Three Character Girl

General Forbes

Well, would he behave like this to a beaded vendor?" Ellie refutes Commissioner Saga's opinion.

"Maybe he doesn't know who it is. Maybe the killer knocked on the door - he stood up and opened the door - and he forced his way in and killed him." Commissioner Saga shook his head.

"Quite the contrary. He lay quietly when he was stabbed." Miss Henderson looked at Commissioner Saga deeply. "What do you think?" ellie asked suddenly, Commissioner Saga smiled.

"It seems he knows the person he's allowed in...."

"You mean?" Miss Henderson cut. His voice sounds a little harsh. "The killer was the passenger of this ship?" Commissioner Saga nodded.

"It looks so." "And those strands of beads on the floor were just a trick to mislead?"

"Component."

"Also what was stolen?"

"Fright." Silent moment. Then Miss Henderson said slowly,

"I think Mrs Clapperton was very unpleasant and I'm not sure anyone on this ship liked her - but nobody had a reason for that

"Except her husband, maybe" said Commissioner Saga. "You don't really think - "

Ellie didn't finish the sentence. "Everyone on this ship thinks Colonel Clapperton is innocent of 'tapping the woman'. I guess this is the phrase used." Ellie Henderson looked at him - waiting.

Ben"but I must say," Commissioner Saga continued, "that I myself do not see any sign of aggravation in that good Colonel. After all - this is more important - it has an alibi. All day he went with the two girls and only returned to the ship at 16:00. At that time Mrs Clapperton had already been dead a few hours." Just be quiet for a minute. Ellie Henderson said softly,

"But, you still argue - one of the passengers?" Commissioner Saga assented.

Suddenly Ellie laughed - a haphazardly defiant laugh.

Ma

"Your theory may be hard to prove, M. Commissioner Saga. There are so many passengers on this ship." Commissioner Saga

"I borrowed the term used in your detective stories, 'I have my own way, Watson.The next day, at dinner time, everyone on board found the type of leaflet bowing to him. on their respective plates, the contents of which invite them to present in the main sitting room at 20:30. When all had gathered, the captain of the ship advanced to the stage which was usually used for orchestral group stage and welcomed them.

"Gentlemen and ladies, you all know the tragedy that happened yesterday. I believe you're willing to work together to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice." He stopped and cleared. "On this ship we are with M. Hercule Commissioner Saga who you might know as a person with extensive experience in - uh - things like this. I hope you listen carefully to what he has to say." It was exactly at that moment that Colonel Clapperton, who had not appeared at dinner time, appeared and sat down next to General Forbes. He looked like a confused person in sadness - not at all seen as a man who was relieved to be free from his wife. Either because he was a brilliant actor or because he really liked his unpleasant wife. "Please, M. Hercule Commissioner Saga," said the captain, then went down. Commissioner Saga took his place. His confident appearance seemed laughable as he looked at his audience.

Hghy "Gentlemen and Ladies," he said, opening his voice. "You are so kind to listen to me. The Honorable Captain has said that I have experience in such matters. Indeed, I have little idea of how to uncover this matter." He beckoned and a steward came forward to give him a huge shapeless object wrapped in sheets.

"What I'm going to do is probably a bit of a surprise to you" Commissioner Saga warned

"You can think of me as eccentric, perhaps not sane. Nevertheless, I assure you that behind my insanity there is - as you the British say - a method."

"Gentlemen and ladies, here I have the primary witness of who killed Mrs Clapperton." He deftly removed the last covering cloth so that the thing he was hiding was visible - a wooden puppet approaching the size of a human, wearing a velvet suit and lace collar.

"Well, Arthur," said Commissioner Saga, his voice changed imperceptibly - no longer foreign - instead the exact tone of a slightly Cockney-accented Englishman.

"Can you tell me - I repeat - can you tell me - anything about Mrs Clapperton's death?" The doll's neck swayed a little. Her lower jaw made of wood twitched and the sharp voice of the woman again high said

, "What's up, John" The door's locked. I don't want to be disturbed by the waiter..." There was a scream - a chair upside down - a man standing staggered, his hand holding his throat - trying to speak - trying... Then, suddenly, he fell to the floor. Heads slammed. That man is Colonel Clapperton.

***

Commissioner Saga and the ship's doctor got up after squatting near the helpless body.

"No already. Heart attack" the doctor said briefly. Commissioner Saga nodded.

"Surprised because his wits were exposed" he added. Commissioner Saga looks over to General Forbes

. "General, you are the one who gave the precious clue by calling the stage of the art building. I was confused thinking - and the idea came up. Suppose before the war Clapperton was a ventriloquist... If so, maybe once three people heard Mrs Clapperton talking from inside her cabin when she was actually dead..." Ellie Henderson was next to him. Both of his eyes were dark and full of sadness.

"Don't you know that his heart is weak?" tanyakanya.

"I guess that's what it is... Ms. Clapperton told me that her own heart was weak, but she impressed me as the type of woman who likes to be considered sick. Then I picked up a recipe tear that contained high doses of digitalin. Digitalin is a heart drug, but definitely not for Mrs Clapperton because it makes the pupils dilate. I didn't see any of these symptoms in Mrs Clapperton's eyes - but when I looked into the Colonel's eyes, I saw them." Ellie muttering.

"So you've figured - this thing will end - like this?"

"Best street. Don't you think so, Mademoiselle?" ask Commissioner Saga softly. Tears rose in both of the women's eyes.

"You know," said Miss Ellie Henderson

, "You know from the beginning that I paid attention... But he didn't do it for me.... Those two girls - who were young - made her realize her slavery. He wanted to be free before it was too late.... Yeah, I believe that's the problem... When do you think he's the killer?"

"His self-control is overreaching" said Commissioner Saga modestly. "Even though his wife's attitude was painful, she never seemed to be offended. Meaning he was so used to such treatment that it was no longer heartache, or - uh bien - I believe there was another reason....

"Then, it seems that he was determined to show his ability to play magic - the night before the crime occurred he pretended to reveal his secret. People like Clapperton never reveal their personal secrets. There must be a reason. As long as people think he's a magician, they won't think he's actually a ventriloquist." "And the voice we heard earlier - that of Mrs Clapperton?"

"One of the flight attendants had a voice similar to that of Mrs Clapperton. I persuaded him to hide backstage and teach him the words he had to say."

"That's a ruse - a cruel hoax," Ellie shouted.

"I don't approve of murder" Commissioner Saga said.