Poirot - Chapter 8 The Kidnapped Prime Minister

Poirot - Chapter 8 The Kidnapped Prime Minister

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The kidnapped Prime Minister. Now thatwar and the problems of war are things
of the past, I think Imay safely venture to reveal to the world
the part which my friend Poirot playedin a moment of national crisis. The
secret has been well guarded, nota whisper of it reached the press.
But now that the need for secrecyhas gone by, I feel it is

(00:20):
only just that England should know thedebt it owes to my quaint little friend,
whose marvelous brain so ably averted agreat catastrophe. One evening after dinner.
I will not particularize the date.It suffices to say that it was
at the time when peace by negotiationwas the parrot cry of England's enemies.
My friend and I were sitting inhis rooms. After being invalided out of

(00:42):
the army. I had been givena recruiting job, and it had become
my custom to drop in on Poirotin the evenings after dinner and talk with
him of any cases of interest thathe might have on hand. I was
attempting to discuss with him the sensationalnews of that day, no less than
an attempted assassination of mister David McCadam, england Land's Prime Minister. The account
in the papers had evidently been carefullycensored. No details were given, save

(01:06):
that the Prime Minister had had amarvelous escape, the bullet just grazing his
cheek. I considered that our policemust have been shamefully careless for such an
outrage to be possible. I couldwell understand that the German agents in England
would be willing to risk much forsuch an achievement. Fighting Mack, as
his own party had nicknamed him,had strenuously and unequivocally combated the pacifist influence

(01:30):
which was becoming so prevalent. Hewas more than England's Prime Minister. He
was England, and to have removedhim from his sphere of influence would have
been a crushing and paralyzing blow toBritain. Puaro was busy mopping a gray
suit with a minute sponge. Neverwas there a dandy such as Hercule Poio.
Neatness and order were his passion.Now, with the odor of benzene

(01:55):
filling the air, he was quiteunable to give me his full attention.
In a little in it, Iam with you, my friend, I
have all but finished the spot ofgrease. He is not good. I
remove him, so he waved hissponge. I smiled as I lit another
cigarette. Anything interesting on, Iinquired, after a minute or two,

(02:15):
I assist, how do you callit? Charlady to find her husband a
difficult affair, needing the tact ForI have a little idea that when he
has found, he will not bepleased. What would you? For my
part, I sympathize with him.He was a man of discrimination to lose
himself, I laughed. At last, the spot of grease he has gone.

(02:35):
I am at your disposal. Iwas asking you what you thought of
this attempt to assassinate McAdam and Fantillage, replied Poirot promptly. One can hardly
take it seriously to fire with therifle. Never does it succeed. It
is a device of the past.It was very near succeeding this time,
I reminded him. Poirot shook hishead impatiently. He was about to reply

(02:58):
when the landlady thrust her head roundthe and informed him that there were two
gentlemen below who wanted to see him. They won't give their names, sir,
but they says as it's very important. Let them mount, said Poirot,
carefully folding his gray trousers. Ina few minutes, the two visitors
were ushered in, and my heartgave a leap. As in the foremost

(03:19):
I recognized no less a personage thanLord Astaire, leader of the House of
Commons, whilst his companion, misterBernard Dodge, was also a member of
the War Cabinet, and as Iknew, a close personal friend of the
Prime Minister. Monsieur Poirot said LordAstair interrogatively. My friend bowed. The
great man, looked at me andhesitated. My business is private. You

(03:42):
may speak freely before Captain Hastings,said my friend, nodding to me to
remain. He has not all thegifts, no, but I answer for
his discretion. Lord Astair still hesitated, But mister Dodge broke in abruptly.
Oh come on, don't, let'sbeat about the bush. As far as
I can see, the whole ofEngland will know the hole we're in soon
enough. Time's everything. Pray beseated, Monsieurs, said Poirot politely,

