# II: The Man from the Asylum explained — The Big Four

> Chapter companion for The Big Four by Agatha Christie.

## What happens

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 with prussic acid. A man claiming to be an asylum keeper arrives to identify the dead man as an escaped patient, but later Poirot learns no escape occurred. Japp identifies the victim as Mayerling, a Secret Service agent who disappeared in Russia five years ago. Poirot concludes the killer is Number Four, the destroyer, and that the Big Four have begun a duel to the death.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Disguise

The fake asylum keeper and the plot to divert Poirot highlight the theme of deception.

### Global Criminal Conspiracy

The Big Four, comprising a Chinaman, an American, a Frenchwoman, and another, represent an international criminal organization.

## Character check-ins

### Hercule Poirot

Deduces the train diversion was a plot to get him out of the way; investigates the murder of Mayerling; realizes the killer is Number Four.

### Captain Hastings

Accompanies Poirot back to London; assists in the investigation; observes the clues.

### Inspector Japp

Called by Poirot to identify the dead man; recognizes him as Mayerling, a former Secret Service agent.

### Mayerling

The victim; a Secret Service agent who disappeared in Russia five years ago; found dead in Poirot's rooms.

### Number Four

Implied to be the murderer; disguised as an asylum keeper; referred to as 'the destroyer'.

## Key lines

> You do not see? No more did I. But I see now. Hastings, I was being got out of the way.

Poirot realizes the train diversion was a deliberate attempt to remove him from the scene.

_Poirot's deduction about the plot against him._

> He has been gagged, Hastings. Gagged and then poisoned.

Poirot discovers the victim was silenced and killed with poison.

_Key forensic observation by Poirot._

> There has been no escape.

The asylum confirms no patient escaped, revealing the keeper was an impostor.

_Pivotal revelation that the killer was disguised._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/ii-the-man-from-the-asylum
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters