And Then There Were None

by Agatha Christie

Philip Lombard grinned. “Why make me say it? When it’s on the tip of your own tongue. Anthony Marston was murdered, of course.”

“And therefore another kind of soldier. The Unknown Soldier! X! Mr. Owen! U. N. Owen! One Unknown Lunatic at Large!”

be isolated until Mr. Owen has finished his job.” Armstrong had gone pale. He said: “You realize—the man must be a raving maniac!”

“Yes, I loved Leslie. That’s why I did it.” Vera said: “You mean—” and paused. General Macarthur nodded his head gently.

After a minute or two, while they stood together watching Lombard’s progress, Blore said: “Climbs like a cat, doesn’t he?” There was something odd in his voice.

“Me? Good Lord, no. Why should I?” Blore said: “Why did Mr. Lombard?” Armstrong said doubtfully: “I suppose—habit.” Blore snorted.

As they mounted to the bedroom floor, they saw through the landing window Rogers carrying out a tray of cocktails to the terrace.

Rogers was in the room, his hands full of garments.

How??? More than one butler??? how did he get upl there without them seeing?! They took the servnt staits

“It wouldn’t be the first you’ve made—if that gramophone record is to be believed!” Armstrong went white. Philip Lombard said quickly and angrily to Blore: “What’s the sense of making yourself offensive? We’re all in the same boat. We’ve got to pull together.

“General Macarthur—” “Dead!” The word burst from Vera explosively. Armstrong said: “Yes, he’s dead….”

How did you knkw?!

One of us is U. N. Owen. And we do not know which of us.

Of those seven, one is, if I may so express myself, a bogus little soldier boy.”

“Lombard’s got a revolver. He didn’t tell the truth—last night. He admits it.”

“Well, have it your own way. U. N. Owen is one of us. No exceptions allowed. We all qualify.”

He can swear the body’s been dead at least an hour and who’s to contradict him?”

Thats a brilliant point.

That means that one of us is possessed by a devil. I had already suspected that. Which of us is it? They are all asking themselves that. I alone know….”

fingers. In shaking loose capitals she wrote: The Murderer’s Name is Beatrice Taylor….

“No more china-soldier tricks tonight. I’ve seen to that….”

She began laughing wildly again. Dr. Armstrong strode forward. He raised his hand and struck her a flat blow on the cheek.

I had to stop her laughing.

“Why did I make a hysterical fool of myself? That was a mistake. Keep calm, my girl, keep calm.” After all, she’d always prided herself on her levelheadedness!

Dying? But she wasn’t going to die! The others would die—yes—but not she, Emily Brent.

“The damned fool, he believed every word I said to him. It was easy … I must be careful, though, very careful.”

On the windowpane the bee was buzzing—buzzing…. And then she felt the prick. The bee sting on the side of her neck….

“Oh no, it isn’t coincidence! It’s our murderer’s touch of local colour! He’s a playful beast.

The contents of the suitcase were turned out on the floor. The hypodermic syringe was not there.

Then he recoiled with an oath. The drawer of the bed table was empty.

The hearse is at the door, sir.’ Where did I read that? The girl … I’ll watch the girl. Yes, I’ll watch the girl….”

And then, as she stood there, listening—a cold, clammy hand touched her throat—a wet hand, smelling of the sea….

No more summing up and sending innocent men to death. How Edward Seton would laugh if he were here! God, how he’d laugh!”

Four frightened people were barricaded in until morning.

Then he opened the drawer of the table. He stood there, staring down at the revolver that was inside it….

A purple discoloured face—a hideous drowned face.… Lombard said: “My God! it’s Armstrong.…”

Lombard said: “So that’s the reason for your womanly solicitude! You wanted to pick my pocket.” She nodded.

And of course that was the last line of the rhyme. “He went and hanged himself and then there were None….”

...this is not a final girl trole

She climbed up on the chair, her eyes staring in front of her like a

“But that chair wasn’t found kicked over. It was, like all the other chairs,