The Big Four · Chapters

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Chapter companions for The Big Four by Agatha Christie.

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Chapter 1
The Unexpected Guest
Hastings visits Poirot, who is about to depart for South America on a mysterious commission from Abe Ryland. Before he leaves, a stranger arrives at Poirot's flat in a state of collapse, repeatedly murmuring 'M. Hercule Poirot, 14 Farraway Street.' The man, examined by Dr. Ridgeway, is suffering from shock and exhaustion. When Hastings jokingly suggests calling a story 'The Mystery of the Big Four,' the stranger suddenly awakens and names 'Li Chang Yen,' then delivers a cryptic description of the 'Big Four'—a global criminal organization—before collapsing again. Poirot, realizing the gravity of the situation, abandons his journey at the last moment by jumping off the train.
Chapter 2
II: The Man from the Asylum
Poirot and Hastings return to London after realizing the train diversion was a plot to get Poirot out of the way. They find their guest dead, apparently from natural causes, but Poirot deduces he was gagged and poisoned with prussic acid. A man claiming to be an asylum keeper arrives to identify the dead man as an escaped patient, but later Poirot learns no escape occurred. Japp identifies the victim as Mayerling, a Secret Service agent who disappeared in Russia five years ago. Poirot concludes the killer is Number Four, the destroyer, and that the Big Four have begun a duel to the death.
Chapter 3
We Hear More About Li Chang Yen
A week after the fake asylum attendant's visit, Hastings hopes the man will return, but Poirot dismisses the idea. The inquest results in a verdict of accidental death. Poirot then takes Hastings to visit Mr. John Ingles, a retired Civil Servant with deep knowledge of Chinese underground life. Ingles reveals that Li Chang Yen is a mastermind behind global unrest, controlling revolutions and using scientific weapons. He describes how four men who opposed Li Chang Yen died mysteriously. Ingles also shares a letter from a man named Jonathan Whalley, who claims to be hiding from 'The Big Four,' prompting Poirot to immediately set out for Dartmoor.
Chapter 4
IV: The Importance of a Leg of Mutton
Poirot and Hastings, accompanied by Ingles, investigate the murder of Mr. Whalley at Granite Bungalow. Poirot examines the scene, noting footprints and bloodstains, and deduces that the murderer was a youngish man who arrived by trap, not Robert Grant. He discovers a frozen leg of mutton in the larder, which proves that someone had visited the bungalow that morning, contradicting witness statements. Poirot later interviews Grant and secures his release, revealing the murderer's clever use of the frozen meat to avoid suspicion.
Chapter 5
V: Disappearance of a Scientist
After the trial of Robert Grant, Poirot and Hastings receive a visit from Inspector Japp and Captain Kent of the US Secret Service, who reveal that a scientist named Halliday has disappeared in Paris. Halliday was working on a powerful wireless energy device that the Big Four may have used to sink American naval vessels. Poirot agrees to investigate and visits Mrs. Halliday, who confirms her husband vanished after a trip to Paris, leaving behind only a small suitcase. Poirot decides to go to Paris to find the truth.

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The Unexpected Guest

II: The Man from the Asylum

We Hear More About Li Chang Yen

IV: The Importance of a Leg of Mutton

V: Disappearance of a Scientist