This document contains excerpts from works by Agatha Christie, including definitions of words and passages translated to French. It discusses the disappearance of a girl named Winnie on a train from London to Paris, and includes dialogue between characters speculating on what may have happened to her. The police search the train but find no trace of Winnie, who seems to have vanished into thin air.

1. The Girdle of HippolytaThe Girdle of Hippolyta
by Agatha Christieby Agatha Christie

2. Tongue TwistersTongue Twisters
Do you knowDo you know Winnie KingWinnie King??
Do I? Yes! Sure thing!Do I? Yes! Sure thing!
WasWas Hippolyta’s girdleHippolyta’s girdle
Blue, yellow or purple?Blue, yellow or purple?

3. Thirty five CubansThirty five Cubans
Smuggled the RubensSmuggled the Rubens..
AA princessprincess is as old as the princeis as old as the prince
was six weeks ago.was six weeks ago.

4. IsIs HerculesHercules losing weightlosing weight??
Yes, Herculean, Hercules is lean.Yes, Herculean, Hercules is lean.
(Herculean – of extraordinary(Herculean – of extraordinary
power, difficulty; lean – thin)power, difficulty; lean – thin)

5. DefinitionsDefinitions
in broad daylightin broad daylight
admireadmire
masterpiecemasterpiece
SmuggleSmuggle
be on the alertbe on the alert
on the outskirts ofon the outskirts of
searchsearch
kill two birds with one stonekill two birds with one stone
make sensemake sense

6. vanish into thin airvanish into thin air
cloud overcloud over
miraclemiracle
be dopedbe doped
hurthurt
concussionconcussion
hold somebody to ransomhold somebody to ransom
to mix upto mix up
demanddemand
overlapoverlap
kidnapkidnap

7. Give synonyms to the underlinedGive synonyms to the underlined
words:words:
These robberies took placeThese robberies took place when anyonewhen anyone
can see what’s happeningcan see what’s happening and not oneand not one
person has been arrested for them!person has been arrested for them!
II managed to do two things at a timemanaged to do two things at a time andand
saw some old friends while I was insaw some old friends while I was in
Louisiana visiting my parents.Louisiana visiting my parents.

8. HisHis attitudeattitude is not reasonableis not reasonable. Could he. Could he
have said nothing at all?have said nothing at all?
My money gets spent so fast. It seems toMy money gets spent so fast. It seems to
disappear without a tracedisappear without a trace..
At the mention of her dead husband, herAt the mention of her dead husband, her
faceface got gloomygot gloomy..

9. Give antonyms to the underlinedGive antonyms to the underlined
words:words:
He used toHe used to despisedespise rich people a greatrich people a great
deal when he was younger.deal when he was younger.
May I ask his colleague for advice as well?May I ask his colleague for advice as well?
You see, I’m not sure if their dutiesYou see, I’m not sure if their duties are allare all
differentdifferent..
The police found himThe police found him sobersober behind thebehind the
wheel of his neighbor's car.wheel of his neighbor's car.

10. Translate the following:Translate the following:
The Rubens, said Simpson, would beThe Rubens, said Simpson, would be
smuggled over to France where it wouldsmuggled over to France where it would
pass into the millionaire’s possession. Thepass into the millionaire’s possession. The
English and French police were on theEnglish and French police were on the
alert, but Simpson was sure that theyalert, but Simpson was sure that they
would fail.would fail.

11. Then, in company with 18 other girls, sheThen, in company with 18 other girls, she
left London by the boat train. 19 girls hadleft London by the boat train. 19 girls had
crossed the channel, had passed throughcrossed the channel, had passed through
the customs and got into the Paris train.the customs and got into the Paris train.
But when, on the outskirts of Paris MissBut when, on the outskirts of Paris Miss
Burshaw had counted heads, it wasBurshaw had counted heads, it was
discovered that only 18 girls could bediscovered that only 18 girls could be
found!found!

12. ““Was the train searched?”Was the train searched?”
““Oh yes, they searched it before it arrived inOh yes, they searched it before it arrived in
Paris. The girls wasn’t on the train, that’sParis. The girls wasn’t on the train, that’s
quite certain. She just disappeared – intoquite certain. She just disappeared – into
the air! It doesn’t make sense, M. Poirot.the air! It doesn’t make sense, M. Poirot.
It’s crazy!”It’s crazy!”

13. ““Plain-looking kid – but then they are allPlain-looking kid – but then they are all
plain at that age. They grow into beautiesplain at that age. They grow into beauties
overnight – I don’t know how they do it! It’sovernight – I don’t know how they do it! It’s
like a miracle.”like a miracle.”
Poirot smiled. “Women,” he said, “are aPoirot smiled. “Women,” he said, “are a
miracululous sex”miracululous sex”

14. ““Said she’s been doped. Apparently, sheSaid she’s been doped. Apparently, she
can’t remember anything much aftercan’t remember anything much after
starting off from Cranchester. Doctorstarting off from Cranchester. Doctor
thinks she may have had slightthinks she may have had slight
concussion. There’s a bruise on the backconcussion. There’s a bruise on the back
of her head.”of her head.”

15. Both respectable middle-aged men. ABoth respectable middle-aged men. A
young man, James Elliot, and his wiwe –young man, James Elliot, and his wiwe –
flashy piece of goods she was. He’s got aflashy piece of goods she was. He’s got a
bad reputation, suspected by the police ofbad reputation, suspected by the police of
being mixed up in some questionablebeing mixed up in some questionable
affairs – but he has never attemptedaffairs – but he has never attempted
kidnapping.kidnapping.

16. He then demanded to inspect Winnie’sHe then demanded to inspect Winnie’s
trunk which had, of course, arrived heretrunk which had, of course, arrived here
with those of the other girls. I told him thatwith those of the other girls. I told him that
it had already been taken by anotherit had already been taken by another
member of the police. Their departments, Imember of the police. Their departments, I
believe, must overlap. He insisted that Ibelieve, must overlap. He insisted that I
passed over all Winnie’s things to himpassed over all Winnie’s things to him

17. Agatha ChristieAgatha Christie
(15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976)(15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976)