[Comprehensive Classics] Detective Mary

Mary brought over the sample issue of "Seaside Magazine", and first turned to Dr. Watson's "A Study in Scarlet". His story has reached the fourth serialization and is nearing the end. It didn't stop the plot at the key point, but stopped at a rather interesting place.

As for "The Check Lady"...

"Miss Mary," Anne pleaded pitifully, "I can't read or write English well, and I get a headache when I see words. Please tell me the story after that."

The corners of Mary raised her lips: "Okay, let me see where this series ends."

As in the past, she directly turned the story of "The Lady with a Check" to the end, and found that the editor-in-chief of "A Study in Scarlet" was merciless, and still ruthlessly cut off the story at the wonderful points.

This is too discriminatory, Mary can't laugh or cry.

From this point of view, in addition to his own business acumen, Marie, who likes a plot with a small climax, is also an accomplice to Hall's editor-in-chief's fragmentation skills.

Because Anne's English is not very good, Mary thought about her sentences and deliberately used the simplest and most direct sentences and words to tell the following story.

Philip Luther guessed the gender of the forged check fraudster through his old friend Inspector Wilson's inadvertent reminder.He shocked everyone by saying "this is a woman" - no one thought that the criminal who played tricks on countless banks, capitalists, and even the police of two countries turned out to be a woman.

But even if the authorities are unwilling to admit it, they have to agree with Luther's thinking.

Detective Wilson and Luther didn't even bother to drink. They originally dragged Philip Luther out for a rest, but now they went home and looked through the files together.

In the end, the two of them settled on the most recent case that the fraudster could be identified among a sea of ​​check forgery cases that may or may not have been committed by the same person.

The case is in Birmingham.

The key evidence for being able to determine that "she" did it comes from the most seamless check forgery-in the words of the old bank teller, this is not a forged check, it is true, but the way of making it is illegal.Detectives Luther and Wilson went straight to Birmingham with the check and found the bank teller.

"Mr Handel's check?"

After receiving the forged check, the young teller was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "I remember, I remember this check, it was collected by Mr. Handel's daughter."

Luther and Inspector Wilson glanced at each other: It was indeed a woman.

"Receipt." At the same time, Luther also discovered the problem, "Is it okay to cash out the cash yourself?"

"Signature and power of attorney are enough."

The bank teller finished his speech: "Miss Handel doesn't have a power of attorney, but it has Mr. Handel's signature. Mr. Handel has handled business with us for more than half a year, and everyone knows how his handwriting is. What's wrong, Miss Handel Is something wrong?"

Luther was expressionless: "That's not Miss Handel, the check you're holding is fake."

Teller; "What—"

In connection with the recently raging fraud case, the young teller finally connected Miss Handel with the case.

"How could it be?" He widened his eyes. "No wonder the manager was fired suddenly at the end of last month, and there was a teller...that was the teller who cashed the check. We are also jealous that he is favored by such a beautiful lady."

Detective Inspector Wilson laughed a few times when he heard the words: "I also used a beauty trick."

Teller: "Uh."

"Mr. Handel has a big factory in Birmingham, but he basically only stays here for half a year every year," he explained. "It was the end of the year not long ago, and Christmas was just over, and that... a lady pretending to be Miss Handel I walked over with the check and said beamingly that I was spending Christmas with my father, and they were going back to London for the New Year.”

The daughter misses her father who has been away for half a year, so she came here to visit him, and the end of the year is approaching. It sounds very reasonable for the father and daughter to rush home together before the New Year.

"Did she say what the check was for?" Luther asked.

"Buying a New Year's gift," the teller felt guilty, "Miss Handel sat down at the counter, said that Mr. Handel gave her a check for two hundred pounds, hurriedly wrote a short certificate and went to work. Then Zhang proved that I have also seen it, although it is not a power of attorney, but the handwriting is Mr. Handel’s, and there is his factory’s seal on it.”

With that said, the young teller got up and ran to the database, and found the note.

