When Captain Roger Angmering built himself a house in the year 1782 on the island off Leathercombe Bay,

it was thought the height of eccentricity on his part. A man of good family such as he was should have had a decorous mansion set in wide meadows with, perhaps, a running stream and good pasture. But Captain Roger Angmering had only one great love, the sea. So he built his housea sturdy house too, as it needed to be, on the little windswept gull-haunted promontorycut off from land at each high tide. He did not marry, the sea was his first and last spouse, and at his death the house and island went to a distant cousin. That cousin and his descendants thought little of the bequest. Their own acres dwindled, and their heirs grew steadily poorer. In 1922 when the great cult of the Seaside for Holidays was finally established and the coast of Devon and Cornwall was no longer thought too hot in the summer, Arthur Angmering found his vast inconvenient late Georgian house unsaleable, but he got a good price for the odd bit of property acquired by the seafaring Captain Roger. The sturdy house was added to and embellished. A concrete causeway was laid down from the mainland to the island. Walks and Nooks were cut and devised all round the island. There were two tennis courts, sun-terraces leading down to a little bay embellished with rafts and diving boards. The Jolly Roger Hotel, Smugglers Island, Leathercombe Bay, came triumphantly into being. And from June till September (with a short season at Easter) the Jolly Roger Hotel was usually packed to the attics. It was enlarged and improved in 1934 by the addition of a cocktail bar, a bigger diningroom and some extra bathrooms. The prices went up. People said:

Ever been to Leathercombe Bay? Awfully jolly hotel there, on a sort of island. Very comfortable and no trippers or charabancs. Good cooking and all that. You ought to go. And people did go.

II
There was one very important person (in his own estimation at least) staying at the Jolly Roger. Hercule Poirot, resplendent in a white duck suit, with a panama hat tilted over his eyes, his moustaches magnificently befurled, lay back in an improved type of deck-chair and surveyed the bathing beach. A series of terraces led down to it from the hotel. On the beach itself were floats, lilos, rubber and canvas boats, balls and rubber toys. There was a long springboard and three rafts at varying distances from the shore. Of the bathers, some were in the sea, some were lying stretched out in the sun, and some were anointing themselves carefully with oil. On the terrace immediately above, the non-bathers sat and commented on the weather, the scene in front of them, the news in the morning papers and any other subject that appealed to them. On Poirots left a ceaseless flow of conversation poured in a gentle monotone from the lips of Mrs Gardener while at the same time her needles clacked as she knitted vigorously. Beyond her, her husband, Odell C. Gardener, lay in a hammock chair, his hat tilted forward over his nose, and occasionally uttered a brief statement when called upon to do so. On Poirots right, Miss Brewster, a tough athletic woman with grizzled hair and a pleasant weather-beaten face, made gruff comments. The result sounded rather like a sheepdog whose short stentorian barks interrupted the ceaseless yapping of a Pomeranian. Mrs Gardener was saying:

And so I said to Mr Gardener, why, I said, sightseeing is all very well, and I do like to do a place thoroughly. But, after all, I said, weve done England pretty well and all I want now is to get to some quiet spot by the seaside and just relax. Thats what I said, wasnt it, Odell? Just relax. I feel I must relax, I said. Thats so, isnt it, Odell? Mr Gardener, from behind his hat, murmured: Yes, darling. Mrs Gardener pursued the theme. And so, when I mentioned it to Mr Kelso, at CooksHes arranged all our itinerary for us and been most helpful in every way. I dont really know what wed have done without him!well, as I say, when I mentioned it to him, Mr Kelso said that we couldn t do better than come here. A most picturesque spot, he said, quite out of the world, and at the same time very comfortable and most exclusive in every way. And, of course, Mr Gardener, he chipped in there and said what about the sanitary arrangements? Because, if youll believe me, M. Poirot, a sister of Mr Gardeners went to stay at a guesthouse once, very exclusive they said it was, and in the heart of the moors, but would you believe me, nothing but an earth closet! So naturally that made Mr Gardener suspicious of these outofthe-world places, didnt it, Odell? Why, yes, darling, said Gardener. But Mr Kelso reassured us at once. The sanitation, he said, was absolutely the latest word, and the cooking was excellent. And Im sure thats so. And what I like about it is, its intime, if you know what I mean. Being a small place we all talk to each other and everybody knows everybody. If there is a fault about the British it is that theyre inclined to be a bit standoffish until theyve known you a

