But on the other hand, I am the law! As a young man in the Belgian police force I shot down a desperate criminal who sat on a roof and fired at people below. In a state of emergency martial law is proclaimed.

By taking Norton's life, I have saved other lives — innocent lives. But still I do not know ... It is perhaps right that I should not know. I have always been so sure —

too sure ...

But now I am very humble and I say like a little child: "I do not know ..." Good-bye, cher ami. I have moved the amyl nitrite ampoules away from beside my bed. I prefer to leave myself in the hands of the bon Dieu. May his punishment, or his mercy, be swift!

We shall not hunt together again, my friend. Our first hunt was here — and our last ...

They were good days.

Yes, they have been good days... .

End of Hercule Poirot's manuscript

(Final note by Captain Arthur Hastings:

I have finished reading ... I can't believe it all yet... But he is right. I should have known. I should have known when I saw the bullet hole so symmetrically in the middle of the forehead.

Queer — it's just come to me — the thought in the back of my mind that morning. The mark on Norton's forehead — it was like the brand of Cain...).