"Miss Handel is kind and quick to use the money," he said. "Mr. Handel is our regular customer again. The manager and the teller who handled the business didn't think much about it, so we agreed."

The young man showed a look of lingering fear: "I would do it for me."

Luther: "..."

It sounded like this lady was an experienced liar with amazing acting skills. Luther was silent for a moment and continued to ask, "What does she look like?"

"To tell you the truth, Inspectors."

The young teller scratched the tip of his nose and said embarrassedly: "She is so beautiful, I have never seen such a beautiful lady in Birmingham. She has blond hair, blue eyes like the sea, and skin as white as snow. The facial features are exquisite and impeccable. For a whole week after Miss Handel left, everyone was talking about her."

Until Mr. Handel realized that the deposit was wrong and came to the door.

After some probing, Luther realized that this liar was really not easy to deal with.

First, she knew the victim and her family members very well.The scammer knew that Mr. Handel had stayed in Birmingham for half a year, knew his handwriting, had his factory seal, and even knew that his daughter had never shown up in Birmingham.Otherwise, it would be difficult to fool the bank manager who had been dealing with the victim for half a year.

Second, she is cautious.Two hundred pounds in cash is enough for a woman to spend a few days in Birmingham before moving on to the next city-who knows if she has pretended to be the daughter or lover of other merchants, factory owners or nobles in this city?But for a capitalist, it is not considered a huge loss, and the problem cannot be discovered until the accounts are settled at the end of each month.By this time she had already

Last but not least, the banks she chose were more or less problematic.

Like this private bank, probably for the sake of the bank's reputation and reputation, it knew that it had recruited a liar, but chose to cover it up.Just quietly fired the manager and the teller who cashed the check. Even the other tellers didn't know that Miss Handel was the fraudster.

Luther and Inspector Wilson agreed that the reason why the fraudster was able to get away with it for so long was precisely because these small banks had irregular systems and chose to conceal the facts.

At this point in Mary's story, Anne's eyes sparkled: "This lady is amazing."

Irene couldn't help laughing out loud: "How can it be so powerful to steal other people's money?"

Annie: "Ah."

As soon as her hostess reminded her, Annie also realized the problem.Her cheeks flushed: "Miss Irene is right. Other people's money is earned through hard work, while scammers get it for nothing. It is indeed wrong. But Miss Irene, you have to admit that this thief is indeed very smart. "

Mary: "Detective Luther thinks so too."

Annie worried: "Then what should I do? Miss Mary, you said the criminal had already run away. If she keeps running like this, won't she be able to catch anyone?"

"No matter how smart a person is, he will show his feet for a while." Mary raised the corners of her lips. "Now that Philip Luther has learned of her existence, he will not just watch her defraud other people's deposits."

But it was much easier to do something similar in the nineteenth century than it was for Mr. Frank Abagnale himself.

The banks in the Victorian era were not connected to the Internet, and Philip Luther had to go in person if he wanted to check the accounts or retrieve information.In the era when Frank himself was active, a phone call to the bank's head office could get everything done, but now even a telegram is enough trouble.

Second, checks in this era are also easier to counterfeit than in the future.At first, Mary was a little worried that her writing technique was too superficial and she would make a big joke in front of professionals, but after the editor-in-chief Hall handed over the materials to Mary, Mary found that she really thought too much.

Anti-counterfeiting mark?No.banking system?tolerant.In the era before Mary traveled, even if this kind of cash check was cashed, it was impossible for someone to take it away easily with a signature.

But like Mary said, even the smartest people will show their feet.

According to the conclusion of the forged check case in the thick file that may or may not be her, the fraudster should have been in the UK for several months.Then Detective Luther and Wilson went to several places, questioned several parties, and then hired a painter to draw a portrait of the fraudster.

And Philip Luther, who got the portrait, finally understood why she could easily deceive so many people.

If Edmund was tall and very intimidating, and he didn't look like a good person, then this female fraudster was really a villain in the skin of an angel.

