Poirot - Chapter 5 The Million Dollar Bond Robbery

Poirot - Chapter 5 The Million Dollar Bond Robbery

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The million dollar bond robbery. Andwhat a number of bond robberies there have
been lately. I observed one morning, laying aside the newspaper, Poirot,
let us forsake the science of detectionand take to crime instead. You are
on the uh, how do yousay it? Get rich? Quick?
Tack em on? Am? Well, look at this last coup, the
million dollars worth of liberty bonds whichthe London and Scottish Bank were sending to

(00:23):
New York, and which disappeared insuch a remarkable manner on board the Olympia.
If it were not for the Maldemaire and the difficulty of practicing the
so excellent method of laverguier for alonger time than the few hours of crossing
the channel, I should delight tovoyage myself on one of these big liners,
murmured Poirot dreamily. Yes, indeed, I said enthusiastically. Some of

(00:47):
them must be perfect palaces, theswimming baths, the lounges, the restaurant,
the palm courts. Really, itmust be hard to believe that one
is on the sea. Me Ialways know when I am on the sea,
said Puiros sadly, and all thosebagatelles that you enumerate, they say
nothing to me. But my friend, consider for a moment the geniuses that
travel, as it were, incognitoon board these floating palaces, as you

(01:11):
so justly call them, One wouldmeet the elite, the hote, no
bless of the criminal world. Ilaughed. So that's the way your enthusiasm
runs. You would have liked tocross swords with the man who sneaked the
liberty bonds. The landlady interrupted us, A young lady as wants to see
you, mister Poirot. Here's hercard, the card bore the inscription miss

(01:32):
esme Farquhar and Poirot, after divingunder the table to retrieve a stray crumb
and putting it carefully in the wastepaper basket, nodded to the landlady to
admit her. In another minute,one of the most charming girls I have
ever seen was ushered into the room. She was perhaps about five and twenty,
with big brown eyes and a perfectfigure. She was well dressed and

(01:52):
perfectly composed in manner. Sit down, I beg of you, mademoiselle.
This is my friend Captain Hastings,who aids me in my little problems.
I am afraid it is a bigproblem I have brought you today, Monsieur
Poirot, said the girl, givingme a pleasant bow as she seated herself.
I dare say you have read aboutit in the papers. I am
referring to the theft of liberty bondson the Olympia. Some astonishment must have

(02:16):
shown itself in Poirot's face, forshe continued quickly. You are doubtless asking
yourself what I have to do witha grave institution like the London and Scottish
Bank. In one sense nothing,In another sense everything you see, Monsieur
Poirot. I am engaged to misterPhilip Ridgeway aha, and mister Phillip Ridgway

(02:37):
was in charge of the bonds whenthey were stolen. Of course, no
actual blame can attach to him.It was not his fault in any way.
Nevertheless, he is half distraught overthe matter, and his uncle,
I know, insists that he mustcarelessly have mentioned having them in his possession.
It is a terrible setback in hiscareer. Who is his uncle,
mister Vavasor, Joint General Manager ofthe London and Scottish Bank. Suppose Miss

(03:00):
Farquhar that you recount to me thewhole story very well. As you know.
The bank wished to extend their creditsin America, and for this purpose
decided to send over a million dollarsin liberty bonds. Mister Vavasor selected his
nephew, who had occupied a positionof trust in the bank for many years
and who was conversant with all thedetails of the bank's dealings in New York,

(03:22):
to make the trip. The Olympiasailed from Liverpool on the twenty third,
and the bonds were handed over toPhilip on the morning of that day
by mister Vavasor and mister Shaw,the two joint general managers of the London
and Scottish Bank. They were countedenclosed in a package and sealed in his
presence, and he then locked thepackage at once in his portmanteau, a

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portmanteau with an ordinary lock. Nomister Shaw insisted on a special lock being
fitted to it by Hubbs's Philip,as I say, placed the package at
the bottom of the trunk. Itwas stolen just a few hours before reaching
New York. A rigorous search ofthe the whole ship was made, but
without result, the bond seemed literallyto have vanished into thin air. Poirot
made a grimace, but they didnot vanish absolutely, since I gathered that

(04:10):
they were sold in small parcels withinhalf an hour of the docking of the
Olympia. Well, undoubtedly the nextthing is for me to see mister Ridgway.
I was about to suggest that youshould lunch with me at the Cheshire
Cheese. Philip will be there.He is meeting me, but does not
yet know that I have been consultingyou on his behalf. We agreed to

