The Big Four Trivia Quiz

Answer: Two years

Captain Hastings has returned to London, after some time in the Argentine. His wife, 'Cinderella' is still at the ranch. Poirot is delighted to see him, but says he is on his way to Rio. Abe Ryland, the soap king, wants him to investigate some dodgy dealings in a company. Just as Poirot prepares to leave, a stranger enters the room.

He is obviously not well. He tells Poirot of 'The Big Four'. A Chinaman, Li Chang Yen, is 'Number One'; he is the brains of the gang. 'Number Two' seems to be an American, while 'Number Three' is a woman, nationality French. Poirot and Hastings leave the man in the flat and leave for the train.

But during the journey, Poirot says he was being got out of the way. When they return to the flat, they find the stranger dead.

They telephone the police. A keeper from the asylum comes to see the dead man and says that the man escaped from the asylum the previous night. When their friend, Inspector Japp, comes, he identifies the stranger as Maylering, a Secret Service man.

He disappeared five years ago, was last heard of in Russia. Maylering was gagged then poisoned with prussic acid. The clock in the room has stopped at four o' clock. But Poirot says the clock shouldn't have stopped, it has been tampered with. When Poirot telephones the asylum, he learns that there has been no escape. The asylum keeper, who came to see them, was 'Number Four'. Next time, 'Number Four' will look completely different. This is a challenge for Poirot - to defeat 'The Big Four'.

Answer: Dartmoor

Poirot and Hastings go to see John Ingles. He knows a lot about China. Ingles also knows quite a lot about Li Chang Yen, and tells Poirot all he knows. He shows Poirot a letter, from a man he knows slightly, a Jonathan Whalley. Whalley begs Ingles for money, and says he is in danger.

The three men travel to Dartmoor, to see Whalley. But when they get there, he is dead - his throat was cut. Some jade figures have disappeared too, and been found in Whalley's manservant's bedroom. Robert Grant, the manservant, is a former convict; his real name is Abraham Biggs. Grant has been arrested. Poirot is interested by a joint of meat in the larder.

The joint of meat still had ice on it, which proved it had been delivered that morning. Poirot says 'Number Four' disguised himself as a butcher.

He then killed Jonathan Whalley. Nobody would notice blood on a butcher, or a butcher delivering meat. It is later revealed that Poirot is quite correct, and Grant is released.

Answer: Paris

Inspector Japp introduces Poirot and Hastings to a Captain Kent, a Secret Service man, from America. Mr Halliday went to Paris to meet Madame Olivier, the famous French chemist. Japp thinks nothing of the disappearence but Poirot reminds him that 'Number Three' is a Frenchwoman. Poirot and Hastings travel to Paris after first meeting Mrs Halliday.

Answer: Diamond robbery

Her real identity is the Countess Vera Rossakoff. Poirot and Hastings investigate the crime in 'The Double Clue', a short story. Rossakoff is the only woman Poirot really loved. Poirot says 'The Big Four' kidnapped Mr Halliday. They go to see Inez Veroneau, and Poirot tells her that he knows she is working for 'The Big Four'. Mr Halliday must be released. Mr Halliday is brought to Poirot's hotel - he is safe but not well.

He can tell them nothing about 'The Big Four'. He is too frightened to, in case they harm his wife. Madame Olivier's laboratory was broken into; the thieves were trying to steal some radium she uses for her experiments. Poirot and Hastings pretend to return to England, but instead they lie in wait for the thieves.

It is revealed that Madame Olivier is 'Number Three'. Poirot says it is no use telling the French police, they would not be believed.

Answer: Savoy

Hastings uses the name Major Arthur Neville. Abe Ryland has been receiving mysterious letters in blue envelopes, and with a number four in the corner. Hastings follows Ryland to a disused quarry and discovers it is a trap for him and Poirot. Before anything can happen, the police save them. Poirot says Abe Ryland is definitely 'Number Two'.

The footman, who worked for Ryland, is 'Number Four'.

Answer: Curry

Poirot and Hastings investigate the death of a man burnt to death. He was writing a book, about China, and the manuscript has also disappeared. Paynter had complained of feeling unwell, so a locum Doctor gave him an injection shortly before he died. Before Mr Paynter died, he wrote the words 'Yellow Jasmine' and what looked like the number four.

Answer: Artist

It is revealed that 'Number Four' was the locum Doctor. He injected Mr Paynter with a poisonous dose of jasmine. There is gelsemium in jasmine, which is a powerful depressant to the central nervous system. Paynter died, but not before writing those words. The Doctor then burnt Mr Paynter's body in the gas oven.

