah，but ladies first-this time it would not be the politeness.We willstart elsewhere."
Van Gogh Sunflower

Van Gogh Painting

Van Gogh Painting
However I have learnt by this time that Poirot's actions are usuallydictated by an idea-however meaningless they may seem. He then walked from the beach to the nearest point at which a car couldhave been parked.From there again he went to the place where the Eastbournebuses waited before leaving Bexhill. Finally he took us all to the Ginger Cat cafe，where we had a somewhatstale tea served by the plump waitress，Milly Higley. Her he complimented in a flowing Gallic style on the shape of her ankles. "The legs of the English-always they are too thin!But you，mademoiselle，have the perfect leg.It has shape-it has an ankle!" Milly Higley giggled a good deal and told him not to go on so.She knewwhat French gentlemen were like
Van Gogh Painting
Poirot did not trouble to contradict her mistake as to his nationality. He merely ogled her in such a way that I was startled and almost shocked. "Voila，"said Poirot，"I have finished in Bexhill.Presently I go toEastbourne.One little inquiry there-that is all.Unnecessary for you all toaccompany me.In the meantime come back to the hotel and let us have acocktail.That Carlton tea，it was abominable!" As we were sipping our cocktails Franklin Clarke said curiously: "I suppose we can guess what you are after?You're out to break thatalibi.But I can't see what you're so pleased about.You haven't got a newfact of any kind."
Van Gogh Painting

Henri Matisse Painting

Henri Matisse Painting
During the next few days Poirot was very busy.He made mysteriousabsences，talked very little，frowned to himself，and consistently refusedto satisfy my natural curiosity as to the brilliance I had，according to him，displayed in the past. I was not invited to accompany him on his mysterious comings andgoings-a fact which I somewhat resented. Towards the end of the week，however，he announced his intention ofpaying a visit to Bexhill and neighbourhood and suggested that I should comewith him.Needless to say，I accepted with alacrity.
Henri Matisse Painting
The invitation，I discovered，was not extended to me alone.The membersof our Special Legion were also invited. They were as intrigued by Poirot as I was.Nevertheless，by the end ofthe day，I had at any rate an idea as to the direction in which Poirot'sthoughts were tending. He first visited Mr and Mrs Barnard and got an exact account from her asto the hour at which Mr Cust had called on her and exactly what he hadsaid.He then went to the hotel at which Cust had put up and extracted aminute description of that gentleman's departure.As far as I could judge，nonew facts were elicited by his question but he himself seemed quite satisfied. Next he went to the beach-to the place where Betty Barnard's body hadbeen discovered.Here he walked round in circles for some minutes studyingthe shingle attentively.I could see little point in this，since the tidecovered the spot twice a day.
Henri Matisse Painting

Marc Chagall Painting

Marc Chagall Painting
"Not at the moment.I require first a little more information.That I canget from our Special Legion.And then-then，when I have got the answer to acertain question，I will go and see ABC.We will be face to face at last-A BC and Hercule Poirot-the adversaries." "And then?"I asked. "And then，"said Poirot."We will talk!Je vous assure，Hastings-there isnothing so dangerous for anyone who has something to hide as conversation! Speech，so a wise old Frenchman said to me once，is an invention of
Marc Chagall Painting
man's to prevent him from thinking.It is also an infallible means ofdiscovering that which he wishes to hide.A human being，Hastings，cannotresist the opportunity to reveal himself and express his personality whichconversation gives him.Every time he will give himself away." "What do you expect Cust to tell you?" Hercule Poirot smiled. "A lie，"he said."And by it，I shall know the truth!"
Marc Chagall Painting

The Birth of Venus

The Birth of Venus
"Was Betty Barnard the only person in Bexhill whose name began with a B? Betty Barnard-I had an idea there......It ought to be true-it must betrue. But if so-"He was silent for some time.I did not like to interrupt him. As a matter of fact，I believe I fell asleep. I woke to find Poirot's hand on my shoulder. "Mon cher Hastings，"he said affectionately."My good genius." I was quite confused by this sudden mark of esteem. "It is true，"Poirot insisted. "Always-always-you help me-you bring me luck.You inspire me." "How have I inspired you this time?"I asked.
The Birth of Venus
"While I was asking myself certain questions I remembered a remark ofyours-a remark absolutely shimmering in its clear vision.Did I not say toyou once that you had a genius for stating the obvious.It is the obviousthat I have neglected." "What is this brilliant remark of mine?"I asked. "It makes everything as clear as crystal.I see the answers to all myquestions.The reason for Mrs Ascher(that，it is true，I glimpsed long ago)，the reason for Sir Carmichael Clarke，the reason for the Doncaster murder，and finally and supremely important，the reason for Hercule Poirot." "Could you kindly explain?"I asked.
The Birth of Venus