(04:30):
this suggestion readily enough, and drovethere in a taxi. Mister Philip Ridgway
was there before us, and lookedsomewhat surprised to see his fiancee arriving with
two complete strangers. He was anice looking young fellow, tall and spruce,
with a touch of graying hair atthe temples, though he could not
have been much over thirty. MissParkwer went up to him and laid her

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hand on his arm. You mustforgive my acting without consulting you, Philip,
she said. Let me introduce youto Monsieur Irkae Poirot, of whom
you must often have heard, andhis friend, Captain Hastings. Ridgway looked
very astonished. Of course I haveheard of you, Monsieur Poirot, he
said as he shook hands. ButI had no idea that Esme was thinking

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of consulting you about my our trouble. I was afraid you would not let
me do it, Philip said MissFarkworm meekly. So you took care to
be on the safe side, heobserved with a smile. I hope,
Monsieur Poirot, will be able tothrow some light on this extraordinary puzzle,
for I confess frankly that I amnearly out of my mind with worry and
anxiety about it. Indeed, hisface looked drawn and haggard, and showed

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only too clearly the strain under whichhe was laboring. Well, well,
said Poirot. Let us lunch,and over lunch we will put our heads
together and see what can be done. I want to hear mister Ridgway's story
from his own lips. Whilst wediscussed the excellent stake and kidney pudding of
the establishment, Philip Ridgway narrated thecircumstances leading to the disappearance of the bonds.

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His story agreed with that of missFarquhar in every particular. When he
had finished, Poirot took up thethread with a question, what exactly led
you to discover that the bonds hadbeen stolen? Mister Ridgeway, He laughed,
rather bitterly. The thing stared mein the face, Monsieur Poirot.
I couldn't have missed it. Mycabin trunk was half out from under the
bunk, and all scratched and cutabout where they'd tried to force the lock.

(06:21):
But I understood that it had beenopened with a key. That's so
they tried to force it but couldn't, and in the end they must have
got it unlocked somehow or other.Curious, said Poirot, his eyes beginning
to flicker with the green light.I knew so well, very curious.
They waste much much time trying toprize it open, and then SPRISTI they

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find that they have the key allthe time, For each of Hubbs's locks
are unique. That's just why theycouldn't have had the key. It never
left me day or night. You'resure of that, I can swear to
it. And besides, if theyhad had the key or a duplicate why
should they waste time trying to forcean obvious, unforcible lock. Ah,
there is exactly the question we areasking ourselves. I venture to prophesy that

(07:06):
the solution, if we ever findit, will hinge on that curious fact.
I beg of you not to assaultme if I ask you one more
question. Are you perfectly certain youdid not leave the trunk unlocked? Philip
Ridgway merely looked at him, andPuarro gesticulated apologetically. Ah, but these
things can happen, I assure youvery well. The bonds were stolen from

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the trunk. What did the thiefdo with them? How did he manage
to get ashore with them? Ah, cried Ridgeway. That's just it.
How word was passed to the customsauthorities, and every sole that left the
ship was gone over with a toothcomb. And the bonds I gather made a
bulky package. Certainly they did.They could hardly have been hidden on board,
and anyway we know they weren't becausethey were offered for sale within half

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an hour of the Olympia's arrival,long before I got the cables going and
the numbers sent out. One brokerswears he bought some of them even before
the Olympia got in. But youcan't send bonds by wireless, not by
wireless. But did any tug comealongside? Only the official ones? And
that was after the alarm was given, when everyone was on the lookout.

(08:13):
I was watching out myself for theirbeing passed over to someone that way.
My god, Monsieur Poirot, thisthing will drive me mad. People are
beginning to say I stole them.Myself said that. But you also were
searched on landing, weren't you,asked puiro gently. Yes, The young
man stared at him in a puzzledmanner. You do not catch my meaning

(08:35):
I see, said Poirot, smilingenigmatically. Now I should like to make
a few inquiries at the bank.Ridgeway produced a card and scribbled a few
words on it. Send this inand my uncle will see you at once.
Poirot thanked him, bade farewell toMiss Farquhar, and together we started
out for Threadneedle Street and the headoffice of the London and Scottish Bank on

(08:58):
production of Ridgway's car Guard. Wewere led through the labyrinth of counters and
desks, skirting paying in clerks andpaying out clerks, and up to a
small office on the first floor,where the Joint General Managers received us.
They were two grave gentlemen who hadgrown gray in the service of the bank.
Mister Vavasor had a short white beard. Mister Shaw was clean shaven.

