Murder on the Orient Express CHAPTER 7 – extract – www.onyourmarks.org The Body Followed by Dr. Constantine, Poirot made his way to the compartment of the murdered man. “Brrr,” observed Poirot. Poirot examined the window carefully. “Possibly the open window was intended to suggest that somebody left the carriage this way. Criminals do not make mistakes of that kind nowadays (1).” “The body is not pretty,” he said. “Someone must have stood there and stabbed again and again. How many wounds are there exactly?” “I make it twelve. One or two slight (2). On the other hand, at least (3) three would be capable of causing death. Great strength (4) was needed for those blows (5). They could not have been delivered by a woman.” They looked round them : Ratchett’s day clothing...an ashtray (6) containing the butt of a cigar and charred (7) fragments of paper. Poirot’s eyes looked round. Nothing could escape their scrutiny. He picked up something from the floor. It was a small piece of cambric (8) with an embroidered initial – H. “A woman’s handkerchief,” said the doctor. “There is a woman concerned in this.” Poirot also found a pipe-cleaner on the floor and a gold watch saying a quarter past one. “One cannot complain (9) of having no clues in this case. There are clues here in abundance! How many women are there in this coach?” “Six, Monsieur. The old American lady (…………………), a Swedish lady (…………………..), the young English lady (…………………) , the Countess Andrenyi and Madame la Princesse Dragomiroff and her maid (…………………)”. NOTES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1) nowadays : de nos jours (3) at least : au moins (5) blow : coup (7) charred : carbonisé (9) complain of : se plaindre de

(2) slight : léger, superficiel (4) strength : force (6) ashtray : cendrier (ash : cendre) (8) cambric : une batiste (toile de lin très fine)

Murder on the Orient Express CHAPTER 7 – worksheet – www.onyourmarks.org The Body ACTIVITY 01 - Find the 3 missing names at the end of the extract. ACTIVITY 02 – Choose the right answer 1. Poirot concluded that the killer :  escaped through the window  left the window open by mistake  was still on the train 2. Dr Constantine said :  all the wounds were serious.  a few wounds were serious  the wounds were all slight 3. The Doctor thinks :  the murderer can’t be a man  the murderer can’t be a woman  the murderer was very strong 4. According to Poirot, finding plenty of clues is :  a lucky situation  rather strange and confusing  exceptional 5. Poirot wants to question the ladies about :  the handkerchief  the open window  the charred fragments of paper ACTIVITY 03 - What do you think about the charred fragments of paper? What sort of paper can Mr Ratchett have received before his death? What were they about? ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………