Bouguereau William

Bouguereau William
"We know nothing at all!We know where he was born.We know he fought inthe war and received a slight wound in the head and that he was dischargedfrom the army owing to epilepsy.We know that he lodged with Mrs Marbury fornearly two years.We know that he was quiet and retiring-the sort of man thatnobody notices.We know that he invented and carried out an intensely cleverscheme of systemized murder.We know that he made certain incredibly stupidblunders.We know that he killed without pity and quite ruthlessly.We know，too，that he was kindly enough not to let blame rest on any other person forthe crimes he committed.If he wanted to kill unmolested-how easy to letother persons suffer for his crimes.Do you not see，Hastings
Bouguereau William
that the manis a mass of contradictions?Stupid and cunning，ruthless and magnanimous-andthat there must be some dominating factor that reconciles his two natures." "Of course，if you treat him like a pyschological study，"I began. "What else has this case been since the beginning?All along I have beengroping my way-trying to get to know the murderer. And now I realize，Hastings，that I do not know him at all!I am at sea." "The lust for power-"I began. "Yes-that might explain a good deal......But it does not satisfyme.There are things I want to know.Why did he commit these murders?Why didhe choose those particular people-?" "Alphabetically-"I began.
Bouguereau William

Gustav Klimt Painting

Gustav Klimt Painting
Of course，strictly speaking，it oughtn't to matter.We've got Cust onthe Doncaster murder-the blood-stained coat，the knife-not a loopholethere.You couldn't bounce any jury into acquitting him.But it spoils apretty case.He did the Doncaster murder.He did the Churston murder.He didthe Andover murder.Then，by hell，he must have done the Bexhill murder.But Idon't see how!" He shook his head ang got up. "Now's your chance，M.Poirot，"he said. "Crome's in a fog.Exert those cellular arrangements of yours I used tohear so much about.Show us the way he did it." Japp departed. "What about it，Poirot?"I said."Are the little grey cells equal to thetask?"
Gustav Klimt Painting
Poirot answered my question by another. "Tell me，Hastings，do you consider the case ended?" "Well-yes，practically speaking.We've got the man.And we've got most ofthe evidence.It's only the trimmings that are needed." Poirot shook his head. "The case is ended!The case!The case is the man，Hastings.Until we knowall about the man，the mystery is as deep as ever.It is not victory becausewe have put him in the dock!" "We know a fair amount about him."
Gustav Klimt Painting

Gustav Klimt The Kiss

Gustav Klimt The Kiss
as I can see，Cust made an ideal listener.He didn't interrupt!After dinnerhe and Cust played dominoes.It appears strange was a whale on dominoes andto his surprise Cust was pretty hot stuff too.Queer game，dominoes.People gomad about it.They'll play for hours.That's what Strange and Cust didapparently.Cust wanted to go to bed but Strange wouldn't hear of it-sworethey'd keep it up until midnight at least.And that's what they did so.Theyseparated at ten minutes past midnight.And if Cust was in the WhitecrossHotel at Eastbourne at ten minutes past midnight on the morning of the 25thhe couldn't very well be strangling Betty Barnard on the beach at Bexhillbetween midnight and one o'clock." "The problem certainly seems insuperable，"said Poirot thoughtfully. "Decidedly，it gives one to think."
Gustav Klimt The Kiss
"It's given Crome something to think about，"said Japp. "This man Strange is very positive?" "Yes.He's an obstinate devil.And it's difficult to see just where theflaw is.Supposing Strange is making a mistake and the man wasn't Cust-why onearth should he say his name is Cust?And the writing in the hotel registeris his all right.You can't say he's an accomplice-homicidal lunatics don'thave accomplices!Did the girl die later?The doctor was quite firm in hisevidence，and anyway it would take some time for Cust to get out of thehotel at Eastbourne without being seen and get over to Bexhill-aboutfourteen miles away-""It is a problem-yes，"said Poirot.
Gustav Klimt The Kiss

Modern Art Painting

Modern Art Painting
Bonaparte-the great Emperor of the French.He wants an adversary-anadversary，one might say，in his class.Well-there you are-Hercules thestrong." "Your words are very suggestive，doctor.They foster ideas......" "Oh，it's only a suggestion.Well，I must be off." Dr Thompson went out.Japp remained. "Does this alibi worry you?"Poirot asked. "It does a little，"admitted the inspector."Mind you，I don't believe init，because I know it isn't true.But it is going to be the deuce to breakit.This man Strange is a tough character." "Describe him to me."
Modern Art Painting
"He's a man of forty.A tough，confident，self-opinionated miningengineer.It's my opinion that it was he who insisted on his evidence beingtaken now.He wants to get off to Chile.He hoped the thing might be settledout of hand." "He's one of the most positive people I've ever seen，"I said. "The type of man who would not like to admit he was mistaken，"saidPoirot thoughtfully. "He sticks to his story and he's not one to be heckled.He swears by allthat's blue that he picked up Cust in the Whitecross Hotel at Eastbourne onthe evening of July 24th.He was lonely and wanted someone to talk to.As far
Modern Art Painting