Even if the portrait is distorted, even if the appearance summed up after dictation is only a rough reference of outstanding features, you can clearly get the information from the portrait that this is a real beauty.

With portraits and criminal characteristics, coupled with the large number of victims and the involvement of the bank, the British authorities paid special attention to this case. It didn't take long for this beautiful fraudster to leave a hole.

Maybe it was out of arrogance, believing that I would not be caught by the police according to my ability; maybe it was out of negligence, I didn't expect the police to be so vigilant.In short, not long after Luther and Detective Wilson returned to London, they got the latest whereabouts of the scammer.

As usual, what I got was a perfectly seamless fake check with the name of the daughter of a wealthy businessman written on it.This time, she directly used the name of the rich businessman's daughter to withdraw five hundred pounds in cash.But this time the bank teller realized the problem when she was trying to get close, and after getting the manager's permission, he temporarily gave her the money, and then turned around and called the police.

Scotland Yard followed up and investigated again, and finally determined that the lady was currently living in a hotel.

Philip Luther hadn’t participated in Scotland Yard’s operations for nearly ten years. This time, he was out of curiosity and wanted to see what this lady looked like. Secondly, Luther also missed exploring with his old friends. case feeling.He entered the hotel together with the police officers. When other people outflanked and controlled the door, detectives Luther and Wilson went straight to the hotel counter and asked if there was a young and very beautiful blonde woman staying in the hotel alone.

After seeing the portrait, the waiter was stunned for a while, and then said nervously: "You, are you looking for Ms. Grace?"

Luther: "Grace?"

Waiter: "G-Ms. Grace Stein, that widow from the American South? What's wrong with her?"

Luther: "Which room is she in?"

Waiter: "This—"

Inspector Wilson: "Damn it, the police station has sent so many officers, don't you understand the situation, boy. This widow is a criminal!"

The waiter was horrified by Inspector Wilson's threat: "Room 431! Room 431!"

Without saying a word, Luther walked straight to the fourth floor with his long legs.

He directly took out his gun and kicked the room on the fourth floor.There was a woman's scream in the room, Philip Luther stepped into the door, followed by Detective Wilson and two police officers, but what they saw was not a beautiful woman who fit the portrait, but a hotel staff member.

A female waiter who cleaned the room wore a white skirt and her hair was meticulously wrapped up.She turned around and saw several big men entering the door with guns, and she screamed again uncontrollably.

Luther: "..."

Inspector Wilson: "..."

Seeing the young cleaner, Luther had no choice but to take back his gun, and said softly, holding back his anger, "Calm down, miss, we are not bad people."

He was still answered by the screams of the cleaners.

Inspector Wilson: "What are you shouting for?! We are the police! If you shout again, you will go to the police station for questioning, miss!"

A threat from the police is more useful than Luther's comfort.The little cleaner immediately shut up and said tremblingly, "I, I didn't do anything, don't grab me, don't grab me!"

Before she could finish speaking, tears rolled down her face.

Luther was upset by her crying, he looked around, this is indeed a lady's room.The dressing table is full of feminine products, and the silk pajamas are still left on the bed, not to mention the scattered suitcases and open wardrobes.

The level of chaos was so messy that those who didn't know thought that a thief had entered the hotel.

"Where is Grace Stein?" Luther asked.

"I-I don't know!"

The cleaner answered with sobs: "Ge, Ms. Grace just suddenly asked me to check out and asked me to clean the room, and then left with a small suitcase from the stairs of the emergency passage. When I entered the door and saw her belongings, I don't know if I should clean it, you, you just--"

She hiccupped in the middle of her sentence and couldn't continue.

"How long has she been away?" Inspector Wilson asked.

"No, not long."

The young girl replied: "It took about 10 minutes. Miss Grace said that she had to leave urgently, and the carriage was already waiting for her downstairs."

Detective Wilson hurried to the window sill: "Come and see, which woman is it?"

The cleaner cried bitterly: "I dare not look!"

Inspector Wilson: "You..."

Luther sighed.

