IV. Speech Exercises

Name all the characters introduced by the author. Say a few words about each of them.

State whose utterances these are, what preceded or followed them. Recount the circumstances under which they are used in the story. Think under what circumstances you would say the same.

1. " You would have liked to cross swords with the man who sneaked the Liberty Bonds".

2. " Mr. Vanvasour, joint general manager of the London and Scottish Bank".

3. " I hope Monsieur Poirot will be able to throw some light on this extraordinary puzzle".

4. " They are such stodgy old men".

5. " That last answer is, on the contrary, the coping-stome of my story".

6. " There are criminals in high places sometimes, my friend".

Work in pairs asking each other fact-finding questions. Make use of the Active Vocabulary.

Act out dialogues using the following words and word-combinations between

a) Poirot and Hastings one morning

a number of bond robberies; crossing the Channel; to voyage on one of these big liners; the swim­ming-baths, the lounges, the restaurants, the palm courts - it must be hard to believe that one is on the sea; floating palaces; I always know when I am on the sea; to meet the elite of the criminal world; to cross swords with the man who sneaked the Liberty Bonds;

b) Poirot and Philip Ridgeway

to be able to throw some light on this extraordinary puzzle; to be nearly out of one's mind with worry and anxiety; to put ones' heads together; to hear the story from one's own lips; the thing stared in the face; a duplicate; to force an obviously unforceable lock; the solution will hinge on that curious fact; the ship was gone over with a toothcomb; a bulky package; to make a few inquiries at the Bank.

5. Speak on the following as if you were:

a) Miss Emee Farquar telling her story to Poirot and Hastings

b) Poirot explaining the case to Hastings

V. POST-READING TASKS

1. Comment on the following proverb with the reference to the story. Does the story prove the truth of the proverb?

There's no effect without a cause.

Write a summary of the story making use of the following linking devices.

Firstly, because of, apart from this, according to, it strikes me that, all things considered, personally I believe that, not to mention the fact that, in conclusion.

VI. TALKING POINT

Confirm or disprove the following quotation. Cite examples to support your argument.

There are criminals in high places.

UNIT 3