题词

My Dear James,

You have always been one of the most faithful and kindly of my readers, and I was therefore seriously perturbed when I received from you a word of criticism.

You complained that my murders were getting too refined-anaemic, in fact. You yearned for a "good violent murder with lots of blood." A murder where there was no doubt it's being murder!

So this is your special story-written for you. I hope it my please.

Your affectionate sister in law,Agatha

我亲爱的詹姆斯：

你一直是我最忠实最宽容的读者之一，正因为这样，当我受到你一点儿批评，我就为此感到极大的不安。

你抱怨说我的谋杀事件变得太文雅了，事实上是太贫血了。称渴望一件“血淋淋的暴力谋杀”，一件不容质疑的谋杀案：

这就是特别为你而作的故事。我希望它能让你满意。

你挚爱的嫂子 阿加莎

（此处“嫂子”应为“小姨”，为翻译的误译；詹姆斯是阿加莎·克里斯蒂的姐夫）