He took out his handkerchief and handed it to the young girl: "We are here to catch Grace Stein, ma'am, it has nothing to do with you."

The cleaner took the handkerchief, wiped his tears and snot, and looked at Luther gratefully: "You are a good man, Inspector."

Luther: "I'm not a detective, I'm a private detective."

Cleaner: "Private detective?"

This girl is timid, she speaks with a standard London accent, she sounds like a child from a poor family.Luther had no intention of explaining to her, and glanced out of the window intentionally or unintentionally, just in time to see the back of a luxuriously dressed woman boarding the carriage, and he suddenly had a serious look: "Is she wearing red clothes today?"

Cleaner: "Yes, it's red clothes!"

Seeing that Grace Stein was about to leave, Luther and Inspector Wilson rushed downstairs again with the police without saying a word.The good partners in the past are still cooperating seamlessly now. Inspector Wilson blew his whistle and asked the police downstairs to stop the coachman first. Luther walked over at a brisk pace and opened the car door directly. He was greeted by another screeching sound. called, and—

A lady in a red dress who appeared to be in her forties.

How does a 40-year-old woman pretend to be someone else's daughter?

After meeting the people in the carriage, both Luther and Wilson were stunned.Philip Luther, who had always been sharp and smart, had a rare blank expression, and then he reacted.

Luther: "Damn it! We were cheated!"

Inspector Wilson: "What?"

Luther: "That cleaner is Grace Stein!"

When they re-sealed the hotel and returned to the room again, the terrified little cleaner girl had long since disappeared. Standing in the room, looking at the empty bedroom in an instant, Luther only felt that it was both funny and annoying. ——In the whole police station, two people who have arrested criminals for most of their lives were tricked by a young girl!

And what about the real Grace Stein?

Philip Luther stood outside the window and looked towards the street again, just in time to see a carriage slowly leaving.The window of the carriage fell down suddenly, and Luther clearly saw the crying little cleaner just take off his hat, and his long light blond hair slowly falling down. Blow a kiss.

This is the end of the serialization of the second issue of "The Check Lady".

After Mary finished telling the plot of this issue, not only Annie, but other girls were also addicted to it.Even the well-informed Erin couldn't help concluding with surprise: "I'm really curious, Mary, where on earth do you get these ideas?"

"This Miss Grace is amazing."

Annie exclaimed: "Miss Mary, are your other stories so wonderful?"

Without waiting for Mary to answer, Catherine said proudly: "Of course! Mary's "King of Carnival" has been sold to the United States!"

Anne: "I want to see it too!"

Catherine: "Ah..."

The fourth sister of the Bennet family showed a embarrassed look: "It's not that I can't see it, but the serialized magazines are only sold in the current season. Before "The King of Carnival" was a hot topic, I don't know if I can still collect it now."

Upon hearing this, Irene asked with concern: "Hasn't Mary's work been published?"

She didn't stay long in London. She only knew that Mary was writing, but she didn't know what Mary was writing.It wasn't until Blackwood bribed Hall's editor-in-chief's secretary to let her disclose the true identity of Philip Luther that Irene knew that her friend was writing detective novels.

Irene didn't read magazines on weekdays, and she thought Mary's story was so well received that it had already been published.

"The first two serials are relatively short," Mary explained, "not enough to support a book. Editor-in-Chief Hall and I have already negotiated to wait until the story of "The Check Lady" is over before publishing it."

"Then, then I must buy one!" Annie said enthusiastically.

Before the horoscope was written, Mary smiled wryly.But it also reminded her that she had to write and ask how things were going with Editor-in-Chief Hall's contact with the publisher.

"I haven't been approached by a publisher yet," so Mary told the truth, "but regardless of the serialization of "The Lady with a Check", at least "The King of Carnival" was widely discussed at the time. I don't think it is very difficult to publish. Wait until After the book is printed into volume, I will give you a copy."

Anne, who got the promise, rejoiced, regardless of whether she could read English books or not, she repeatedly said that Mary was an angel sent from heaven and a "big writer" in Britain.

