Death in the Clouds: a Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie (1935) Part 4

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Passengers on the Plane

Seat 2 Madame Giselle

Seat 4 James Ryder

Seat 5 Monsieur Armand Dupont

Seat 6 Monsieur Jean Dupont

Seat 8 Daniel Clancy

Seat 9 Hercule Poirot

Seat 10 Doctor Bryant

Seat 12 Norman Gale

Seat 13 The Countess of Horbury

Seat 16 Jane Grey

Seat 17 The Hon. Venetia Kerr

"It is intersting, how crime affects the lives of people who are quite outside of it," - Hercule Poirot

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Poirot decides to visit Mitchell the steward that discovered Madame Giselle. After speaking with him and his wife, he did not gather much but the same information that he had given the police after the incident. Mitchell suggests that perhaps the other steward might have some information. So Poirot makes a trip to go see Davis. He inquires if he remembers anything. The only thing that was odd, was there were two spoons on Madame Giselle's tea saucer. A superstition that implies a wedding. But he also told Poirot that none of the other folks that drank tea were missing a spoon.

Upon leaving, Poirot decides to see Mr. James Ryder to gain insight from him. The murder has not affected his life at all, only he has come into a small amount of money. As Poirot leaves, Ryder suggests talking to Dr. Hubbard next. Poirot questions him about this as he did not call him Dr. Bryant. Said because of the flute it reminded him of Old Mother Hubbard and his brain put two and two together and called him by the wrong name.

Lady Horbury reads over a letter addressed to her, a gentlemen wrote to her telling her that he possessed papers from the deceased woman and wanted to speak with her about it. Gale speaks with Poirot of his misfortune from this ordeal as it is driving him out of his profession. Lady Horbury goes to visit the gentlemen whom wrote to her, Mr. Robinson. This turns out to be Gale. When she asks for the evidence that he claims to have he insists on payment of ten thousand pounds or he will not show it to her. She claims she does not have that kind of money so she leaves. At Lady Horbury's home, Poirot calls upon her. He gives her some advice. We learn that she went heavily in debt from gambling last year. Lady Horbury had borrowed money from Madame Giselle more than once. The day before the flight she met one of Madame Giselle's assistant's in regards to her loan.

Inspector Japp goes to see Dr. Bryant at his practice. He asks about his knowledge on toxicology and epilepsy but informs him he never specialized in those areas of medicine and is not a specialist in them. Inspector Japp shows Dr. Bryant a list of physicians, Dr. Bryant then he gives his honest opinion on them and who would be able to assist in the case.

Back at Scotland Yard, Inspector Japp and Poirot share notes on the case. Poirot has a theory that "A murder is an action performed to bring about a certain result," meaning there is more than one way to go about something to gain the same result. Still not being able to put any clues together from current events, they think its possible that something in Madame Giselle's past will be the key to the murder.

When people do not tell the truth in the first place it makes things more difficult and requires more questioning. But through this there can be some leads due the repetition, either new information or something that may stand out as its drawn back to it. It appears that some folks lives have not changed or had a minor benefit to the murder. Norman Gale has brought up on numerous occasions as to how this has impacted him tremendously. Dr. Bryant whom is also in the medical field, has not been impacted as Gale has. This is most interesting. Also, what information does he have about Madame Giselle? Further more why does he in fact have that in his possession? For a man that claims that this has not benefited, how does he have something that would benefit someone else in this? Hopefully Poirot and Inspector Japp can figure this out because I feel as more people talk, things are getting to be more confusing.