All is revealed

[wellinghall]

"Observe, Hastings! First, there were many leaks from the water pipes on the dirigible; this we know from the good, if somewhat lecherous, Dowager Duchess, and also from the young man we met at the Hare and Hounds in Alexandra Palace.

"Second, the weather on that trip was very cold; literally freezing, as the Duchess said.

"And what do you get when you have leaking pipes and freezing weather?"

*************

"Well, ice, I suppose."

*************

"Bravo, Hastings! Your little grey cells are working well this evening.

"Third, there were pipes for the ballast water above the false ceilings of the cabins. Again, the young man told us this.

"So, suppose there was a leak from one of these water pipes, with the water coming out drip by drip, and freezing as it did so. An icicle would form below the pipe. And then, as the dirigible lurched upward, the icicle was dislodged, and fell into the cabin below ... straight into the chest of pauvre Mr Habbakuk Jepherson. And then, on the descent to warmer airs, the icicle melted ... leaving nothing but the damp patch on Mr Jepherson's clothes, noted by the Times."

**************

"But Poirot, what about the leak? Wouldn't the water start to come out again when the dirigible descended?"

**************

"No, Hastings, it would not; for the simple reason that there was no water left; all of the ballast had been discharged.

"It was merely a series of unfortunate events. One fears that the Vinland and Norumbega Rail Road's business will take some time to recover; indeed, their stock price has fallen since the accident, while that of the Polar & Occidental steam ship company, and of the Cambridge, United Norfolk, Aldeburgh, Rendlesham and Dunwich transport company, has risen markedly."

*************

"But Poirot, I've got stock in the VNRR!"

**************

"Really, mon ami? Then it is fortunate that I have stock in the Polar & Occidental, as that means I can afford to buy you dinner at Le Bon Bourgeois. And I think it is one of the evenings when your favourite red-headed waitress will be working there ... "

Comments

[bunn.livejournal.com]

'"But Poirot, I've got stock in the VNRR!"'

... of course he would. Of course he would.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

But of course!

[heliopausa.livejournal.com]

:D

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Aha - I thought this might be the cause of death!

I have really enjoyed this.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-)

[heliopausa.livejournal.com]

:) Good one!
(I think, Poirot notwithstanding, that the VNRR should be held to account for culpable negligence!)

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thank you :-)

(And yes, I think they should be; and now, they would be).

[hhimring]

A sad object lesson on the short-sightedness of some corporate policies.
But at least, there will be dinner--for Hastings at any rate!

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Indeed ... and, indeed! :-)