3. Chapter 3
And Then There Were None / 无人生还1Dinner was drawing to a close.
2The food had been good, the wine perfect. Rogers waited well.
3Every one was in better spirits. They had begun to talk to each other with more freedom and intimacy.
4Mr. Justice Wargrave, mellowed by the excellent port, was being amusing in a caustic fashion; Dr. Armstrong and Tony Marston were listening to him. Miss
5Brent chatted to General Macarthur; they had discovered some mutual friends.
6Vera Claythorne was asking Mr. Davis intelligent questions about South Africa.
7Mr. Davis was quite fluent on the subject. Lombard listened to the conversation.
8Once or twice he looked up quickly, and his eyes narrowed. Now and then his eyes played round the table, studying the others.
9Anthony Marston said suddenly: "Quaint, these things, aren't they?"
10In the centre of the round table, on a circular glass stand, were some little china figures. "Indians." said Tony. "Indian Island. I suppose that's the idea."
11Vera leaned forward. "I wonder. How many are there? Ten?" "Yes ten there are."
12Vera cried: "What fun! They're the ten little Indian boys of the nursery rhyme, I suppose. In my bedroom the rhyme is framed and hung up over the mantelpiece."
13Lombard said: "In my room, too." "And mine." "And mine."
14Everybody joined the chorus. Vera said: "It's an amusing idea, isn't it?"
15Mr. Justice Wargrave grunted: "Remarkably childish," and helped himself to port.
16Emily Brent looked at Vera Claythorne. Vera Claythorne looked at Miss Brent.
17The two women rose.
18In the drawingroom, the French windows were open onto the terrace and the sound of the sea murmuring against the rocks came up to them.
19Emily Brent said: "Pleasant sound."
20Vera said sharply: "I hate it."
21Miss Brent's eyes looked at her in surprise. Vera flushed. She said, more composedly: "I don't think this place would be very agreeable in a storm."
22Emily Brent agreed. "I've no doubt the house is shut up in winter," she said. "You'd never get servants to stay here for one thing."
23Vera murmured: "It must be difficult to get servants anyway."
24Emily Brent said: "Mrs. Oliver has been lucky to get these two. The woman's a good cook."
25Vera thought: "Funny how elderly people always get names wrong."
26She said: "Yes, I think Mrs. Owen has been very lucky indeed."
27Emily Brent had brought a small piece of embroidery out of her bag. Now, as she was about to thread her needle, she paused.
28She said sharply: "Owen? Did you say Owen?" "Yes."
29Emily Brent said sharply: "I've never met any one called Owen in my life."
30Vera stared. "But surely"
31She did not finish her sentence. The door opened and the men joined them.
32Rogers followed them into the room with the coffee tray.
33The judge came and sat down by Emily Brent. Armstrong came up to Vera. Tony
34Marston strolled to the open window. Blore studied with nanve surprise a statuette in brass wondering perhaps if its bizarre angularities were really supposed to be the female figure. General Macarthur stood with his back to the mantelpiece. He pulled at his little white moustache. That had been a damned good dinner! His spirits were rising. Lombard turned over the pages of Punch that lay with other papers on a table by the wall.
35Rogers went round with the coffee tray. The coffee was good really black and very hot.
36The whole party had dined well. They were satisfied with themselves and with life. The hands of the clock pointed to twenty minutes past nine. There was a silence a comfortable replete silence.
37Into that silence came The Voice. Without warning, inhuman, penetrating... "Ladies and gentlemen! Silence, please!"
38Every one was startled. They looked round at each other, at the walls. Who was speaking?
39The Voice went on a high clear voice.
40You are charged with the following indictments:
41Edward George Armstrong, that you did upon the 14th day of March, 1925, cause the death of Louisa Mary Clees.
42Emily Caroline Brent, that upon the 5th November, 1931, you were responsible for the death of Beatrice Taylor.
43William Henry Blore, that you brought about the death of James Stephen Landor on October 10th, 1928.
44Vera Elizabeth Claythorne, that on the 11th day of August, 1935, you killed
45Cyril
46Ogilvie Hamilton.
47Philip Lombard, that upon a date in February, 1932, you were guilty of the death of twentyone men, members of an East African tribe.
48John Gordon Macarthur, that on the 4th of January, 1917, you deliberately sent your wife's lover, Arthur Richmond, to his death.
49Anthony James Marston, that upon the 14th day of November last, you were guilty of the murder of John and Lucy Combes.
50Thomas Rogers and Ethel Rogers, that on the 6th of May, 1929, you brought about the death of Jennifer Brady.