(04:03):
Will you take the big chair?My Lord Lord Astair started slightly. You
know me Poirot smiled, certainly,I read the little papers with the pictures.
How should I not know you,Monsieur Poirot. I have come to
consult you upon a matter of themost vital urgency. I must ask for
absolute secrecy. You have the wordof Hercule Poirot. I can say no

(04:26):
more, said my friend grandiloquently.It concerns the Prime Minister. We are
in grave trouble. We're up atree, interposed, mister Dodge. The
injury is serious. Then I askedwhat injury the bullet wound? Oh,
that, cried mister Dodge, contemptuously. That's old history, as my colleague
says, continued Lord Astaire, thataffair is over and done with. Luckily

(04:49):
it failed. I wished I couldsay as much for the second attempt.
There has been a second attempt,then, yes, though not of the
same nature, Monsieur Poirot. ThePrime Minister has disappeared. What he has
been kidnapped? Impossible? I cried, stupefied. Poirot threw a withering glance

(05:10):
at me, which I knew,enjoined me to keep my mouth shut.
Unfortunately impossible, as it seems,it is only too true, continued his
Lordship Poirot looked at mister Dodge.You said, just now, Monsieur,
that time was everything. What didyou mean by that? The two men
exchanged glances, and then Lord Estairesaid, you have heard, Monsieur Poirot,

(05:30):
of the approaching Allied conference. Myfriend nodded. For obvious reasons,
no details have been given of whenand where it is to take place,
but although it has been kept outof the newspapers, the date is of
course widely known in diplomatic circles.The conference is to be held tomorrow,
Thursday evening at Versailles. Now youperceive the terrible gravity of the situation.

(05:53):
I will not conceal from you thatthe Prime Minister's presence at the conference is
a vital necessity. The pacifist propaganda, started and maintained by the German agents
in our midst has been very active. It is the universal opinion that the
turning point of the conference will bethe strong personality of the Prime Minister.
His absence may have the most seriousresults, possibly a premature and disastrous peace,

(06:16):
and we have no one who canbe sent in his place. He
alone can represent England. Poirot's facehad grown very grave. Then you regard
the kidnapping of the Prime Minister asa direct attempt to prevent his being present
at the conference, Most certainly Ido. He was actually on his way
to France at the time, andthe conference is to be held at nine

(06:38):
o'clock tomorrow night. Poirot drew anenormous watch from his pocket. It is
now a quarter to nine twenty fourhours, said mister Dodge thoughtfully, and
a quarter amended Poirot. Do notforget the quarter, monsieur, It may
come in useful now for the detailsthe abduction. Did it take place in
England or in France? In France, mister McAdam crossed to France this morning.

(07:00):
He was to stay tonight as theguest of the Commander in Chief,
proceeding tomorrow to Paris. He wasconveyed across the channel by destroyer. At
Boulogne he was met by a carfrom General Headquarters, and one of the
Commander in chiefs ad sees a bienwell. They started from Boulogne, but
they never arrived. What, MonsieurPoirot. It was a bogus car and

(07:23):
a bogus ADC. The real carwas found in a side road, with
the chauffeur and the adc neatly gaggedand bound, and the bogus car is
still at large. Poirot made agesture of impatience. Incredible, surely it
cannot escape attention for long. Sowe thought it seemed merely a question of

(07:43):
searching thoroughly. That part of Franceis under military law. We were convinced
that the car could not go longunnoticed. The French police and our own
Scotland yard men and the military arestraining every nerve. It is, as
you say, incredible, but nothinghas been discovered. At that moment.
A tap came at the door,and a young officer entered with a heavily
sealed envelope which he handed to LordAstare, just through from France. Sir,

(08:07):
I brought it on here as youdirected. The Minister tore it open
eagerly and uttered an exclamation. Theofficer withdrew. Here is news at last,
this telegram has just been decoded.They have found the second car also.
The Secretary Daniels chloroformed, gagged andbound in an abandoned farm near c
Eu. He remembers nothing except somethingbeing pressed against his mouth and nose,

