"It seems a bad joke, no?
I am going to Rio de Janeiro and every day I say to myself, I will write nothing in my letters - but oh! the surprise of the good Hastings when he beholds me!" "But when are you going?"
Poirot looked at his watch.
"In an hour's time."
"I thought you always said nothing would induce you to make a long sea voyage?"
Poirot closed his eyes and shuddered.
"Speak not of it to me, my friend.
My doctor, he assures me that one dies not of it - and it is for the one time only; you understand, that never - never shall I return."
He pushed me into a chair.
"Come, I will tell you how it all came about.
Do you know who is the richest man in the world?
Richer even than Rockefeller?
Abe Ryland."
"The American Soap King?"
"Precisely.
One of his secretaries approached me.
There is some very considerable, as you would call it, hocus-pocus going on in connection with a big company in Rio.
He wished me to investigate matters on the spot.
I refused.
I told him that if the facts were laid before me, I would give him my expert opinion.
But that he professed himself unable to do.
I was to be put in possession of the facts only on my arrival out there.
Normally, that would have closed the matter.
To dictate to Hercule Poirot is sheer impertinence.
But the sum offered was so stupendous, that for the first time in my life I was tempted by mere money. It was a competence - a fortune! And there was a second attraction - you, my friend.
For this last year and a half I have been a very lonely old man.
I thought to myself. Why not?
I am beginning to weary of this unending solving of foolish problems.
I have achieved sufficient fame.
Let me take this money and settle down somewhere near my old friend."
I was quite affected by this token of Poirot's regard.
"So I accepted," he continued, "and in an hour's time I must leave to catch the boat train.
One of life's little ironies, is it not?
But I will admit to you, Hastings, that had not the money offered been so big, I might have hesitated, for just lately I have begun a little investigation of my own.
Tell me, what is commonly meant by the phrase,
'The Big Four'?"
"I suppose it had its origin at the Versailles Conference, and then there's the famous 'Big Four' in the film world, and the term is used by hosts of smaller fry."
"I see," said Poirot thoughtfully. "I have come across the phrase, you understand, under certain circumstances where none of those explanations would apply.
It seems to refer to a gang of international criminals or something of that kind; only -"
"Only what?" I asked, as he hesitated.
"Only that I fancy that it is something on a large scale.
Just a little idea of mine, nothing more.
Ah, but I must complete my packing.
The time advances."
"Don't go," I urged. "Cancel your passage and come out on the same boat with me."
Poirot drew himself up and glanced at me reproachfully.
"Ah, it is that you do not understand!
I have passed my word, you comprehend - the word of Hercule Poirot.
Nothing but a matter of life or death could detain me now."
"And that's not likely to occur," I murmured ruefully. "Unless at the eleventh hour 'the door opens and the unexpected guest comes in.'" I quoted the old saying with a slight laugh, and then, in the pause that succeeded it, we both started as a sound came from the inner room.