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Harper Audio presents Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Performed by Dan Stevens. Part 1. The Facts.
Chapter 1. An important passenger on the Taurus Express. It was five o'clock on a winter's morning in Syria. Alongside the platform at Aleppo stood the train grandly designated in railway guides as the Taurus Express. It consisted of a kitchen and dining car, a sleeping car and two local coaches.
By the step leading up into the sleeping car stood a young French lieutenant, resplendent in uniform, conversing with a small lean man, muffled up to the ears, of whom nothing was visible but a pink-tipped nose and the two points of an upward-curled moustache. It was freezingly cold, and this job of seeing off a distinguished stranger was not one to be envied, but Lieutenant Duboch performed his part manfully. Graceful phrases fell from his lips in polished French, not that he knew what it was all about. There had been rumours, of course, as there always were in such cases.
The general, his general's, temper had grown worse and worse. And then there had come this Belgian stranger, all the way from England, it seemed. There had been a week, a week of curious tensity. And then certain things had happened. A very distinguished officer had committed suicide, another had resigned.
Anxious faces had suddenly lost their anxiety, certain military precautions were relaxed. And the general, Lieutenant Duboch's own particular general, had suddenly looked ten years younger. Duboch had overheard part of a conversation between him and the stranger. You have saved us, mon cher, said the general emotionally, his great white moustache trembling as he spoke. You have saved the honor of the French army.
You have averted much bloodshed. How can I thank you for acceding to my request, to have come so far? To which the stranger, by name Monsieur Hercule Poirot, had made a fitting reply, including the phrase, But indeed, do I not remember that once you saved my life? And then the general had made another fitting reply to that, disclaiming any merit for that past service, and with more mention of France, of Belgium, of glory, of honor, and of such kindred things, they had embraced each other heartily, and the conversation had ended. As to what it had all been about, Lieutenant Dubosch was still in the dark, but to him had been delegated the duty of seeing off Monsieur Poirot by the Taurus Express.
and he was carrying it out with all the zeal and ardor befitting a young officer with a promising career ahead of him. Today is Sunday, said Lieutenant Dubois. Tomorrow, Monday evening, you will be in Istanbul. It was not the first time he had made this observation.
Conversations on the platform before the departure of a train are apt to be somewhat repetitive in character. That is so, agreed Monsieur Poirot. And you intend to remain there a few days, I think? Mais oui. Istanbul, it is a city I have never visited.
It would be a pity to pass through comme ça. He snapped his fingers descriptively. Nothing presses. I shall remain there as a tourist for a few days. La Sainte-Sophie, it is very fine, said Lieutenant Dubon.
She would never seen it. A cold wind came whistling down the platform. Both men shivered.
Lieutenant Duboch managed to cast a surreptitious glance at his watch. Five minutes to five, only five minutes more. Fancying that the other man had noticed his surreptitious glance, he hastened once more into speech. There are few people traveling this time of year, he said, glancing up at the windows of the sleeping car above them. That is so, agreed Monsieur Poirot.
Let us hope you will not be snowed up in the Taurus. That happens. It has occurred, yes. Not this year, as yet. Let us hope, then, said Monsieur Poirot.
The weather reports from Europe, they are bad. Very bad. In the Balkans, there is much snow.
In Germany, too, I have heard. Eh bien, said Lieutenant de Bosch hastily, as another pause seemed to be about to occur. Tomorrow evening at 7.40 you will be in Constantinople. Yes, said Monsieur Poirot, and went on desperately. La Sainte-Sophie, I have heard it is very fine.
Magnificent, I believe. Above their heads, the blind of one of the sleeping car compartments was pushed aside, and a young woman looked out. Mary Debenham had had little sleep since she left Baghdad on the preceding Thursday.
Neither in the train to Kirkuk, nor in the rest house at Mosul, nor last night on the train had she slept properly. Now, weary of lying wakeful in the hot stuffiness of her overheated compartment, she got up and peered out. This must be Aleppo. Nothing to see, of course, just a long, poor lighted platform with loud, furious altercations in Arabic going on somewhere.
Two men below her window were talking French. One was a French officer. The other was a little man with enormous moustaches. She smiled faintly. She had never seen anyone quite so heavily muffled up.
It must be very cold outside. That was why they heated the train so terribly. She tried to force the window down lower, but it would not go.
The wagon-lie conductor had come up to the two men. The train was about to depart, he said. Monsieur had better mount. The little man removed his hat. What an egg-shaped head he had.
In spite of her preoccupations, Mary Debenham smiled. A ridiculous-looking little man. The sort of little man one could never take seriously. Lieutenant de Bosch was saying his parting speech. He had thought it out beforehand and had kept it till the last minute.