couple of years. After that nobody could be nicer. Mr Kelso said that interesting people came here, and I see he was right. Theres you, M. Poirot and Miss Darnley. Oh! I was just tickled to death when I found out who you were, wasnt I, Odell? You were, darling. Ha! said Miss Brewster, breaking in explosively. What a thrill, eh, M. Poirot? Hercule Poirot raised his hands in deprecation. But it was no more than a polite gesture. Mrs Gardener flowed smoothly on. You see, M. Poirot, Id heard a lot about you from Cornelia Robson who was. Mr Gardener and I were at Badenhof in May. And of course Cornelia told us all about that business in Egypt when Linnet Ridgeway was killed. She said you were wonderful and I ve always been simply crazy to meet you, havent I, Odell? Yes, darling. And then Miss Darnley, too. I get a lot of my things at Rose Monds and of course she is Rose Mond, isnt she? I think her clothes are ever so clever. Such a marvellous line. That dress I had on last night was one of hers. Shes just a lovely woman in every way, I think. From beyond Miss Brewster, Major Barry, who had been sitting with protuberant eyes glued to the bathers, grunted out: Distinguished lookin gal! Mrs Gardener clacked her needles. Ive just got to confess one thing, M. Poirot. It gave me a kind of a turn meeting you herenot that I wasnt just thrilled to meet you, because I was. Mr Gardener knows that. But it just came to me that you might be herewell, professionally. You know what I mean? Well, Im just terribly

sensitive, as Mr Gardener will tell you, and I just couldnt bear it if I was to be mixed up in crime of any kind. You see Mr Gardener cleared his throat. He said: You see, M. Poirot, Mrs Gardener is very sensitive. The hands of Hercule Poirot shot into the air. But let me assure you, Madame, that I am here simply in the same way that you are here yourselvesto enjoy myselfto spend the holiday. I do not think of crime even. Miss Brewster said again, giving her short gruff bark: No bodies on Smugglers Island. Hercule Poirot said: Ah! but that, it is not strictly true. He pointed downward. Regard them there, lying out in rows. What are they? They are not men and women. There is nothing personal about them. They are just bodies! Major Barry said appreciatively: Good-looking fillies, some of em. Bit on the thin side, perhaps. Poirot cried: Yes, but what appeal is there? What mystery? I, I am old, of the old school, When I was young, one saw barely the ankle. The glimpse of a foamy petticoat, how alluring! The gentle swelling of the calfa kneea beribboned garter Naughty, naughty! said Major Barry hoarsely. Much more sensiblethe things we wear nowadays, said Miss Brewster. Why, yes, M. Poirot, said Mrs Gardener. I do think, you know, that our girls and boys nowadays lead a much more natural healthy life. They just romp about together and theywell, they Mrs Gardener blushed slightly for she had a nice mind they think nothing of it, if you know what I mean? I do know, said Hercule Poirot. It is deplorable!

Deplorable? squeaked Mrs Gardener. To remove all the romanceall the mystery! Today everything is standardized! He waved a hand towards the recumbent figures. That reminds me very much of the Morgue in Paris. M. Poirot! Mrs Gardener was scandalized. Bodiesarranged on slabslike butchers meat! But M. Poirot, isnt that too far-fetched for words? Hercule Poirot admitted: It may be, yes. All the same, Mrs Gardener knitted with energy, Im inclined to agree with you on one point. These girls that lie out like that in the sun will grow hair on their legs and arms. Ive said so to Irene thats my daughter, M. Poirot. Irene, I said to her, if you lie out like that in the sun, youll have hair all over you, hair on your arms and hair on your legs and hair on your bosom, and what will you look like then? I said to her. Didnt I, Odell? Yes, darling, said Mr Gardener. Everyone was silent, perhaps making a mental picture of Irene when the worst had happened. Mrs Gardener rolled up her knitting and said: I wonder now Mr Gardener said: Yes, darling? He struggled out of the hammock chair and took Mrs Gardener s knitting and her book. He asked: What about joining us for a drink, Miss Brewster? Not just now, thanks. The Gardeners went up to the hotel. Miss Brewster said: American husbands are wonderful!