Irene has experienced ups and downs, from being dependent on others to being a hot soprano, and she pays more attention to things than her own maid.After listening to the general cooperation between Mary and the editor-in-chief of Hall, she asked curiously: "Have you considered what to write in the next five months, Mary?"

Mary: "I know what case to write, but I don't know what to write about the case."

Catherine: "Huh?"

Her specious words made the two younger sisters and Irene at a loss.

In fact, it is very simple. Three stories about Philip Luther are written, and his character, experience, and even love are presented to the readers.Three stories are enough to make this character vivid and interesting, and it also makes it easier for Mary to continue to complete his life.

As mentioned in the first serial of "The Check Lady", Philip Luther was originally an inspector of Scotland Yard. Later, he had conflicts with his superiors and resigned in a fit of anger.

Mary is going to write about the case.

But what exactly happened at that time... She hasn't figured it out yet.

It's not that there are no cases to write about, but that Mary probably thought about three or four directions before, but none of them were suitable.Because it was mentioned that Luther had conflicts with his superiors, it meant that the outcome of the case was not satisfactory—at least not to Luther.

If one is not careful, it can easily be written as "the only male lead in the entire police station is handling the case, and everyone else is a dead man".Although such a setting is not uncommon in detective novels, Mary has nothing to do with what other authors think.But in the case of the Illuminati, Inspector Lestrade and his youths played a key role.Even if there are some inactive detectives in Scotland Yard, they are not all.

Want Mary to taunt the police?She didn't think she could, at least Mary didn't think she could denigrate a policeman like Inspector Lestrade.

So, it is a big problem to find a balance point among them.

She didn't think about it, and Mary didn't intend to trouble her sisters and friends, so she just smiled mysteriously: "Let me keep it a secret for now, solving the case at the opera house is more important than my idea. "

Among other things, Mary was quite worried about Irene.

After learning that Miss Sorelli had concealed something, Irene bluntly said that she had a way to make her tell the truth.Although Ms. Irene Adler is usually gentle, kind, considerate and generous, but Mary has also seen her draw a gun and shoot with her own eyes.

What's more frightening is that the more worried Mary is, the calmer Irene is.

She is still like a big sister, after chatting, she starts to arrange things for tomorrow.Before going to bed, I found Mary writing letters to relatives, friends and colleagues in London in the study, and I didn't even forget to add an extra lamp for her.

The next morning, I was not in a hurry to go to the theater. Instead, I took the three girls from the Bennet family to visit the center of Paris. Yesterday, I went to the University of Paris to listen to Professor Moriarty’s public lectures. I saw the newly built Eiffel Tower and other famous buildings in the distance.Today Irene took them for a tour, and in the evening, we came to the Paris Opera House together.

In the original "Phantom of the Opera", Eric forced the theater to reserve a well-located private room for him.Now, this private room belongs to Ms. Irene Adler.The name is to entertain her friends, so the long-term lease is actually for her paranoid lover.

There is no Erin performance today, so Eric cares too.Irene simply took Catherine and Lydia into her private room and invited them to watch the ballet performance for free.

"You two stay here and watch the show," Erin urged. "If anyone comes to visit, say it's my friend. Just don't leave the theater, okay?"

"Irene is really worried."

Lydia muttered, "Katie and I have seen many ladies in London."

Irene was stunned, and smiled softly: "That's right, our Lydia is a big girl now. If you fall in love with a nobleman later, don't be shy, tell me directly."

Lydia raised her head proudly when she heard the words: "I have a crush on your son? It should be your son who has his eyes on me!"

Mary: "..."

This is still the silly girl who always posted upside down when she saw a handsome guy.

Therefore, without saying a word at that time, it was the right choice to take Lydia away from Longbourne.Lydia is good-looking, as long as she is good enough, what kind of good man can't be found?Mary's point of view is that she can dislike her sister, quarrel with her, and think that she is not good at this or that, but others don't allow it.