It was a very beautiful, polished speech. Not to be outdone, Monsieur Poirot replied in kind. En voiture, Monsieur, said the wagon-lieu conductor. With an air of infinite reluctance, Monsieur Poirot climbed aboard the train.
The conductor climbed after him. Monsieur Poirot waved his hand. Lieutenant Duboch came to the salute.
The train, with a terrific jerk, moved slowly forward. Enfin, murmured Monsieur Hercule Poirot. said Lieutenant Duboch, realizing to the full how cold he was.
Voilà, monsieur. The conductor displayed to Poirot with a dramatic gesture the beauty of his sleeping compartment and the neat arrangement of his luggage. The little valise of monsieur, I have placed it here. His outstretched hand was suggestive.
Hercule Poirot placed in it a folded note. Merci, monsieur. The conductor became brisk and businesslike.
I have the tickets of monsieur. I will also take the passport, please. Monsieur breaks his journey in Istanbul, I understand. Monsieur Poirot assented.
There are not many people traveling, I imagine, he said. No, monsieur, I have only two other passengers, both English. A colonel from India and a young English lady from Baghdad. Monsieur requires anything?
Monsieur demanded a small bottle of Perrier. Five o'clock in the morning is an awkward time to board a train. There was still two hours before dawn. Conscious of an inadequate night's sleep and of a delicate mission successfully accomplished, Monsieur Poirot curled up in a corner and fell asleep. When he awoke it was half past nine, and he sallied forth to the restaurant car in search of hot coffee.
There was only one occupant at the moment, obviously the young English lady referred to by the conductor. She was tall, slim, and dark, perhaps twenty-eight years of age. There was a kind of cool efficiency in the way she was eating her breakfast, and in the way she called to the attendant to bring her more coffee, which bespoke a knowledge of the world and of travelling.
She wore a dark-coloured travelling dress, of some thin material eminently suitable for the heated atmosphere of the train. Monsieur Hercule Poirot, having nothing better to do, amused himself by studying her without appearing to do so. She was, he judged, the kind of young woman who could take care of herself with perfect ease wherever she went. She had poise and efficiency. He rather liked the severe regularity of her features and the delicate pallor of her skin.
He liked the burnished black head with its neat waves of hair, and her eyes cool, impersonal, and grey. But she was, he decided, just a little too efficient to be what he called Jolie Femme. Presently, another person entered the restaurant car.
This was a tall man of between 40 and 50, lean of figure, brown of skin, with hair slightly grizzled round the temples. The Colonel from India, said Poirot to himself. The newcomer gave a little bow to the girl. Morning, Mr. Eminem. Good morning, Colonel Arbuthnot.
The colonel was standing with a hand on the chair opposite her. Any objection? he asked. Of course not, sit down. Well, you know, breakfast isn't always a chatty meal.
I should hope not, but I don't bite. The colonel sat down. Boy, he called in a peremptory fashion. He gave an order for eggs and coffee.
His eyes rested for a moment on Hercule Poirot, but they passed on indifferently. Poirot, reading the English mind correctly, knew that he had said to himself, only some damned foreigner. True to their nationality, the two English people were not chatty. They exchanged a few brief remarks, and presently the girl rose and went back to her compartment.
At lunchtime, the other two again shared a table, and again they both completely ignored the third passenger. Their conversation was more animated than at breakfast. Colonel Arbuthnot talked of the Punjab and occasionally asked the girl a few questions about Baghdad, where it became clear that she had been in a post as governess.
In the course of conversation, they discovered some mutual friends, which had the immediate effect of making them more friendly and less stiff. They discussed old Tommy somebody and Jerry someone else. The colonel inquired whether she was going straight through to England or whether she was stopping in Istanbul. No, I'm going straight on. Isn't that rather a pity?
I came out this way two years ago and spent three days in Stamboul then. Oh, I see. Well, I may say I am very glad you are going right through, because I am.
He made a kind of clumsy little bow, flushing a little as he did so. He is susceptible, our colonel, thought Hercule Poirot to himself with some amusement. The train, it is as dangerous as a sea voyage. Miss Debenham said evenly that that would be very nice. Her manner was slightly repressive.
The colonel, Hercule Poirot noticed, accompanied her back to her compartment. Later they passed through the magnificent scenery of the Taurus. As they looked down towards the Solitian gates, standing in the corridor side by side, a sigh came suddenly from the girl. Poirot was standing near them and heard her murmur, It's so beautiful.
I wish, I wish. Yes, I wish I could enjoy it. Arbuthnot did not answer. The square line of his jaw seemed a little sterner and grimmer.
I wish to heaven you were out of all this, he said. Hush, please, hush. Oh, it's all right. He shot a slightly annoyed glance in Poirot's direction.