III
Mrs Gardeners place was taken by the Reverend Stephen Lane. Mr Lane was a tall vigorous clergyman of fifty odd. His face was tanned and his dark grey

flannel trousers were holidayfied and disreputable. He said with enthusiasm: Marvellous country! Ive been from Leathercombe Bay to Harford and back over the cliffs. Warm work walking today, said Major Barry who never walked. Good exercise, said Miss Brewster. I havent been for my row yet. Nothing like rowing for your stomach muscles. The eyes of Hercule Poirot dropped somewhat ruefully to a certain protuberance in his middle. Miss Brewster, noting the glance, said kindly: Youd soon get that off, M. Poirot, if you took a rowing-boat out every day. Merci, Mademoiselle. I detest boats! You mean small boats? Boats of all sizes! He closed his eyes and shuddered. The movement of the sea, it is not pleasant. Bless the man, the sea is as calm as a mill pond today. Poirot replied with conviction: There is no such thing as a really calm sea. Always, always, there is motion. If you ask me, said Major Barry, seasickness is nine-tenths nerves. There, said the clergyman, smiling a little, speaks the good sailor eh, Major? Only been ill onceand that was crossing the Channel! Dont think about it, thats my motto. Seasickness is really a very odd thing, mused Miss Brewster. Why should some people be subject to it and not others? It seems so unfair. And nothing to do with ones ordinary health. Quite sickly people are good sailors. Someone told me once it was something to do with ones spine. Then theres the way some people cant stand heights. Im not very good myself, but Mrs Redfern is far worse. The other day, on the cliff path to Harford, she turned quite giddy and simply clung to me. She

told me she once got stuck halfway down that outside staircase on Milan Cathedral. Shed gone up without thinking but coming down did for her. Shed better not go down the ladder to Pixy Cove, then, observed Lane. Miss Brewster made a face. I funk that myself. Its all right for the young. The Cowan boys and the young Mastermans, they run up and down and enjoy it. Lane said. Here comes Mrs Redfern now, coming up from her bathe. Miss Brewster remarked: M. Poirot ought to approve of her. Shes no sun-bather. Young Mrs Redfern had taken off her rubber cap and was shaking out her hair. She was an ash blonde and her skin was of that dead fairness that goes with that colouring. Her legs and arms were very white. With a hoarse chuckle, Major Barry said: Looks a bit uncooked among the others, doesnt she? Wrapping herself in a long bath-robe Christine Redfern came up the beach and mounted the steps towards them. She had a fair serious face, pretty in a negative way and small dainty hands and feet. She smiled at them and dropped down beside them, tucking her bathwrap round her. Miss Brewster said: You have earned M. Poirots good opinion. He doesnt like the suntanning crowd. Says theyre like joints of butchers meat, or words to that effect. Christine Redfern smiled ruefully. She said: I wish I could sun-bathe! But I dont go brown. I only blister and get the most frightful freckles all over my arms. Better than getting hair all over them like Mrs Gardeners Irene, said Miss Brewster. In answer

to Christines inquiring glance she went on: Mrs Gardeners been in grand form this morning. Absolutely non-stop. Isnt that so, Odell? Yes, darling. She paused and then said: I wish, though, M. Poirot, that youd played up to her a bit. Why didnt you? Why didnt you tell her that you were down here investigating a particularly gruesome murder, and that the murderer, a homicidal maniac, was certainly to be found among the guests of the hotel? Hercule Poirot sighed. He said: I very much fear she would have believed me. Major Barry gave a wheezy chuckle. He said: