And Then There Were None Chapter 9

Lombard is relieved - they'd been making such a fuss over two unrelated deaths. Armstrong is convinced that Marston didn't commit suicide, and can't believe it was an accident. Blore suggests that Mrs. Rogers ' death might have been an accident, though. When Armstrong was giving her a sedative, perhaps he gave her a bit too much. Armstrong replies that doctors can't make mistakes like that. "Blore said deliberately: 'It wouldn't be the first you've made - if that gramophone record is to be believed!'" Chapter 9, pg. 127 Lombard breaks them up before they can fight, and reminds Blore that he's been accused of a crime as well. Blore gets very defensive, and demands to know why Lombard brought a gun to the Island. Lombard comes clean, admitting that he was sent to the Island to 'keep a lookout' for trouble. The reason he didn't tell everyone earlier is that he thought that the record might be the problem he was sent to solve. Now, however, he's sure that the job was just bait to get him to the Island, just like everyone else. Lombard believes that they're in a trap, set by Mr. Owen, leaving them with only one question - where is he?

The lunch gong rings, and the three men head downstairs to the dining room, where Rogers has lunch prepared. Rogers mentions that there is plenty of food in the larder, so they don't have to worry about supplies. Emily enters, followed by Wargrave. Wargrave looks at Blore, Armstrong, and Lombard, then comments maliciously on their busy day. Vera runs into the dining room, out of breath. Emily mentions that Macarthur hasn't come to lunch yet. Vera tells them that he's down by the sea, and probably couldn't hear the gong. Rogers offers to go get him, but Armstrong interrupts and goes to get Macarthur himself.

They all make awkward small talk around the table. Blore mentions the old man he met on the train, and how he'd predicted the bad weather. Armstrong runs into the room, and before he can say anything, everyone already knows that Macarthur is dead. Some people stay in the house while others go out to move the body. When Rogers checks the dining room again, he's shocked to find that another figure is missing - leaving only seven. Macarthur is laid out in his room, and Armstrong examines the body. Everyone but Rogers meets in the drawing room, and Armstrong announces that Macarthur was murdered, his head smashed in with a life-preserver. Wargrave announces that he can summarize the situation and clear everything up. Since there is no one but the seven of them on the Island, one of them must be the killer!

Wargrave asks anyone if they disagree with his theory. No one does except for Vera, who can't accept it. Wargrave asks if anyone has evidence that points to any of them. Blore tells everyone about Lombard's lie and his gun, and then Lombard gives everyone the same explanation he had before. Wargrave points out that since no one can offer independent proof of their stories, they just have to trust each other's word. After a short argument, Wargrave says that none of them can be excluded based on occupation, social position, or gender. Lombard suggests that Rogers couldn't be the killer. He might have killed his employer, and possibly his wife to cover it up, but he doesn't seem like he would create a grand scheme to kill perfect strangers. Wargrave reminds Lombard that if one of them was the killer, they could have recorded a lie about the crime they supposedly committed - pretend to be an accused murderer to blend in with the rest.

They try to figure out who had the best opportunity to kill Marston and Mrs. Rogers. It is agreed that anyone could have poisoned Marston's drink, and had someone come up to Mrs. Rogers room and told her the doctor had sent up some more medicine, she would have drunk it, regardless of what it was - meaning that everyone is still a suspect.

Everyone is still a suspect in Macarthur's killing, as well. After a short questioning, Wargrave discovers that no person was in sight of other people for the entire morning, so at any time one of them could have snuck off and killed Macarthur. Wargrave then sums up the situation. One of the seven of them is the killer. Since they have no evidence of who it might be, all they can do is try to contact the mainland, and keep themselves as safe as possible - now that they know that the killer is one of the them, they'll have to be extremely careful around each other.

Topic Tracking: Trust and Suspicion 6
Topic Tracking: Trust and Suspicion 7
Topic Tracking: Clues 4