And Then There Were None Chapter 4

Wargrave offers everyone his own letter, and points out that whoever invited them to the island must have known a lot about them, to be able to so easily drop the names of mutual friends - names that the guests would be unable to check for themselves. Wargrave goes on to suggest that since their mysterious host was able to know so much about them, perhaps his accusations had some truth to them.

Rogers, Macarthur , Vera and Marston loudly claim that the idea they'd killed anyone is preposterous. Wargrave quiets them down, and offers his version of the truth behind his accusation. According to him, Seton had murdered an old lady, and after the trial, he had summed up accordingly, and the jury had found Seton guilty. Seton was put to death soon after, and Wargrave announces that his conscience is clear about the entire thing.

Armstrong remembers the case - everyone had thought that Seton was innocent. The verdict had come as a surprise, and it seemed that the Judge had turned the jury against Seton. Armstrong asks Wargrave if he knew Seton before the trial. Wargrave claims to have never heard of him. Armstrong doesn't believe him, though.

Vera offers her own story. She was the governess of a small boy, and one day he went swimming too far at the beach. She tried to rescue him, but it was too late. She'd been cleared by the coroner's inquest. Macarthur also denies any knowledge of wrongdoing. He claims that Richmond was just an officer that was killed on a mission, and that the slur on his wife is ridiculous. Lombard, on the other hand, admits to being guilty. He says that he was leading a party that was lost in the jungle - so he and a few other men grabbed all the food and tried to get out on their own, leaving the tribesmen behind: "Self-preservation's a man's first duty. And natives don't mind dying, you know. They don't feel about it as Europeans do." Chapter 4, pg. 61

Marston suddenly recalls what the Voice had been talking about. He mentions a couple of children he'd run down in his car, but claims that it was an accident. Armstrong accuses him of recklessness, but Marston just shrugs, claiming it wasn't his fault. Marston then goes looking for his glass, finds it, and refills it with another drink.

Rogers claims that he and his wife had been the servants of Miss Brady, who was in terribly poor health. On the night she died, Rogers says he went for a doctor to help her, but there was a bad storm, and they didn't make it back in time. Rogers admits that he and his wife received money in Miss Brady's will, but claim that they had nothing to do with her death. Blore says that he put a crook in jail, and the man happened to die a year later - nothing wrong with that.

Armstrong claims to have no memory of the name. He admits that he's had patients die when he was operating on them, and suggests that sometimes people blame the doctor. Privately, though, he remembers being very drunk and botching an operation - killing a woman on the table. No one ever knew but a Nun, and she must have kept quiet. Armstrong is left wondering how anyone could know.

Everyone looks at Emily, waiting for her story. She claims that she has nothing to say: "There is no question of defence. I have always acted in accordance with the dictates of my conscience. I have nothing with which to reproach myself." Chapter 4, pg. 66

Rogers confirms that there is no one on the island but the ten of them. Wargrave suggests that they all leave, but Rogers informs him that there isn't a boat on the island. Fred Narracott arrives every morning, bringing bread and milk. They'll have to wait until then to leave. Everyone agrees to leave then, except for Marston, who is finding the whole thing rather entertaining. He grins, and says: "The legal life's narrowing! I'm all for crime! Here's to it." Chapter 4, pg. 67

Marston drinks, then begins to choke. His face turns purple, and he falls from his chair.

Topic Tracking: Guilt and Responsibility 5