(08:31):
from behind and struggling to free himself. The police are satisfied as to the
genuineness of his statement, and theyhave found nothing else. No, not
the Prime Minister's dead body. Thenthere is hope. But it is strange.
Why after trying to shoot him thismorning, are they now taking so
much trouble to keep him alive.Dodde shook his head. One thing's quite

(08:56):
certain. They're determined at all coststo prevent his attending the KHM. If
it is humanly possible, the PrimeMinister shall be there, God granted,
is not too late. Now,monsieurs recount to me everything from the beginning.
I must know about this shooting affairas well. Last night the Prime
Minister accompanied by one of his secretaries, Captain Daniels, the same who accompanied

(09:18):
him to France. Yes, asI was saying, they motored down to
Windsor, where the Prime Minister wasgranted an audience. Early this morning he
returned to town, and it wason the way that the attempted assassination took
place. One moment, if youplease, who is this Captain Daniels.
You have his dossier, Lord Astairesmiled. I thought you would ask me

(09:39):
that we do not know very muchof him. He is of no particular
family. He has served in theEnglish Army and is an extremely able secretary,
being an exceptionally fine linguist. Ibelieve he speaks seven languages. It
is for that reason that the PrimeMinister chose him to accompany him to France.
Has he any relatives in England?Two aunts, a missus Everard,

(10:01):
who lives at Hampstead, and aMiss Daniels, who lives near ascot Ascott,
that is near to Windsor is itnot that point has not been overlooked?
But it has led to nothing?You regard the Capitain Daniels. Then,
as above suspicion. A shade ofbitterness crept into Lord Astaire's voice as
he replied, No, Monsieur Poirot, in these days, I should hesitate

(10:24):
before I pronounced anyone above suspicion.Trey Bien. Now I understand, my
Lord, that the Prime Minister would, as a matter of course, be
under vigilant police protection, which oughtto render any assault upon him an impossibility.
Lord Astaire bowed his head. Thatis so. The Prime Minister's car
was closely followed by another car containingdetectives in plain clothes. Mister Macadam knew

(10:46):
nothing of these precautions. He ispersonally a most fearless man and would be
inclined to sweep them away arbitrarily.But naturally, the police make their own
arrangements. In fact, the Premier'schauffeur o' murphy is a sea man o'
murphy. That is the name ofIreland, is it not so? Yes?
He is an irishman. Uh fromwhat part of Ireland County Claire?

(11:07):
I believe tins? But proceed,my lord. The Premiere started for London.
The car was a closed one.He and Captain Daniels sat inside.
The second car followed as usual,but unluckily, for some unknown reason,
the Prime Minister's car deviated from themain road at a point where the road
curves interrupted. Puaro, Yes,but how did you know, oh cys

(11:31):
evidont continue? For some unknown reason, continued Lord Astaire. The Premier's car
left the main road. The policecar, unaware of the deviation, continued
to keep to the high road.At a short distance down the unfrequented lane,
the Prime Minister's car was suddenly heldup by a band of masked men.
The chauffeur sah that brave O'Murphy murmuredPoio thoughtfully. The chauffeur, momentarily

(11:56):
taken aback jammed on the brakes.The prime minute mister put his head out
of the window. Instantly a shotrang out, then another. The first
one grazed his cheek, the secondfortunately went wide. The chauffeur, now
realizing the danger, instantly forged straightahead, scattering the band of men a
near escape. I ejaculated with ashiver. Mister McCadam refused to make any

(12:18):
fuss over the slight wound he hadreceived. He declared it was only a
scratch. He stopped at a localcottage hospital where it was dressed and bound
up. He did not, ofcourse, reveal his identity. He then
drove, as per schedule, straightto Charing Cross, where a special train
for Dover was awaiting him, and, after a brief account of what had
happened had been given to the anxiouspolice by Captain Daniels, he duly departed

(12:41):
for France. At Dover, hewent on board the waiting destroyer. At
Boulogne. As you know, thebogus car was waiting for him, carrying
the union jack and correct in everydetail. That is all you have to
tell me. Yes, there isno other circumstance that you have omitted,
my lord. Well, there isone rather peculiar thing. Yes, The
Prime Minister's car did not return homeafter leaving the Prime Minister at Charing Cross.