Answer: White bishop

Poirot discovers that the chess table the game was played on was electrified, and there was a piece of metal in the white bishop. Wilson was electrocuted, and did not die of heart failure, as presumed. Doctor Savaronoff lived with his niece, Sonia Daviloff, and has recently inherited a fortune. Sonia will inherit on her Uncle's death.

The Doctor had not seen Sonia for years. Doctor Savaronoff is revealed to be 'Number Four'; he was only pretending to be a chess master.

Answer: Books

Hastings is led to a house, in Chinatown. It is, of course, a trap - 'The Big Four' want Hastings to write a letter to Poirot, to entice him to the house. Poirot comes to the house, but with a hidden bomb of poison gas. He manages to rescue Hastings. Poirot says that Cinderella is quite safe; she was never kidnapped. She has been in a place of safety for months.

Answer: Bread

Poirot has narrowed down the identity of Number four to four men - Claud Darrell, Austen Lee, Ernest Luttrell, John St. Maur. All four men have been actors on stage at some time. This is why 'Number Four' is so good at becoming other people. Poirot's friend, the theatrical agent Joseph Aarons, has found out about the four men and advertisements, for information, have been put in newspapers. Miss Monro's information excites Poirot; it might help them identify 'Number Four'. Miss Monro promises to send Poirot a photo of 'Claudie.

However, before she can do so, she is killed when a car fails to stop. Her flat has also been ransacked when Poirot and Hastings go there. There is an empty photo frame with a price tag on the back, of four shillings. Yet again, 'Number Four' has got there before them.

Answer: Spa

Poirot meets the Home Secretary, Sydney Crowther, and the French Premier, Monsieur Desjardeaux. Their friend, John Ingles, is also in attendance. Ingles is going to China soon. Poirot says his twin brother is very much like him, but with no moustache.

Answer: Matches

A nurse comes to see Poirot. She is attending to a Mr Templeton, and he seems to being poisoned. Mt Templeton's younger wife is rumoured to be having an affair with Mr Templeton's doctor. Mr Templeton also has a son, Micky, who is a bit 'wanting'. Poirot and Hastings go to the Templetons to investigate.

After dinner they make their escape. Poirot noticed that Micky Templeton was playing with his bread. He is 'Number Four'. Poirot is suspicious, when they return to their flat. Too late, Hastings picks up a box of matches, which are out of place.

There is an explosion, and he awakes in Doctor Ridgeway's home. The explosion killed Poirot.

Answer: S.S. Shanghai

All the other names appear in Christie novels. Mr Ingles is reported to have disappeared, and his Chinese servant is stabbed in London. Before the Chinese died, he managed to say some curious words to Hastings. Hastings also gets two warnings from 'The Big Four'.

He gets a letter from Poirot's solicitors, containing a letter from Poirot, written before his death. Poirot encourages Hastings to return to Argentina. As Hastings sails for Argentina, in the middle of the trip, to his surprise, he is made to board a destroyer boat.

The boat takes him to Belgium, to a deserted villa. There, waiting for him, is Poirot! He only pretended to be dead, to fool 'The Big Four'.

Answer: Italy

Poirot and Hastings go to Karersee, in the Italian Tyrol. Around it are mountains. Poirot and Hastings lunch in the hotel, and startle one particular guest, who is playing with his bread. Yet another disguise of 'Number Four'. He was not expecting to see Poirot; he thought he was dead. Poirot and Hastings are gagged and kidnapped.

Answer: True

Poirot and Hastings are led inside the mountains, and there they meet 'The Big Four' members - Abe Ryland, Madame Olivier and 'Number Four'. Li Chang Yen is not there. Poirot says that he is not Hercule Poirot - he is really Hercule's twin brother, Achille. Poirot persuades the Countess Rossacoff to help them to escape.

He promises to tell her where her son is, whom she believes is dead. There is some sort of an explosion, as Hastings and Poirot escape the mountain. Hastings awakes in a strange bed, and Poirot beside him.

Hecule Poirot tells him that Achille was him all the time, not only 'Number Four' can act. Achille was created to confuse 'The Big Four'. The members of 'The Big Four' all died in the explosion and Li Chang Yen committed suicide in China.

The Countess Rossacoff has also escaped, unharmed. 'The Big Four' have finally been defeated. Look out for more Christie quizzes soon!