Isn't it good now? In London, I followed Irene and her two sisters to come into contact with high society. I saw a lot of gentlemen who liked it or not, and Lydia was not so rare.

Mary and Irene left the private room together, stood in the corridor, and said with emotion and guilt: "When you were in London, you spent more time taking care of the two of them than I did. I'm really not a good sister. If I had you Half as careful and considerate, Irene."

"What do you say?"

Irene shook her head: "You took the two younger sisters away from Longbourne, provided them with accommodation, and then brought them to Paris. How many 'good sisters' are there in the world who can lead your younger sisters to Paris from the southern countryside? of?"

Mary: "...that's true."

Erin: "Don't let yourself be disturbed, Mary. Everyone has their own personality. Don't you be 'careful and considerate' when you create stories and follow up cases?"

Every time I encounter any troubles, it seems that it is not a problem to talk to Irene.Whether or not Mary was relieved to hear her was another matter.She couldn't help laughing: "No wonder Eric likes you so much. I don't know how many good sisters there are in the world, but only you can call the good ones bad, and the bad ones can make a living."

Irene said with a smile: "Then next, I have to rely on me—"

"Ah, Miss Irene."

Before Irene could finish her words, a calm voice interrupted the playfulness between the two ladies.

The familiar voice landed, and Irene and Mary were both shocked.They turned their heads in unison, and it was James Moriarty standing at the end of the corridor that caught their eyes.

The mathematics professor I met yesterday in the open lecture was still wearing the standard British gentleman's attire.He walked towards Irene unhurriedly and took off his hat: "Miss Irene, I thought you didn't perform today."

Almost before he spoke, Irene's expression returned to normal.There was still a slight smile on her face: "Yes, I didn't perform today, I just brought my friends here as spectators. Are you here to see Carlotta's performance?"

"I've heard that Ms. Carlotta's Faust is exquisite," replied the professor.

"Indeed," said Eileen, "you will be satisfied, Professor."

"I am looking forward."

After finishing speaking, Professor Moriarty put on his hat again: "I will not disturb the two ladies, Miss Irene and Miss Mary."

Mary:! !

When James Moriarty called his name, Mary felt her heart pounding.

But Professor Moriarty didn't care at all. His behavior was no different from any old gentleman who treats young girls. After nodding politely to Mary, he passed the two ladies and walked towards his private room. past.

Mary didn't dare to breathe out until his back disappeared into the corridor.

"he……"

Mary was extremely astonished and said, "He knows me?"

Erin smiled bitterly: "Is this surprising?"

of course not.

Facing such a professor, Mary only felt that nothing he did would surprise her.However, when the final boss in your mind passes you by, and even politely nods goodbye...

Recalling the scene just now, Mary felt chills all over her body, although it was a normal occasional exchange of greetings.

——She would rather the professor be a hypocritical and cunning person, just like Blackwood; or ruthless, just like the portrayal in many film and television dramas.Even if he directly ordered his subordinates to kidnap her and Irene when they met, the blatant threat was more practical than his polite greeting.

It wasn't until she left the box and came to Miss Sorelli's dressing room, and saw Mr. Hercule Poirot who had already arrived and Mr. Pollini accompanying him, that Mary barely pulled her thoughts away from the professor and returned to reality.

"Nevous inquietezpas (don't worry)," said M. Poirot, "Miss Sorelli, we do not doubt you, but we have some doubts about your testimony."

After fainting from shock yesterday, Miss Sorelli's condition has been bad, and she couldn't even attend tonight's performance.She reluctantly came only when she heard that Mr. Poirot was still investigating the case and needed to question herself again.

"Doubt, doubt," Sorelli said cautiously, "What doubt?"

Seeing her pale face and frightened appearance, even Mary couldn't bear it.

However, Irene, who has always been kind and considerate, became tough this time.

