The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories (Hercule Poirot 21)

it. The murderer, he planned wellmbut Hercule

Poirot he was one move ahead. He had to think

fast, and to whisper quickly in Mademoiselle's ear

when the lights went down. She is very quick and

clever, Mademoiselle Pauline, .she played her part

well. Mademoiselle, will you be so kind as to show

us that you are not dead after all?"

Pauline sat up. She gave an unsteady laugh.

"Resurrection of Pauline," she said.

"Pauline-- darling."

"Tony!"

"My sweet."

"Angel."

Barton Russell gasped.

"I--I don't understand .... "

"I will help you to understand, Mr. Barton

Russell. Your plan has miscarried."

122

Agatha Christie

"My plan?"

"Yes, your plan. Who was the only man who

had an alibi during the darkness. The man who

left the table--you, Mr. Barton Russell. But you

returned to it under cover of the darkness, circling

round it, with a champagne bottle, filling up

glasses, putting cyanide in Pauline's glass and

dropping the half empty packet in Carter's pocket

as you bent over him to remove a glass. Oh, yes, it

is easy to play the part of a waiter in darkness

when the attention of everyone is elsewhere. That