The Mystery of the Blue Train: A Hercule Poirot Murder Mystery by: Agatha Christie (1928) Part 3

"I do not argue with obstinate men. I act in spite of them." -Hercule Poirot

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Characters

Monsieur Le Marquis - man who wears a mask

Demetrius Papopolous - antique dealer

Zia Papopolous - daughter of Demetrius

Rufus Van Aldin - rich man

Major Richard Knighton - Van Aldin's secretary

Ruth Kettering - daughter of Rufus Van Aldin

Derek Kettering - Ruth's husband

Mirelle - dancer friend of Derek Kettering

Katherine Grey - acquired a new wealth

Viscountess Rosalie Tamplin - Well known in Riviera

The Honorable Lenox Tamplin - daughter of Rosalie Tamplin

Hercule Poirot - the well known Belgium Detective

Ada Mason - Ruth Kettering's maid

Comte Armand De La Roche - old friend of Ruth Kettering, womanizer

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The Comte de la Roche is just finishing an omlette when he dicusses with his servant to agree that if the police talk with him, the Comte returned on 14th, not the 15th. Then he has a surprise visit from Mirelle and explains to the Comte that Derek killed his wife. He seems shocked by this news from her. After she leaves, Comte makes a few errands and he feels that he is being followed by a grey car.

Katherine has a phone call from Poirot, she has word from Van Aldin that he wants to talk with her. So they arrange to meet within the hour to talk. When Poirot picks her up they discuss the theory of the Comte killing Mrs. Kettering, but they both agree that he does not seem to be the kind of man do that. They go and speak with Van Aldin, he wanted to talk with her more about Ruth and see if she knew anymore.

Several days later Katherine has a caller, Mr. Knighton. The Tamplin's have arranged for them to meet over tennis. Derek, Van Aldin are both at this place and there are separate conversations with them. Poirot also see an old friend of his, Mr. Papopolous. He wonders why he is there, but does not speak with him. Him and Van Aldin discuss if the Comte had been arrested yet, but Poirot tells him no which does not make him happy. But Poirot shows him that he has the rubies and he is amazed that Poirot was able to locate them.

The next morning Poirot goes to visit Mr. Papopolous and his daughter Zia. He wants to see if he can call upon a favor of Mr. Papopolous while trying to solve the murder of Ruth Kettering. He is reluctant at first, but Poirot reminds him of the man who helped him many years ago when he was in a bad situation. He finally agrees to help Poirot. While there Poirot shows the jewels to him and he is not that impressed, for fakes they were pretty good though.

The next day after visiting with Van Aldin, Poirot would like to talk with Ada Mason again about what happened and the man that she saw on the train. Afterwards, Van Aldin and Poirot talk of the possibility that Derek might have killed Ruth. When he leaves, Derek and Katherine pull up in a car outside the hotel. Poirot speaks with Derek for a while then heads back to his hotel to retire for the day.

Mirelle wants to talk to Derek, but he just tips his hat to her and keeps walking away from her car. He returns to his hotel and hears that a man has come to see him. It is the Comte de la Roche. They discuss how the Comte has been accused of the murder of Ruth. After he leaves, Derek leaves his hotel to go talk to Mirelle accusing her of blackmail by sending the Comte to him. She is convinced that Derek want to be with her, but he tells her that he has plans to marry the English woman, Katherine Grey.

In the gardens of Monte Carlo, Katherine and Poirot are talking about Mr. Knighton and the Comte. Derek comes out of from gambling and tells them that he has lost everything that he had on him today. He admits to Katherine that he in fact was on the train with them, and had entered his wife compartment.

Knighton tells Poirot that Mirelle had attempted to try to talk to Van Aldin but he had to no interest in doing so. So they try to call on her and she agrees. She tells them that Derek killed Ruth, and he told her that he was going to do so. So they encourage her to go the police to tell them her testimony. She seems uneasy but reluctantly goes with them. But they warn her that she could be an accomplice to the murder considering she knew prior to the event happening. Mirelle insists that she did not take it seriously.

After Mirelle leaves, they discuss with Poirot where the jewels might possibly be. Poirot tells of another man that he believes that could be involved in the case. The Marquis. And if he is, then it will throw off ideas as to whom the murderer is. Poirot returns home and talks with George. He tells him that Mr. Papopolous called upon Poirot, him and his daughter will be stopping by for dinner that night. Poirot tells him that he has an interesting fact that he has held onto for last seventeen years and it may be time to use it.

Sometimes people feel that hiding the truth can better themselves but that doesn't always work. And in some cases like Mirelle there is a possibility that it may very well be a red herring.

Red Herring : something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand; a misleading clue - Dictionary.com

Christie writes about Red Herrings all the time in her work, I was so glad that this one gave the opportunity to show that. Mirelle may merely be stating these accusations to better herself to cover up the truth about what may very well be evolved around herself.

I also find it intriguing that Derek tells of his whereabouts after he has lost at gambling, a vulnerable time for him emotionally. We also had a brief talk of the Marquis, which we have not heard about since the earlier chapters, I wonder how much of a role he will in fact have in this case. We are slowly gaining clues, but how many are indeed valuable to us at this point. We have to find out with Poirot how much of it all was leading us to the murderer.