[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Epigraph

Ten little soldier boys went out to dine;

One choked his little self and then there were Nine.

Nine little soldier boys sat up very late;

One overslept himself and then there were Eight.

Eight little soldier boys travelling in Devon;

One said he’d stay there and then there were Seven.

Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks;

One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six.

Six little soldier boys playing with a hive;

A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five.

Five little soldier boys going in for law;

One got in Chancery and then there were Four.

Four little soldier boys going out to sea;

A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three.

Three little soldier boys walking in the Zoo;

A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.

Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun;

One got frizzled up and then there was One.

One little soldier boy left all alone;

He went and hanged himself

And then there were None.

Frank Green, 1869

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] One

I

In the corner of a first-class smoking carriage, Mr. Justice Wargrave, lately retired from the bench, puffed at a cigar and ran an interested eye through the political news in The Times.

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Two

I

Outside Oakbridge station a little group of people stood in momentary uncertainty. Behind them stood porters with suitcases. One of these called, “Jim!”

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Three

I

Dinner was drawing to a close.
The food had been good, the wine perfect. Rogers waited well.

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Four

I

There was a moment’s silence. A silence of dismay and bewilderment. Then the judge’s small clear voice took up the thread once more.

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Five

I

It was so sudden and so unexpected that it took every one’s breath away. They remained stupidly staring at the crumpled figure on the ground.

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Six

I

Dr. Armstrong was dreaming….
It was very hot in the operating room….
Surely they’d got the temperature too high? The sweat was rolling down his face. His hands were clammy. Difficult to hold the scalpel firmly….

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Seven

I

After breakfast, Emily Brent had suggested to Vera Claythorne that they should walk to the summit again and watch for the boat. Vera had acquiesced.

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Eight

I

Blore was easily roped in. He expressed immediate agreement with their arguments.

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Nine

I

Lombard said slowly:

“So we’ve been wrong—wrong all along! Built up a nightmare of superstition and fantasy all because of the coincidence of two deaths!”

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Ten

I

Do you believe it?” Vera asked.
She and Philip Lombard sat on the windowsill of the living room. Outside the rain poured down and the wind howled in great shuddering gusts against the windowpanes.

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Eleven

I

Philip Lombard had the habit of waking at daybreak. He did so on this particular morning. He raised himself on an elbow and listened. The wind had somewhat abated but was still blowing. He could hear no sound of rain….

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Twelve

I

The meal was over.
Mr. Justice Wargrave cleared his throat. He said in a small authoritative voice:
“It would be advisable, I think, if we met to discuss the situation. Shall we say in half an hour’s time in the drawing room?”

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Thirteen

I

One of us … One of us … One of us….”
Three words, endlessly repeated, dinning themselves hour after hour into receptive brains.

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Fourteen

I

They had carried Mr. Justice Wargrave up to his room and laid him on the bed.
Then they had come down again and had stood in the hall looking at each other.

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Fifteen

I

Three people sat eating breakfast in the kitchen.
Outside, the sun shone. It was a lovely day. The storm was a thing of the past.

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[And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie] Sixteen

I

Aeons passed … worlds spun and whirled … Time was motionless … It stood still—it passed through a thousand ages….

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[And Then There Were None -Agatha Christie] Epilogue

Sir Thomas Legge, Assistant Commissioner at Scotland Yard, said irritably:

“But the whole thing’s incredible!”

Inspector Maine said respectfully:

“I know, sir.”

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