51Lawrence John Wargrave, that upon the 10th day of June, 1930, you were guilty of the murder of Edward Seton.
52Prisoners at the bar, have you anything to say in your defence?
53II
54The Voice had stopped.
55There was a moment's petrified silence and then a resounding crash! Rogers had dropped the coffee tray!
56At the same moment, from somewhere outside the room there came a scream and the sound of a thud.
57Lombard was the first to move. He leapt to the door and flung it open. Outside, lying in a huddled mass, was Mrs. Rogers.
58Lombard called: "Marston."
59Anthony sprang to help him. Between them, they lifted up the woman and carried her into the drawingroom.
60Dr. Armstrong came across quickly. He helped them to lift her onto the sofa and bent over her. He said quickly: "It's nothing. She's fainted, that's all. She'll be round in a minute."
61Lombard said to Rogers: "Get some brandy."
62Rogers, his face white, his hands shaking, murmured: "Yes, sir," and slipped quickly out of the room.
63Vera cried out: "Who was that speaking? Where was he? It sounded it sounded "
64General Macarthur spluttered out: "What's going on here? What kind of a practical joke was that?"
65His hand was shaking. His shoulders sagged. He looked suddenly ten years older.
66Blore was mopping his face with a handkerchief.
67Only Mr. Justice Wargrave and Miss Brent seemed comparatively unmoved.
68Emily Brent sat upright, her head held high. In both cheeks was a spot of hard colour. The judge sat in his habitual pose, his head sunk down into his neck.
69With one hand he gently scratched his ear. Only his eyes were active, darting round and round the room, puzzled, alert with intelligence.
70Again it was Lombard who acted. Armstrong being busy with the collapsed woman, Lombard was free once more to take the initiative.
71He said: "That voice? It sounded as though it were in the room."
72Vera cried: "Who was it? Who was it? It wasn't one of us."
73Like the judge, Lombard's eyes wandered slowly round the room. They rested a minute on the open window, then he shook his head decisively. Suddenly his eyes lighted up. He moved forward swiftly to where a door near the fireplace led into an adjoining room.
74With a swift gesture, he caught the handle and flung the door open. He passed through and immediately uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.
75He said: "Ah, here we are."
76The others crowded after him. Only Miss Brent remained alone sitting erect in her chair.
77Inside the second room a table had been brought up close to the wall which adjoined the drawingroom. On the table was a gramophone an oldfashioned type with a large trumpet attached. The mouth of the trumpet was against the wall, and Lombard, pushing it aside, indicated where two or three small holes had been unobtrusively bored through the wall.
78Adjusting the gramophone he replaced the needle on the record and immediately they heard again: "You are charged with the following indictments "
79Vera cried: "Turn it off! Turn it off! It's horrible!"
80Lombard obeyed.
81Dr. Armstrong said, with a sigh of relief: "A disgraceful and heartless practical joke, I suppose."
82The small clear voice of Mr. Justice Wargrave murmured: "So you think it's a joke, do you?"
83The doctor stared at him. "What else could it be?"
84The hand of the judge gently stroked his upper lip.
85He said: "At the moment I'm not prepared to give an opinion."
86Anthony Marston broke in. He said: "Look here, there's one thing you've forgotten. Who the devil turned the thing on and set it going?"
87Wargrave murmured: "Yes, I think we must inquire into that."
88He led the way back into the drawingroom. The others followed.
89Rogers had just come in with a glass of brandy. Miss Brent was bending over the moaning form of Mrs. Rogers.
90Adroitly Rogers slipped between the two women. "Allow me, Madam, I'll speak to her. Ethel Ethel it's all right. All right, do you hear? Pull yourself together."
91Mrs. Rogers' breath came in quick gasps. Her eyes, staring frightened eyes, went round and round the ring of faces. There was urgency in Rogers' tone. "Pull yourself together, Ethel."
92Dr. Armstrong spoke to her soothingly. "You'll be all right now, Mrs. Rogers. Just a nasty turn."
93She said: "Did I faint, sir?" "Yes." "It was The Voice that awful voice like a judgement "
94Her face turned green again, her eyelids fluttered.
95Dr. Armstrong said sharply: "Where's that brandy?"
96Rogers had put it down on a little table. Some one handed it to the doctor and he bent over the gasping woman with it. "Drink this, Mrs. Rogers."
97She drank, choking a little and gasping. The spirit did her good. The colour returned to her face. She said: "I'm all right now. It just gave me a turn."
98Rogers said quickly: "Of course it did. It gave me a turn too. Fair made me drop that tray. Wicked lies, it was! I'd like to know "
99He was interrupted. It was only a cough a dry little cough but it had the effect of stopping him in full cry. He stared at Mr. Justice Wargrave and the latter coughed again. Then he said: "Who put that record on the gramophone? Was it you, Rogers?"