Then he went on. But I don't like the idea of your being a governess at the beck and call of tyrannical mothers and their tiresome brats. She laughed with just a hint of uncontrol in the sound.
You mustn't think that. The downtrodden governess is quite an exploded myth. I can assure you that it's the parents who are afraid of being bullied by me.
They said no more. Arbuthnot was perhaps ashamed of his outburst. Rather an odd little comedy that I watch here, said Poirot to himself thoughtfully.
He was to remember that thought of his later. They arrived at Konya that night about half-past eleven. The two English travellers got out to stretch their legs, pacing up and down the snowy platform. Monsieur Poirot was content to watch the teeming activity of the station through a windowpane. After about ten minutes, however, he decided that a breath of air would not perhaps be a bad thing, after all.
He made careful preparations, wrapping himself in several coats and mufflers, and encasing his neat boots in galoshes. Thus attired, he descended gingerly to the platform, and began to pace its length. He walked out beyond the engine.
It was the voices which gave him the clue to the two indistinct figures standing in the shadow of a traffic van. Arbuthnot was speaking. Mary.
The girl interrupted him. Not now. Not now.
When it's all over. When it's behind us. Then, discreetly, Monsieur Poirot turned away.
He wondered. He would hardly recognize the cool, efficient voice of Miss Debenham. Curious, he said to himself. The next day he wondered whether, perhaps, they had quarreled. They spoke little to each other.
The girl, he thought, looked anxious. There were dark circles under her eyes. It was about half-past two in the afternoon when the train came to a halt. Heads were poked out of windows.
A little knot of men were clustered by the side of the line, looking and pointing at something under the dining car. Poirot leaned out and spoke to the wagon-lieu conductor, who was hurrying past. The man answered, and Poirot drew back his head and, turning, almost collided with Mary Debenham, who was standing just behind him.
What is the matter? she asked rather breathlessly in French. Why are we stopping?
It is nothing, mademoiselle. It is something that has caught fire under the dining car. Nothing serious.
It is put out. They are now repairing the damage. There is no danger, I assure you.
She made a little abrupt gesture, as though she were waving the idea of danger aside, as something completely unimportant. Yes, yes, I understand that, but the time. The time? Yes, this will delay us.
It is possible, yes, agreed Poirot. But we can't afford delay. The train is due in at 6.55, and one has to cross the Bosphorus and catch the Simplin Orient Express the other side at nine o'clock.
If there is an hour or two of delay, we shall miss the connection. It is possible, yes, he admitted. He looked at her curiously. The hand that held the window bar was not quite steady. Her lips, too, were trembling.
Does it matter to you very much, mademoiselle? He asked. Yes, yes it does. I must catch that train. She turned away from him and went down the corridor to join Colonel Arbuthnot.
Her anxiety, however, was needless. Ten minutes later, the train started again. It arrived at Haida Passar only five minutes late, having made up time on the journey.
The Bosphorus was rough, and Monsieur Poirot did not enjoy the crossing. He was separated from his traveling companions on the boat and did not see them again. On arrival at the Galata Bridge, he drove straight to the Tukatlian Hotel.
Chapter 2. The Tukatlian Hotel. At the Tukatlian, Hercule Poirot asked for a room with bath. Then he stepped over to the concierge's desk and inquired for letters. There were three waiting for him and a telegram.
His eyebrows rose a little at the sight of the telegram. It was unexpected. He opened it in his usual neat, unhurried fashion. The printed words stood out clearly. Development you predicted in Kastner case has come unexpectedly.
Please return immediately. Voilà ce qui est tombé temps, murmured Poirot vexedly. He glanced up at the clock.
I shall have to go on tonight, he said to the concierge. At what time does the Simplon-Orion leave? At nine o'clock, monsieur.
Can you get me a sleeper? Assuredly, monsieur, there is no difficulty this time of year. The trains are almost empty.
First class or second? First. Très bien, monsieur. How far are you going?
To London. Bien, monsieur. I will get you a ticket to London and reserve your sleeping car accommodation in the Stamboul-Calais coach. Poirot glanced at the clock again.
It was ten minutes to eight. I have time to dine? But assuredly, monsieur.
The little Belgian nodded. He went over and cancelled his room order and crossed the hall to the restaurant. As he was giving his order to the waiter, a hand was placed on his shoulder.
Ah, mon vieux, but this is an unexpected pleasure, said a voice behind him. The speaker was a short... stout elderly man, his hair cut en brosse. He was smiling delightedly.
Poirot sprang up. Monsieur Bouc? Monsieur Poirot?