(13:05):
The police were anxious to interview o'murphy, so a search was instituted
at once. The car was discoveredstanding outside a certain unsavory little restaurant in
Soho, which is well known asa meeting place of German agents and the
chauffeur. The chauffeur was nowhere tobe found. He too had disappeared,

(13:26):
So said Poirot thoughtfully, there aretwo disappearances, the Prime Minister in France
and O'Murphy in London. He lookedkeenly at Lord Astaire, who made a
gesture of despair. I can onlytell you, Monsieur Poirot, that if
any one had suggested to me yesterdaythat O'Murphy was a trader, I should
have laughed in his face. Andto day to day I do not know

(13:46):
what to think. Puirot nodded gravely. He looked at his turnip of a
watch again I understand that I havecarte blanche, monsieur. In every way
I mean, I must be ableto go where I choose and how I
choose perfectly. There is a specialtrain leaving for Dover in an hour's time,
with a further contingent from Scotland Yard. You shall be accompanied by a

(14:07):
military officer and a C. I. D Man who will hold themselves at
your disposal in every way. Isthat satisfactory? Quite one more question before
you leave, monsieur, What madeyou come to me? I am unknown,
obscure in this great London of yours. We sought you out on the
express recommendation and wish of a verygreat man of your own country. Comment

(14:30):
my old friend, the prefet LordAstaire, shook his head, one higher
than the preife, one whose wordwas once law in Belgium, and shall
be again that England has sworn.Puaro's hand flew swiftly to a dramatic salute.
Amen to that ah. But mymaster does not forget Messrs I Hercule
poiro will serve you faithfully. Heavenonly send that it will be in time.

(14:52):
But this is dark dark I cannotsee will Poirot, I cried,
impatiently as the door closed behind theminister. What do you think my friend
was busy packing a minute suitcase withquick, deft movements. He shook his
head thoughtfully. I do not knowwhat to think. My brains desert me.
Why, as you said, kidnaphim when a knock on the head

(15:13):
would do as well, I mused, pardon me, mon ami, but
I did not quite say that.It is undoubtedly far more their affair to
kidnap him. But why because uncertaintycreates panic. That is one reason.
Were the Prime Minister dead, itwould be a terrible calamity, but the
situation would have to be faced.But now you have paralysis. Will the
Prime Minister reappear or will he not? Is he dead or alive? Nobody

(15:37):
knows, and until they know,nothing definite can be done. And as
I tell you, uncertainty breeds panic, which is what lays Bouches are playing
for. Then again, if thekidnappers are holding him secretly somewhere, they
have the advantage of being able tomake terms with both sides. The German
government is not a liberal paymaster asa rule, but no doubt they can

(16:00):
be made to disgorge substantial remittances insuch a case as this. Thirdly,
they run no risk of the hangman'srope. Oh decidedly, kidnapping is their
affair. Then if that is so, why should they first try to shoot
him? Poirot made a gesture ofanger. Ah, that is just what
I do not understand. It isinexplicable, stupid. They have all their

(16:22):
arrangements made, and very good arrangementstoo, for the abduction, and yet
they imperil the whole affair by amelodramatic attack worthy of a cinema and quite
as unreal. It is almost impossibleto believe in it, with its band
of masked men not twenty miles fromLondon. Perhaps they were two quite separate
attempts which happened irrespective of each other, I suggested, Ah, No,

(16:45):
that would be too much of acoincidence. Then further, who is the
trader? There must have been atrader in the first affair anyway, But
who was it Daniels or O'Murphy.It must have been one of the two.
Or why did the car leave themain road? We cannot suppose that
the Prime Minister connived at his ownassassination. Did O'Murphy take that turning of
his own accord? Or was itDaniels who told him to do so?