100Rogers cried: "I didn't know what it was. Before God, I didn't know what it was, sir. If I had I'd never have done it."
101The judge said drily: "That is probably true. But I think you'd better explain, Rogers."
102The butler wiped his face with a handkerchief. He said earnestly: "I was just obeying orders, sir, that's all." "Whose orders?" "M r. Owen' s."
103Mr. Justice Wargrave said: "Let me get this quite clear. Mr. Owen's orders were what exactly?"
104Rogers said: "I was to put a record on the gramophone. I'd find the record in the drawer and my wife was to start the gramophone when I'd gone into the drawingroom with the coffee tray."
105The judge murmured: "Avery remarkable story."
106Rogers cried: "It's the truth, sir. I swear to God it's the truth. I didn't know what it was not for moment. It had a name on it I thought it was just a piece of music."
107Wargrave looked at Lombard. "Was there a title on it?"
108Lombard nodded. He grinned suddenly, showing his white pointed teeth.
109He said: "Quite right, sir. It was entitled Swan Song..."
110Ill
111General Macarthur broke out suddenly. He exclaimed: "The whole thing is preposterous preposterous! Slinging accusations about like this! Something must be done about it. This fellow Owen whoever he is "
112Emily Brent interrupted. She said sharply: "That's just it, who is he?"
113The judge interposed. He spoke with the authority that a lifetime in the courts had given him. He said: "That is exactly what we must go into very carefully. I should suggest that you get your wife to bed first of all, Rogers. Then come back here." "Yes, sir."
114Dr. Armstrong said: "I'll give you a hand, Rogers."
115Leaning on the two men, Mrs. Rogers tottered out of the room. When they had gone Tony Marston said: "Don't know about you, sir, but I could do with a drink."
116Lombard said: "I agree."
117Tony said: "I'll go and forage."
118He went out of the room.
119He returned a second or two later. "Found them all waiting on a tray outside ready to be brought in."
120He set down his burden carefully. The next minute or two was spent in dispensing drinks. General Macarthur had a stiff whiskey and so did the judge.
121Every one felt the need of a stimulant. Only Emily Brent demanded and obtained a glass of water.
122Dr. Armstrong reentered the room. "She's all right," he said. "I've given her a sedative to take. What's that, a drink? I could do with one."
123Several of the men refilled their glasses. A moment or two later Rogers reentered the room.
124Mr. Justice Wargrave took charge of the proceedings. The room became an impromptu court of law.
125The judge said: "Now then, Rogers, we must get to the bottom of this. Who is this Mr. Owen?"
126Rogers stared. "He owns this place, sir." "I am aware of that fact. What I want you to tell me is what you yourself know about the man."
127Rogers shook his head. "I can't say, sir. You see, I've never seen him."
128There was a faint stir in the room.
129General Macarthur said: "You've never seen him? What d'yer mean?" "We've only been here just under a week, sir, my wife and I. We were engaged by letter, through an agency. The Regina Agency in Plymouth."
130Blore nodded. "Old established firm," he volunteered.
131Wargrave said: "Have you got that letter?" "The letter engaging us? No, sir. I didn't keep it." "Go on with your story. You were engaged, as you say, by letter." "Yes, sir. We were to arrive on a certain day. We did. Everything was in order here. Plenty of food in stock and everything very nice. Just needed dusting and that." "What next?" "Nothing, sir. We got orders by letter again to prepare the rooms for a houseparty and then yesterday by the afternoon post I got another letter from
132Mr. Owen. It said he and Mrs. Owen were detained and to do the best we could and it gave the instructions about dinner and coffee and putting on the gramophone record. "
133The judge said sharply: "Surely you've got that letter?" "Yes, sir, I've got it here."
134He produced it from a pocket. The judge took it. "H'm," he said. "Headed Ritz Hotel and typewritten."
135With a quick movement Blore was beside him.
136He said: "If you'll just let me have a look."
137He twitched it out of the other's hand, and ran his eye over it.
138He murmured: "Coronation machine. Quite new no defects. Ensign paper the most widely used make. You won't get anything out of that. Might be fingerprints, but I doubt it."
139Wargrave stared at him with sudden attention.