(09:18):
I understand you are strictly a privateinquiry agent, said mister Vavasor. Quite
so. Quite so, we haveof course placed ourselves in the hands of
Scotland Yard Inspector mc neil has chargeof the case, a very able officer.
I believe, I am sure ofit, said Poirot politely. You
will permit a few questions on yournephew's behalf about this locke who ordered it

(09:41):
from Hubses. I ordered it myself, said mister Shaw. I would not
trust to any clerk in the matter. As to the keys, mister Ridgway
had one, and the other twoare held by my colleague and myself,
and no clerk has had access tothem. Mister Shaw turned inquiringly to mister
Vavasor. I think I am correctin saying that they have remained in the

(10:03):
safe where we placed them on thetwenty third, said mister Vavasor. My
colleague was unfortunately taken ill a fortnightago, in fact, on the very
day that Philip left us. Hehas only just recovered severe bronchitis. Is
no joke to a man of myage, said mister Shaw ruefully. But
I am afraid mister Vavasor has sufferedfrom the hard work entailed by my absence,

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especially with this unexpected worry coming ontop of everything. Eh, Pooro
asked a few more questions. Ijudged that he was endeavoring to gauge the
exact amount of intimacy between uncle andnephew. Mister Vavasor's answers were brief and
punctilious. His nephew was a trustedofficial of the bank and had no debts
or money difficulties that he knew of. He had been entrusted with similar missions

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in the past. Finally, wewere politely bowed out. I'm disappointed,
said Poirot as we emerged into thestreet. You hope to discover more.
They are such stodgy old men.It is not their stodginess which disappoints me,
mon amie. I do not expectto find in a bank manager a
keen financier with an eagle glance,as your favorite works of fiction put it.

(11:07):
No, I am disappointed in thecase. It is too easy easy,
yes, do you not find italmost childishly simple? You know who
stole the bonds? I do,But then we must why Fehra, Do
not confuse and fluster yourself, Hastings. We are not going to do anything
at present. But why what areyou waiting for? For the Olympia?

(11:30):
She is due on her return tripfrom New York on Tuesday? But if
you know who stole the bonds,why wait? He may escape to a
south sea island where there is noextradition, no mon amie. He would
find life very uncongenial there As towhy I wait? Abe into the intelligence
of Hercule Poirot, the case isperfectly clear. But for the benefit of

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others not so greatly gifted by thegood God, the Inspector McNeil, for
instance, it would be as wellto make a few in inquiries to establish
the facts. One must have considerationfor those less gifted than one's self.
Good Lord Poirot, do you knowI'd give a considerable sum of money to
see you make a thorough ass ofyourself, just for once. You're so

(12:13):
confoundedly conceited. Do not enrage yourselfhastings in verity. I observe that there
are times when you almost detest me, alas I suffer the penalties of greatness.
The little man puffed out his chestand sighed so comically that I was
forced to laugh. Tuesday saw usspeeding to Liverpool in a first class carriage
of the EU N NWR. Poirothad obstinately refused to enlighten me as to

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his suspicions or certainties. He contentedhimself with expressing surprise that I too was
not equally o fay with the situation. I disdained to argue, and entrenched
my curiosity behind a rampart of pretendedindifference. Once arrived at the key,
alongside which lay the big transatlantic liner, Poirot became brisk and alert. Our

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proceedings, insisted in interviewing four successivestewards, and inquiring after a friend of
Poirot's who had crossed to New Yorkon the twenty third. An elderly gentleman
wearing glasses, a great invalid hardlymoved out of his cabin. The description
appeared to tally with one mister Ventnor, who had occupied the cabin c.
Twenty four, which was next tothat of Philip Ridgeway. Although unable to

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see how Poirot had deduced mister Ventnor'sexistence and personal appearance, I was keenly
excited. Tell me, I cried, Was this gentleman one of the first
to land when you got to NewYork? The steward shook his head.
No, indeed, sir, hewas one of the last off the boat.
I retired crestfallen, and observed Poirotgrinning at me. He thanked the

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steward, a note changed hands,and we took our departure. It's all
very well, I remarked heatedly.But that last answer must have damped your
precious theory. Grin as you please. As usual, you see nothing hastings.
That last answer is, on thecontrary, the coping stone of my
theory. I flung up my handsin despair. I give it up.