(17:10):
Surely it must have been O'Murphy's doing, yes, because if it was Daniels,
the Prime Minister would have heard theorder and would have asked the reason.
But there are altogether too many whysin this affair, and they contradict
each other. If o' murphy isan honest man, why did he leave
the main road? But if hewas a dishonest man, why did he
start the car again when only twoshots had been fired, thereby in all

(17:32):
probability saving the Prime Minister's life?And again, if he was honest,
why did he immediately on leaving charingCross Drive to a well known rendezvous of
German spies. It looks bad,I said, Let us look at the
case with method. What have weforeign against these two men? Take O'Murphy
first, against that his conduct inleaving the main road was suspicious, That

(17:53):
he is an irishman from County Claire. That he has disappeared in a highly
suggestive manner, For that his promptnessin restarting the car save the Premier's life,
That he is a Scotland yard man, and obviously from the post allotted
to him a trusted detective. Nowfor Daniels, there is not much against
him, except the fact that nothingis known of his antecedents, and that

(18:17):
he speaks too many languages for agood Englishman. Pardon me, mon Ami,
but as linguists you are deplorable.Now for him we have the fact
that he was found gagged, boundand chloroformed, which does not look as
though he had anything to do withthe matter. He might have gagged and
bound himself to divert suspicion, Quarotshook his head. The French police would

(18:37):
make no mistake of that kind.Besides, once he had attained his object
and the Prime Minister was safely abducted, there would not be much point in
his remaining behind. His accomplices couldhave gagged and chloroformed him, of course,
but I failed to see what objectthey hoped to accomplish by it.
He can be of little use tothem now, for until the circumstances concerning
the Prime Minister have been cleared up, he is bound to be closely watched.

(19:02):
Perhaps he hoped to start the policeon a false scent, then why
did he not do so? Hemerely says that something was pressed over his
nose and mouth, and that heremembers nothing more. There is no false
scent there. It sounds remarkably likethe truth. Well, I said,
glancing at the clock, I supposewe'd better start for the station. You

(19:22):
may find more clues in France,possibly mon Ami, but I doubt it.
It is still incredible to me thatthe Prime Minister has not been discovered
in that limited area where the difficultyof concealing him must be tremendous. If
the military and the police of twocountries have not found him, how shall
I At charing Cross we were metby mister Dodge. This is Detective Barnes

(19:45):
of Scotland Yard and Major Norman.They will hold themselves entirely at your disposal.
Good luck to you. It's abad business, but I've not given
up. Hope. Must be offnow, and the Minister strode rapidly away.
We chatted in a desolate Tory fashionwith Major Norman. In the center
of the little group of men onthe platform. I recognized a little ferret
faced fellow talking to a tall fairman. He was an old acquaintance of

(20:10):
Poirot's Detective Inspector Jap, supposed tobe one of the smartest of Scotland Yard's
officers. He came over and greetedmy friend cheerfully. I heard you were
on this job too, smart bitof work. So far they've got away
with the goods, all right,But I can't believe they can keep him
hidden long. Our people are goingthrough France with a toothcomb, so are

(20:30):
the French. I can't help feelingit's only a matter of hours now,
that is, if he's still alive, remarked the tall detective gloomily. Jap's
face fell. Yes, uh,but somehow I've got the feeling he's alive,
all right. Poirot nodded, Yes, yes, he's alive. But
can he be found in time?I, like you, did not believe

(20:51):
he could be hidden so long.Net The whistle blew and we all trooped
up into the pullman car. Then, with a slow, unwilling jerk,
the train drew out of the station. It was a curious journey. The
Scotland Yard men crowded together. Mapsof northern France were spread out, and
eager forefingers traced the lines of roadsand villages. Each man had his own

(21:12):
pet theory. Poirot showed none ofhis usual loquacity, but sat staring in
front of him, with an expressionon his face that reminded me of a
puzzled child. I talked to Norman, whom I found quite an amusing fellow.
On arriving at Dover, Poirot's behaviormoved me to intense amusement. The
little man, as he went onboard the boat, clutched desperately at my