Art Painting

Art Painting
"When they're as fervent as that they usually do，"said Crome. "As to your question，"went on Thompson，"it's perfectly possible for anepileptic subject in a state of somnambulism to commit an action and beentirely unaware of having done so.But it is the general opinion that suchan action must "not be contrary to the will of the person in the wakingstate"." He went on discussing the matter，speaking of grand mal and petit maland，to tell the truth，confusing me hopelessly as is often the case when alearned person holds forth on his own subject. "However，I'm against the theory that Cust committed these crimeswithout knowing he'd done them.You might put that theory forward if itweren't for the letters.The letters knock the theory on the head.They showpremeditation and a careful planning of the crime."
Art Painting
"And of the letters we have still no explanation，"said Poirot. "That interests you?" "Naturally-since they were written to me.And on the subject of theletters Cust is persistently dumb.Until I get at the reason for thoseletters being written to me，I shall not feel that the case is solved." "Yes-I can understand that from your point of view.There doesn't seem tobe any reason to believe that the man ever came up against you in any way?" "None whatever." "I might make a suggestion.Your name!" "My name?" "Yes.Cust is saddled-apparently by the whim of his mother (Odepuscomplex there，I shouldn't wonder!)-with two extremely bombastic Christiannames:Alexander and Bonaparte.You see the impliations?Alexander-thepopularly supposed undefeatable who sighed for more worlds to conquer.
Art Painting

Famous painting

Famous painting
Insanity's the only defence possible." Poirot shrugged his shoulders. "With insanity there can be no acquittal. Imprisonment during His Majesty's pleasure is hardly preferable todeath." "I suppose Lucas thought there was a chance，"said Japp."With afirst-class alibi for the Bexhill murder，the whold case might be weakened. I don't think he realized how strong our case is. Anyway，Lucas goes in for originality.He's a young man，and he wants tohit the public eye." Poirot turned to Thompson. "What's your opinion，doctor?"
Famous painting
"Of Cust?Upon my soul，I don't know what to say.He's playing the sameman remarkably well.He's an epileptic，of course." "What an amazing denouement that was，"I said. "His falling into the Andover police station in a fit?Yes-it was afitting dramatic curtain to the drama.A B C has always timed his effectswell." "Is it possible to commit a crime and be unaware of it?"I asked."Hisdenials seem to have a ring of truth in them." Dr Thompson smiled a little. "You mustn't be taken in by that theatrical "I swear by God"pose.It's myopinion that Cust knows perfectly well he committed the murders."
Famous painting

Famous artist painting

Famous artist painting
People had always laughed at him...... He couldn't blame them...... Where was he going?He didn't know.He'd come to the end.He no longerlooked anywhere but at his feet. Foot in front of foot. He looked up.Lights in front of him.And letters...... Police Station. "That's funny，"said Mr Cust.He gave a little giggle. Then he stepped inside.Suddenly，as he did so，he swayed and fell forward. ------------------
Famous artist painting
It was a clear November day.Dr Thompson and Chief Inspector Japp hadcome round to acquaint Poirot with the result of the police courtproceedings in the case of Rex v.Alexander Bonaparte Cust. Poirot himself had had a slight bronchial chill which had prevented hisattending.Fortunately he had not insisted on having my company. "Committed for trial，"said Japp."So that's that." "Isn't it unusual?"I asked，"for a defence to be offered at this stage? I thought prisoners always reserved their defence." "It's the usual course，"said Japp. "I suppose young Lucas thought he might rush it through.He's a trier，Iwill say.
Famous artist painting

Decorative painting

Decorative painting
Mr Cust stood by a greengrocer's shop. He stared across the road. Yes，that was it. Mrs Ascher.Newsagent and Tobacconist...... In the empty window was a sign. To Let. Empty...... Lifeless...... "Excuse me，sir." The greengrocer's wife，trying to get at some lemons. He apologized，moved to one side. Slowly he shuffled away-back towards the main street of the town...... It was difficult-very difficult-now that he hadn't any money left...... Not having had anything to eat all day made one feel very queer andlight-headed......
Decorative painting
He looked at a poster outside a newsagent's shop. The A B C Case.Murderer Still at Large.Interviews with M.Hercule Poirot. Mr Cust said to himself: "Hercule Poirot.I wonder if he knows......" He walked on again. It wouldn't do to stand staring at that poster...... He thought: "I can't go on much longer......" Foot in front of foot......what an odd thing walking was...... Foot in front of foot-ridiculous. Highly ridiculous...... But man was a ridiculous animal anway...... And he，Alexander Bonaparte Cust，was particularly ridiculous. He had always been......
Decorative painting