# The Big Four — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Big Four by Agatha Christie.

- [The Unexpected Guest](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/i-the-unexpected-guest.md): Hastings visits Poirot, who is about to depart for South America on a mysterious commission from Abe Ryland. Before he leaves, a stranger arrives at Poirot's flat in a state of collapse, repeatedly murmuring 'M. Hercule 
- [II: The Man from the Asylum](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/ii-the-man-from-the-asylum.md): Poirot and Hastings return to London after realizing the train diversion was a plot to get Poirot out of the way. They find their guest dead, apparently from natural causes, but Poirot deduces he was gagged and poisoned 
- [We Hear More About Li Chang Yen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/iii-we-hear-more-about-li-chang-yen.md): A week after the fake asylum attendant's visit, Hastings hopes the man will return, but Poirot dismisses the idea. The inquest results in a verdict of accidental death. Poirot then takes Hastings to visit Mr. John Ingles
- [IV: The Importance of a Leg of Mutton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/iv-the-importance-of-a-leg-of-mutton.md): Poirot and Hastings, accompanied by Ingles, investigate the murder of Mr. Whalley at Granite Bungalow. Poirot examines the scene, noting footprints and bloodstains, and deduces that the murderer was a youngish man who ar
- [V: Disappearance of a Scientist](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/v-disappearance-of-a-scientist.md): After the trial of Robert Grant, Poirot and Hastings receive a visit from Inspector Japp and Captain Kent of the US Secret Service, who reveal that a scientist named Halliday has disappeared in Paris. Halliday was workin
- [The Woman on the Stairs](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/vi-the-woman-on-the-stairs.md): Poirot and Hastings travel to Paris to investigate the disappearance of John Halliday. They interview Professor Bourgoneau and Madame Olivier, who confirms Halliday discussed his scientific work with her. Poirot notices 
- [VII: The Radium Thieves](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/vii-the-radium-thieves.md): After Halliday's release, Poirot and Hastings remain in Paris. A mysterious visitor attempts to bribe Poirot to abandon his pursuit of the Big Four, but Poirot sees through the ruse. They then visit Madame Olivier, who r
- [In the House of the Enemy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/viii-in-the-house-of-the-enemy.md): Hastings, under the alias Major Neville, infiltrates the household of Abe Ryland, whom Poirot suspects of being Number Two of the Big Four. He discovers that Ryland receives letters marked with a '4' and flies into a rag
- [IX: The Yellow Jasmine Mystery](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/ix-the-yellow-jasmine-mystery.md): Hastings expresses frustration over the lack of tangible progress against the Big Four, while Poirot remains confident. They travel to Market Handford to investigate the death of Mr. Paynter, initially thought to be an a
- [X: We Investigate at Croftlands](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/x-we-investigate-at-croftlands.md): Poirot and Hastings join Inspector Japp at Croftlands to investigate the death of Mr. Paynter. The scene is ambiguous—possible accident or murder—with a locked room, a drugged curry, and a missing manuscript titled 'The 
- [XI: A Chess Problem](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xi-a-chess-problem.md): Poirot and Hastings dine with Inspector Japp, who discusses the mysterious death of American chess champion Gilmour Wilson during a match against Dr. Savaronoff. Poirot deduces that Wilson was electrocuted via a rigged c
- [The Baited Trap](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xii-the-baited-trap.md): Hastings receives a telegram that his wife Cinderella has been kidnapped by the Big Four. A note from the gang orders him to follow a Chinese messenger without leaving word for Poirot, on pain of his wife's safety. Hasti
- [The Mouse Walks In](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xiii-the-mouse-walks-in.md): Hastings is captured by the Big Four and forced to write a letter luring Poirot into a trap, with the threat of his wife's torture as leverage. He attempts to warn Poirot through coded signs (four books, coal arrangement
- [XIV: The Peroxide Blonde](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xiv-the-peroxide-blonde.md): Poirot and Hastings investigate the Chinatown premises after a gas bomb attack, finding only character notes about themselves. Poirot deduces that Number Four is an actor. They meet Flossie Monro, who gives them a photog
- [XV: The Terrible Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xv-the-terrible-catastrophe.md): Poirot reveals the existence of the Big Four to the Home Secretary and the French Premier, detailing their identities and aims. Despite skepticism, he warns of the threat and prepares for his own death. Later, a bomb dis
- [The Dying Chinaman](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xvi-the-dying-chinaman.md): Hastings, reeling from Poirot's apparent death, is consumed with guilt and a desire for vengeance against the Big Four. Despite warnings from Dr. Ridgeway and the Home Secretary to return to South America, he resolves to
- [Number Four Wins a Trick](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xvii-number-four-wins-a-trick.md): Poirot and Hastings, in hiding in the Ardennes, await news of the Big Four. Poirot reveals his plan to gather all four members together for a final strike. Hastings recounts the dying message from Ingles's servant, which
- [In the Felsenlabyrynth](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-felsenlabyrynth.md): Hastings and Poirot (actually Achille Poirot in disguise) are captured by Number Four and brought to the underground headquarters of the Big Four, where they confront Ryland, Madame Olivier, and the absent Li Chang Yen. 

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters