The Big Four by Agatha Christie Read Free Book Online

was on the eve of success in his experiments.”
    â€œEh bien?” demanded Poirot, with interest.
    â€œIt was suggested that I should come over here and get an interview with this gentleman. Quite a young fellow, he is, Halliday by name. He is the leading authority on the subject, and I was to get from him whether the thing suggested was anyway possible.”
    â€œAnd was it?” I asked eagerly.
    â€œThat’s just what I don’t know. I haven’t seen Mr. Halliday—and I’m not likely to, by all accounts.”
    â€œThe truth of the matter is,” said Japp shortly, “Halliday’s disappeared.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œTwo months ago.”
    â€œWas his disappearance reported?”
    â€œOf course it was. His wife came to us in a great state. We did what we could, but I knew all along it would be no good.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œNever is—when a man disappears that way.” Japp winked.
    â€œWhat way?”
    â€œParis.”
    â€œSo Halliday disappeared in Paris?”
    â€œYes. Went over there on scientific work—so he said. Of course, he’d have to say something like that. But you know what it means when a man disappears over there. Either it’s Apache work, and that’s the end of it—or else it’s voluntary disappearance—andthat’s a great deal the commoner of the two, I can tell you. Gay Paree and all that, you know. Sick of home life. Halliday and his wife had had a tiff before he started, which all helps to make it a pretty clear case.”
    â€œI wonder,” said Poirot thoughtfully.
    The American was looking at him curiously.
    â€œSay, mister,” he drawled, “what’s this Big Four idea?”
    â€œThe Big Four,” said Poirot, “is an international organization which has at its head a Chinaman. He is known as Number One. Number Two is an American. Number Three is a Frenchwoman. Number Four, ‘the Destroyer,’ is an Englishman.”
    â€œA Frenchwoman, eh?” The American whistled. “And Halliday disappeared in France. Maybe there’s something in this. What’s her name?”
    â€œI don’t know. I know nothing about her.”
    â€œBut it’s a mighty big proposition, eh?” suggested the other.
    Poirot nodded, as he arranged the glasses in a neat row on the tray. His love of order was as great as ever.
    â€œWhat was the idea in sinking those boats? Are the Big Four a German stunt?”
    â€œThe Big Four are for themselves—and for themselves only, M. le Capitaine. Their aim is world domination.”
    The American burst out laughing, but broke off at the sight of Poirot’s serious face.
    â€œYou laugh, monsieur,” said Poirot, shaking a finger at him. “You reflect not—you use not the little grey cells of the brain. Who are these men who send a portion of your navy to destruction simply as a trial of their power? For that was all it was, Monsieur, a test of this new force of magnetical attraction which they hold.”
    â€œGo on with you, moosior,” said Japp good-humouredly. I’ve read of supercriminals many a time, but I’ve never come across them. Well, you’ve heard Captain Kent’s story. Anything further I can do for you?”
    â€œYes, my good friend. You can give me the address of Mrs. Halliday—and also a few words of introduction to her if you will be so kind.”
    Thus it was that the following day saw us bound for Chetwynd Lodge, near the village of Chobham in Surrey.
    Mrs. Halliday received us at once, a tall, fair woman, nervous and eager in manner. With her was her little girl, a beautiful child of five.
    Poirot explained the purpose of our visit.
    â€œOh! M. Poirot, I am so glad, so thankful. I have heard of you, of course. You will not be like these Scotland Yard people, who will not listen or try to understand. And the French police are just as bad—worse, I