Murder on the Orient Express Part 5

Hey Readers!

This post will sum up the last of the interviews. This case gets more and more complicated!

Colonel Arbuthnot is up. He speaks coldly, almost rude. Poirot wants his opinion on Ms. Debenham, who is also English and who talks with Colonel a lot. He doesn't think shehad anything to do with the murder or that she knew about Ratchett. At 1:15, he was talking to MacQueen in his room. At 1:45 he left Hector's compartment, and saw the conductor enter the room. He also noticed a woman with strong perfume in the hallway while talking with Hector. He smokes a pipe. The Colonel knew of Col. Armstrong, Daisy's father. Poirot suspects he knew him personally. When thinking about the murder, Arbuthnot says the mafia-like murder should have been a trial by a jury. Poirot looks at him, in thought. The Col. saw someone in Cyrus Hardman's room looking out suspiciously. Poirot thinks the phsychology of the murder doesn't quite fit the Colonel, even though he is the only one who smokes a pipe.

The American travelling salesman Cyrus Hardman is next. He dresses flashy and acts kind of cheap. He reveals that he is really a detective, and his personality becomes more normal. Ratchett hired him as a bodyguard. Ratchett told him to look out for a dark, small man with a womanish voice. He didn't know Ratchett was Cassettu, but he didn't know much about the case to begin with. He accepts a cigarette from Poirot, who finds it interesting that Ratchett's description doesn't fit anyone on the train.

The Italian is after Cyrus. He talks a lot. He stayed in his compartment all night. M. Bouc thinks he is guilty, but Poirot points out that there is no evidence against him. The phsychology of the crime is more Anglo-Saxon, Poirot thinks.

Miss Debenham is next. She is quick to answer, and isn't very stressed about the murder. Poiort says that is very Anglo-Saxon of her. She saw a figure in a kimono at 5 a.m.

Poirot thinks the murder is too complicated for people to make up alibis, as M.Bouc thinks. Hildegarde Schmidt is last. She is the Princess' maid. She read to her for 30 minutes that night, but Hildegarde can't remember at what time. She saw a conductor like the person Ratchett described. She doesn't own a kimono. She's stoic and hardly talks. When shown the handkerchief, her face reddens, but she says it isn't hers. She tears up at the mention of the Armstrong case. All three conductors are brought in, and none of them are the one she saw.

Come back for Part 6!