Monsieur Bouc was a Belgian, a director of the Compagnie Internationale des Vagons-Lits, and his acquaintance with the former star of the Belgian police force dated back many years. You find yourself far from home, mon cher, said M. Bouc. A little affair in Syria.
Ah, and you return home when? Tonight. Splendid, I too. That is to say, I go as far as Lausanne, where I have affairs.
You travel on the Simplorion, I presume? Yes, I have just asked them to get me a sleeper. It was my intention to remain here some days, but I have received a telegram recalling me to England on important business. Ah, sighed Monsieur Bouc. Les affaires, les affaires, but you, you are at the top of the tree nowadays, mon vieux.
Some little success I have had, perhaps. Hercule Poirot tried to look modest, but failed signally. Bouc laughed. We will meet later, he said.
Hercule Poirot addressed himself to the task of keeping his moustaches out of the soup. That difficult task accomplished, he glanced round him whilst waiting for the next course. There were only about half a dozen people in the restaurant, and of those half dozen there were only two that interested Hercule Poirot. These two sat at a table not far away. The younger was a likeable looking man of thirty, clearly an American.
It was, however, not he but his companion who had attracted the little detective's attention. He was a man of between sixty and seventy. From a little distance he had the bland aspect of a philanthropist.
His slightly bald head, his domed forehead, the smiling mouth that displayed a very white set of false teeth, all seemed to speak of a benevolent personality. Only the eyes belied this assumption. They were small, deep-set, and crafty. Not only that, as the man, making some remark to his young companion, glanced across the room, his gaze stopped on Poirot for a moment, and just for that second there was a strange malevolence and unnatural tensity in the glance. Then he rose.
Pay the bill, Hector, he said. His voice was slightly husky in tone. It had a queer, soft, dangerous quality.
When Poirot rejoined his friend in the lounge, the other two men were just leaving the hotel. Their luggage was being brought down. The younger was supervising the process.
Presently, he opened the glass door and said, Quite ready now, Mr. Ratchet. The elder man grunted in assent and passed out. Eh bien, said Poirot. What do you think of those two?
They are Americans, said M. Bouc. Assuredly, they are Americans. I meant, what did you think of their personalities? The young man seemed quite agreeable.
And the other? To tell you the truth, my friend, I did not care for him. He produced on me an unpleasant impression.
And you? Hercule Poirot was a moment before replying. When he passed me in the restaurant, he said at last, I had a curious impression. It was as though a wild animal, an animal savage, but savage, you understand, had passed me by. And yet he looked altogether of the most respectable.
Precisement. The body, the cage, is everything of the most respectable. But through the bars, the wild animal looks out. You are fanciful, mon vieux, said M.
Bouc. It may be so, but I could not rid myself of the impression that evil had passed me by very close. That respectable American gentleman? That respectable American gentleman.
Well, said M. Bouc cheerfully, it may be so. There is much evil in the world. At that moment the door opened and the concierge came towards them.
He looked concerned and apologetic. It is extraordinary, monsieur, he said to Poirot. There is not one first-class sleeping berth to be had on the train.
Comment, cried monsieur Bouc. At this time of year? Oh, without doubt there is some party of journalists, of politicians.
I don't know, sir, said the concierge, turning to him respectfully. But that's how it is. Well, well, M. Bouc turned to Poirot. Have no fear, my friend.
We will arrange something. There is always one compartment, the number 16, which is not engaged. The conductor sees to that. He smiled, then glanced up at the clock.
Come, he said. It is time we started. At the station, M. Bouc was greeted with respectful impressment by the brown-uniformed wagon-league conductor. Good evening, monsieur.
Your compartment is the number one. He called to the porters and they wheeled their load halfway along the carriage on which the tin plates proclaimed its destination. Istanbul, Trieste, Calais.
You are full up tonight, I hear. It is incredible, monsieur, all the world elects to travel tonight. All the same, you must find room for this gentleman here. He is a friend of mine. He can have the number 16. It is taken, monsieur.
What? The number 16? A glance of understanding passed between them, and the conductor smiled. He was a tall, sallow man of middle age.
But yes, monsieur, as I told you, we are full, full, everywhere. But what passes itself, demanded monsieur Bouc angrily. There is a conference somewhere.
It is a party. No, monsieur, it is only chance. It just happens that many people have elected to travel tonight.
Monsieur Bouc made a clicking sound of annoyance. At Belgrade, he said, there will be the slip coach from Athens. There will also be the Bucharest-Paris coach. But we do not reach Belgrade until tomorrow evening.
The problem is for tonight. There is no second-class birth free. There is a second-class birth, monsieur.
Well, then, but it is a lady's birth. There is already a German woman in the compartment, a lady's maid. La, la, that is awkward, said Monsieur Bouc.