Ms. Irene Adler's "toughness" is also different from others.She was still as tender and gentle as water. Irene sat quietly across from Sorelli, her voice softened, but her words went straight to the point: "There is a problem with your testimony, Sorelli. When the police did not disclose Joseph When the news of Bugay's death was announced, how could you possibly know that it was a theater ghost who killed him with a knife?"

Sorelli froze.

Not only Sorelli, but even Manager Pollini was stunned.

No one expected Irene to be so straightforward. The pale Miss Sorelli stared at Irene blankly, and then her eyes were filled with tears: "I...I...I don't know, I don't know..."

Erin calmly said, "If you say it, it proves that you know."

Miss Sorelli: "I can't—"

"you can not?"

Erin asked calmly.

Her overly normal voice seemed extremely oppressive in such an atmosphere.Irene watched Miss Sorelli crying non-stop, but she didn't express at all: "You can't, someone threatened you, right?"

Sorelli didn't speak.

"Sorelle," Irene continued, "have you ever thought that if others can threaten you, so can I? Is it possible that someone is using your sick brother as a threat? How much Paris wants to please my nobles, guess who they are Will you hurt an innocent boy first in order to sell me?"

"do not want!"

After hearing Irene's words, Miss Sorelli finally raised her head: "No, Irene, I beg you! Don't hurt my brother!"

"As long as you tell the truth," Irene said calmly, "if I hadn't called in the doctor in time, your brother would have died at the first fever. You think I will do something to kill a child." Something? Sorelli, who is threatening you?"

"It's Monsieur Pollini!"

Sorelli almost broke down and yelled out the manager's name.

She pointed to Manager Pollini who stood up suddenly: "It's him! He told me that he saw the ghost of the theater killing Joseph Bouquet with a knife. But Mr. Pollini told Detective Poirot that he didn't see anything Now, I went to ask him, and he threatened me with my brother's life not to tell this matter. I don't know anything, I don't know anything..."

At the end, Miss Sorelli burst into tears again.

Facing everyone's eyes, Mr. Pollini said immediately: "Sorelli is in a hurry and went to the doctor. You use her relatives to threaten her. Irene, even if there is no one, she will just point it out."

"is it?"

Seeing that Manager Pollini refused to admit it, Mr. Poirot directly took out the account book of the theater manager's office.

"But Manager, Ms. Sorelli's proof that you deliberately withheld testimony is only one of them," he said, "and the other is that you have sufficient motives."

Manager Pollini froze.

"M. de Buena died in a dispute over the ledger, and tore a corner of it," said M. Poirot, "and died with the fragment in his hand, and the ledger was found under the rug. Enough It turns out that the murderer and M. de Buena had quarreled in the room and hid under the rug in a panic."

He threw the account book to Mary, and took out another letter: "And this letter was found by Miss Mary in Mr. De Buena's drawer. Even if it is not signed, it can be clearly known that someone wrote it because of you. Giving money to the 'Phantom of the Theater' and questioning the theater's accounting issues. In the past few years, the sum totaled nearly [-] francs, which is far from the amount that two theater managers can afford."

Miss Sorelli was stunned when she heard this: "Give, pay for the theater ghost? Does the theater ghost really, really exist?"

Mr. Poirot: "Please rest assured, Miss Sorelli, even if he exists, with Irene around, he will not harm others."

Miss Sorelli: "Huh?"

Poirot did not explain, but continued to say to Mr. Pollini: "And I spent a day, and after a little investigation, I found out that Mr. Pollini, you were a soldier in the early years, and you have learned from the war. Appropriate medical knowledge. You are the only one in the theater with enough skill and strength to kill two adult males by slashing an artery. And you do it because you haven't paid the bills, so you don't do it and you don't do it. , blame the murder on the 'ghost'. As long as the police or I find out what the theater ghost really is, you can explain it to the theater's investor, the person who asked about the accounts."

At this point, Mr. Poirot showed a regretful expression, but his tone remained firm: "Mr. Pollini, there is still room for redemption if you plead guilty now. You can count yourself as turning yourself in before the police find evidence. Don't let me continue talking." gone."

"Redeem? Surrender