140Anthony Marston was standing beside Blore looking over his shoulder. He said: "Got some fancy Christian names, hasn't he? Ulick Norman Owen. Quite a mouthful." "The old judge said with a slight start: "I am obliged to you, Mr. Marston. You have drawn my attention to a curious and suggestive point. "
141He looked round at the others and thrusting his neck forward like an angry tortoise, he said: "I think the time has come for us all to pool our information. It would be well, I think, for everybody to come forward with all the information they have regarding the owner of this house." He paused and then went on. "We are all his guests. I think it would be profitable if each one of us were to explain exactly how that came about."
142There was a moment's pause and then Emily Brent spoke with decision. "There's something very peculiar about all this," she said. "I received a letter with a signature that was not very easy to read. It purported to be from a woman
143I had met at a certain summer resort two or three years ago. I took the name to be either Ogden or Oliver. I am acquainted with a Mrs. Oliver and also with a
144Miss Ogden. I am quite certain that I have never met, or become friendly with, any one of the name of Owen. "
145Mr. Justice Wargrave said: "You have that letter, Miss Brent?" "Yes, I will fetch it for you."
146She went away and returned a minute later with the letter.
147The judge read it. He said: "I begin to understand... Miss Claythorne?"
148Vera explained the circumstances of her secretarial engagement.
149The judge said: "Marston?"
150Anthony said: "Got a wire. From a pal of mine. Badger Berkeley. Surprised me at the time because I had an idea the old horse had gone to Norway. Told me to roll up here."
151Again Wargrave nodded. He said: "Dr. Armstrong?" "I was called in professionally." "I see. You had no previous acquaintanceship with the family?" "No. A colleague of mine was mentioned in the letter."
152The judge said: "To give verisimilitude... Yes, and that colleague, I presume, was momentarily out of touch with you?" "Well er yes."
153Lombard, who had been staring at Blore, said suddenly: "Look here, I've just thought of something "
154The judge lifted a hand. "In a minute " "But I " "We will take one thing at a time, Mr. Lombard. We are at present inquiring into the causes which have resulted in our being assembled here tonight. General
155Macarthur?
156Pulling at his moustache, the General muttered: "Got a letter from this fellow Owen mentioned some old pals of mine who were to be here hoped I'd excuse informal invitation. Haven't kept the letter. I'm afraid."
157Wargrave said: "Mr. Lombard?"
158Lombard's brain had been active. Was he to come out in the open, or not? He made up his mind. "Same sort of thing," he said. "Invitation, mention of mutual friends I fell for it all right. I've torn up the letter."
159Mr. Justice Wargrave turned his attention to Mr. Blore. His forefinger stroked his upper lip and his voice was dangerously polite.
160He said: "Just now we had a somewhat disturbing experience. An apparently disembodied voice spoke to us all by name, uttering certain precise accusations against us. We will deal with those accusations presently. At the moment I am interested in a minor point Amongst the names recited was that of William
161Henry Blore. But as far as we know there is no one named Blore amongst us.
162The name of Davis was not mentioned. What have you to say about that, Mr. Davis?
163Blore said sulkily: "Cat's out of the bag, it seems. I suppose I'd better admit that my name isn't
164Davis. " "I will add something," said Lombard. "Not only are you here under a false name, Mr. Blore, but in addition I've noticed this evening that you're a firstclass liar.
165You claim to have come from Natal, South Africa. I know South Africa and
166Natal and I'm prepared to swear that you've never set foot in South Africa in your life. "
167All eyes were turned on Blore. Angry suspicious eyes. Anthony Marston moved a step nearer to him. His fists clenched themselves. "Now then, you swine," he said. "Any explanation?"
168Blore flung back his head and set his square jaw. "You gentlemen have got me wrong," he said. "I've got my credentials and you can see them. I'm an exC.I.D. man. I run a detective agency in Plymouth. I was put on this job."
169Mr. Justice Wargrave asked: "By whom?" "This man Owen. Enclosed a handsome money order for expenses and instructed me as to what he wanted done. I was to join the house party, posing as a guest. I was given all your names. I was to watch you all." "Any reason given?"
170Blore said bitterly: "Mrs. Owen's jewels. Mrs. Owen my foot! I don't believe there's any such person."
171Again the forefinger of the judge stroked his lip, this time appreciatively. "Your conclusions are, I think, justified," he said. "Ulick Norman Owen! In Miss
172Brent's letter, though the signature of the surname is a mere scrawl the Christian names are reasonably clear Una Nancy in either case, you notice, the same initials. Ulick Norman Owen Una Nancy Owen each time, that is to say, U.N. Owen. Or by a slight stretch of fancy, UNKNOWN!"
173Vera cried: "But this is fantastic mad!"
174The judge nodded gently.
175He said: "Oh, yes. I've no doubt in my own mind that we have been invited here by a madman probably a dangerous homicidal lunatic."