(21:33):
arm. The wind was blowing lustily. Mon dieu, he murmured, this
is terrible. Have courage, Poirot, I cried, you will succeed,
You will find him. I amsure of it. Ah, mon ami,
you mistake my emotion. It isthis villainous sea that troubles me,
the Maldemier. It is horrible suffering, oh, I said, rather taken

(21:56):
aback, The first throb of theengines was felt, and Poirot groaned and
closed his eyes. Major Norman hasa map of northern France, if you
would like to study it. Poroshook his head impatiently. But no,
but no, leave me, myfriend. See you to think, the
stomach and the brain must be inharmony. Levergaiet has a method most excellent
for averting the Malde maire. Youbreathe in and out slowly, so turning

(22:22):
the head from left to right,and counting six between each breath. I
left him to his gymnastic endeavors andwent on deck. As we came slowly
into Boulogne Harbor, Poirot appeared neatand smiling and announced to me in a
whisper that Laverguier's system had succeeded toa marvel. Jap's forefinger was still tracing
imaginary roots on his map. Nonsense. The car started from Boulogne. Here

(22:45):
they branched off. Now my ideais that they transferred the Prime Minister to
another car. See well, saidthe tall detective. I shall make for
the seaports. Ten to one.They've smuggled him on board a ship.
Jap shook his head, too obvious. The order went out at once to
close all the ports. The daywas just breaking. As we landed.

(23:07):
Major Norman touched Poirot on the arm. There's a military car here waiting for
you, sir, Thank you,monsieur. But for the moment, I
do not propose to leave Boulogne.What no, we will enter this hotel
here by the key. He suitedthe action to the word demanded, and
was accorded a private room. Wethree followed him, puzzled and uncomprehending.

(23:29):
He shot a quick glance at us. It is not so that the good
detective should act, eh, Iperceive your thought. He must be full
of energy. He must rush toand fro. He should prostrate himself on
the dusty road and seek the marksof tires through a little glass. He
must gather up the cigarette, endthe fallen match. That is your idea,
is it not? His eyes challengedus. But I, Hercule Poirot,

(23:53):
tell you that it is not so. The true clues are within here.
He tapped his forehead. See you, I need not have left London.
It would have been sufficient for meto sit quietly in my rooms.
There. All that matters is thelittle gray cells within. Secretly and silently
they do their part, until suddenlyI call for a map, and I
lay my finger on a spot soand I say, the Prime Minister is

(24:18):
there. And it is so.With method and logic one can accomplish anything.
This frantic rushing to France was amistake. It is playing a child's
game of hide and seek. Butnow, though it may be too late,
I will set to work the rightway from within. Silence, my
friends, I beg of you.And for five long hours the little man

(24:40):
sat motionless, blinking his eyelids likea cat, his green eyes flickering and
becoming steadily greener and greener. TheScotland yard man was obviously contemptuous. Major
Norman was bored and impatient, andI myself found the time pass with wearisome
slowness. Finally I got up andstrolled as noiselessly as I could to the
window. The matter was becoming afarce. I was secretly concerned for my

(25:03):
friend. If he failed, Iwould have preferred him to fail in a
less ridiculous manner. Out of thewindow, I idly watched the daily leave
boat belching forth columns of smoke asshe lay alongside the quay. Suddenly I
was aroused by Poirot's voice close tomy elbow. Mass, Ami, let
us start. I turned. Anextraordinary transformation had come over my friend.

(25:23):
His eyes were flickering with excitement,his chest was swelled to the uttermost.
I have been an imbecile, myfriends, But I see daylight at last,
Major Norman moved hastily to the door. I'll order the car. There
is no need. I shall notuse it, Thank Heaven, the wind
has fallen. Do you mean youare going to walk, sir, No,

(25:45):
my young friend, I am no. Saint Peter I preferred across the
sea by boat to cross the seal. Yes, to work with method,
one must begin from the beginning,and the beginning of this affair was in
England. Therefore we returned to England.